THE
RECORD
MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND JANUARY 2021 • £2.00
Editor • John Macdonald The Editor, Free Church Offices, 15 North Bank Street, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH1 2LS editor@freechurch.org News Editor • Dayspring MacLeod dayspring.macleod@icloud.com 07974 261567 Missions News • Sarah Johnson Free Church Offices, 15 North Bank Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2LS sarah@freechurch.org WfM Editor • Fiona Macaskill 8 Campsie Drive, Glasgow, G61 3HY rfmacaskill@me.com Gaelic Editor • Janet MacPhail 24 North Bragar, Isle of Lewis, HS2 9DA 01851 710354 Seminary News • Rev. Thomas Davis St. Columba's Free Church, Johnston Terrace Edinburgh, EH1 2PW thomas@stcolumbas.freechurch.org Prayer Diary • Dayspring Macleod dayspring.macleod@icloud.com Design & Layout • Fin Macrae @DUFI Art www.dufi-art.com The Record • ISSN 2042-2970 Published • The Record is produced by The Free Church of Scotland, Free Church Offices, 15 North Bank Street, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH1 2LS 0131 226 5286 offices@freechurch.org This QR Code will direct you to the digital version of the magazine on ISSUU. Available for 30 days for current print subscribers.
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Cover: Photo by Florian Klauer on Unsplash
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CONTENTS
WELCOME TO THE JANUARY RECORD
H
appy new year.
I hope that you were blessed by the Christmas period, despite the circumstances. It truly is joy to remember that God’s promises stand firm for ever and that, in Jesus, who was ‘born for us on earth below’, God is with us.
04 SET FREE The Editor 08
WORLD NEWS Argentina, UK, Switzerland, Nigeria, India, China, South Korea
There is no aspect of our lives which is unaffected by that truth. This month, the Rev. Gordon Matheson begins a four-part series leading up to the Scottish Parliament election in May. He will encourage us to consciously develop a Christian worldview, considering matters of politics and public policy in light of the teaching of Scripture.
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FREE CHURCH NEWS
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THY ROD AND STAFF Ciarán Kelleher
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CHILD SOLDIER'S PhD TURNS HURT INTO HOPE Helen Swingler
Given the year we have just finished, and in light of the unanswered questions in both politics and public health as we begin 2021, may we trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. As we acknowledge him in all our ways, he will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). •
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ETS NEWS: ONLINE LEARNING Thomas Davis
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CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW Gordon Matheson
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COME AWAY WITH ME Dayspring MacLeod
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WHY DID GOD RAISE JESUS FROM DEATH? PART 13 Iain Gill
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AZARIAH: WHAT'S IN A NAME? David Randall
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PAGES FROM ADAM'S DIARY, PART 6 THE CINDERELLA STORY OF A 65-YEAROLD REFUGEE
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OBITUARY: MURDO MACKENZIE
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BOOK REVIEWS
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PRAYER DIARY
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POETRY PAGE Minnie Louise Hoskins
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MISSION MATTERS David Meredith
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SOLAS DOM CHEUM Janet MacPhail
If you have any news articles please send them to dayspring.macleod@icloud.com. Yours in Christ John
40 POST TENEBRAS LUX Catriona Murray
That in all things he might have the pre-eminence Colossians 1:18 2021
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CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW PART 01 OF 04 BY REV GORDON MATHESON
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PART 01: CREATION 2021
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Photo ©Надя Ветрова - stock.adobe.com
In May we will elect representatives to the Scottish Parliament. Regardless of who forms the next government, with almost a quarter of MSPs stepping down there will be big changes at Holyrood. How will we vote? Before we let political preferences decide, we should pause and think about our worldview. A worldview is a collection of attitudes, values, stories and expectations about the world around us, which inform our every thought and action. As disciples of Jesus, we want our worldview to be constantly reshaped by the Bible. In this four-part series we examine the big Biblical narrative — Creation-Fall-Redemption-Consummation — to help us work out priorities for how we think about the big issues facing us in the next four years. There is a place for firmly stated views. But our goal in interacting with people around us should be to mimic Jesus’ patterns. Learning to ask the right questions, to challenge the worldview and assumptions of others, is important. In this series we will look at some key ideas, but we will also look for strategies to engage with candidates around these issues.
T
he
resurrection
is
sometimes
described
as
jesus ’
‘ reward ’.
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Hendrick van den Broeck: The Ressurection of Christ (1571-1572)
Louis Berkhof in his Systematic Theology says, ‘Christ met the demands of the law, and was therefore entitled to His reward.’ For most of us the word ‘reward’ prompts notions of a wage, or a prize for exceptional behaviour, which unfortunately can lead us into error. The word needs careful handling. In Philippians 2, in Paul’s poem about Christ’s humiliation and subsequent exaltation, it is stated that as a consequence of Christ emptying himself to the point of death God has exalted him to the highest place and given him the name that is above every name. Jesus’ efficacious death is followed by a number of consequences which form his exaltation. Jesus’ exaltation is sometimes referred to as his ‘reward’. In Hebrews 12:3 we read: ‘...who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God’. The words suggest that Christ was motivated to get through the awfulness of the cross by ‘the joy set before him’. What was the ‘joy set before him’; what do the words mean? F. F. Bruce, in Peake’s commentary, says, ‘The joy comprises the completion of his work, his exaltation at the Father’s right hand, and the consequent blessing of his people.’ A. M. Stibbs, in IVF’s New Bible Commentary, says: ‘... He had regard for the joy of the heavenly reward which He now permanently enjoys as One who is enthroned at God’s right hand. Also the manner and pursuit of His achievement not only make possible our pursuit of the same pathway of faith, but also guarantee that He will enable us to complete what He enables us to begin. In this way, therefore, He is both the initiator (author) and the consummator (finisher) of our faith.’ Christ’s reward, the ‘joy set before him’, thus consists of (1) the successful completion of his work, a work planned with the Father in eternity, and in particular his sacrificial death; and (2) his reaching a point where he can actively pursue the aims of the great plan of salvation. John Calvin discusses relevant issues and is scathing about the notion of Jesus’ exaltation adding any new merit to himself. Donald Macleod, while deliberately avoiding the word ‘merit’, carefully uses the word ‘reward’ in connection with Philippians 2: ‘…it is reward in these terms, that if He finishes the work then certain consequences will follow.… There is a twofold motivation: in order “that the Son also may glorify Thee” (John 17:1) in His exalted condition and secondly, “that He may give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him” (John 17:2).… In his human nature he was extravagantly exalted...’ Jesus did not rise in order to acquire greater glory for himself. Jesus rose from the dead to further the divine plan to save his people and ultimately to glorify God. Jesus rose for your salvation. •
JANUARY
PART 13 WAS THE RESURRECTION JESUS' REWARD?
BY IAIN GILL A series of short articles about Jesus’ resurrection
BOOK REVIEWS The four books featured here are our favourite non-seasonal offerings. They touch on timeless truths and would make perfect gifts or additions to your own bookshelf. All are available from Free Church Books https:// thefree.church/shop, unless otherwise stated. THE MISSIONARY-THEOLOGIAN E.D. BURNS (2020) This book is easily in my top five reads for 2020. I think all my ministry friends are sick to death of me recommending it to them. E.D Burns writes in a readable, encouraging and informative way, while also being challenging, revealing and critical of the past in the hope that we move forward theologically to a more robust missionary mindset. And I know this is not a church-planting book, but as a church planter, I couldn’t help viewing the book through that lens, which I found helpful and impactful in my ministry. There is so much more I want to write on this book, but I will simply say buy it – well worth a read! • This book is available to purchase from Free Church Books. Chris Davidson, Merkinch Free Church
TRUTHS WE CONFESS R.C. SPROUL (2019) This is a superb book from a world-renowned theologian that achieves its aim time and again – to make the Westminster Confession of Faith accessible to all. Sproul writes from the perspective of the WCF being ‘the most precise and accurate summary of the content of biblical Christianity ever set forth in a creedal form.’ His purpose of deepening our understanding of biblical doctrines marks each chapter as he unpacks the eloquence of the WCF with passion, application, and sheer joy. Sproul wants us to reckon with Christ on a personal level, and so he advocates for a deep understanding of the truth of the Gospel in every Christian. The WCF is not the preserve of the seminary or the professional theologian. It is for every Christian to grasp the deep things of God, a need that underlies Sproul’s cause in this book, which is to sharpen our understanding of the truth by leading the reader to an ever clearer understanding of Scripture. It is accuracy in our understanding of God’s Word that Sproul values in this commentary, an aim that stands out in his chapter on Justification: ‘faith is not the grounds of our justification. The grounds of our justification is the righteousness of Christ, His merit.’ All Christians are commanded to always be ready to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15). Owning and reading this book will undoubtedly help us meet this responsibility. Sproul’s commentary on the WCF will do you good. This is a 700-page gem that unpacks what Reformed theology is. It will feed your soul and nourish your mind. Highly recommended. • This book is available to purchase from Eden.co.uk. Colin Macleod, Leith Free Church
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PSALMS FOR MY DAY CARINE MACKENZIE & ALEC MOTYER (2019) Over the past few weeks I’ve begun many of my days by reading Psalms for my Day: A Child’s Praise Devotional. The book contains a fresh translation of 31 of the Psalms found in the Old Testament. The translation is done by biblical scholar Alec Motyer. Accompanying the translation is a simple explanation of the rich truths of the psalm and a short prayer. The work is masterfully illustrated by Catherine Pape and includes a ‘new words’ index at the back of the book with succinct definitions for difficult words. In this respect, the translation might present a difficulty for kids learning to read. The book is intended for ages 4-11, but the psalms present something for every reader. It is a charming introduction to the psalms for you and your little ones. The psalms place before the believer both the realism and idealism of the Christian life – despair and trial, defeat and suffering, but also repentance and confession, growth and longing, praise and hope. I was glad to see Psalm 32 amongst those included. Motyer’s commentary hints at the Christ-centred approach he takes on many of the Psalms. He writes, ‘What a blessing when sin is “covered” – not by being out of sight but when Jesus covers it with his sinlessness. My sin is no longer something I have to pay for because Jesus Christ has taken the punishment for the sin of his people when he died on the cross. This is a great cause of rejoicing and makes us sing praise to God’ (35). Introducing the psalms to your children while they are young will help them to recognise the mystery and beauty of their God. Moreover, the book provides a palatable format for them to access the psalms as they mature in their young faith. I am very pleased to have this book to pull out of my library when visited by family and friends with children! • This book is available to purchase from Free Church Books. Greg Parker Jr, St Columba’s Free Church, Edinburgh
IF ONLY JENNIE POLLOCK (2020) This well-written, easily readable book draws the reader in from the outset. The main message, one that we all need to take hold of irrespective of our circumstances, is that true contentment in Jesus only is enough, not Jesus plus the things we long for. Paul’s statement in Philippians 4:12-13 that he has ‘learnt the secret of being content in any and every situation’ is the theme of the book. I found the testimonies which pepper the book to be sad yet challenging and encouraging. Most have no happy endings if judged by this world’s standards. But the knowledge that God is sovereign and that Jesus himself can make up to us for any perceived loss is the anchor to which we cling. I admired the honesty with which each person shares the struggle for contentment, which may be ongoing. I saw Esau’s story in a new light as the author describes how he chose to prioritise a present, genuine and significant need over a future promise. Our present longings fade into insignificance as we ponder ‘promised riches beyond compare, the intimate relationship we long for…’ (p.78). I do not hesitate to recommend this book and challenge anyone not to benefit from it. • This book is available to purchase from Free Church Books. Judith Lewis, Tabernacle Welsh Baptist, Llwynhendy
These books are only a small proportion of the ones we review. You can find all our reviews online at https://books.freechurch.org or sign up to our monthly email to get them directly to your inbox: https://thefree.church/books-sign-up
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