Is encouraging the adoption of papist prayers official policy of the Free Presbyterian Church?

Published by Ivan Foster on July 16, 2024

Thomas Aquinas By Sandro Botticelli

An email sent to some Presbytery officers on the subject:

Is encouraging the adoption of papist prayers official policy of the Free Presbyterian Church?

Brethren,

At the close of an article on prayer in the present ‘Vision’ magazine, the writer, Jonathan Story, minister of Mt Merrion Free Presbyterian Church, recommends that we adopt the prayer of the Romanist ‘saint’ Thomas Aquinas, an Italian Dominican friar and priest.

Is it now the accepted and established position of the Free Presbyterian Church that the prayers of mass-mongers and blasphemous bachelor priests of Rome are models to be followed and emanated?

If it has the sanction of the Ulster Presbytery then a line has been crossed that brings the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster into the camp of liberalism and apostasy.

As published in the current “Vision” magazine published by the Free Presbyterian Church

I have no doubt many members of our denomination will find that intolerable!

Should not the prayers of such an idolatrous priest be rejected as did the Saviour with the devil’s quotation and misapplying of Holy Scripture?

“Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God,” Matthew 4:5-7.

I consider this a most serious and unacceptable breach in our denomination’s adherence to the Word of God and to the Reformed Faith and it is time to call a halt to such violations of our God-ordained stand and witness and deal with those guilty of such.

If the sentiments of this article are not the official position of the Free Presbyterian Church, then how was it sanctioned for publication in an official magazine?

Are we to expect exhortations to attend Corrymeela Ecumenical Centre published in the ‘Vision’ next?

I will be circulating a copy of this letter since the sinful error of promoting popery has also been circulated amongst our church members.

Sincere regards,

Ivan Foster
15th July 2024

Ezekiel: The ignored watchman

A series of messages by Rev. Andy FosterEzekiel was God’s watchman to the nation of Israel. In the first part of his ministry he warned of the sin of the nation and highlighted the consequences it had brought, and would continue to bring. He was largely ignored and dismissed.

In the second part of his ministry he proclaims messages related to the glorious future of the nation of Israel, restored by grace and redemption. Sadly, these messages are still often neglected and overlooked!

Click here to watch.

Why I have closed my account with SermonAudio
As of 30th May, 2017, I have requested that SermonAudio close my account. That has taken place and I no longer mount sermons there. Instead, my own website The Burning Bush will now house all my sermons. It has long been the home of my articles and news links. Gradually we will mount the 1376 messages I had on SermonAudio on my own site.
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