Occasional Updates .......

10th MAY 2011.... It has been a while .... but since the last update to this site .... the English Churchman has still been published every two weeks in newspaper format to subscribers.

In recent years the Church has been growing around the world despite the influence of general apostasy in the West and much shallow teaching in the developing world.

It is not our intention to replace the paper edition with an electronic web version. However for the benefit of those who have missed out there are links to the latest editions in pdf format above. Older editions from 2005 to 2010 are at www.englishchurchman.com

Anual paper subscriptions are now £19 in the UK - delivered to your door 26 times a year! While this is good value by any standards there is an even better thing- 5 copies to one address are still only £52 (ie only the cover price of 40p per copy) so why not take advantage of this great deal and get some copies out to people who would benefit so much, eg, local churches, ministers who need encouragement, Christian friends, MPs, libraries, waiting rooms, etc.

Cumbria Shootings

The media was not slow to report that psychologists were available to counsel those suffering from trauma following the recent Cumbria massacre. It was also reported that church attendance was high for the many special services following the tragedy.

As far as we know there was no attempt to try to reconcile these two facts.

The church services were said to be very important to the people but no solid reason was given. Meanwhile one psychologist explained that there might be scenes of children play acting gunfights and that such would be a normal part of coming to terms with what had happened and nothing to worry about. Our concern is more that this might lead to copycat violence. We must pray for God's restraining grace after such incidents.

It was interesting that, as far as we know, the psychologists did not try to explain away the
religious sentiments as being purely psychological. Presumably the media is sensitive enough not to allow that.

It is always the case however that much of the grief and churchgoing that follows disasters is not consistent with a true Christian faith. This is combined with the fact that no one wants to add to the grief by questioning other people’s sincerity. The tragedy in Cumbria followed a fatal school bus crash as well as catastrophic floods so one feels sympathetic toward the folk who are no worse sinners than ourselves.

However it is interesting that the media have also presented the area as being rather carefree with most of the people being part of the pub culture. Such a laidback life style needs a wake up call and sadly there is little that wakes any except disaster.

We are very conscious of our own sin and especially of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. The passage of the Gospel of Luke 13:1-5 should be a sufficient warning to us all.

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

This passage warns us not to wonder about the sins of others but about our own sins for without repentance we will all likewise perish. So while the media was not slow to bring on psychologists and even something about church services, it is much regretted that they did not report anything of the Word of God which is the only thing that can really bring comfort to those who grieve. May we all be brought to understand that the worse thing is not what has happened to us but what we are ourselves as sinners. Sadly while a rebellious generation ignore the warnings of the Bible, they also miss out on the precious promises of deliverance.

The churches of Cumbria have a great responsibility at this time, not merely to comfort the grieving and traumatised, but to do so by presenting the Lord Jesus Christ to all. While we know of some evangelicals in the area, the greatest tragedy is that, if Cumbria is like the rest of the country, so many churches no longer have a Gospel to preach at all. Perhaps recent tragedies may even serve as a wake up call to churches that have lost their first love.

October 2009 - Week by Week the world crisis moves on. The British economy is in a terrible state and the USA is perhaps even worse as Communist and Muslim lands are planning to drop the dollar. All major political parties in Britian are caving in to the twin evils of Marxism/sodomy and Islam. Those who speak against this are said to have phobias which they take to mean hate. Now it is a sin to preach against sin. As the Bible says, they call evil good and good evil, but the Bible also says woe to them. So the outlook is bleak except for those who are in Jesus Christ who will all be saved. We would rather spend a while with Jeremiah in a pit that worship the false gods of this wolrd and then be condemned to hell. And Gordon Brown the British Prime Minister has invited the Pope to visit the country. One wonders what last ditch effort that might be to save the nation but it will lead yet more to hell. Pray that it will give an opportunity to preach the Gospel as we know that "All things work together for good " (Romans 8:28) for the people of God.

There have hardly ever been days like this for preaching. Let us make hay while the sun shines. Or to put it more biblically, let us work while it is day before the night cometh.

And as the Apostle Paul said to the Philippians, "finally my brethern rejoice, and again I say rejoice!" Isn't that wonderful! The Christian can learn to be content in all circumstances. If we do that then we really should stand out soon in this ever more miserable looking world.

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In our March 2008 edition there is a full report of the very important United Protestant Council Meeting considering Protestantism Before and After the New Fascist European Superstate. It is a sad story but there is much to inspire us to vibrant Christian lives and witness until the Great Day of the Lord comes.

We also warn about the attack on Evangelicalism from Charismatics such as New Frontiers who are now invading FIEC churches.

Gordon Brown Condones False Religion

In a Downing Street podast PM Gordon Brown has not only given a kind message to Muslims but has gone on to approve of Islam and the unbblical fast of Ramadan! He is unfit to rule a Christian country or to be an ambassador to all the Islamic nations where Christians are persecuted.
See for yourself at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5NjnqKUTa8&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Esimondarby%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2F

Chill Down the Spine for Church of England

A judge has ruled that the Bishop of Hereford is unable to bar a homosexual from working as a youth worker in the Chruch of England.

The shocking news is enough to stop churches from employing youth workers at all.

However the Church of England prevarocating on the subject of homosexuality has not helped the situation. Any unsaved outside observer could be forgiven for thinking from reading in the secular press about the obsessive debates within the Anglican Communion that sexual deviancy is a view on which the church has no clear line. Putting that together with the brainwashing of "being made like that" conveyed in the media, it is hardly surprising that the judge has made this abominable decision.

By allowing the discussion of sodomy to be any time at all the Church of England is guilty of corruption of the Word of God. It is only a matter of time now until the sodomites completely ruin the whole church as it is brought into more and more disrepute.

It is beyond our imagination to understand how those who call themselves reformed and evangelical can abide in such a den of iniquity.

BBC Boasting Continues

In relation to reducing crime John Humphries said on BBC Radio 4 at approx.8.43am on Thursday 19 July that people had "been trying to do that since God was a boy".

English Churchman complained to the BBC in the following words:

"John Humphries blasphemed on air at about 8.43am when he took the Lord's Name in vain in contravention of the Third Commandment by using the expression "when God was a boy". I am sure Mr Humphries refers to the God of the Bible and would not have used Mohammed's name in such a way as he would have been sacked.

"More importantly God was never a boy and it is offensive to Him to suggest such a thing.

"Would the BBC promise not to be so puerile and insulting in future?"

Cannabis not just bad but illegal

The issue that of the Home Secretary smoking Cannabis is not merely one of health but of law. The idea that now more is known about cannabis and mental health problems it is less acceptable is not sufficient.
The question needs to be put to the Home Secretary of whether she has not just stopped taking illegal drugs but they are not good for you but has she realised she was wrong to break the law and has she ceased from breaking the law?
As Home Secretary with responsiblity for law and order this is the most important issue that needs to be addressed. Can we be assured that she believes in obeying the law herself before she goes about trying to order other people's lives?