Project Description

2014/11

Distinctives

Features of Free Presbyterianism

A COMMITTED MEMBERSHIP

Church members are not to be spectators but participants, willingly employing what God has given them for the good of the church as a whole.

To survey the religious scene in the area where I minister is to be struck by the fact that many congregations in the mainline denominations are no longer single charges, that is, they share a minister with one or more sister churches. Were we to apply the criteria employed in these denominations, most of our own congregations would not be considered viable. That such congregations are sustained throughout our province and elsewhere is testimony, under God, to the faithfulness and sacrifice of our ministers and members.

Communicant membership in the Free Presbyterian Church is for those with a personal, saving interest in the Lord Jesus Christ. No man is born to such membership, nor does he attain it because he has reached a certain age, or because he contributes to its activities. Membership in the local church requires membership, first of all, in the body of Christ, when the individual is joined to Him in faith and brought to acknowledge Him as Saviour and Lord. However it is clear that God’s purpose is not that such individuals maintain an independent spirit or drift along aimlessly, but that they are joined to the local fellowship. “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47) – as there were new converts, so the natural thing was for them to be added to the congregation at Jerusalem, and for them to play a full part in its life and witness, something of which is detailed in the previous verses. Over the years the Free Presbyterian Church has been blessed with a committed membership: without such dedicated men and women this denomination would not have advanced in N Ireland and far beyond!

Worshipping
Unlike many other fellowships, Free Presbyterian congregations have maintained a commitment to regular worship services. This means meeting morning and evening on the Lord’s Day. Such gatherings represent a means of honouring this special day. They are testimony to the reality of our faith in the community where God has placed us. They provide teaching and evangelistic opportunities. And, not least, they promote fellowship and foster mutual encouragement among believers (Hebrews 10:24-25). Is it any wonder that we are so wedded to these weekly assemblies? Historically, Free Presbyterians have demonstrated a willingness to attend regularly – in an age of diminishing church attendance, we must see to it that this sad trend finds no acceptance among us!

Giving
This year witnessed the launch of our new denominational web site. Just a glance at that resource will remind you of the many wonderful buildings erected throughout our province, often by relatively small congregations, and of the wide range of ministries pursued by those congregations and by the church as a whole. This is indicative of the Lord’s goodness to us! But it is also a tribute to the practice of good stewardship. Free Presbyterians have been generous in their giving, responding with an open hand to every fresh challenge, remembering that regular support of the Lord’s work is worship (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) and that God promises to bless those who faithfully bring their tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:10 cf Philippians 4:15-19).

A recent survey proved that ‘Christians’ – I suspect the term was used rather loosely – were best at contributing to ‘worthy causes’. There is no cause more worthy than the propagation of the Gospel, and many in our denomination have gone the second mile in providing for the establishment and extension of evangelistic endeavours.

Ministering
Have you ever heard the expression ‘one man ministry’? It is sometimes used to indict those in the Presbyterian constituency – because, I suppose, we usually have one teaching elder, the minister (1 Timothy 5:17). Not only does this charge betray a pitiful misunderstanding of Presbyterian offices, which are plural and eminently Biblical, it also demonstrates a woeful ignorance of what actually goes on in Free Presbyterian churches! We have ever so many men, women, young people, who give of their time and talents to serve in a multitude of ministries. Pulpit supply, Bible classes, Sunday Schools, weekly children’s clubs, music, activities for senior citizens, video and audio recording, secretarial work, building and grounds maintenance, finance, hospitality – these are just some of the areas that need to be staffed ‘week in week out’, and without the faithfulness of church members it would be quite impossible!

Peter reminds us that we all have responsibility to serve: “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10) Church members are not to be spectators but participants, willingly employing what God has given them for the good of the church as a whole (Romans 12:4-8). And we can be thankful that God has blessed, and is blessing, our denomination with those who, without fanfare or fuss, continue to serve, and to serve well.  Believer, don’t be content to leave the work to others, look to God for indication of how He has gifted you, then humbly present that gift for the benefit of your congregation and for His glory!

Sharing
People have often remarked on the fellowship in the Free Presbyterian Church. If that fellowship is warm it is further testimony to the character of our members. However, in an age where there little understanding of what fellowship is, I offer this definition recently discovered: ‘Fellowship is participating together in the life and truth made possible by the Holy Spirit through our union with Christ.’ Fellowship, then, is about our common experience of God Himself – and in the context of the church, it is about members belonging to each other, it is about shared life. At our best, this is what we have had, and have, in our denomination, realising that we are intimately related and practically connected as members of Christ. Thus, “whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). We readily identify with brothers and sisters, remembering that, whatever divides us, in the most important matter of all, we are brothers and sisters! For a summary of how this is worked out in practice you might consider the many times the New Testament uses the words “one another” – loving, honouring, rejoicing, serving, forgiving, encouraging, praying – all are there, and many more, the essence of true fellowship among the members of His church.

I am personally thankful for the many committed members of the Free Presbyterian Church who have enriched my life and whose dedication makes our denomination what it is. May God bless every one of you! And may He continue to raise up others to shoulder the burden, and to ensure that the testimony of this church we all love will thrive for many years to come!

Rev Timothy Nelson.