Presbyterian Moderator In Error on Homosexuality

When asked if homosexual people would be condemned to hell by God, Rev Ivan Patterson, current Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, gave this reply:

“No I don’t believe that ... I have no reason to believe that this is the case.”

Rather incredible, which is why I have found it important to provide this link where you can check his comment:

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/church_doesn_t_back_gay_cure_1_3445910

INTERVIEW WITH THE NEW MODERATOR

This statement appears even more unbelievable given the fact that when Rev Patterson was interviewed upon his appointment as Moderator, he:

- described his ministry as “conservatively biblical with a strong evangelical outlook,” adding,

“I get great satisfaction from helping people and would love them to become more knowledgeable about the God of the Bible and the implication of that for their lives.”

- announced that he had chosen ‘The Word is Life’ as his theme for his year as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, with special reference to the current background of the 400th anniversary of the publication of the Authorized King James version of the Bible.

- and made this further statement, “As a reformed church, the Bible is central to us. I'll be thinking more about the Word of God and what that means as we try to respond to the teachings of Christ in the Bible in our society and in our lives.”

SO WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

What the Bible says about homosexuality is unmistakable. Any person with a “conservatively biblical and evangelical outlook,” understands from the pages of Scripture that homosexuality is:

- unnatural and depraved (Romans 1:25-28);

- an abomination to God (Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13);

- a sin that closes the door of heaven to those who practise it (1 Corinthians 6:9&10),

- has the seeds of destruction within itself, and is certain to attract divine judgement (Genesis 19, Romans 1:27&32, Jude 7).

This divine judgment is reserved for all unrepentant sinners - hell.

It would be very interesting to discover exactly how Rev Patterson interprets the final biblical text mentioned in the list above – Jude 7:

“Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

ERROR COMPOUNDED

To compound his error on the day, Rev Patterson insisted, on the subject of reparative therapy: “I am not going to say that nobody can change but I don’t want them to go through some kind of psycho-therapy process.”

Why is he so reluctant to plainly state that homosexuals can - and do - change?

The Bible is crystal clear on this issue. It holds out hope of a supernatural change in the words of 1 Corinthians 6:9-11:

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

Why did Rev Patterson not take the opportunity afforded to him on his radio interview to wax eloquent on this exciting news? Or at least display true grace by affirming it?

GLAD NOT TO BE CONNECTED WITH THIS FALSEHOOD

Statements ‘from the top of the church’ such as those by this Presbyterian Moderator make us increasingly thankful for the separated testimonies that exist in our country; fellowships of God’s people who are determined not to sidestep or deny the consistent witness of Scripture against the sin of homosexuality, and who proclaim the escape route from this - and all other iniquities - repentance from sin and faith in Christ alone.

Meantime, I wait to hear any expressions of dissatisfaction, disapproval, or forthright denial, of Rev Pattersons’ unbiblical comments on the subject of homosexuality from within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

I have the impression I may be waiting for an inordinately long time ... .