Against Evangelical Pessimism

We’ve just begun going through the book of Acts in our morning worship services. It’s a book which the great twentieth-century preacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones described as a ‘tonic’ for the church. And we do need a tonic in light of the pessimism which dogs much of the evangelical and Reformed church in the UK at present. Below is the first page of an article entitled ‘Against Evangelical Pessimism’, which Stephen referred to in a recent sermon. It’s written by Jeremy Walker, who spoke at the RP Ministers’ Conference in 2017. It appeared in the March 2019 Banner of Truth magazine:

Here are some highlights from the rest of the article:

We need to hook our prayers on the promises that the gates of Hades shall not prevail against the church of Christ, that God’s word shall prosper in the things for which he sends it, that God shall never lack a people, that his glory, he will not give to another, that the gospel is and must be the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, and that the weapons of our warfare are mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds.

Secondly, we must have confidence in the purchase of Christ. We must believe that he came into the world sinners to save, and that he did not merely make them saveable, but actually purchased a people for himself - those who had been given to him from before the foundation of the world. We must be assured that we are sent into all the world to preach the gospel of Christ and his finished work and present reign to every creature.

We must be assured that Christ is the bread of life. We must believe that his sheep will hear his voice and follow him. We must believe that, being lifted up on the cross and in the preaching of the cross, Christ will draw all to himself, and he will see the travail of his soul and be satisfied. We must believe that the strongest man has bound the strong man, and is now spoiling him of that which once was his. We must believe that he is reigning on high, waiting until all his enemies are made his footstool, that he is still gathering in his chosen ones from every kingdom, tribe, tongue and nation, and that he will come again to take his people home, that all whom he has loved and for whom he has died might be with him where he is.

Third, we must have confidence in the power of the Spirit. We must believe that the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, the God who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ can shine, too, in the hearts of others. We must be assured that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and that, having saved sinners like Paul and like me and like you, he can save others also.

We must believe that he can move the hearts of men and women to call their families and their friends, so that salvation comes not just to the Lydias, and the jailers, and the Matthews and the Zacchaeuses, but also to those with whom they are connected or come into contact.

We must remember that he can ensure that our preaching does not come in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance, so that those who hear do not shrug off the words of a mere man, but hear the very Word of God to their souls.

Such confidences must be the fuel of our labours. Such confidences must stimulate fervency in our prayers. We must not allow our expectations to be formed by our fears, but rather fashioned in accordance with faith.

Evangelical pessimism ought to be a contradiction in terms. Such pessimism undermines our confidence, cripples our endeavour, shackles our hope, and dishonours our God. We must fight against it by faith; we must not allow ourselves to be drowned in a sea of doubt and dread dismay. We must trust God’s promises, labour because of Christ’s purchase, and rely on the Spirit’s power.

Memorial Inscriptions in Stranraer

From time to time, we get people asking whether their ancestors may have been buried in our graveyard.

One helpful but scare resource which answers that question is a book entitled Memorial Inscriptions in Stranraer, transcribed by J. Rafferty and G. Dinsmore. It was published in the year 2000 by Dumfries & Galloway Family History Society (ISBN: 1873977700).

It is part 1 of a 3 part series and deals with old kirkyards. It also contains memorial inscriptions from the graveyards at Church Street, Thistle Street and Ivy Place.

The entries for our graveyard on Dalrymple Street are as follows (with a few corrections):

1. Erected by James BROWN, in memory of his wife Agnes McNEIL who died 12th Decr 1876 aged 49 years. Also their children Robert, died May 1855, aged 3 months. Agnes, died May 1863 aged 5 years. Daniel, died Novr 1869 aged 1 year. James BROWN who died 16th Augt 1884 aged 54 years.

2. (top half of stone badly worn) — — — — — Jane McWIL(L) — — — — — — — — Also Jane CAMPBELL her daughter who died 12th October 185(1) aged 56 years. Also Peter CAMPBELL their son who died 4th September 1856 aged 68 years. Also Elizabeth HANNAH his wife who died 13th July 1850 aged 59 years.

3. (Stone built into wall) Robert second son of Rev. WILLIAM SYMINGTON, born August 22nd, 1827. Died August 31st, 1833.

4. Erected by Peter McCRACKAN, Mason, to the memory of his children, viz. Sarah who died 29th Oct, 1825 aged 13 years. Agnes, who died 7th May 1830 aged 29 years. Elisabeth, who died 10th March 1832, aged 15 years. And also his wife Agnes HERRON, who died 22nd April 1853 aged 75 years. Also the erector Peter McCRACKAN, who died 12th March 1853 aged 80 years.

5. Erected by Jane BELL Stranraer, in memory of Benjamin BELL her husband who died 17th April 1834, aged 59 — — —. Also John, her son who died at Lon--- 17th April 1835 aged 27 years. Also, Andrew, her son who died 8th June 1823 aged 11 years. Also James, her son who died 9th February 1834 aged 11 years. Also the said Jane BELL who died 29th March 1849 aged 66 years.

6. (Built into wall) In token of esteem. Erected by the Reformed Presbyterian congregation of Stranraer, to the memory of the Rev. John COWAN, their late Pastor, who died on January 13th AD 1817, being the 39th year of his age, and 13th of his Ministry.
His name shall be his monument alone.

7. (Built into wall) Erected by William McDOWALL Merchant Stranraer in memory of his parents. Magt GOURLEY, who died Nov 16th 1798, aged 49, & Robt McDOWALL who died June 16th 1801 aged 36. (Interred in the Parish churchyard) His children Agnes, who died May 19th 1827 aged 13, & Elizabeth, who died Feb 26, 1829 aged 24. (Also interred in the Parish churchyard) And the following:- (Interred in this burying ground) William his son, who died Feb 27th 1833 aged 24. Also his last surviving daughter Hannah McDOWALL, who died July 1st 1907, aged 92.

8. (Stone broken in 2 pieces) Erected by John BURNS Farmer, Larbrax 1849 to the memory of his mother Helen COCHRAN who died 16th Jany 1833 aged 76 years. Also his father John BURNS who died 1st March 1833 in his 95th year. Also the above Jo[hn Burns] -- died 26th O— — — — — Elizabeth — — — — — wife of James CAVEN late Farmer, Culreoch, who died 18th April 1859 aged 62 years. HYSLOP (Sculptor)

9. Erected by — — — — GORDON Merchant Stranraer in memory of — — — — — son who died 25th Augt 1817 aged 4 years and 6 months. — — —LEAN his son who died 17th Jany 1826 aged 1 year. ———GORDON, Marchant, Stranraer — — — — the 3d day of May 1849 aged 72 years. Margaret McCLEAN his wife daughter of James McCLEAN Esquire Merchant Stranraer — — — — — the 3d day of March 1850 aged 66 years.
(on top edge of stone) This ground is 9 feet by 7 feet 1 inches from centre of this stone.

10. Erected by Wm DAVIDSON in memory of his father William DAVIDSON, who died 29th March 1836. Also his son Robert who died 7th May 1827, aged 21 years. Also the erector of the stone William DAVIDSON who died Sept 1849 aged 60 years. Also his wife Grace McKAND who died Sept 1854 aged 80 years. Also their son Samuel DAVIDSON Merchant, Stranraer who died 4th August 1859 aged 43 years.

11. Burying ground of Jas KENNEDY Shoemaker Stranraer AD 1842.
(on reverse) In memory of Rachel BELL wife of Jas KENNEDY, who died 3d June 1852, aged 55 years. Also two daughter who died young.

12. (Stone split by tress, virtually unreadable) Erected by ————————————79 years.

13. In memory of James McMATH, Shipmaster, who died 5th Novr 1857 aged 60 years. Also Grace his daughter died at Glasgow 14th Octr 1871 aged 28 years. Also Mary his daughter died 9th Decr 1873 aged 40 years. Also Jeanie W McMATH his drand daughter died 26th June 1893 aged 12 1/2 years. Also James his son died 20th Sepr 1900 aged 59 years. Also Jessie his daughter died 29th Novr 1903 aged 50 years. Also Elizabeth CARSON, wife of James McMATH died 5th May 1897 aged 93 years. Also William his son died 26th June 1928 aged 86 years. Also Grace his grand daughter died 9th March 1960.
John IRVING Sculptor.

14. Erected by John DORMAN late of the RS & Miners. In memory of Jane GORDON his wife who died 27th April 1829 aged 34 years. John DORMAN his son who died 16th March 1829 aged 4 months. Elizabeth PAUL his mother who died 25th Novr 1835 aged 92 years. Grace MILLIGAN his second whife who died 25th July 1859 aged 59 years. The above John DORMAN who died 31st March 1876 aged — years. Also Margaret DORMAN his daughter wife of William BAIN who died 17th May 1870 aged 3- years. Also their children John died 26th March 1863 aged —years. Janet died 26th Sepr 1889 aged 2 years. The above William BAIN died 13th August 1878 aged 33 years.

15. Erected by Alexander McLELLAND Baker, Stranraer to the memory of his beloved parents. William McLELLAND his father, who departed this life upon the 23rd July 1830 aged 64 years. Mary CONNING his mother, —— departed this life —— u— — the 17 February —— aged 6- — —.

16. Erected by John FULTON in memory of his sons, viz. John interred here who died 16th March 1834 aged 21 years. Samuel who died at Macao in China 27th Octr 1842 aged 26 years. And Thomas who died in Canada 5th Septr 1846 aged 37 years. Also James who died at Port Glasgow 14th Septr 1852 aged 36 years. Also Flora WRIGHT his wife who died 11th Jany 1860 aged 60 years. Also the erector of the stone, John FULTON who died 26th March 1879 aged 97 years. Also Ann FULTON his daughter who died at Strathmiglo, Fife, 17th Augt 1879 aged 69 years. Also Agnes FULTON his daughter died at High St, 13th April 1898 aged 79 tears.

17. In memory of James FERGUSON Writer, born 26th April 1795. Died 20th April 1836.

18. Erected by John DAVIS in memory of John DAVIS his father, who died 2(9)th Sept 1872 aged 69 years. Also his sister Jane, wife of Thomas DIMMOCK, who died at Glasgow 5th Jany, 1876 aged 24 years. Also Margaret CLUCKIE his mother, who died 14th Novr, 1876 aged 60 years. Also Martha his sister, who died 4th Sept 1892 aged 38 years. Above John DAVIS died 23rd July, 1921 aged 75 years.

19. Erected by Margaret WRIGHT in memory of John McMASTER her husband late Baker in Stranraer, who died 23rd Sept 1853 aged 31 years. And Elizabeth WRIGHT her sister, who died 10th Augt 1855, aged 45 years. Also Peter her son, who died 9th April 158 aged 8 years and 7 months. And Mary WRIGHT her sister, who died 1st Feby 1881, aged 77 years. Also Margaret WRIGHT widow of the above John MCMASTER, who died at Stranraer, 24th April 1893 and is interred here.

20. (table stone) In Memory of Mr William McKENZIE late Teacher in Stranraer who died 2d January 1837 aged 39 years.
Mark the perfect man and behold the up right, for the end of that man is peace [Psalm 37:37]

21. Erected by Daniel DAILLY Draper Dundee in memory of his father Daniel DAILLY Stranraer, died 18th May 1854 aged 68 years. Also his mother Sarah ROGERS, died 19th Novr 1852 aged 60 years. And his sisters, Mary DAILLY died 1836 aged 16 years. Sarah DAILLY wife of Wm LOW, died 9th Novr 1863 aged 42 years. Cathe DAILLY wife of John YOUNG, died 10th July 1870 aged 57 years. Margt DAILLY wife of John MORROW, died 3rd June 1875 aged 50 years. Agnes DAILLY wife of John McLEOD, died 20th Decr 1891 aged 76 years. STEVEN & NISH (Sculptors)

22. Erected in memory of Robert McWILLIAM who died 1- Sepr 18-(6) aged -3 years. Also Agnes McMASTER his wife who died 26th Octr 187(2) aged 75 years.

23. Erected by James WITHER & Margaret McCAIG in memory of their beloved children, Agnes Neilson died 15th March 1847 aged 2 years. Alexander McCaig died 13th March 1849 aged 8 months. Jane died 1st Octr 1856 aged 6 years and 8 months.

24. Erected by Robert McQUEEN in memory of his father James McQUEEN. Also his mother Margaret WALLACE.

25. Erected by Hugh McCULLOCH Seedsman Stranraer in memory of his wife Jean BARCLAY who died the 5th April 18(14) aged 60 years.

26. In memory of John McKEACHIE late Farmer in Knocknain who died — April 1838 aged 78 years. (on reverse). Sacred in memory of Thomas McKEACHIE who died at Toronto Upper Canada 14th August 1844 aged 33 years. David McKEACHIE who died at Maneroo New South Wales 17th February 1845 aged 30 years. Margaret McKEACHIE who died at Knocknain March 1820 aged 3 years and 8 months. John McKEACHIE who died at Knocknain March 1820 aged 11 months. John McKEACHIE who died at Quebec Canada 26th September 1847 aged 27 years. Marcaret McKEACHIE who died at Knocknain 19th January 1841 aged 12 years.

Life after death will be the topic of 3 special talks held from 28th-30th August on the theme One Life. Then what? where we deal with the questions: Is this really all there is? Do we all go to a better place? Are they looking down on us?

200th anniversary of Symington's ordination

This past Lord’s Day (18th August) marked 200 years since William Symington was ordained in Stranraer. Below are a number of recent articles/talks about him - as well as some older resources we’ve made available online for the first time.

• Memoir of William Symington, D. D (written by his sons)

• The entry on him from the Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology (Roy Blackwood)

• “He being dead, yet speaketh.” - Funeral sermon preached by James McGill

• Contemporary account of a worship service led by him

• William Symington: RP minister in Stranraer, 1819-39 (Wigtownshire Antiquarian Society talk by Stephen Steele, February 2019)

• Contemporary account of a sermon preached at the tomb of Covenanter martyr Alexander Linn

• William Symington (Part 1): Early life and Stranraer years (Good News magazine, May 2019)

• William Symington (Part 2): Family man, author and public figure (Good News magazine, August 2019)

• A tragic death remembered (account of the death of his six-year-old son, along with a picture of the grave stone in the Stranraer kirkyard)

• William Symington (Part 3): The Glasgow years (Good News magazine, November 2019)

• Stephen Steele, ‘William Symington on the Christian Ministry’ in Reformed Theological Journal, vol. xxxvi (2020)

One Life. Then What?

In two weeks time we will be holding three meetings on the theme ‘One life. Then What?’

They will be followed on the Sunday by two further special services dealing with common objections to Christianity. ‘Why are Christians such hypocrites?’ and ‘How could a loving God allow suffering?’

All are welcome to come! Light refreshments will be served after all the evening meetings.

The Law of God: The Ten Commandments

The Summer issue of the RPCS ‘Good News’ magazine contains the second of three articles by Stephen on the Law of God. You can read it below. Part 1 is available here.

In the last issue we considered some objections to the fact that God’s law still applies today. We saw that there are actually different types of law in the Bible. Some of these, governing sacrifices, food and drink and daily life in the Promised Land, were never meant to be permanent. There is another set of laws, however, which apply to all people in all places in all ages. They are rooted in the character of God himself, have been in force since the creation of the world and are summarised in the Ten Commandments.

Yet even if we accept all that, it would still be possible to get the Ten Commandments wrong. Have you ever arrived late to the cinema and missed the start of a film? Sometimes it is fairly easy to pick up what’s going on, but other times it isn’t. Maybe one big event has taken place at the very beginning, and the rest of the film shows how people react to it. And if you’ve missed that vital part, you’ll not realise why people are now doing what they’re doing.

Well the introduction to the Ten Commandments (in Exodus 20:1-2) is a bit like that. If we miss it, we’ll get the Ten Commandments wrong and misunderstand what they are for.  If you’re reading a book, it often doesn’t matter if you skip the introduction or preface – but we can’t skip the introduction to the Ten Commandments, because it tells us about the God who gave them.

It has been said that the biggest problem with our society is that we’re listening to the wrong voices. There are so many voices around us telling us how we should live. But into this confusion, where everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes, God speaks.

Did you know that the Ten Commandments aren’t actually called that in the original language of the Bible? Instead, they’re called the ‘Ten Words’. Of course, they are commandments – they’re not suggestions. But calling them the ‘Ten Words’ emphasises that they come from a God who communicates with us.

Our God is a God who speaks. And that in itself is something to stop and think about. That in itself is a sign that he’s a God of grace. He doesn’t leave us in our mess and confusion. He doesn’t leave us to decide what’s right and wrong by holding a referendum. In love he calls us back to himself.

We live in a world where people are desperate to hear a message from beyond this planet. Millions of pounds a year are spent listening in hope that we will hear a message from somewhere out there. But right here in the Bible, in front of our noses, we have the words of a loving God who speaks into this broken world and tells us what his will for us is. He gives us the answers to the big questions of life. He tells us how we his creatures are to live in this world that he has given to us. The question is – are we listening?

It is also important to realise that the authority with which God speaks goes deeper than any human authority. Human authority can only tell us what to do or not do – but God’s authority extends to our thoughts and motivations.

Our justice system aims to put murderers in jail. But it’s only concerned with the act of murder – or at least the attempt. It doesn’t seek to intervene if people go through life consumed with sheer hatred for someone else. As long as they don’t say anything too hateful, and don’t try and actually murder them, they’re obeying the law.

God’s law is different. Paul says in Romans that the law is spiritual – it’s not just concerned with outward actions. Yes, when we get to Jesus’ day, the religious leaders had reduced it to outward actions – but it would be ridiculous to think that in the Old Testament, God wasn’t concerned with hate, as long as his people didn’t actually murder someone. Or that he wasn’t concerned with lust, unless people actually committed adultery. Or that his command to ‘be holy as I am holy’ was only concerned with externals.

We see that inward concern even in the Ten Commandments themselves. In his reasons for the second commandment, in vs 5&6, God talks about those who hate him and those who love him. In other words, he sums people up by their heart attitude towards him – he was never just concerned with outward obedience. In fact, the tenth commandment, about not coveting, is something that is impossible to reduce to an outward action.

No human authority can tell us not to covet. But God can and does, because he’s concerned with the heart attitude as well as the outward action.

So the first part of the introduction to the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20v1) reminds us that these ‘ten words’ were spoken to us by God himself. The second part (v2) reminds us that the Ten Commandments were given by a God who has already set us free.

The most common misconception about the Ten Commandments is that Christians are people who are trying to obey them to earn God’s favour. People think of them as a ten-rung ladder which we have to try and climb if we want to get to Heaven. This is why it is absolutely vital to remember that God begins the Ten Commandments by saying: ‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery’.

The Ten Commandments were first given to people who were already in a relationship with God. ‘Law’ as we think of it today is impersonal – we don’t have a personal relationship with the lawmakers. God’s law is different. 

And that relationship began before the law was given. God didn’t come to the people of Israel when they were in slavery in Egypt and say: ‘If you obey these commandments, then I’ll rescue you from slavery’. Instead, he rescued them from slavery, and then he gave them the Ten Commandments!

That changes everything. God doesn’t say ‘Obey these and I will be your God’ or ‘Obey these and I will love you’. He has already demonstrated that he loves us – the commandments simply tell us how we are to live in response.

Even as Christians, we can often end up thinking ‘If I obey, then God will love me’. ‘If I fail him, he’ll stop loving me’. But the whole Bible is shaped to stop us thinking that way. We see it even in this book of Exodus. Exodus is divided into two parts. And it’s significant that the Ten Commandments don’t come until Part Two. The first eighteen chapters of Exodus are about God’s great rescue plan to bring his people out of Egypt. And then chapters nineteen to the end are about how rescued people should live. 

We see the same pattern in the book of Ephesians. The first half is all about what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. The second half is about how we are to live in response – and includes one of the Ten Commandments quoted directly (6:1).

So God redeems us, he gives us his law – and as we’ll think about next time – he also gives us the ability and desire to keep it.