I HAVE come to the conclusion (perhaps rather late) that modern-day Protestantism is a joke. Protestantism is weak, wishy-washy, and non-effective.
The mainstream Protestant Churches don't know what they believe. They certainly don't believe the biblical message of redemption and salvation through the blood of Christ alone and have ceased to speak of unbelievers as sinners in need of a Saviour. Therefore the heart of the Protestant message has gone.
No doubt there are a few denominational exceptions, but the rest are almost a write-off.
The Church of Scotland, apart from certain evangelical ministers and congregations, is the biggest social club in Britain. One can count on one hand the evangelical ministers in the Scottish Congregational Church, which no longer witnesses to evangelical truth and is a travesty of the Gospel (I am an ordained pastor in that apostate body).
Has anyone heard of the Methodist Church in Scotland recently? And what about the Episcopalians? We hardly ever hear of them unless the Bishop of Edinburgh opens his mouth and lets out some gaffe blasting one traditional doctrine or another or unless Bishop Tutu is playing golf at St Andrews.
The biggest culprits today, however, in the area of Christian witness, are my own ``lot'' - the evangelicals. I call them the silent apologists.
When Stewart Lamont writes disparagingly about evangelical religion, not one evangelical voice is raised in protest. When John Macleod writes brilliantly, with historical accuracy, and deep spiritual insight, and is then bombarded by those far less talented in this area than he, hardly an evangelical voice is heard in his defence. The evangelicals today are a spineless and ineffective body.
Yet their opponents offer no remedy for the moral and spiritual state of our nation. They have no answer. My suggested remedy is a return of the Christian Church to the living God Who is able to empower the Church, heal the divisions, and bring us to true spiritual unity in Christ.
It is because we have departed from Him that we find ourselves in our present predicament as a nation.
Rev Robert A Penney,
18/4 Thistle Court,
Donaldson Street,
Kirkintilloch.
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