The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster has been dismayed by the attempts to legitimise murder on the BBC podcast, ‘Borderland — UK or a United Ireland’. In this podcast comments were made by former Sinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew and loyalist activist Jamie Bryson. In answer to the question “do you think murder was justified?” they both voiced the opinion that it was.
The Free Presbyterian Church has consistently taken the stand that murder is wrong. We did so when murderers were being released under the terms of the “Good Friday Agreement” and we have consistently made the point that God’s command is “Thou shalt not kill.” We have also always upheld the right and indeed the duty of the government to be a “terror’ to evil in its midst (Romans 13:3). Michelle Gildernew sought to justify republican murder by saying that the British Army had brought war to our streets. There is a Scriptural difference between the actions of terrorist murder gangs and the legitimate state forces when they act according to the rule of law. Romans 13:4 says of the ruler that he is “the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” We are dismayed that there are those who are at the heart of our society and in positions of influence that can justify murder and we would call on all public representatives to make their positions clear. The ministerial code of the Northern Ireland Executive asks ministers to pledge “commitment to non-violence and exclusively peaceful and democratic means.” Given that Michelle Gildernew was a former minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Executive we ask did she lie in her pledge and is her “mental reservation” common among her colleagues?
We think of the innocent victims of terrorism in all of this. They are the people who are being retraumatised and forgotten and the BBC is not innocent in their willingness to broadcast this podcast. We want to offer help to those who have been suffering and assure them of our prayers.
If you would like more information about this topic call Rev Gordon Dane at 07709117500 or email gbdane@hotmail.co.uk
