Christians will all be aware that "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:26). However churches begin to hit serious problems when they start to embrace 'a social gospel' in preference to the true Gospel - the good news of salvation and God's Kingdom.
A grouping called FAITHWORKS launched "A report on Effective Christian Presence in Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire" in Leeds on the 12th of June and it has all the hallmarks of a body designed to subvert further the Gospel rather than to propagate it - preferably in the manner so beloved of the soviets in their attitudes to the Church. SOCIAL WORK WITH EU FUNDING - which ALWAYS means STRINGS ATTACHED!
Sadly, the majority of those involved are Anglicans - some quite senior although a N. Ireland non-conformist called Malcolm Duncan is the top dog and it seems that 'his word is law' in the group.
Those of a suspicious nature will not be pleased to note the dead hand of Yorkshire Forward as a sinister presence behind all of this.
"The Commission and Faithworks both follow closely the guidelines laid down in the Soviet National Revolutionary Process, which was revealed by Soviet defector Yuriy Bezmenov.
Processes commended in the Soviet scheme include politicisation, commercialisation, ignorance of scripture, subversion of leadership, leading to drift away from the churches towards social enterprises as substitutes for religion, and eventually the total marginalisation of Christianity and its leadership."
"EFFECTIVENESS" is their watchword and it is clear that this may not be measured in any way by the spread of the Gospel but only by the accomplishment of social tasks - involving many links with key people in the community - but no mention of these being Christian.
Talk about weasel words in such a context “Effective Christian Presence is dependent on local entrepreneurial visionary leaders and strong committed project managers who have good relationships with local worshipping communities." Funny that. I thought it was dependent on God's Holy Spirit within us and working through us!
Those commending the report include the C of E Bishops of Wakefield, Pontefract, Ripon & Leeds, and Grimsby. Stephen Burgess chairman of the York and Hull District of the Methodist Church, and also in charge of the Government’s quango on rural affairs. Surprisingly The RC Bishop of Middlesbrough, who has not been in post for long. Then the regional leaders of the Baptists and the URC, plus the leaders of the remaining Methodist Districts.
