Dear Sir,
In recent years, en has followed closely the ongoing trouble in the Church of Scotland as a number of prominent evangelical congregations and many individual Christians have left. It has not been without much pain, both for those leaving and for those staying, with much acrimony on both sides. The late William Still said at Crieff years ago: ‘Evangelicals love to condemn!’ Alas, Scotland has learned the truth of these words in recent days.
William Still and his associates James and George Philip and Eric Alexander had a burden for the Church of Scotland (CofS) and the people in it. It was not easy for them because of the hostility in the denomination then against the Word of God and the gospel. They had no delusions about the CofS. William Still often referred to the 7,000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal (1 Kings 19.18) and James Philip on at least one occasion likened the CofS to the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37! Despite their difficulties in the denomination, they contended for the faith (Jude 3) whenever there was opportunity and did so not least by their engagement in church affairs. In particular, James Philip was very highly respected in the CofS, culminating in his distinguished chairing of the church’s selection panel. He would have made a superb Moderator of the General Assembly, but that was a step too far for the denomination.
