Belfast Courtroom Dramatically Transformed into an Evangelical Auditorium
"Thank you for coming tonight. And if somebody says to you, 'What was he preaching about tonight?' tell him, 'He was preaching about the Ransom. Isn't He a wonderful Saviour? Isn't He lovely? Blessed be His name. Hallelujah!'"
With these words Pastor James McConnell summarised the message he had just preached at the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle on Lord's Day evening, 18 May 2014. His text was every evangelical preachers' delight, 1 Timothy 2:5-6: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."
These closing remarks were sandwiched between spirited renditions of two famous Gospel songs, led by Pastor McConnell – 'He Came To Me,' and, 'I Love Him Because He First Loved Me.'
Imagine my surprise when I took my seat in the Laganside Courtroom No. 12 this morning only to discover that something unique was occurring: the entire service from Whitewell on the night in question was being replayed in the court room for the benefit of the judge. Along with over 100 other persons in the public gallery, I purred with satisfaction and praised the Saviour whom James McConnell consistently lifted up as he preached.
The lines of 1 Samuel 2:30 came to mind: "... Them that honour Me I will honour, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed." This is the promise of God to each of His servants who faithfully represents Him before men. In his Christ-exalting message, Pastor James McConnell definitely did this – and no prosecuting counsel, or discredited complainant, or agitating BBC broadcaster (yes, Mr Nolan, I'm referring to you), has any power to change that.
We at Martyrs Memorial assure Pastor McConnell of our support. We have prayed for him, and will continue to do so. This duty is incumbent on every evangelical Christian. Should this misplaced prosecution case be successful, the charge with James McConnell's name on it today will have our name on it tomorrow. Freedom of speech and religious expression is vital for the survival of society - and though it may be lurching in the direction of becoming a luxury in our country, we do well to remember that it has never been an option in any territory dominated by Islam.
