Plenary, 25 Nov 2009
Meeting date: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Official Report
448KB pdf
Time for Reflection
Good afternoon. The first item of business is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader is the Rev Tom McWhirter, the minister for Old Luce and New Luce parishes in Wigtownshire.
Rev Tom McWhirter (Old Luce and New Luce, Newton Stewart):
Good afternoon. One of my predecessors at New Luce was a covenanting minister called Alexander Peden. Some of you may have heard of him. The covenanters were particularly strong in the south-west of Scotland. I believe that they were right to insist that man's first duty is not to the state, but to God. Nevertheless, Christian citizens have a duty towards the state, and I want to share with you some of the things that the New Testament says about that.
In Romans, chapter 13, we are told to pay our taxes,
"for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour."
We have not always honoured you as we should, and for that we owe you an apology.
In 1 Timothy, chapter 2, the apostle Paul writes:
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."
We have a responsibility to pray for you. We have not discharged that responsibility as we should and we have been quicker to criticise than to pray. Again, I apologise.
In governing us, you are serving God. You have a duty to him to do what is right and to act with integrity, compassion and justice. We, in turn, have a duty to you to respect you and to pray for you. You have a difficult job. You have many hard decisions to make. You will be aware of your critics, but perhaps you have not been aware that many of God's people are praying for you. We appreciate the good that you are doing and are trying to do. We want to support you and to help you to govern us well.
I would like to pray for you now.
Heavenly father, king of kings, please help these men and women to serve you by governing Scotland well. Grant them wisdom to understand all the issues before them and to know the right thing to do. Grant them also the courage to do what is right even when it may be unpopular. May they know your leading and blessing. Help them to make Scotland a better place.
In Jesus's name, amen.