Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Official Report 746KB pdf

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Time for Reflection

Good afternoon. The first item of business is time for reflection, for which our leader is Pastor David Fraser from Alva baptist church.

Thank you, Presiding Officer and members, for inviting me to speak today. Your obvious challenge as elected representatives of our country is to discern the way forward for our nation on any number of issues. Thank you that my being here is a testimony to your commitment to tolerance in the truest sense of the word: in the sense of openness to ideas and a hearing of others’ ideas—even ideas with which we might not agree.

In the eighth century BC, the writer Isaiah stated:

“Woe to those who call evil good

and good evil,

who put darkness for light

and light for darkness,

who put bitter for sweet

and sweet for bitter!

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,

and shrewd in their own sight!”

I recognise that many do not accept the assertion that we all answer to God for our decisions. Intelligent and competent people have concluded that they disagree with that world view. I think that we all agree that it does not matter what one believes if it is not true. If I do not believe in buses, but I step off the kerb in front of a bus, reality will be proven.

Paul of Tarsus wrote to his protégé Timothy:

“the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

I make claims based on the historicity of the biblical witness as a testimony to God’s interaction with humanity. I accept that, unless a convincing case for faith has been made to each of you, you might not share the confidence that I have in the truth of this message. I can make a case for any of you who care to pursue the matter further. I commit here to answering at length any questions on any subject pertaining to the biblical world view.

Jesus Christ said:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

We will answer to God for our every decision, and Jesus, may his name be praised, is the righteous judge whom we will face. That is a thought worth reflecting on. You read the details of legislation and you analyse the implications of proposed decisions. You project the consequences of actions that are taken in this gallery. Please consider your lives today in the light of what I have shared, for your own good as well as the good of our nation. Thank you for your time.