{"id":33543,"date":"2024-06-25T16:03:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T15:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christianvoice.org.uk\/?p=33543"},"modified":"2024-09-20T09:35:51","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T08:35:51","slug":"scots-protect-abortion-churches-close","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christianvoice.org.uk\/index.php\/scots-protect-abortion-churches-close\/","title":{"rendered":"Scots protect abortion as churches close"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>100 Scottish churches are up for sale.\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Scottish Parliament is protecting abortionists with ‘buffer zones’.<\/p>\n

While the Telegraph reports<\/strong><\/a>: ‘Nearly 70pc of Christians in Scotland have experienced prejudice’.<\/p>\n

Sign our Petition against Buffer Zones to mark your opposition and to keep in touch:<\/p>\n

Stop Abortion
Buffer Zones \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n

Centuries of history<\/h2>\n

The Church of Scotland is parting with centuries of history, selling off places of worship for what is described as a drastic \u2018decline in both worshippers and ministers.\u2019<\/p>\n

Churches, plots of land and former council houses, some dating back to the 1700s, have been listed for sale at prices ranging from \u00a335,000 in what the Church say is a ‘painful’ move.<\/p>\n

The institution said financial pressures forced it to make ‘difficult’ decisions on its future, adding it now owns ‘far more [churches] than is required’.<\/p>\n

Support Christian Voice \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n

Buildings ‘must not hinder progress’<\/h2>\n

A Church of Scotland spokesman said: ‘We understand fully the wide range of emotions \u2013 anger, guilt, sorrow and relief that the burden of trying to keep a place of worship open with few people and little, if any contribution from other community sources, has finally been lifted.<\/p>\n

‘The Church owns thousands of properties, far more than required to achieve our primary mission of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

‘It is going through a transformation and it is essential that the Church is properly equipped to be fit for purpose in the 21st century. Although buildings are cherished, they must not hinder progress.’<\/p>\n

Progress or decline?<\/h2>\n

The BBC reports on the Kirk’s decline<\/strong><\/a>: ‘According to 2021 numbers, the church has 283,600 members – down from a peak of 1.3 million in the late 1950s.<\/p>\n

About 60,000 worship in person on a Sunday – down from 88,000 pre-Covid. About 45,000 people now worship online and 8,275 in “other ways”.<\/p>\n

Each church averages just one wedding and one baptism per year – about 1,200 in total. There were 50,000 per year in the late 1950s.<\/p>\n

There were 430 professions of faith in 2021 (sometimes referred to as confirmation) compared with 40,000 at the peak of new members in the 1930s. The average age of those attending church is 62.<\/p>\n

\u00a0An Imam from Florida, Muhammad Musri, has spoken gleefully of a decline in Christian worship and announced a Muslim campaign to buy churches and convert them into mosques.\u00a0 ‘(We) turn their churches into mosques, and their schools into Islamic schools, and bring the light of Islam to here,’ he said in<\/a> a recent video on Memri TV<\/strong>.\u00a0 That could easily become the fate of some of the churches for sale in Scotland.<\/p>\n

‘Buffer zones’ to stifle free speech<\/h2>\n
\"The<\/a>
The author preaching outside British Pregnancy Advisory Services (BPAS) abortion facility in Twickenham on 7th February 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the same time, MSPs in the Scottish Parliament have passed the most extreme censorship zones<\/strong><\/a> near abortion clinics in what pro-life campaigners say is to stifle free speech.<\/p>\n

The legislation would prevent any protests or vigils taking place within 200m (656ft) of 30 clinics offering abortion services.<\/p>\n

The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill, tabled by Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay, passed by 123 votes to one. Voting record HERE<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Voting for the Bill and for the commercial enterprises making money from death were 61 SNP MSP\u2019s, 28 Conservatives (3 did not vote at all: Jeremy Balfour, Murdo Fraser and Stephen Kerr), all 22 Labour, all 7 Greens, all 4 Liberal Democrats and the Alba Party\u2019s Ash Regan. Only John Mason (SNP) voted against.<\/p>\n

It appears the few pro-life MSPs said the bill could infringe on freedom of expression, religion and assembly. They wanted exclusions for silent prayer. The Bill\u2019s sponsor acknowledged the concerns, only to dismiss them.<\/p>\n

The Bible says,<\/span>
Prov 25:5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.<\/b><\/p>\n

Access to healthcare or murder?<\/h2>\n

In her speech, Gillian Mackay came out with all the usual pro-abortion spin. She said everyone \u2018should be able to access healthcare with dignity and free of harassment\u2019.<\/p>\n

She said: \u2018For far too long women and health care staff have been forced to run a gauntlet of intimidation, judgment and fear in order to access or deliver treatment at what can often be the most emotional of times.<\/p>\n

No MSP asked, if this is mere \u2018healthcare\u2019, why is it so \u2018emotional\u2019? What other healthcare leaves women feeling emotional and filled with remorse?<\/p>\n

She said: \u2018No protester and no group should be allowed to tell women what they are or are not allowed to do with their body. This should be their choice, their privacy, and their decision.\u2019<\/p>\n

No MSP asked: \u2018Since when was a baby growing in the womb part of that woman\u2019s body?\u2019 Crucially, not one MSP asked Gillian Mackay: ‘What species were you when you were growing in your mother’s womb?’<\/p>\n

The psalmist says that was \u2018Me\u2019 in there, not part of his mother:<\/span>
P<\/b>salm 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2018Peaceful pro-life people\u2019 become criminals<\/h2>\n

A spokeswoman for Care for Scotland said: ‘The police are already empowered to deal with any incidents of abuse or harassment that occur under existing, well-balanced laws.<\/p>\n

‘Police data shows that pro-life activities do not involve the ‘harassment’ some campaigners claim is taking place. Some have wrongly sought to other and problematise peaceful pro-life people who offer support to women.<\/p>\n

Sign our Petition against Buffer Zones:<\/p>\n

Stop Abortion Buffer Zones \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n

Which way Britain?<\/h2>\n

The United Kingdom now ranks among the least religious nations in the world.<\/p>\n

Brits are now among the least likely internationally to believe in God, following a long-term decline in belief since the 1980s, according to a new study.<\/p>\n

The research, led by the Policy Institute at King\u2019s College London,<\/strong><\/a> also finds that the share of the population who say God is not important in their life is at a record high, having doubled compared with four decades ago.<\/p>\n

Belief in heaven has decreased over the same period, but belief in life after death and hell has remained stable, with younger generations more inclined to believe in both \u2013 despite being less religious generally.<\/p>\n

The Bible says,
Matthew 24:10-12 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many…And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.<\/b><\/p>\n

The British built the first church in Nigeria and built another right on top of the slave market in Zanzibar. We spread Christianity across our former colonies. Now we are abandoning the faith and advancing the causes of abortion and sodomy at home and abroad instead. Our love of truth and righteousness, indeed of the Gospel itself, has grown cold. How far we have fallen.<\/p>\n

Ask us to come and speak at your church \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n

Related Stories<\/h2>\n

Watch us Confronting LGBT spiritual strongholds in Scotland! \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n

Abortion Buffer Zones Vote \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n

Bible in chains after Buffer Zone verdict \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n

Health Secretary to back legalisation of abortion \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n

Health Secretary to back legalisation of abortion \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n

Vultures descend on abortion case \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n

Read and pray<\/h2>\n

READ<\/strong>: Gen 1:27, 4:26; Deut 30:19; Josh 7:10-11; 1Sam 2:30; Eccl 11:5; Esther 4:14b; Psa 139:13; Amos 8:11; Matt 24:28; 1 Cor 6:9; Philip 4:13; Gal 5:19; Col 3:5; 2 Tim 4:2; Heb 10:39; Heb 13:4.<\/p>\n

PRAY<\/strong>: For against leaders attempting to impose ungodly rules
Pray for the UK
Pray for Christians in the UK<\/p>\n

Let us know what YOU think in the comments below.<\/p>\n

Support us!<\/h2>\n

We appreciate your support; it enables our research and helps us inform your prayers.
So click below to support Christian Voice and stand up for the King of kings<\/b>
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n

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