Wow. How old were you

That is a Ulster man for you

William Gallerani

Biblical Protestantism? Where in the teachings of God's word are the followers of Jesus Christ called "protestants"?? People need to follow Jesus Christ and not follow Protestantism ( a word as man made as "Roman Catholic"!!)

He was a sectarian bigot and was involved with paramilitaries. Some Christian!

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fqunlNSkmsjaYYE.html

As we all do

Unfortunately he caused many people in northern Ireland to Hate, and inspired others to kill. I hope he repented before he died.

A sectarian bigot

That is usually said of all who preach the true Gospel.

Would to God there was more preaching like this

Ulster Presbyterians are as straight as a die: I grew up among them. The salt of the earth. Paisley was a bit of a "Blow in" because of where his mother came from, hence the stridency, not an Ulster trait. Strong, yes, overbearing, never. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

I think he did especially with the peace process and holding out the hand of personal friendship to Martin McGuinness. He also made a point of putting himself out to help Catholic constituents to avoid charges of bias.

"First and foremost a Christian" Paisley described himself as a "Protestant" and rarely as "Christian" however, protestant is no where to be found in the bible. The followers of Jesus Christ were called Christian, Church of God, churches of Christ, the way, etc etc. never "Protestant"

dlougha Luke?

@StAnthony God and Jesus Christ are trillions of times bigger than the narrow politics of Northern Ireland. The Christian Gospel is not a narrow minded political game between Paisley Protestantism and Sinn Fein. The Life and teachings of Jesus and his apostles through out the New Testament reflect nothing from the triumphalist politics of Paisley. Show me one verse in the new testament or the early church where Jesus or his disciples and apostles were patriotic to any earthly power and were willing to fight for any piece of land on this earth? Paisley rejected the parts of the bible that conflicted with his Calvinist and earthly political views. He saw sin as being the embodiment of the Roman Catholic church rather than rebelliousness against God and Jesus Christ. political Protestantism is not from Christ. Jesus and his apostles taught that our country and kingdom is heavenly and not earthly ie Northern Ireland !! Christ taught us to fight evil with Good. Paisley influenced many in the north of Ireland to fight evil with physical violence. He started the paramilitary groups such as the "Ulster Resistance" and the "third force" in 1986. As a result many police men were threatened, bombed and burned out of their homes by members of his organization. What has this got to do with bringing people to the Gospel. Protestantism leads no one to Christ. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ leads people to Christ. Paisley Beat the drums of Calvinist Protestantism and not the teachings of Jesus. I would rather put my trust in Christ than in people who mix earthly politics with pick and choose Christianity. Paisley was indeed a great orator. However, his earthly narrow minded politics blinded him into a revengeful misguided man.

@StAnthony Paisley was blinded by Ideology. He put political Protestant Calvinist ideology before faith in Christ. You quoted Romans 13. Paisley did not follow Pauls teachings on Romans 13. He set up and engaged in supporting illegal paramilitary loyalist groups ie "Ulster Protestant Volunteers", "the third force" and "Ulster resistance" that directly led to the injuring and perhaps killing of innocent Catholics and police men in Northern Ireland. Paisley only supported the governing authorities in Northern Ireland and UK as long as it agreed with HIS thinking. You quoted 1 Peter 2:17 "Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor." In 1966 paisley was imprisoned for inciting hate and violence against Catholics. In 1968 He arrived in Armagh with bus loads of his supporters carrying nail studded bats to beat up Catholic civil rights marchers. Paisley was imprisoned for a time for inciting violence and hate. Do you call this "respecting everyone or honouring the ruling Government?" You quoted Acts 16:37. The passage shows that Paul was a good roman citizen and took advantage of his earthly citizenship for protection against the mob. Paisleys actions showed him more to be part of the mob rather than as a good British Citizen who obeyed the law. You said .. "the overwhelming majority of the Old Testament narrative and message is wrapped up in expounding the wonders of one Nation and their God. Messianism is a form of patriotism, brother". The physical Nation of Israel was Chosen by God to be a holy and righteous nation. Israel was the tool by which God introduced Messiah Jesus into the world ... (Gal 4:4). Now we are all Abrahams descendants through faith in Christ. Our kingdom is heavenly and not earthly. Northern Ireland or any other nation today is NOT God's Chosen Nation. It is sinful for you to even suggest that. We are in the world but not of the world. (John 18:36)(Phil 3:20). We pray for our earthly leaders to give them wisdom because we know that God has ultimate authority and control (Rom 13). But obedience to a nation only goes as far as it does not conflict with our faith ... ie Abortion. That does not mean we go out and burn abortion clinics and kill abortion staff. It means we take advantage of the law of the land ie debates, publications and elections to vote against parties that support abortion. Contaminating Worldly philosophies with the Gospel as Paisley did, will only bring people to destruction (colossians 2:22). There is only one patriotism for those who love Jesus Christ. to love his teachings and word in the Christian scriptures .. John 14:15, Phil 3:17-21

@StAnthony YOu may want to debunk my views but you can not debunk the Scriptures I quoted to support what i said. You can not serve two masters, and apparently you believe the Roman Catholic and paisley protestant view of serving two masters. When the Christian church was politicized after 325 AD, it morphed into the Roman Catholic Church and became an earthly kingdom where the pope became the supreme emperor of the "christian" world. Paisley's patriotic Protestantism had more in common with the Church of Rome than it did with the teachings of Christ. Other examples of Calvinist patriotism was Apartheid in South Africa, and the Calvinist support of White supremacy in the southern USA. You said .... "I understand that you are furious at people for protecting themselves against IRA terrorism, that claimed the lives of over 1800 people." My Grandfather was almost killed by the IRA. One of my good friends who was in the RUC was almost killed by the IRA and had some of his best friends killed. However, he was almost killed by Loyalist members of Paisleys Ulster Resistance Gang in 1986. His family had to move from Belfast to the Ards peninsula as had thousands of other RUC men thanks to Paisley, so please do not rant your ideology presumptions on me or give me a history lesson!!. Christ does not judge men by their religious name badge, but by their faith and works. Also please read the scriptures i quoted and reply to them, as i kindly replied to the scriptures you quoted. I grew up protestant, but when i came to Christ, I threw away all man made name tags. I only wear one name now.. Christian (1 peter 4:16)!!. I only follow one Creed... the Bible especially the New Testament which has all sufficiency for our faith. paisley and his church follow their creed book "the book of church order" and they have a "moderator" They call themselves Protestant and Free Presbyterians, all of which are no where to be found, authorized or given example in the New Testament of the Bible!!. I put my faith in Christ and not Paisley!! You said ... "I am genuinely praying that the Lord would illuminate your darkened and self righteous heart". If it is to paisleys self righteousness... NO THANKS

@StAnthony You said "And of course you were still unable to support your bizarre anti-patriotic cult-like form of Christianity." YOu call People who follow the bible only as their guide as "Cult like"? When people want to return to the simplicity and purity of the Early church, you call it "Cultlike". You can expand your statement in which you could even include the Pope as a Christian!! In 1986 Paisley warned that No RUC man was safe in his own home because of their duty to stop Paisleys mob rioting on the streets against the anglo irish agreement. My good friend was one of the policemen who was hunted out of his own home off the shankill road as a result. Romans ch 13 only applied to Paisley when it suited him. Paisley was even imprisoned for inciting violence. Is this what you call the mark of a good citizen? I sympathize with all victims of IRA Murder. My ancestors did not escape such violence. I know the frustration and bitterness that was created especially to ordinary law abiding citizens in Northern Ireland. However, I have also seen what politics has done to the minds of people there and in other countries. At the end of it all, the only duty of every christian is to bring people to Christ. Look what paul said about his ministry .... 2 Cor 6:3-10. Paisley by contrast put his faith in Triumphalist protestantism that displayed itself in marches and violent defiance. This is not the Church that we even remotely read about in the New Testament or early church. The closest paisley comes to what we read are akin to the pharisees starting mobs to beat and stone the Apostles!!