MINISTERS AT the Belfast church where the Peter and Iris Robinson worship and within Dr Ian Paisley’s Free Presbyterian church say they recognise the trauma being endured by the family. Two such ministers say they have been in touch with Ms Robinson offering help and support.
However David McIlveen, a well-known Free Presbyterian minister in east Belfast said had Ms Robinson been a member of his congregation she may well have faced suspension for a serious breach of the commandments.
"If she was a member of our own church, which she is not, we would probably be suspending the person's membership until there would be the full understanding that the person has spiritually recovered from what they have done," he told The Irish Timesyesterday. "I think you need time to prove that your confession is genuine." He explained: "As far as our biblical teaching is concerned adultery is the breaking of the seventh commandment. There can be no compromise on the teaching of the scripture irrespective of the personality or the person involved. On that basis you have to try to reach out to help and to recover someone and one can fully recognise the agony and torment that, no doubt Ms Robinson particularly is going through." He said many Christians would understand Ms Robinson's difficulties while not condoning her action.
“A Christian who believes the Bible is much more sensitive to the conviction of the Bible’s message when they do break the commandment, or break the instruction from scripture. So she really has come through a tremendous period of agony and it reminds us that you cannot sin with impunity.
He added: “She has suffered greatly and I don’t think that anyone can pass by on the other side. We recognise how wrong adultery is. We have got to reach out and I personally have sent a letter to Ms Robinson fully aware of my own strong belief that what she has done is contrary to her faith and contrary to what I believe, but at the same time saying that if I can do anything to help I am here.”
Forgiveness from sin was assured, he said. But time was needed for her to convince others that her contrition was complete.
“There is the promise that God gives in his word that if we confess our sin then he can forgive us our sin and cleanse us. You base confession on that promise.
“But there is something else to me that is very important and that is the peace that comes as a result. The notoriety of her sin should be comparable to the notoriety of her repentance. I think that has demonstrated itself in the life of Ms Robinson particularly. I think once you have contributed to bringing dishonour to God’s name in this way then there’s got to be a discipline, there’s got to be a recognising in your own mind that this is something you can’t see from the term ‘condoning’.” Pastor James McConnell of Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle, who ministers to the Robinsons, said he too was supportive of the Robinsons despite her wrongdoing.
“They know I am here, they know where I live. I am there for them,” Pastor McConnell said. They had been to church over Christmas and he said Ms Robinson seemed stressed.
He said he had sent a message of encouragement to Mr Robinson concerning his work and had also been speaking to Ms Robinson following her announcement that she is to quit public life. “She seemed really under the weather and bearing up with great difficulty,” he told Radio Ulster.“She is very talented, she helps people wonderfully. I think Iris could begin again in a different way, not in politics. I think she can help a lot of people,” Pastor McConnell added.
He also praised Mr Robinson. “He has been disciplined, he has worked hard when he was still bearing this burden. Occasionally we saw them at the tabernacle, they came and sat among the people and worshipped.”
He concluded: “They have got my love, they have got my prayers and there is not one of us that is squeaky clean.”