Appreciating our shared Gaelic identity with Catholics holds key to Protestant spiritual revival

CLIVE Maxwell (Write Back, June 9) describes “the battle for the heart and soul” of the Protestant community.

The British Empire is now a museum piece and imperialism an embarrassment. The statue of Edward Colston (1636-1721), the celebrated Bristol slave trader, has been downed.

Rampant capitalism and greed are the new threats to our evangelical churches — a ‘prosperity gospel’ of respectability and wealth.

One translation of the prophet Amos runs: “I can’t stand your religious meetings. I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I’m sick of your fundraising schemes, your public relations and image-making.”

Clive Maxwell thinks the seeds of community revival and renewal may be found in examining our connection to Scotland. The shared Gaelic identity of Irish Protestant and Catholic people can be a gigantic force for huge good, once recognised.

One of the last great UK spiritual revivals occurred in the Scottish Gaeltacht just after the Second World War.

A tiny Faith Mission pamphlet, The Price and Power of Revival by Duncan

Campbell, charts an astounding awakening in the Presbyterian congregations of the Hebrides, as people prayed, remembering specific promises of God, like Isaiah 44:3 (“For I will pour water on the thirsty ground and send streams coursing through the parched earth. I will pour my Spirit into your descendants and my blessing on your children”).

God remains true to his word, but are we ready to humble ourselves daily in a time of expectant prayer around this promise?

CHRISTIAN

(Name and address with Editor)