There is concern for all sinners and for the Robinsons, but no word on current controversies, writes DAN KEENANat Whitewell Tabernacle, Belfast
THE METROPOLITAN Tabernacle Belfast stands large and proud among the modest homes of Whitewell on the north fringe of the city.
Opened 16 years ago next month, this bold and striking building is the multimillion pound home to a substantial congregation which began in 1957 as a gathering of just 22 in the local Orange hall which had been rented out for the service.
The place “was still reeking with beer smells from the night before and a young man, together with a fellow worker brushed up the cigarette ends and opened the windows to let in some fresh air” the history goes.
Yesterday morning 1,600 poured into its opulent interior, perhaps more reminiscent of a modern auditorium than a stereotypical church.
This is no “dreary steeple”. Their purpose, as the literature claims, “is none other than to preach the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the edification and preparation of God’s people for the greatest event in history – namely the visible, physical, literal second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, back to this earth and the ushering in of His Kingdom”.
According to Pastor James McConnell, this is the favoured place of worship for the DUP leader and First Minister.
“Peter always said that he was part of Whitewell, that he belonged to Whitewell and he said that among his colleagues, he said that everywhere.” But he is not here, and no straining of the neck among the throng can locate him.
The dramatic events of the week appear to hang heavy about the place but go unremarked.
A billboard at the entrance proclaims all-comers welcome and advertises the five services held throughout the week.
But it now also professes in bold red spray-can paint the single word “adulterers”.
“I haven’t spoken much to our church people only to my church leaders and so on and we are very saddened and disappointed,” the 72-year-old pastor admits in his earthy east Belfast accent.
“Let’s be honest there’s nobody out there that’s squeaky clean and as David said, ‘If thou Lord should mark iniquities, who would stand?’ You saw 1,600 people at church this morning . . . no matter what sin they had committed.
“But people are saddened, they are sad for the Robinson family. Here is a little family, let us forget about the political side. Here is a family ready to break up and that is what you don’t want. You don’t want a family to break up and more revelations have come and Peter will have to make his mind where he stands with his family. I know his family are backing him.
“His children are backing him and they love him and they highly respect him. But I just don’t know what is going to happen.”
The welcome for the stranger is warm and genuine, and there is no suspicion despite the presence of journalists in the grounds outside. There is no “who are you and why are you here?” The service, one hour and 20 minutes, is streamed live on the internet and on a satellite channel.
Amid the arm waving, the joy of the saved, the swaying and the full-on participation in the hymn singing there is obviously no place for political gossip.
People come here to pray, this reporter is told. “We just don’t do politics here,” said one man.
“That’s right we don’t do politics,” Pastor McConnell says, “and if you notice I didn’t even refer to it once”. There are bigger topics to preach than Iris Robinson’s infidelity, a couple of cheques and the ministerial code.