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Derick Binghams life is a cause for much thanksgiving. He is truly one of the great spiritual warriors of the 'Boomer' generation having been faithful to God in his use of his gifts to help so very many on their spiritual journey. May Margaret and the entire Bingham family find much comfort in the days ahead.

Brian Coulter.

A great and honest Preacher of the Gospel and will be sadly missed by his Family.

It is with deep sadness that we learned this morning that Derick is now "AT HOME" - sadness for the family, but for Derick - his journey here is now complete and he has gone to the place he preached about so faithfully for so many years.

He has now seen the face of the Saviour he loved so much and served so well and will have heard the "Well Done". No more "Shadowlands"!

I have shed many tears this morning - (but there is also a comfort to me that he has already seen the face of the Saviour, our precious son David (who went to be his Lord and Saviour 3 years ago this month, age 25, and many of his family & friends who have gone on to Heaven before him)

To Margaret, Kathyrn, Kerrie & Claire - our loving thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. God bless you all and the extended family.

It IS hard but I KNOW from experience now that the "peace of God which passes understanding" is REAL. It is "In Christ Alone" you will find your peace, comfort, strength and courage to face each new day.

We will be in touch. Much love
Ann

You have written a really heartfelt and dignified tribute there Will, thanks.

I heard Derick preach a few times and he undoubtedly was very gifted and blessed.

May I just affirm your use of the term "called home".

I welcome the fact that you have not used it in inverted commas in your title, however you obviously allow for other readers' sensitivities in your tribute by highlighting that this was Derick's personal belief.

I think a crucial question that Derick would be glad to see discussed graciously at this time would be the absolute truth or otherwise of that statement.

(I hope I am not being presumptous here, but I think I understood Derick's ministry enough to say the following).

Would Derick be truly happy for people simply to pay tribute to his human qualities at this time and to celebrate the peace he had about his journey? That appears to be a viewpoint based on relativistic truth (It was great for Derick, he was such a great man, but his faith is not for me).

Did Derick not effectively spend his entire life challenging this perception in one way or another?

Would Derick not have preferred that as many people as possible would accept his worldview of absolute truth and his journey as an absolute truth and reality which everyone must either accept or reject personally?

I suspect Derick would feel more satisifed with a tribute which affirmed his view that an assured journey home after death is an absolute truth and an absolute necessity for everyone.

In other words, I imagine Derick would have liked everyone to know that the Christ that he served offers a welcoming and loving hand of security to everyone during this life and into the next.

I dont think Derick saw this Good News as an optional extra for spiritually inclined people.

I believe his entire and excellent life communicated his heart that this is the absolute pivotal issue that defines everyone one of us eternally.

Sincerely
OT

:He loved Jesus and wanted to follow him: What a great testimony he will be sadly missed by many people. Preachers and teachers like him do not come along every day. I would like to pass on my thoughts and prayers to his family and friends and this very sad time.

Indeed William, a very sad day. He'll be sorely missed in Christian circles in Northern Ireland.

As a teenager I enjoyed reading Derick's weekly articles in 'The Christian Herald'. I suppose he was the first preacher who had an impact on me. Since then I have benefited from listening to his oral ministry and reading his books. The way he reacted to his illness was remarkable, inspiring and God-glorifying. Maybe he did more for his Saviour during the last year than he had during all his previous years. I join with Christians throughout the world in saluting his memory, in mourning his passing, in praying for his family and in rejoicing that for Derick, sorrow and sickness are now forever gone. He has experienced the culmination of the journey and the realisation of his faith.

William:

My condolences and heartfelt prayers are being extended to Mr. Derick Bingham family and friends in this time....

(Dennis Junior)

Appreciate the genuine warmth of your comments about Derick, William.

Derick's life made an impact on the lives of a huge number of people, especially through his preaching and writing, and I join with others in thanking God for every memory of him.

In common with many other Christian churches, we prayed for Margaret and Derick's family in our services today, but we also prayed for Christ Church, where he was teaching pastor: the folk there will really miss him too.

Someone from our fellowship pointed out to me today that the devotional for 6th March from 'The Smoldering Flax' (Derick's book on Isaiah)was curiously appropriate, as he wrote of 'crossing the river of death'.

What a joy to know that true believers in Christ have heartfelt assurance that to be with Him is 'far better'! Derick has already experienced the truth he so often preached, that for every real Christian '...to die is gain.'

I was privileged to call Derick a friend, and a rolemodel. We are all the poorer for his passing. As a Christian leader, he was a massive role model and inspiration to me. I feel numb, and after William's moving interview with him around New Year,I cannot believe he has been called home. William, thank you for leaving this interview as an amazing record of a conversation. All of us were stunned that Derick never realised the inspiration he was on so many of us.

So i guess everyone is ignoring the fact that his statement of belief on his church's website contradicts scripture? Is that how this works?

Disappointed by the lack of grace exhibited by 'ChristianCalvinist' in his / her comment. Just not what anyone who knew and loved Derick and was touched by his life wants to hear

#12 - Ivan, 'disappointed' is a mild word - you could have chosen much stronger ones I'm sure, but you may have been moderated off. In doing so you demonstrate grace that ChristianCalvinist seems to be a stranger to -in fact, who on this occasion reflects neither characters represented by the double-name he posts under.

No, ChristianCalvinist, that is not how it works, and I suspect many people are about to tell you.

Unbelievable. The Phelps family comes to mind.

Can we get back to the tributes?

"So i guess everyone is ignoring the fact that his statement of belief on his church's website contradicts scripture? Is that how this works?"

Yeah, when someone you like and respect dies, you make fun of their theology.
Maybe you've a passion for truth, and just need to calm down a little. Maybe you're a jerk who doesn't like people, and the doctrinal correctness is just an excuse to throw crazy lazy insults about.
Maybe you're a "troll" who doesn't even believe in God, and likes disrupting online discussions (my bet, as it happens).

Put a name to your posts, grow up, or shut up!

GV

Ivan

Ignore the silly boy. He needs to grow up.
We've tried being nice to him, but he doesn't want to learn or listen.

GV

I only read Mr Bingham's book on "The Great Gatsby", and only heard him preach two or three times in my life. (At University I was one of the "enlightened" arrogant berks who thought that they had outgrown his preaching).

My Christian walk has not been deeply shaped by Mr Bingham. So *I* am surprised at the sadness I felt at his death. His interview with William was remarkable. His last few months were a honorable testimony to his faith- that is so important in a cynical age. I'll confess that I completely underestimated Mr Binghams importance to Northern Irish Evangelicalism. He was loved by many, and helped many. It's sad when someone like that passes.

But it was his passionate (and transparently genuine)love of his Savior and his God that moves me. And it seems to have moved those who don't share that love. If that's all I leave behind me when I go I'll be a very happy man indeed.

Graham Veale

I have been aware of Derick Bingham my whole life. His voice is a familiar voice, his approach was formative in some of the best of the Northern Ireland Christianity that I've been exposed to.... and all without being a regular direct hearer of his words. Could there be any greater tribute than to have been affected second- or third-hand by someone, almost by osmosis?

Derick Bingham was a Christian in the sense of which I believe Christ would have been proudest.

PS- In the battle between the ideologies of the ChristianCalvinists and Derick Binghams of the world, I'm throwing in with Derick.

Maybe we should take down CC's comment and my reply? I'll let others decide, but for once the complaint button may prove useful.

This doesn't seem a fitting place for such comments or such an exchange.
My profoundest apologies for the anger on display here.

GV

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

William

As I said, a very respectful tribute to a great talent - thanks.

I knew him by his preaching and his reputation. A great man.

Maybe my question was too reambling before...

You said;-

"Our thoughts today are with Derick's wife Margaret and their family, who were his constant support and inspiration throughout this journey home. I use that expression, rather than the blunt description of his death or the euphemistic description of his "passing away", because I know that is how Derick understood the death he has been preparing for since receiving his cancer diagnosis."

I would be interested if you - or anyone else - could answer me a question about this, it reflects much of our culture;-

Did Derick actually go home, as you say, or was that just his opinion about where his journey took him.

Because it appears to me this is a crucial question. If he was mistaken about where his journey took him, then so was everyone who ever bought into his teaching and writing and that has major implications for his legacy and integrity.

It would in effect be a beautiful lie and a complete deluded waste of a life.

So did he actually go home or not?

OT

"We've tried being nice to him, but he doesn't want to learn or listen."

GV most people did try and be nice to me....one person was not can u guess who he was??? you know the fella who told me to get off the blog....called me names and then sent emails around asking people to get rid of me?? oh wait that was you! your attempt at whitewashing your previous acts of forcing people off the blog (i counted three people so far) would make even sinn fein recoil in amazement at your rewriting of history especially considering the comments you have posted in the past are openly available in the archive

ChristianCalvinist,

I can't believe you have had the audacity to return to this thread with anything other than regret and an apology for the sentiments originally expressed.

ChristianCalvinist, post 22,

I'm somewhat astonished by some of the things you said there. How on FSMs green earth has Graham Veale forced three people off the blog (boring people away with his many, sometimes lengthy, not always substantial posts doesn't count), and who were those three?!

And have you had emails from him forwarded to you in which he is campaigning against you? I know from personal experience that having someone trying to get you thrown out of a group through underhand, dishonest methods is very nasty business. I see that as quite a serious allegation. What exactly is your basis for making it?

ChristianCalvinist, in view of Williams post, please leave any reply on the Open Thread. Thanks.

I'm more than happy to complain about my own posts that distract from the tributes to Derick. Should I do this, or does someone want to do that for me?

no probs William

I'lll leave my question about Derick's journey home here;-

/blogs/ni/2010/03/open_thread_1.html

OT

hi will

Pls cld u answer the question on the open thread

Is it true what u said, that derick went home?

Thanks

Ot

Hi Again William

You have requested sensitivity and I understand that.

It would be much appreciated if you could also provide some sort of any answer to the question.

Either here or on the open thread.

Can we really accept that Derick did go home or was that just his perception?

It really goes to the heart of so much we discuss here and I think it is an important question.

Many thanks
OT

OK William

I understand you are declining to engage with this question, as I've asked it about six times now.

Did Derick really go home or was that just his perception?

Doesnt it really go to the heart of everything that we discuss here?

Isnt it the critical question?

What if the answer to this questions held the root solution to all the other questions raised on this blog?

In the interests of intellectual boldness, inquiry and integrity should we really excuse ourselves from examining such a question?

Is that philsophically respectable?

Is it a question you are unable or unwilling to grapple with?

Why?

shalom...

OT

OT that is a question i would like anwsered too! Maybe someone could attempt an anwser for us?

William..... a dedicated thread perhaps?

cheers
OT