About

“faith of our fathers” came about as a means to share my thoughts and reflections from reading John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion during 2009. The aim was to discover why this work has had such an impact on the Christian faith over the last 500 years. During 2009 I read the four volumes that make up the Institutes and blogged my reflections on each chapter (see Calvin’s Institutes). 

Since finishing the Institutes I am now blogging my way through Christopher Hitchen’s God Is Not Great and Augustine’s City of God. I also comment on UK society and life in a post-Christian culture here. 

I am a scientist by training and a strategy analyst by profession, with a passion for theology, philosophy and contemporary culture. I am driven by a desire to build a biblically faithful worldview from first principles through understanding the bible and then communicate these truths in a relevant way to contemporary society. If you have enjoyed the reflections please leave a comment as it’s a great encouragement to know others are also enjoying the posts. You can also follow me on twitter @martynlink. Also if you would like to reproduce any of my posts on your website, then let me know.

I have lived in Scotland for the last 18 years. After living in Edinburgh for most of this time, where I went to Charlotte Chapel and Abbeyhill Baptist, I am now actively involved in Central Baptist Church in Dundee, where I also preach occasionally. During the spring and summer of 2011 my family and I helped lead the children’s work at a new church plant in Carnoustie (I wrote a review of the new church here). I now live near Dundee and work in Aberdeen. Crazy I know! (you can read my thoughts on trying to balance work/life/ministry here).

After working in the life science industry for the last 8 years I now work for a global energy service company. I have the blessing of a young family, so finding time to study is a challenge. However, I have a passion for writing and find that the discipline of articulating my thoughts either through preaching or writing helps to crystallise my ideas.

13 thoughts on “About”

  1. Martyn,

    Thanks for reaching out and saying hi! I enjoyed my visit to your blog, have subscribed to your RSS Feed, and look forward to hearing your insights.

    It appears that you are a bit ahead of me, in the Institutes, so you may find me poking around in your archives.

  2. Martyn,

    Good morning. I’m trusting that you’re well.

    It is spring break here and all of our children have been home from school. The three oldest went on a youth retreat for five days with the group from church. The youngest has just been hanging around. My wife keeps four babies and toddlers at the house each day so it has been anything but quiet. Needless to say, I’ve not had much opportunity to read any of the Institutes. I’m looking forward to being able to try and get back to it next week.

    I wanted to ask if the church you attend has a website. If it does, I’d like to visit it. I have a number of churches in Scotland bookmarked on my computer and am wanting to add some of them to the “churches” heading on the sidebar of my blog’s front page.

    Blessings to you, Brother,

    Scott

  4. Martyn,

    I admire you for your commitment to reading and posting on the Institutes. My time and energy to “run the race” ran out quite some time ago.

    I do continue to post on my blog, though, on books that I read, church planting, missions and miscellaneous subjects.

    ~ Blessings ~

    Scott

  5. Martyn,

    It’s been a long time since I’ve visited you at “faith of our fathers,” but I thought about you today when a friend told me about a Calvin resource he has found. It’s on Facebook and is called “Coffee with Calvin.” A man at Reformed Theological Seminary in the States is reading Calvin with his morning coffee and then posting on FB. I don’t know if you do FB, but I thought might like to check him out if you do. Just type ‘Coffee with Calvin” in your search box.

    Blessings,

    Scott

  6. Good afternoon. Martyn, and blessings to you.

    Just a note that I’ve recently placed Central Baptist Church, Dundee, on my blog under the “Churches” heading.

    Have started doing a lot more reading of the sermons of Scottish preachers of old – M’Cheyne, Boston, and others. My interest in the Scottish Reformation, Scottish pastors, and the Puritans continues to grow. Was wondering if you could suggest any websites, books, or Scottish churches there that I could go to for information/reading regarding these subjects.

    Finally, my niece and her husband now live in Aberdeen. He is a PhD student there.

    Scott

  7. Good evening. Thanks for your reply. I do not have any books about Scottisth preachers but do know of one that is entitled, The Scots Worthies. It was written and published many years ago by John Howie (1735-1793). Would love to read it. Let me know if you find one. Perhaps we pick one and then read and blog through it. Or, maybe sermons by particular preachers. Right now I am getting into Thomas Boston. BTY, have you ever read of any of Robert Traill’s sermons? If not, I would suggest his six sermon series on Galatians 2:21. If you go to my blog and search for him you’ll find posts I wrote on the sermons a couple of years ago. Poerful messages. Let me what you think about the idea of reading and blogging together. Blessings.

  8. Hi Martyn, Thanks for your blog, I find it encouraging and can sense gentleness and humility in your writing. For that, I have a question that I have been pondering, but cannot come to terms with. Please know that this is a genuine concern and I am in no way trying to ‘pin’ you down or back you into any corners- rather I’m looking for your insight…

    From a Reformed perspective (I am relatively new to this thinking in many ways), assuming the Doctrine of Election is true (I believe this to be true myself), what is the role of parenting? Knowing that there is no way to know whether or not your children are “elect”, how can a loving parent subject his children to Biblical teaching – assuming that teaching could some day be held against them on judgement day? (wouldn’t it be better for Sodom and Gomorrah than those who know the Gospel and don’t respond?). If they are elect anyway, perhaps telling them once and seeing how they respond is better than consistent training?

    Again, I am not being facetious or devious- but really struggling through this. I grew up in a church and always assumed I was a Christian. Lately, I have doubted that as I have not seen the Spirit’s activity in my life, nor fully reflect the fruit of the Spirit, nor am I sure that I have fully repented from my sin. You may say to just repent and believe, but I am finding it more difficult than that and wondering whether or not I could possibly not be “elect”. Having sat through countless sermons and podcasts and books, am I more accountable?

    Then, I take that to my children and wonder if I teach them the Gospel and they don’t respond, are they destined for a much more difficult eternity? Wouldn’t love for them wish for them to find Christ, yet not subject them to countless hours of instruction knowing that they may not choose that?

    I am really confused, discouraged and honestly disheartened. I feel like my efforts to find God or grow closer to Christ or even to repent are “works” of my own and can’t any longer separate the true work of the Spirit from my own efforts.

    I guess I am not looking for a counseling session, rather perhaps a perspective on what my responsibility is as a parent from the Reformed perspective. Thanks for your time and consideration on this (you can pray for me as well if you desire- I would not pass on that!).

    Blessings to you,

    Mark

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