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Brief letters that include the writer’s name and address are welcome. We will not publish letters sent anonymously, though we may withhold names at our discretion. Letters may be edited for purposes of length or clarity. Send by regular mail to:
Letters, MB Herald
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Pornography lies
I’m sure James Toews meant well (Crosscurrents, Sept. 24), but to read the sin in Genesis as seeking information rather than disobedience of a divine command is probably a misreading of the text.
Furthermore, to call pornography “information” is to misunderstand both its content and its purpose. Pornography lies. Because I chaired the Vancouver Coalition Against Pornography and served on the B.C. Periodical Review Board for several years, I know something about the extent of the lies.
Pornography lies about human sexuality, particularly female sexuality, promoting rape myths in particular. It fosters the lie that women exist primarily for male sexual pleasure. In addition, it lies about male sexuality, promulgating the myth that size matters and that sex apart from relationship can be ultimately gratifying. Even the photographs lie. As one activist said, “Nobody looks like that, not even her!”
Furthermore, the material is designed to separate men from women, to substitute an addiction to paper prostitutes for relationships with real women – all for the profit of the publisher and the merchant. Good information about human sexuality would protect people from the lies that pornography markets.
I would rather not know what I do know about those lies – about the hatred of women for which there is such a huge market, but I believe that the Holy Spirit can protect us when we are involved with acquiring dangerous knowledge for a good purpose. On at least one occasion, because I could tell the difference between pornography and educational material, I probably helped to save a marriage. It is not information that corrupts, but information that is not submitted to the light of God’s truth.
I often wish that churches would take more responsibility in this area, so I thank Toews and the Herald for raising the issue.
Donna Stewart,
Vancouver, B.C.
An inspiration
I was impressed by the attitude of Vijay Manuel, a man only in his 20s (Crosscurrents, Oct. 8). When his machine was rolling along successfully and he enjoyed the acclaim of the crowds, he brought the whole system to a halt in obedience to his inner voice.
Doxa, his group of musicians, reminds me a little of Excalibur, the sword that God asked King Arthur to throw into the sea. Of course, the king was hesitant. That sword had a history. It had been brilliant in battle, and its handle was encrusted with diamonds.
But when King Arthur obeyed, he saw an arm reach out from the water and receive the sword, so he knew he’d done the right thing.
The poet remarks:
The old order changeth, yielding place to new,
And God fulfills himself in many ways,
Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.
(Tennyson, “Morte d’ Arthur”)
Many leaders have stood at the same place Vijay stood, knowing it’s time to move on but wanting to institutionalize some great human venture. What comes to mind is our parents wishing to keep their German language in their services. They let it go. Tongues-speaking, footwashing, the King James Version, pipe organs, cathedrals, the Book of Common Prayer and many more such Excaliburs we have let go, some in obedience to God, some not. But it’s inspiring to see a man so young able to act so wisely.
Ervin Redekop,
Kamloops, B.C.
Students are salt and light
Great article on Public Schools (Sept. 24). Our children also attend public schools, where they are (we pray) salt and light to their fellow students. My daughter has had opportunities in class to share her faith. Christians should do what they can to influence public schools, not just write them off. Obviously there are limits to how much Christian teaching may be done in the public school system (basically none); however, there are many ways that Christian morals, values and principles can be supported. Since 1990, I have had the opportunity to support Christian ideals as a member of the Abbotsford (B.C.) Board of School Trustees.
There are four Christians on our Board of seven people – Gerda Fandrich, Joanne Field, John Sutherland and I. We have battled with the provincial Minister of Education (who threatened to use his legislative power to remove us) over teaching creationism as an alternative explanation for the origins of life. We pretty much lost that highly publicized battle, but have retained the right for students to bring up creation when evolution is taught.
Our district teaches abstinence as the only “safe sex”. We do not have condom machines in our schools. We have “dry” grads (no booze). We still allow the distribution of Gideon Bibles. We have a policy that allows schools to celebrate Christmas with traditional Christian songs and stories. Many secondary schools have Christian fellowship groups. Most schools welcome Mothers Who Care/ Moms in Touch groups. We have many Christian teachers, principals, support staff and senior staff members. In short, we enjoy a lot of “Christian” benefits that many other Boards could have but, apparently, don’t want.
I support the parent’s right to choose a private school, but the vast majority of tomorrow’s leaders will have come through the public school system. Christians should not be apathetic about school board elections – there is still some authority vested in school boards, and we should not be afraid to use it to protect what is important to us.
Don Szostak,
Abbotsford, B.C.
Christians needed in public schools
Public and Christian schools (Sept. 24) is a topic which has brought about some pretty intense debate between us and our friends. My missionary parents chose to send me to one of the local “national” schools where my siblings and I were some of the very few foreigners at a time when there was much pressure for missionary children to be sent to the Christian missionary school in the capital of Ecuador. As a result, I learned to speak Spanish fluently, and developed a strong identity with the country, which persists to this day. I am very thankful my parents chose this course.
My wife and I, both teachers, had no hesitation in entrusting our three children to the public school system for elementary and high school. There have been some serious struggles at times with friendship and peer influence, with some teachers and with some educational issues, and we had to make some sacrifices of time and energy in order for them to have our complete support. Yet we are as commited as ever to the idea of public education being an important avenue for our children to learn how to live in the “real world”. They have learned to stand up for their convictions, they have learned to appreciate the spiritual heritage with which they have been blessed, and they have developed some indispensable skills in working with and understanding people who do not share their beliefs and moral values. Working through some of the issues brought about by being in the public school have also brought us close together as a family and made us realize how important family is for mutual support. It has also given us the opportunity as parents to have a positive influence in the schools where they have attended. We made our Christian values very clear and found that others respected us for them.
As a high school teacher for more than 20 years in the public system, I have found time and again that God has affirmed why He placed me there, and given me unbelievable opportunities for ministry and witness. Rather than lamenting the loss of moral compassion in the public system, we need to use it to reach kids who are crying out for some kind of hope, peace and moral values. Why are we jumping ship at precisely the time when we can have the most influence, and, with God’s help, turn the ship around? What if all the children who go to Christian schools, and their teachers instead placed their collective energy back into making an impact in the public schools? Do we believe that God is powerful and can protect our children? Can He not use all of us to help desperate children to meet Jesus at a time of their lives when they are most open?
John Dyck,
Burnaby, B.C.
Book has flaws
Re: V. George Shillington’s review of Who Do They Say That I Am?: Christians Encounter Other Religions.
I was surprised that Shillington did not draw attention to a fundamental flaw in the book – the view that communication between a Christian and another person is a “dialogue”. Admittedly after 223 pages we come to statements such as “Witness and dialogue are not primarily a conversation between human beings but a conversation in which God speaks to both partners” and “Dialogue becomes a trilogue.” One only has to read to page 10 in the New Testament before we find Jesus telling His disciples that when they are brought before kings, they are not to worry about what to say because “it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking in you”.
Equally disturbing is the total lack of recognition in the book of the evil spirit’s intrusion into communication. One only has to read to page 2 in the Old Testament before we find the evil spirit intruding with “Is it true. . .?” In a college class, Johannes Reimer severely criticized the book on this account.
When talking with others, speaking up in a church meeting or even writing a letter to the Herald, it is good to “discern the spirits” by asking ourselves, “Where does this thought come from – from me, from the other, from the Spirit of Truth or from the Spirit of Lies?”
Frank Penner,
Winnipeg, Man.
Both parents are tempted
I express gratitude to the Herald for providing thoughtful reading material. I take time to read the Herald (almost cover to cover). Sometimes, however, I end up shaking my head.
The Oct. 8 issue was on parenting/family, but “The Top Ten Temptations of Mothers” fell into the trap of addressing only half of the equation. The temptations are faced by all parents – not just mothers. We, as Christian families, need to set an example in language and lifestyle, endorsing equality in responsibilities of fathers and mothers in nurturing children. Given the general thoughtfulness of the editorial staff, I’m surprised that you didn’t suggest that the author amend the title/content.
Nellie Taylor,
Abbotsford, B.C.
Focus on positive
I respond to Robert Tauber’s article. Listing the top ten temptations of motherhood is the same as listing the weaknesses of mothers. All of us mothers strive to be the best moms we can be – a goal that sometimes feels unattainable. Listing our weaknesses only strengthens our feelings of guilt and inadequacy.
As a mother who works outside the home part-time, I was also disturbed by the insinuation that working outside the home is based on a person’s desire to live a luxurious life. I work outside the home to pay our mortgage, and because it provides me with personal growth, confidence and a sense of achievement that staying at home did not. This, in turn, makes me a better mother.
I also find myself wondering why the article focused on mothers and not on both parents – unless we think that fathers have no weaknesses. Instead of printing articles like this, focus on the many positive attributes of mothers and fathers.
Lynnette Regehr,
Winnipeg, Man.
Desert wandering not necessary
It was with sadness that I read Don Ratzlaff’s “Desert Wondering” (Sept. 10) – sad that he feels dynamic Christians are a rarity, but more sad that any Christian would settle for less than what we have been promised by the Lord.
Jesus has promised those who believe in Him an abundant life (John 10:10), a life filled with joy (John 15:11) and a fruitful life (John 15:5). The only condition is to abide in Jesus Christ and seek Him. If we are not experiencing these things, let’s get into the Word of God, meditate on it and study it.
Too often we go to the Bible to have our conscience salved or so that we can say we have a “quiet time”. How often do we go to meet with our loving heavenly Father and to behold the Lord Jesus Christ? He’s waiting to reveal Himself to all those who seek Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. It’s time we stopped going to devotional books and started gleaning for ourselves from the Word of God.
Jesus told His disciples that “the spirit of truth . . . will guide you into all truth” (John 14:26, 16:13). Let’s get back to proving God’s promises can be trusted because we are experiencing them day by day in our lives.
The children of Israel wandered in the desert because of unbelief. They would not take God at His word. He said the land was theirs; they just had to believe His word and go in. They would not. So they wandered in the desert until all that generation died.
Are we also an unbelieving generation? Will our children be the ones to seek God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength? I pray that they will, but let’s show them how.
Jackie Stenzil,
Regina, Sask.
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© 1999 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
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