|  | |
 |
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
3-169 Riverton Ave.
Winnipeg, Man. R2L 2E5
|
or by e-mail to mbherald@mbconf.ca.
Please ensure that your mailing address is included in your e-mail correspondence. |
Name should be attached to letter
I question the wisdom of publishing a “Name withheld” letter like the one that condemns the Alpha program (Jan. 7). If a person does not have the courage to put his or her name to the claims made, what value can be found in the comments?
The Alpha program has been used successfully around the world, including in many MB churches. Most of the negative claims made about Alpha on the Way of Life Web site (referred to in the letter) are vague and sometimes misleading. In particular, the reference to the quote by Bishop Ambrose fails to note that Ambrose adds that most Catholics have up to now missed the boat when it comes to the truths that Alpha teaches.
While Christians are told to test the spirits to ensure that we are not led astray, it is more helpful when the testing is done through constructive research and dialogue and not by anonymous condemnation.
Paul D. Durksen,
Medicine Hat, Alta.
Alpha has positive results
“Name withheld” warns us regarding the Alpha program because of its endorsement by certain of the Roman Catholic hierarchy (Letters, Jan. 7). This is like avoiding Cheerios because Ted Turner eats them. Why not rather evaluate the program on its own merit? Our church has run Alpha five times, introducing 17 people to an authentic, lifelong relationship with the living God, and I concur that it is indeed the “last word on evangelism”.
Douglas Sweeney, commenting on the recent “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification by Faith” writes that “The Roman Catholics have not now adopted the Lutheran position, but they have condoned it” (Christianity Today, Jan. 10). Perhaps the bishop is right when he says that the Alpha program “does not contain anything that is directly opposed to any Catholic teaching.”
Finally, I beseech the editors of Herald to steadfastly refuse, with rare exceptions, to print anonymous letters. This is an inappropriate form of communication amongst the Christian community.
Stephen Mortley,
Niagara Falls, Ont.
Thoughtful analysis
In our house, we gave thanks at the table for Jon Arnold’s thoughtful analysis of the pay equity column (Letters, Jan. 7). It is always good to read informative, well-organized argument. However, it was the principled approach – biblical principles of justice, integrity and mercy – that rejoiced our hearts. Could we hear from this writer on a regular basis?
Gordon and Donna Stewart,
North Vancouver, B.C.
Genes don’t make it good
As a physician, I see many patients with diseases that they do not choose. They are born with the genetic code that leads them to be at risk for heart disease, diabetes and so forth. Alcoholism, drug addiction and the propensity towards violence are now being connected to certain genes. The purveyors of homosexuality would have us believe that since they do not choose to be homosexual but are born as homosexuals, their state is therefore natural and good. Taking this apparently straightforward thinking to its logical extreme, since we are all born in sin (we do not choose to be born), sin is natural and good and it is therefore not fair of God to expect that we should seek repentance or salvation from sin. Yet He does! Let us not be deluded by clever arguments that deceive us into embracing our sin as holiness and our sickness as health.
Carl Janzen, M.D.,
Chilliwack, B.C.
Strange theology
Justin Klassen writes: “Before a homosexual will desire to change his or her behaviour, it must be clear that he or she is saved in spite of his or her lifestyle” (Letters, Dec. 17). I draw his attention to the words of Jesus: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). A practising homosexual cannot be a child of God until he lives by the will of God (II Corinthians 5:17). To mislead people into believing that they are saved when they are not, according to the Scriptures, is a very serious matter.
Isaak Eitzen,
St. Catharines, Ont.
Alpha brings health
MB Herald has been a helpful source of information many times, especially the issues on homosexuality and AIDS. In marked contrast, is the Jan. 7 letter warning against the Alpha course and listing Internet addresses where one can find more of the same. How unfortunate that you chose to print this letter since it’s clear that “Name withheld” has never participated in Alpha and is relying on hearsay.
At Fort Garry MB Church, we are starting our third Alpha course, and we have begun a follow-up After Alpha study on Philippians because there is a desire on the part of the participants to continue growing deeper in their faith and to sink their roots more deeply into the Word of God. The message of Alpha is that God calls us into a personal relationship through His Son Jesus Christ and that, in order to enter this relationship, one must repent, turn away from sin and accept the forgiveness and salvation offered to each one – yes, even to those Anglicans and Roman Catholics down the street! The importance of the church and the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding us, helping us to resist evil and empowering us for ministry in the church and our communities are strong themes of the program. Neither Alpha nor any other program is sacred. The programs and structures through which we do ministry are tools by which God chooses to transform lives.
Through the Alpha course at our church, people have turned to Christ both as new believers and as renewed believers. Some have received emotional and physical healing, deliverance from fear and a renewed joy in following Jesus. Leadership gifts have been discovered and developed, as well as gifts of serving and hospitality. A loving community experience is offered and received, and the larger church reaps the benefits of exuberant Christians, ready to serve and to tell others the Good News.
If the goal for the Herald is to help us achieve “healthy, growing churches” (Editorial, Jan. 7), you will have to stop printing letters which are insulting and hurtful to members of our church communities and to our neighbours, whom we are called to love into the Kingdom of God.
Cal Bergen, Mary Reimer, Ed Buller,
Fort Garry MB Church Pastoral staff
Winnipeg, MB
Myths and generalizations
Bruce Hiebert thinks “it is only a matter of time before we open church membership to permanent, monogamous homosexual couples” (Letters, Jan. 21). It is a myth that there are permanent, monogamous homosexual couples in any substantial numbers. D. McWhirter and A. Mattison, who are both homosexual, reported in their book The Male Couple: How Relationships Develop that of 156 couples studied, only seven were sexually faithful. Of 100 couples who were together more than five years, none were sexually faithful to each other. McWhirter and Mattison noted, “The expectation of outside sexual activity was the rule for male couples and the exception for heterosexuals.
Hiebert asks, “What is the difference between the loving, sexually active, childless, heterosexual permanent relationship, and the loving sexually active, childless, homosexual permanent relationship?” The difference is that God has reserved sexual relationships for one male and one female in a marriage relationship. A permanent monogamous heterosexual relationship is “honoured by all” and considered “pure” (Hebrews 13:4). A permanent monogamous homosexual relationship is considered “sexual impurity”, “degrading”, “shameful”, “indecent” and “perversion” (Romans 1:24-27).
Helma Schmidt (Letters, Dec. 23, Jan. 21) was more accurate in her original “false statement”. She makes sweeping generalizations when she states without any documentation that “People do not choose their sexual orientation” and “There is no evidence that one can change from homosexual to heterosexual orientation.” Jeffrey Satinover, in his book Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth, addresses on a scholarly basis the dynamics of choice, genes, orientation and learned behaviour. One quote addresses Schmidt’s sweeping generalizations: “It is much easier to ask the meaningless, but subtly bias-inducing, sound bite question, ‘Isn’t homosexuality genetic?’, than to ask the much more realistic but frustratingly complex question, ‘To what degree is homosexuality (or any behavioral trait) genetic and nongenetic, familial and nonfamial, intrauterine-influenced and extrauterine-influenced, affected by the environment and independent of the environment, responsive to social cues and unresponsive to these cues, and when and in what sequence do these various influences emerge to generate their effects and how do they interact with one another; and after we have put these all together, how much is left over to attribute to choice, repetition and habit?’”
Gerald Peters,
Saskatoon, Sask.
Alpha a blessing
Alpha teaches the basics of the Christian faith: Who is Jesus, why He died, how we can be sure we are saved, prayer and Bible reading, how God guides, the Holy Spirit, resisting temptation, witnessing and healing. These topics are presented in a way that does not pressure people but encourages discussion and builds community between the participants. I have seen people’s lives touched in a deep way in this ministry. I have repeatedly seen lives filled with hope, confidence and excitement about their faith. When I attended my first Alpha, I was changed. Now, in my third time of helping to lead, I am still being amazed and excited about the way I see God working.
Gerald Glor,
Winnipeg, Man.
Terms well defined
I compliment the Herald on carrying the articles “Your Church – Like a Tree or Up a Tree?” by Clarence Peters (Jan. 7), “Vision – Future Thinking” by Carlin Weinhauer (Jan. 21) and “What is your Mission as a Church?” by Vern Heidebrecht (Jan. 21). I appreciated that each of the writers defined his key terms. While the literature on strategic planning is already several decades old, there is still considerable confusion within churches about its terms. When lay persons or pastors use terms without defining them, their hearers often create their own definitions. If they don’t share these definitions with others, confusion or even hard feelings can result. The terms “servant leadership” and “strong leadership” are cases in point. Thanks for clarifying.
All of the writers also provided a rich spiritual dimension in their articles. They combined the biblical perspective and the human understanding of the church so that I am able to see it as a spiritual organism as well as an organization. A further article might address the area of personality types and our individual preferences for community, cause or corporation within a church.
Peter Durksen,
Breslau, Ont.
Response to Stackhouse
Regarding my review of Can God Be Trusted? (Nov, 5), I am dismayed that author John Stackhouse does not think I did justice to his book (Letters, Jan. 7).
First, my statement that his argument is based on reason rather than faith did not overlook the last chapter. A final call to faith does not overrule the basis of the argument.
Second, my comment that Stackhouse does not explore the impact of suffering on God Himself was apparently misunderstood. The word that needs underscoring is “Himself”. The “suffering God” has become very popular, and for an obvious reason. A God who suffers is involved with us. But what do these words mean when referring to God Himself? Can they be understood without losing sight of the usual distinction between “God in Himself” and “God in relation to the world”? I found Stackhouse’s sidestepping of this question a weakness.
In regard to my statement that the book is written in a “detached, academic style”, I apologize if my words were misleading. My meaning was only that anyone whose faith has been tried to the point of despair will probably not be helped by this book. As for stories of personal suffering, there are two – both on one page. Readers needing to hear the “heartfelt reflections of other suffering persons” are advised to read other books that the author recommends.
Unfortunately, I found this book too removed from the challenge of evil to strike any chord of resonance within me. Had Stackhouse omitted any reference to a God who suffers, I would have evaluated his book on a different basis. To my mind, however, his treatment of this subject was superficial, and seemed more like an appeal to emotion in an argument based on reason, than a serious consideration of the suffering of God. In my view, Stackhouse played his hand both ways, and consequently neither hand won. Having said this, I realize that others may take a different view and that some will be helped by his book. For this reason, I wrote a balanced review. If the overall tone was negative, this reflects my honest opinion.
Shirley Isaac,
Hepburn, Sask.
Commitment essential
I found Horst Unger’s letter (“Factions in every denomination”, Jan. 21) to be based on a commendable but misguided idealism. No one would disagree that it would be ideal for us to achieve the ultimate resolution of controversy. However, the fact is that the primitive church under the apostles’ leadership was wracked by similar and even more severe controversies. The factionalism of 1 Corinthians and the rejection of Paul’s authority obvious in 2 Corinthians look as bad as (or worse than) anything I have ever encountered in an MB church. To abandon church membership on such grounds may be understandable, but it is neither constructive nor biblical.
When we were baptized, we were baptized into the local body of Christ. At that time, we identified ourselves publicly with Him and His people. It is elementary theology to note that in doing so we put ourselves under the authority of the church with which we identified. At the same time, we became responsible to support the church and exercise our gifts within it as fully participating members. To hold church membership in contempt is to hold the body of Christ in contempt, and so does nothing to promote the peace and God’s work so ardently hoped for in the letter. It is my opinion that brother Unger’s Baptist church deserves more than a limited commitment.
Gerald Janzen,
Abbotsford, B.C.
Last modified May 1, 2000.
© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
Masthead and usage information.
|
