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Letters to the editor
Mennonite Brethren Herald welcomes your letters on issues relevant to the Mennonite Brethren Church, especially in response to material published in the Herald. Please keep your letters courteous, brief and about one subject only. We will edit letters for length and clarity. We will not publish letters sent anonymously, although we may withhold names from publication at the request of the letter writer and at our discretion. Publication is also subject to space limitations. Because the Letters column is a free forum for discussion, it should be understood that letters represent the position of the letter writer, not necessarily the position of the Herald or the Mennonite Brethren Church. Send letters to:
Letters, MB Herald
3-169 Riverton Ave.
Winnipeg, Man. R2L 2E5
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or by e-mail to mbherald@mbconf.ca. (Please ensure that your postal address is included in your e-mail correspondence.) |
“Our God Reigns”
George Whitney asked, “Where does our God reign?” (May 26, Oct. 6). He wonders if the people singing so enthusiastically know something that he doesn’t. Apparently they do! There are so many Scriptures that show that God reigns over the affairs of men and nations that I almost don’t know where to start. In fact, I won’t start. If someone hasn’t learned this deep mystery from the Scriptures already, he certainly won’t learn it from my old song!
Lenny Smith,
newjerusalemmusic.com
Electronic version better
I have been receiving the Herald for about a year now, and have greatly enjoyed each issue. I always find it thought-provoking whether or not I agree with the article or letter. Usually it is a matter of finding nuggets of truth that I already knew but in such a manner that it is a greater revelation than what I had before. For example, I have been following the issue of homosexuality through the letters for months, and I believe that everyone who wrote had something important to share on the topic regardless of what side they came down on and whether their overall statement was correct.
Despite my appreciation for this fine periodical, I wish to unsubscribe to the postal version. I find the electronic copy to be even better than the paper variety – no fumbling around for the continuation of an article, no waiting for it to dry out if it was delivered on a rainy day, and no looking all over my apartment for an old article that I suddenly want to re-read. Rather I would prefer to simply be reminded by e-mail that the new issue is now on-line. Plus, it reduces the number of trees dedicated to newsprint.
Jonathan Sinclair,
Saskatoon, Sask.
Response to invitation
A letter (Oct. 20) questioned the Family Life Network report “Mexican Mennonites Hungering for Hope” (Aug. 11). To clarify: The international preaching engagements of our radio producers are not initiated by us, but are a response to invitations from their listening audiences. Far from being “paid to go to Mexico to find sinners” and having his “funding depend on a negative report”, Jacob Funk, German radio producer, was invited to Mexico by the Mexican church leadership, and his expenses were fully covered by the Mexican conference. Rather than making one brief visit, Funk regularly ministers in Mexico. This news release reflects experiences from four ministry tours Funk has made to Mexico during the past five years. Our desire is not to “stereotype”. Our report rejoiced over the renewal movement growing within the Mexican churches but also pointed out the difficulties and unfortunate crises in the churches.
Alf Poetker, Board Chair,
Family Life Network,
Winnipeg, Man.
Principle is biblical
Bob Hart wrote (Nov. 3): “Some churches claim to be ‘seeker sensitive’. I see no mention in Scripture of such a term.” I have heard people use this type of argument in the church on a variety of issues. There is a basic error in this type of thinking. There are many terms that are not found in the Bible that we endorse nonetheless as biblical. We will not find “Trinity”, “evangelism”, or even “Bible” in the Bible, but we endorse these terms as biblical. The issue is not whether the term is used in the Bible but whether the principle is found in the Bible.
While “seeker sensitive” is not found in Scripture, the principle can be supported by Scripture. In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Paul writes extensively about the different groups that he is willing to identify with for the sake of the gospel. He ends with the passionate statement: “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” In Acts, this principle is fleshed out further. The style that Paul uses in preaching to the gentiles in Athens (Acts 17) is very different from the style he uses in preaching in a Jewish synagogue (Acts 13). However, the message in both sermons is the risen Lord Jesus Christ. So the Bible supports the principle that in communicating the gospel we should be sensitive to who our audience is, while not changing the fundamental message. This is what “seeker sensitivity” is all about. While we may disagree with how this principle is practised, it is not fair to ignore the biblical principle just because the term is not used in the Bible.
Mark Friesen,
Winnipeg, Man.
Critique not helpful
Re “Reflections on Natural Church Development”, (Sept. 22): Are we not working at cross purposes with each other? A lot of careful thought and preparation went into the Canadian MB Conference convention featuring Christian Schwarz and NCD. The critique offered is neither positive nor helpful. Why not be objective and take out some of the guesswork and wishful thinking that we apply to church growth strategies? Is the scientific method not also a gift from God for the church to use? The “biotic principle” grows right out of God’s creation. The Scriptures are full of images from nature. Christian apologetics is full of applications of science. To Schwarz’s challenge “to suggest any other way one might find out what leads to healthy growing churches”, Thiessen answers, “The Bible.” I agree. The example of how the Acts church grew to be healthy and the writings of Paul teach us these eight elements are implicit in any faithful reading of the Bible. I suppose Schwarz would allow the addition of a ninth element.
There is a significant place for expository preaching, but Schwarz was obviously not called to preach at this convention.
George H. Epp,
Chilliwack, B.C.
Anger does not belong
Not one of all the articles about “anger” (Oct. 6) exegetes Colossians 3:8. There Paul speaks about what our life in Christ should be like and says that we must get rid of anger because it does not belong to our new life.
Peter B. Klassen,
Portage la Prairie, Man.
Mr. Day’s record
John Redekop is to be commended for raising the question of Stockwell Day’s Christianity (Sept. 22).
The purpose of government is to reward good and restrain evil (Romans 13:3-7, 1 Peter 3:13) and to ensure that “we may lead a quiet and peaceful life, godly and respectful in every way” (1 Timothy 2:2). Yet:
- As Provincial Treasurer, Day expanded the collection of money from gambling operations.
- Mr. Day continues to justify tax reduction for the extremely wealthy, which will result in greater polarization of the rich and the poor. It is difficult to understand how this conforms to Luke 1:46-56 or Psalm 146.
- Increased military spending is a policy of the Canadian Alliance. As Christians, we renounce war.
- With its policy to cut international aid, the Alliance appeals to the selfishness of Canadians.
- The Alliance policy of getting harder on criminals caters to the desire for revenge rather than the biblical call for restorative justice (Luke 4:17-19).
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Dave Hubert,
Edmonton, Alta.
Previous | Next Last modified December 6, 2000.
© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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