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 1310 Taylor Ave. Winnipeg, Man.  R3M 3Z6 or send via e-mail. (Please ensure that your postal address is included in your e-mail correspondence.)

Christians need green theology

Re “Living green” (June 9). It would be helpful if the Herald could devote an entire series to the theology of “green” issues. As Christians, we must ensure that anything green we do is firmly based on biblical teaching.

Much of what passes for green knowledge today comes from ideologies that are anti-biblical in nature. These ideologies often elevate our planet to the level of a deity, denigrate the value of human life by treating us akin to viruses infecting the planet, and are inherently anti-technology and anti-development in nature. Today’s green ideologies are also often fanatical, inflexible, and unrealistic in their approach to environmental stewardship and are more informed by hyped-up ideology than scientific fact.

We need to clearly delineate a Christian option for being green that marks a course away from either deifying the earth or treating it as some sort of invincible resource supermarket that can be used and abused with little ill effect.

Derek van Nes,
Winnipeg, Man.

All is passing away

Re “Christianity and Creation” (Features, June 9). I don’t know if you can put theology and biology in the same bath water, and Glen Klassen’s attempt to do so seems poorly developed.

I would like to see more scriptural support for his notion that the new earth will have the “seeds” of this one. Revelation 21 and 2 Peter 3 distinctly describe a new heaven and a new earth; the old one has passed away.

1 Corinthians 15 details the nature of the resurrection and its implications. Paul explains that, just as there is a natural body, so there is a spiritual one – like that of Christ, which the disciples and others saw after the cross. I’m apprehensive about transferring this theology to “things” such as plants and animals. As much as we may love our gardens, our wilderness, our pets, and our world, they were not given God’s breath; they do not require salvation; and God did not send his son Jesus to die for them. 1 John 2:15–17 instructs us not to love the world because it is all passing away.

I’m not suggesting that we be reckless in our use of this earth, just questioning Klassen’s conclusion that somehow this earth’s physical condition will affect the new heaven and the new earth.

Maria Hankey,
Coquitlam, B.C.

House still standing

Re “The house that Jake built” (Features, June 9). I was pleasantly surprised by what I read. Yes, it brought tears to my eyes. Everything [our daughter] Connie wrote is true. My wife Elizabeth and I are still living in this house and enjoying retirement. We celebrated our golden wedding anniversary June 30.

Over the years, I have been actively involved in the Borden MB Church, serving in numerous capacities. Presently, we attend one of the Saskatoon churches.

The MB Herald staff is doing a fantastic job; thank you.

Reuben Jacob Derksen,
Borden, Sask.

Useful articles

I have enjoyed reading “The Life of Discipleship” (Bible Study series) by Jim Holm. Each article was so succinct in teaching the biblical foundation for Christian living. There were also good suggestions for disciplining our lives to spend time alone with God when faced with so much busyness. Thank you for such useful articles.

Lydia Dyck,
Steinbach, Man.

The art of preaching

Re “Art and imagination” (June 30). I very much enjoyed and appreciated the last issue of the Herald. The illustrations and testimonials from artists were very moving.

There is one form of fine art, however, that was missed: the art of preaching. The art of preaching impacts every congregation. Too frequently, the art of preaching takes second place to other aspects of worship. However, the ability of godly, Spirit-filled preachers to motivate, encourage, convict, and guide using the spoken word remains as important as ever.

Nelson Scheifele,
Baden, Ont.

Inspiring issue

“Art and imagination” (June 30) is a thoroughly inspiring issue. From the featured art to the MBMS International insert, I was captivated by the unity of the message: transformation because of Christ, in Christ. Together, each contributor portrayed the varied and creative nature of passionate and compassionate witness.

Connie Braun,
Abbotsford, B.C.