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.)

Surrender and receive

Re “Art: the patronage sequel” (Question of faith, Aug. 11). The first step towards supporting the arts is to understand the role of the church in our culture. If the church begins to see its role as a redemptive force in culture – engaging it, rather than pulling away from it – the role of the arts takes up greater significance. The arts are at the vanguard of shaping culture.

Thoughtful and provocative art engages people in a way the church has failed to do. It asks people to surrender and receive. As C.S. Lewis once wrote, “We sit down before the picture in order to have something done to us, not that we may do things with it. The first demand any work of art makes upon us is surrender. Look. Listen. Receive. Get yourself out of the way.”

Jessica Morgun,
Hepburn, Sask.

Proud to be MB

Re Gathering news reports (Aug. 11). After reading the Herald issue about Gathering 2006 and hearing reports from people who attended, I want to say I am proud of the Canadian MB Church. A tough discussion was handled calmly, with compassion and respect. No matter how we feel about the outcome, we have gained something wonderful in learning to care for one another in disagreement. To God be the glory!

Shawna Peters Penner,
Killarney, Man.

Cartoon nauseating

Re “Taking it on the chin” (Viewpoint, Aug. 11). Dan Harder’s column argued that no action should be taken in response to the University of Saskatchewan’s newspaper, The Sheaf, for publishing a cartoon depicting “Jesus in a sexual act with a pig.” As I see it, the cartoonist’s drawing was nauseating and revolting, and Dan Harder’s action was deplorable. For the Herald to give it respect by featuring it as a Viewpoint is disappointing.

Harder fails to see the distinction between sheer filth and the mistreatment, even persecution, of Christians for their faith. The cartoon in question did not involve persecution of Christians, it was merely an expression of depravity, gutter ethics, and student immaturity.

Second, Harder fails to understand that in this great and free country, we practice respect for all faiths. Obviously, faith groups try to convert people to their faith but if they are decent people, they do so with respect. This cartoon indicates total disrespect.

Third, society generally expects Christians to uphold high ethics and support the best ethical behaviour. In this case, Harder has supported the worst behaviour.

Fourth, Harder would be well-advised to reflect on what Jesus modelled. True, Jesus willingly accepted persecution, even execution, for his godly life and message but he also opposed what is evil. With hard-hitting words he condemned the “blind leaders of the blind.” He denounced unrepentant cities. Jesus called evildoers “snakes” and a “brood of vipers.” He drove out evil spirits. And repeatedly Jesus denounced Satan and his works. I suggest that to depict Jesus having sex with a pig reflects the spirit of Satan and that Jesus would denounce it!

Fifth, while Christians strongly defend the existence of freedom, we ought never to justify or defend sinful action that takes place in a climate of freedom.

John Redekop,
Abbotsford, B.C.

Defend Christian standards

Re “Taking it on the chin” (Viewpoint, Aug. 11). Thank God we still have people who are willing to defend Christian standards and try to retain our integrity. Mr. Harder is not one of them. In John 2:13–16, Jesus took drastic action when he saw how his Father’s house was being defiled and misused. How can we just accept everything and turn the other cheek when Christ’s honour and character are so violently attacked?

Ben Schmidt,
Abbotsford, B.C.

Gift subscriptions

I would like to suggest that MB congregations make the Herald available as a gift to folks who regularly attend church, but aren’t members (i.e. adherents). Many of these people contribute in various ways to the life of the church, including finances. The cost is only $16.05 per year to give a subscription of the magazine to a church adherent. My congregation has done this, and recipients have been grateful for the helpful teaching and denominational news.

George Epp,
Abbotsford, B.C.