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.)

Different from the world

Re “Question of the month” (September). Is it OK for Christians to have tattoos? My answer is no. As followers of Christ, we must be different from the world. Our bodies should be clean and we shouldn’t flaunt our skin – not in makeup or showy pictures on our bodies. Wait until skin cancer shows up and those who want to show off their skin may feel different. If anyone asks, direct them to Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

Mary Fehr,
Kelowna, B.C.

Tattoos as testimony

Re “Is Leviticus ink-compatible?” (Viewpoint, September). As a pastor’s kid, I know well the view of many on the topic of tattoos. But as a Christian who has “ink,” I found Mr. O’Brien’s article refreshing.

My tattoo reads “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” It’s my testimony – the story of my life and faith journey. My husband and I have struggled with fertility issues. We were blessed with a miracle baby in 2004 after 2½ years of trying. But since the birth of our daughter, Kamryn, we’ve been unable to conceive again. I’ve questioned God and wondered if I’ve done something wrong. Although I’m not getting the answers I want, I can look back and see God’s faithfulness in every area of my life. My tattoo displays my whole testimony in four words.

The tattoo has also forced me to be a witness. People everywhere – in the grocery store, at the beach – ask me what it says. I’ve realized I need to be ready and willing to share my testimony at a moment’s notice. All the responses have been positive, including one mother who said, “My kids want to get tattoos, and I keep saying no. But if they get something like that, maybe I’ll have to join them and get one too!”

I want to share the truth of God’s faithfulness with those around me. And I think Jesus would be pretty pleased.

Janelle Loewen,
Warman, Sask.

Don’t syncretize the gospel

Re “Both sides enemies” (Letters, September). I was shocked to read the statement that “the Christian love concept would ring more true if there was a desire to come as equals . . . that all religions have far more spiritual truth yet to discover than they already have.” This statement is a dangerous attempt to syncretize Jesus’ claims with other religions. If Jesus truly is Lord, every other belief system, by definition, must be false. If he’s not Lord, why should we bother with mission efforts that carry huge financial cost and danger to life?

I understand that in order to effectively reach the lost, several New Testament writers and leaders demonstrate the wisdom of understanding of Jewish and pagan beliefs in order to reach their target audiences, but at no time do they “elevate” pagan or other belief systems the way this letter writer does.

Many of us have heard of unbelievable numbers of people turning to Christ in Russia, China, and Muslim countries. In view of this and the clear teachings of Scripture, why do we try to make our faith in Jesus “more palatable?” Isn’t it much more loving to tell people the truth, no matter what they may think of us? I take to heart what the Word of God says about those who do not believe: They are “condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

Jim Sagert,
Quesnel, B.C.

Present a clear, biblical message

Re “Christ and culture” (September). I’m grieved that our churches have fallen into the trap of copying the world. Loud rock music, videos on the overhead, skits with obscure messages, and finally, tacked on to all this entertainment, a short message from God’s word.

Many of my non-churched neighbours have come to church with me and said, “That’s not what we want.” If my seeking friends wanted entertainment, they know where to get it. In church, they expect something else.

I’m also grieved by what we teach our children. The stage is done up like a theatre. Cute little skits explain a Christian virtue. A few songs do the same. We want the children to know that church is fun, right? But what about Bible stories? Children don’t even know basic Bible stories like Jonah or Daniel.

In our attempt to be culturally relevant, have we pushed aside God’s Word? Are we relying on “perks” to draw people to God instead of the Holy Spirit? Let’s remember that it’s “ ‘not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6). The Word of God will not return empty, but will accomplish God’s desire and purpose (Isaiah 55:11).

Young and old will come to know Jesus personally and become real disciples of Christ when we present the Bible message clearly and in the power of the Holy Spirit. If we don’t, we give the wrong message. We might even chase an earnest, seeking person away.

Helen Grace Lescheid,
Abbotsford, B.C.