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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.) |
Alternative interpretations
I have been appreciating Reuben Pauls’s writings on the Confession of Faith. One thing about our Confession that I admire is its painting of Anabaptist/MB theology in broad strokes. One of the dangers in writing a commentary on the Confession is that it is easy to express our particular understanding of the Confession in a way that reduces the possible alternatives in our thinking.
A case in point is in “The good, the bad and the very bad” (Nov. 9). The reader could interpret Mr. Pauls’s views about the image of God as if they were expressly taught by the Confession itself. His article indicates that the image of God consists of a complementary relationship between men and women. While this is definitely one theological option concerning of the image of God, it is certainly not the only possibility that our Confession will permit. While the Scriptures teach that both men and women were created in the image of God, this does not necessarily imply that men and women in connection is the image! While Karl Barth would be pleased with Pauls’s comments (Church Dogmatics, III/I:185ff.), it seems to me that they are a step backwards from the “broad stroke” of our Confession. The Barthian formulation is influenced too much by Martin Buber and not enough by Jesus Christ, “who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). I prefer to see the image of God as the capacity of men and women to love beyond self-interest – an attribute supremely displayed in the life and death of Jesus. Regardless of my theological preferences in this matter, we must not allow our commentary on the Confession to supersede the Confession itself, which allows for a variety of interpretations on such matters while remaining within our MB theological boundaries.
Brent Hudson,
River of Life MB Church, Riverview, N.B.
Re women in church leadership
One thing about this whole debate that greatly disturbs me is that almost always what is meant are the “official” positions like pastors, deacons and elders. Are we really so narrow-minded to think that these are the only forms of leadership and that anyone we consider not eligible for these positions is less equal than those who are? Could it be another form of patronizing when men talk in favour of women in leadership and what they really mean are the “male” patriarchal forms of leadership? Are the women speaking out for women to be eligible for those roles not realizing they may have sold out to a “male” way of thinking?
Trudy Klassen,
Prince George, B.C.
Are we good without God?
This question has been pondered throughout the ages, but in no other time has humankind been so obsessed in believing that humans can be good. Even the Christian church has bought into the deception that we are good people deep down.
The rich young ruler, Jesus said, “No one is good but One, that is, God.” Romans 3:12 says, “There is none that does good, no not one.” As humans and sinners, we are unable to do good in and of ourselves.
I am writing in regard to Jim Coggins’s “What is this sin stuff?” (Aug. 24). A little guilt is good for the soul. What better motivator to push us to take a hard look at ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5). Jesus said that if you even look at a woman lustfully, you have already committed adultery with her. We should not downplay the severity of our own sinfulness. Look at our world and see the results that sin has caused – from broken marriages to depression to suicide. Why are we so afraid of looking at ourselves in the mirror?
I am learning that to face my sin and be honest about it to God is strength, not weakness. I am beginning to welcome guilt, for when I feel guilty over sins, I then have the opportunity to confess them to God, ask for His forgiveness and ask that He will continually kill that sin in me. We will always struggle with sin, but we can ask for the help of God’s Holy Spirit. This is the ongoing task of humbling ourselves to God. Why stumble around in sin, when you can be a conqueror of that sin (Romans 8:37)? There is power in prayer. Confession and repentance are the signs of a spiritually healthy person.
Dennis Hughes,
Ladner, B.C.
God continues to work
Thank you and keep up the good work. We thoroughly enjoy the MB Herald from cover to cover. Now as our daughters have grown up and are leaving home, they too enjoy the articles and keeping up with the “newsy” parts of the Herald. It’s good to see how God is working in our Conference, and we want to continue to support you.
Darlene Lind,
Spruce Grove, Alta.
Continued support needed
Although I don’t attend an MB church, I like to keep up with the news, current thinking and timely articles. The MB Herald is one of the best Christian periodicals I know of. I pray that the MB Conference will continue to support the great work you are doing.
I hope you continue to tackle controversial topics, such as women’s issues, alcohol and homosexuality. Topics such as church leadership, depression and marriage are also very helpful.
Henry Janzen,
Surrey, B.C.
Praying
Keep up the good work. I really appreciate that you have great diversity of content. You are in my prayers.
Johann Penner,
Sardis, B.C.
City is manmade
Re “Music in the city” by Gilbert G. Brandt (Oct. 12).
The country is God-created, the city is manmade. Songs of worship reflecting His creation are right on. God can easily be glorified by bringing attention to His expression of love and care in the beauty and awesomeness of nature.
“Things” of the city or of the country are inappropriate as an encouragement to worship God. To live only with city manmade things brings trouble to the human heart. Songs should continue to encourage us to be in touch with nature, “spiritual things” God has given. It is divine therapy. To experience nature is to experience God.
Cecile Corbiere,
Kincaid, Sask.
Another recommended book
Re “The faith of a scientist” by James Toews (Nov. 23). I agree, there is a conflict between modern science and some traditional beliefs among Christians, but there’s no conflict between true science and the Bible itself.
Let me recommend a book for those who search for truth, especially post-secondary students, bombarded by atheism and evolution: Show Me God, by Fred Heeren. Heeren is a Christian scientist whose book explains what the message from space is telling us about God, “where science and religion ask the same questions and think the same thoughts.” George Smoot is head of the NASA Cobe satellite team that first detected ripples in the cosmic microwave radiation. Smoot called these fluctuations, “The fingerprints from the Maker. It was as if I were looking into the face of God.” Show Me God argues that learning more will only increase one’s sense of wonder and give more confidence in one’s faith.
Ken A. Miller,
Saskatoon, Sask.
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© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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