Letters to the Editor
Death sadder than dance
Do you remember that joke that Mennonites don't dance because it might lead to sex? Dancing
does not lead to anything except a good time. The music (at Banff '95) was carefully screened and
there was supervision, so what was the problem? There are so many instances in the Bible where
people danced to the Lord. For example, Psalm 149:3 states "Let them praise His name with
dance and make music to Him with tambourine and harp." People should feel sadder about the
death that occurred than about the dancing. I tip my hat to those that decided to hold a dance at
Banff.
Mike Payment,
Winnipeg, Man. E
Dancing needs discussion
How happy I am that the Herald is now available online, as well as reachable via e-mail. I
enjoy the Letters to the Editor but hate constructing a letter, finding a stamp and then
remembering to mail it. This is much more convenient.
I was extremely disturbed by the report on Banff '95. I was raised MB and have remained a
member. I accepted the many restrictions that were typically applied to Mennonite youth: no
movies, no dancing, no smoking, no drinking, no playing cards.
Now, with teenagers of my own, I have been forced to reevaluate many of these "truths". Dancing
has been particularly difficult as I can't find scriptural evidence that dancing is a sin. I have always
encouraged my children to resist attending dances. There have been many loud discussions on this
matter around our dinner table.
Now I read that Banff '95 included "worship dancers" as well as a dance on New Year's Eve. I am
not writing to condemn this out of hand--from the letters to the editor, that has already happened.
I would like to hear from other parents of teens who have struggled with this issue. I would like
to hear from our seniors who no longer have children at home, but who have come to a
conclusion in their own mind. I am not looking for answers that agree with what I already think,
and I am not looking for the dogmatic answers that allow for no discussion. I want to start an
open discussion with a scriptural basis and an attitude of tolerance. I want to be able to disagree
with an opinion, not with a person.
Thank you to all the Herald staff for a great magazine. I've been reading it from cover to
cover for many years.
Arden Walde,
Maple Ridge, B.C. E
Nonconformity
I gratefully acknowledge the letter of apology (Feb. 9) concerning the New Year's Eve party at
Banff '95. However, the apology didn't go far enough. It seemed to imply that the dance would
have been in order if more notice had been given to our churches prior to the retreat.
Is our MB Conference really ready to accept dancing as a legitimate form of entertainment at
church and conference functions? Is Romans 12:2 ("Do not be conformed to this world") no
longer applicable to the behaviour of believers?
Our Board of Christian Education Ministries needs to be challenged to give godly leadership to
our churches, our children and our youth. It is my earnest prayer that we will not allow the world
to squeeze us into its mould.
Art Isaac,
Abbotsford, B.C.
Joshua Generation
I am writing in response to Letters (Feb. 9). Bravo to the youth who were at the Banff '95 New
Year's Eve party! I am 20 years old, a member of this generation. We are crying out for the
freedom found in Jesus Christ, for reality, for relationship with the Lord Jesus. Like David, we
will dance with all our might before the Lord!
The world curses us as Generation X. I say we are the Joshua Generation to be sent out to the
ends of the earth, and all forms of religiosity will be crushed beneath our feet.
Franz Wesley,
Surrey, B.C.
Correction
People & Events (Jan. 26) says, "Mennonite Central Committee British Columbia is selling
earthquake kits." This is incorrect; these kits are being sold by Mennonite Central Committee
Supportive Care Services, the organization correctly named later in the paragraph.
MCC SCS is a society affiliated with, but separate from, MCC BC. In British Columbia, we have
three separate MCC entities, each with its own mandate. MCC BC is the parent organization.
MCC SCS supports persons who have a disability. MCC Social Housing Society creates low cost
housing for people on low incomes. We are continually working together to clarify for our
constituency our unique situation. We appreciate your assistance in this educational process.
Karen Falk,
Administrative Secretary, MCC SCS E
Suffering is a privilege
We were saddened by the tone of hurt and rejection in "When clay pots crack" (Feb. 9). Although
people may hurt and reject us, God never does, even in our failures (Matthew 12:20). The Lord
desires to use the struggles of life to draw us closer to Himself. He doesn't shake His head with a
look of disappointment and set us on the failures shelf. Suffering, however difficult, is a privilege
(Phillipians 3:10a). As we turn to Him in the difficult times, He will reveal more of His love for
us.
Tim and Silvia Klassen,
Waterloo, Ont.
Obedience to leaders
The Feb. 9 MB Herald had some excellent input on pastors, and how church members can
make them more effective. Shirley Unrau ("How to minister to your minister") and Roland and
Lois Reimer ("More ways to love your pastor") missed one very obvious biblical imperative in
their catalogue of 27 suggestions, namely Hebrews 13:17: "Obey your leaders and submit to their
authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their
work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." Living in a
democracy doesn't make understanding and applying this text very easy, of course. Nonetheless, it
appears to be one of the key New Testament imperatives to church members with respect to their
leaders. Perhaps this text, acted upon, could solve much pastoral burnout.
Walter Fast,
Lemgo, Germany
Thank you
Thank you for John Redekop's call for us to be appreciative for the blessings in our life (Jan. 26)
and Wally Unger's encouragement for us to forgive (Feb. 9). Together, these articles touch the
reality of where so few of us are. To obey these commands requires us to be humble, to recognize
the power of God and to recognize that others around us are of great value. Our unwillingness to
submit in this manner is often evident in our relationships and even in the way we talk to each
other in letters to the Herald. I pray that each of us will strive to be more thankful and
forgiving. Thank you for touching me.
John Wiebe,
Abbotsford, B.C.
Communion and children
May I express my concern about children taking communion?
New research suggests that children ages 5-9 do not possess the judgement skills required to
safely cross the street alone. Yet, some would have us believe that those same children have
adequately developed judgement skills to "recognize the body of the Lord" (I Corinthians
11:29b).
Yes, children can receive Christ as Saviour, but to partake of the blood covenant as illustrated in
baptism and described in communion, requires more than just a recipient's mode. Our leading
brethren of over 100 years searched the Scriptures and taught us that it takes adult judgement
skills and discernment to participate both in baptism and communion.
Communion is described in four places in Scripture, and there is one word which stands out:
"covenant" (Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, I Corinthians 11:25b). A covenant is a
promise, an agreement unto death. This covenant is two-way. Jesus initiated the covenant--He
died for my sins. In response, I agree to live for Jesus and, if need be, die for Him. We cannot
expect this kind of covenant from a child.
Since this covenant is a two-party covenant, a third party only confuses the matter. I Corinthians
11:28 says that each person is to examine himself. This does not allow for parental examination or
a church examination.
It is in baptism that a person expresses this "unto death" covenant and that is why we would like
to see baptism before communion.
George J. Baerg,
Winkler, Man.
Gratitude
I am writing to express appreciation for your magazine, especially the Jan. 26 issue. The articles
written by the youth were refreshing and insightful, and challenged me to re-examine my actions,
priorities and faith. The update on Banff '95 was appreciated--the story about Amanda Derksen
touched my heart deeply. "God is good--all the time" is written in my daytimer now, as a constant
reminder to praise Him even when everything seems to be going wrong.
Thank you for John Redekop's "No thanks". It convicted me of my ungratefulness and prompted
me to write this letter of gratitude.
Mary Andres,
Winnipeg, Man.
I want to learn about Mennonites
I recently ran across your web site while looking up church history. I printed out the Mennonite
Brethren Confession of Faith and would like to subscribe to your paper.
I am a member of the Antioch Landmark Baptist Church in Riverside, CA. I am interested in
Anabaptist history, as well as those saints who existed before the Reformation who never
identified with Rome. I have studied the Amish and now would like to examine your paper to
learn about the Mennonite people.
Christopher T. Matthiesen,
Rialto, CA
Inclusive language
Living in a society that is getting more and more politically correct, wouldn't it be nice to have a
place to go where this isn't an issue? Until this past Christmas, I naively thought our churches
might be that place. However, as I opened the Worship Together hymnal, I realized this
was no longer the case. Looking through the Christmas songs, I found one after the other that had
been changed to be inclusive. As we slowly let the world influence how we say things, I wonder
where this will all end. Where will the next changes occur?
Sandra R. Loewen,
Saskatoon, Sask.
Bible needs to be reread, not rewritten
Over and over I read in the Herald how wonderful a lot of the new Bible translations are. I
guess I'm old-fashioned, but I believe that the good old Book needs to be reread and relived not
rewritten. Maybe then we will have revival in our churches.
Frank Reid,
Lanigan, Sask.