Letters

Resources for creation research

The "Creation Science" letter (June 14) left the impression that creationists believe in the big bang and an ancient universe. Although Hugh Ross promotes these ideas (together with the ideas that death existed before sin, and that the flood was not worldwide), they are not accepted by many creationists. The following organizations can be contacted for more information:

Answers in Genesis 1-800-350-3232
P.O. Box 6330
Florence, KY 41022
http://www.ChristianAnswers.net/aig/aighome.html

Center for Scientific Creation
5612 N. 20th Place
Phoenix, AZ 85016
http://www.indirect.com/www/wbrown/

Creation Research Society
P.O. Box 969
Ashland, OH 44805-0969
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/crs/crs-home.html

Institute for Creation Research
P.O. Box 2667
El Cajon, CA 92021
http://www.icr.org

Creation Science Association of BC (604) 535-0019
P.O. Box 39577
White Rock, BC V4A 9P3

Curtis Fast, Aldergrove, B.C. (E)

Need to be more people-oriented

Caught off guard at the recent Canadian MB Conference convention, I said I was "blessed". I did receive a great blessing. I regret, however, that I could not think quickly enough to give an answer with more content.

The excellent speakers and prayed-through worship services were the highlight for me. I also received much information at the workshops. But this part of the program was too long. There was not enough time for unhurried business sessions.

I was surprised that MCC and the MB seminary were not on the program. As an alumnus of MBM/S, I was disappointed that hardly any mention was made of missions. After the bubbly Spanish greeting by the moderator the first evening, and his statement that he had just come back from celebrating 50 years of Mennonite Brethren missionary endeavour in Colombia, I was eagerly waiting for a report of this joyous event. It never came! Have we lost interest? Wouldn't it have been wonderful if as a body we had interceded fervently for the missionary family that was recently robbed in their home? They are witnessing to the guerrillas who are causing so much havoc in Colombia. Certainly the single missionary woman whose car was stolen at gunpoint a little while ago, and the other couple serving beyond their retirement, would have been encouraged if they had heard that we had prayed for them. Couldn't we have celebrated the 50th anniversary with our Colombian brothers and sisters by dedicating time for praise and prayer for them? I wonder whether the MB missionaries present at the convention felt left out.

Sally Schroeder Isaak,
Abbotsford, B.C.

Matter of temptation

I respond to Terri Redekop's letter of Aug. 9. Her statement that "We should not be excusing the desires of homosexuals" seems to argue that being tempted is sin. Scripture, however, is clear that thinking through how we will sin and acting on those thoughts are what constitute sin, not the temptation itself (Matthew 5:27, I Corinthians 10:13).

Since the Fall, every one of us has inherited a depraved "sweet tooth" for sins of various flavours. This is the universal human predicament. Redekop probably hasn't had a frank discussion with someone struggling with homosexuality. I have on several occasions, and what I have learned is that what we call "homosexual orientation" is really just a way of describing what some people are tempted with. A homosexual struggles with thoughts of lust just like any other person does. His/her temptations are merely pointed in a different direction. Lust is the real issue, and lust is sin no matter which way we direct it.

Redekop cites I Corinthians 6:9-11, but these verses condemn "homosexual offenders", not those who struggle with the temptation. I hope that no sincere brothers or sisters struggling with overcoming homosexuality were discouraged by Redekop's letter.

Brad Huebert,
Winkler, Man.

Challenging interpretations and evils

Once again Jim Coggins, in his Aug. 9 editorial, has trotted out his simplistic assessment of Christians who might not have the same interpretation of the Bible as he. These people are labelled "biblically illiterate" or, to use a favourite catch-all-write-off phrase of Jim's, dupes of the "politically correct".

On the contrary, most of the committed Christians I know who are constantly challenging their own and others' interpretations of Scripture are doing so because they are seeking to follow the teachings and Spirit of Christ as revealed in the Bible. Jim calls "liberals" those who attend such meetings as "Anabaptist Women Doing Theology" or who question the arrogance of Christians who dismiss other faiths with the sweep of their Bibles. Yet these people are often much more willing to challenge the real evils in our society--poverty, injustice, materialism, exploitive economic and social systems, sexism, racism and abuse of power--and the way in which the church has been a willing accomplice in all of this for far too long.

I would rather affirm Christians who are willing to struggle and come to terms with the complexity of their own experiences, cultures and traditions in the profound and often esoteric light of Scripture. The MB Church and the Board of Faith and Life continue to focus on trivial issues such as anti-dancing resolutions, and continue to sweep under the carpet more complex and pressing issues such as the position and treatment of women in our church and society. As long as they do so, the "core values" that MBs trumpet will be hollow, simplistic and meaningless to those who long for salvation, and the MB Church will become increasingly irrelevant, ineffectual and distant from the spirit of the gospel.

Dale Enns
Nakatsugawa, Gifu, Japan (E)

Anti-stumbling, not anti-dance

I was disappointed by the headline "Anti-dancing Resolution Approved" (Aug. 9). Many delegates interpreted the resolution read by the Board of Faith and Life as anti-dancing. My interpretation is that it is not anti-dancing but rather a resolution for the conference to be careful not to offend in its various activities.

I Corinthians 8:1-13 immediately came to mind when I listened to David Ewert read the resolution. If this is the spirit of the resolution, then it is not anti-film, anti-alcohol or anti-dancing. I don't believe that God is against these things either. Jesus turned water to wine to be consumed and enjoyed. Biblical references to dance seem to assume that it is a normal thing to do when happy. It is true that many movies violate biblical standards, but many stories in the Bible also violate biblical standards. Think of the violence, hatred, killing, adultery, and idolatry in the Bible. Film, alcohol and dance are not inherently evil, but we as individuals are called to exercise discernment in our own lives.

Paul asks the Corinthians to be accountable to each other as well. He writes joyfully when he describes the freedom from the law that Christ brings, but in this part of the letter he warns that the Corinthians should be careful what they do when associating with others, lest they cause these others to stumble. I think BFL is warning us in the same way. It makes sense for our conference and churches to be careful when we sponsor activities that carry with them many connotations in our culture. We don't want the spiritually immature (who could be young or old) to think that we are condoning the violence that can accompany alcohol, the sexual immorality that can accompany social dance, and the violence and sexual immorality that are evident in many films.

Let us respect the freedom that Christ brings to the lives of our youth. Let us encourage them to exercise discernment in their own lives. Let us together, young and old, discuss the implications of our church-sponsored activities with the aim of serving, respecting and loving the people around us.

Dave Wagner,
Edmonton, Alta. (E)

Beauty enhances worship

Thanks to James Pankratz for "In Praise of Beauty" (Aug. 9). It brought tears to my eyes. There is so much ugliness and pain in our world; how wonderful to celebrate beauty and describe so powerfully how it can contribute to our worship! I pray that our churches will increasingly free gifted artists in our midst so that their gifts can be used to beautify our meeting places and enhance our worship. God's precious gift of visual arts, creative music and movement, etc. should not be wasted but used for His glory at every possible opportunity.

Hazel Reimer,
Mississauga, Ont.

Beautiful stories

Thank you for including those beautiful stories about people who live with cognitive disabilities (June 28). I hope they are an encouragement to us for mutuality--to support each other and to accept the gifts we bring to each other.

Irma Janzen,
Director, Mental Health and Disabilities, MCC Canada (E)

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