Letters to the editor

Five years ago, I met a non-practising gay Christian who had been invited to our Bible school to give a seminar. I made a comment about how hard it must be for celibate homosexuals in the church. He didn't think it was any harder than for a celibate Christian woman in fact, it might be easier, because his brothers had learned to accept his sexual orientation, appreciate his friendship and trust his intentions toward them.

I am thankful for his gentle response to my soft-hearted, unhelpful comment. It seems like the church community abhors a single person like nature abhors a vacuum. Yet Paul said, "I wish that all men were as I am" (I Corinthians 7:7). Christ Himself endorsed singlehood for the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:12). It isn't wrong it isn't even a shame that some of us, heterosexual and homosexual, are without partners. The church does not have to change its interpretation of God's Law to accommodate anyone's sexuality.

Christ said "small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:14). We don't help anyone to find this Way by pretending it's wider than it is.

A good friend of mine was a practising homosexual and is now a celibate member of the church. His orientation toward men remains, but he quotes: "I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1).

As a single woman devoted to Christ and submissive to God's will in my life, I consider myself incredibly privileged to learn, along with Paul, and my homosexual friend, God's promise that "My grace is sufficient for you."

Deborah Labun, (E)
Winnipeg, Man.

I speak for a hidden group of believers the Christian parents of homosexual children. I write with no defence, just a bleeding heart. Not only do we as parents grieve our broken dreams, but our wounds constantly re-open when we hear friends, family members, MB believers and other Christians address the homosexual issue, often with more hatred than love. God have mercy on us, our homosexual children and those who despise them. For all of us, thankfully, God alone is the judge.

Name withheld.

I could see only problems if one were to try to work harmoniously within the church with the attitudes expressed by E.L. Unrau (Letters, Mar. 5). Pastoral and lay leaders need to work together and will whenever a church is healthy. But if lay leaders work with the attitude that pastoral leaders have no right to speak of being "called to ministry", that they are merely "self-selected", that graduates of seminaries have no right to assume pastoral leadership until they have gone to a "secular business school to learn administrative and management skills", that young seminarians "have no appreciation of the concept that they must also trust and respect lay leaders"—they will certainly fail to gain the trust of their pastors. There can be no trust where it is demanded in such a spirit.

Furthermore, a church "governing board" (where have we used such a term within a congregational setting?) which demands that it must "know everything" its pastors are doing will certainly fail. One could very well turn the question around. Would a church council or board of elders want the pastors to "know everything" they discuss? They will certainly have times when they will want to discuss issues in the absence of the pastors; likewise pastors in the absence of the board.

The letter is an expression of distrust that is not compatible with healthy church life. No pastor would wish to nor should work in such an atmosphere.

Harold Jantz,
Winnipeg, Man.

I appreciate very much the Herald taking a firm stand against sinful practices. May I submit a letter for the Herald.

I sometimes wear a poppy and recite the poem "In Flanders' Fields". A year ago last January, my wife and I flew over Germany from Amsterdam to Munich as global volunteers for MBMS International. Viewing the peaceful, beautiful green landscape, I could hardly believe that this country could have brought about so much misery and death. After reviewing the letters in response to Norman Fehr's article, I make several observations.

1. None of the writers made any mention of seeking God's intervention rather than depending on our strength in war. We have come away from Christ's teaching: "Love your enemies" (including the Romans who had taken away the Jews' freedom). Note some phrases in the letters: "There seemed to be no alternative." "Where in the world would we flee to?" "If you know of a way to stop Communist aggression, please let the rest of the world know." Do we not believe in God Almighty anymore? Note Psalm 147: 10-11 and Psalm 20: 7: "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."

2. None of the writers remembered the many innocent soldiers on the other side who did not have the choice to serve as COs. How can a born-again believer take their lives and banish them possibly to a Christ-less eternity? Is this is the way of the cross?

3. None of the writers gave glory to God for a free country, but all tribute went to the soldiers. The majority of people on earth do not have a free country, and it's not because they lost a war. My mother-in-law had nothing in her flight from Russia, under the protection of the retreating German army, and said later: "The Lord supplied all our needs." Under a brutal communist dictatorship, the believers in China have multiplied by 5000%. How do we in Western evangelical churches stack up? Should our freedom be taken away?

Henry Klassen, (E)
Simcoe, Ont.

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