Letters to the Editor

Rebuttal

I respond to Don Schroeder (Letters, Mar. 5).

His first point is that we should not "entertain" certain thoughts, as these will "open the door" to believing perverted doctrine. "Entertaining thoughts" is often called "discussion" or "debate" or even "reflection and contemplation". As these are the building blocks of knowledge, how will I become wise if I refuse to accept their role? Should not the "door of belief" be left open so that I may peer in and scrutinize with the greatest reverence concepts such as "gifts of the Holy Spirit"? Schroeder seems to advocate a church in which thought has no role.

Second, I disagree with his idea that "spontaneous expressions of emotion" are unduly marginalized in church services. He obviously means that appropriate outbursts are unfairly marginalized. Saying "Amen" at the end of a particularly moving sermon might make others feel the power of the sermon also. But exclaiming, "Leave the pulpit!" if I don't like the sermon is quite correctly considered to be rude.

How do we know if our outburst is appropriate? We must consider the effects of it, and whether it is an honest reaction, or whether we are swayed by the crowd or . . . but, of course, by this time it is no longer spontaneous is it? Reactions of the moment—akin to a grunt, gasp, or sigh—have no role in a worship service, which is a conglomeration of people in which each person is accountable to the others.

I fear Mr. Schroeder's idea might be more appealing than mine—everyone making an outburst and being right in doing it! No accountability, responsibility or consequences! I can envision the outcome: congregations jeering and cheering speakers so that they can retire to lunch without

having to actually debate or ponder points, or learn anything.

[Author's name removed by request], (E)
Niagara-On -The-Lake, Ont,

Television will not change

Re the article by Kathleen Klassen (Feb. 5): Her points are valid, but the larger issue is being lost. Complaints regarding violence, sex and other undesirable themes on television are almost as tiresome as the programming itself. Television is not going to change for the better, at least not to any satisfactory degree. We talk as if television were some great necessity in the home. It is not. It is a luxury entertainment, and not a very good one.

The answer for anyone who is disturbed by television is to remove it from your home! It's similar to cigarette smoking. If you smoke, you take in nicotine. Your surest option is to quit altogether, not try to legislate against tobacco or badger the tobacco companies to remove all the nicotine! Sure, there will be withdrawal, but nothing that you won't survive. In fact, a couple of months down the road, you'll be thankful for all the extra time you and your children have for much more productive and rewarding things!

Randall Schmidt, (E)
St. Catharines, Ont.

Mighty oak

I respond to "Leadership flawed" (Letters, Jan. 22), which included the poem "God's Buttercup". My husband and I have also experienced hurts from the church. However, I wrote a poem for my husband that expresses a different view:

The Mighty Oak

The oak tree, still a mighty oak,
rooted in the rich soil of God's Word,
has not been changed to a buttercup!
It has simply been pruned,
humbled from its youth,
perhaps transplanted to a different
forest to allow for stronger, continued growth!

For a time, the mighty oak
appeared dormant, set aside to
heal from the pruning. However,
it was the pruning which allowed
further growth, and, in the light
of the Son, provided new, different
opportunities to serve and minister.

The oak's strength, ever present,
although tempered, continues
to flow from the Almighty God,
and the mighty oak remains
standing steadfast, rooted and grounded, determined to "finish strong"
and glorify the Creator Who
promises to perform the good
work He began!

A. Burslem,
Coquitlam, B.C.

Change with grace

MB churches have gone through many changes during this century and will continue to do so. Many congregations are struggling with changing worship styles, for example. Past changes have included worshipping in a new language, the relaxation of very strict codes of behaviour, and new worship styles. I am filled with admiration at the way my parents, now in their 80s, and many other MB members have handled these situations.

There were great hurdles, but my parents handled change with grace and dignity, realizing change needed to happen. They kept on worshiping their Creator even if the language, style and music were not their first choice. I salute my parents and all members from the earlier generation and thank them for their admirable example. God help us all to accept inevitable change with grace and love.

Herta Thiessen,
Edmonton, Alta.

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