Related articles and links |  1 of 2

I was a student at Houghton College, class of 1957, when Christianity Today came into being. In a smart marketing move to introduce the publication to young people at Christian colleges, I received a free subscription. Fifty years later, I am still subscribing to CT, nearly without interruption.

Since I live in a Manhattan apartment without a lot of storage space, I've had to stop saving back issues. Even a clipping collection can get out of hand. Recently, though, I came across one such collection, and I was struck by how relevant and important some of the clipped articles still are. Here is a sampling of the articles I uncovered—and continue to hold on to:

• "How It All Began: Why can't evangelical scientists agree?" by Bill Durbin Jr., accompanied by a sidebar on science and semantics, in the August 12, 1988, issue. Still an apt commentary on questions that have not gone away.
  
  
• A book review of Kathryn Lindskoog's The C. S. Lewis Hoax by Nancy Lou Patterson (December 9, 1988).
  
  
• "The Charismatics Among Us" (February 22, 1980) by Kenneth S. Kantzer. This article exemplifies the many sympathetic and intelligent articles in CT that have strengthened the bonds of Christian unity.
  
  
• An interview with Madeleine L'Engle, "Allegorical Fantasy: Mortal Dealings with Cosmic Questions" (June 8, 1979). Thank you for looking at the whole person: body, soul, spirit, mind, and imagination.
  
  
• Two articles about John Perkins (January 1, 1982) as well as the entire issue of January 30, 1976, devoted to "The Church in Black and White." My church, a diverse congregation in downtown New York City, continues to be involved with John Perkins' ministries.
  
  
• The Refiner's Fire column from September 23, 1977, about Star Wars and other science fiction. Also, from September 9, 1977, Frank E. Gaebelein's article on "Paradoxes of Prayer." His is a name we shouldn't forget! I thank God for the variety of CT's coverage and the stability you have provided within the Christian community.
  
  
• As a reader of C. S. Lewis (and a member of the New York C. S. Lewis Society), I saved the entire issue of November 9, 1973. I notice this issue is particularly fragile, explained by Harold Lindsell's editor's note about a paper shortage and the use of a different grade of paper. Over the years, I have noticed the upgrading of paper quality and the changes in format. For a while, the type size was too small, but it later became readable again (or did I get new glasses?).
  
  
• From more recent issues, I have held onto an October 3, 1994, article about Henri Nouwen's experiences at Daybreak. On the other hand, from May 12, 1989, I saved a collection of articles about Christian teaching on wealth. CT's breadth of coverage is commendable.
  
  
• As a Baptist who grew up mainline Methodist, I have continued to keep an eye on the church of my roots, which is why I saved the November 9, 1984, article entitled "American Methodism at 200." Methodist youth conferences started my thinking about social justice issues, and I notice I have also clipped a long CT Institute study about South Africa from November 21, 1986.
  
  
• From the November 7, 1986, issue I saved a series of articles on American Catholics. I underlined parts of an interview with Avery Cardinal Dulles (though I think he was not yet a cardinal in 1986), and especially liked his response about justification: "We do not merit justification, but having been justified or made righteous in God's sight, by his favor and grace, we are in a position to perform good works—and those good works will be rewarded. . . ." Rereading his interview reminds me of the improved relationship between evangelical and Catholic Christians, encouraged, I believe, by CT and its courteous and careful coverage of people and events in both traditions.
  
  

next page... |  1 of 2

October (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50