WHEN ANGELS DANCED
Many of my friends are eccentrics. I state this without shame or regret, mindful of the birds-of-a-feather business. One of them collects unanswered or unanswerable questions. He delights in formulating questions to which the answer is obscure like “What was the significance of Bill Bailey’s fine tooth comb?”
He’s even happier when he can find a question that seems unanswerable—such as “What is the explanation for Hamlet’s seeming inability to take decisive action?”
The ultimate accolade of “unanswerable” is given to a question when two or more authorities give diametrically opposed answers.
I remember one occasion in high school when he discovered that medieval theologians posed such questions as “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” He went into an Ichabodian blue funk.
The shock of the sudden realization that he had been born into the wrong century was almost too much for him. “How could God do this to me?” he questioned. At the time I was even less of a theologian than I am now and had no answer. Eventually he recovered and went on to new heights of doubt.
A few weeks ago I made the mistake of giving him a collection of recent theological publications I was discarding. I didn’t see him again till we met yesterday at an alumni meeting.
He came over to my table happily waving a sheaf of papers. “Gee, I don’t know how to thank you!” he said. “Those religious magazines are great!” I was puzzled at first. “I didn’t really know you were so interested in theology,” I said.
“I’m not,” he said. “I’m interested in questions. And these things are gold mines,” again waving the sheaf of papers.
Then I realized the papers were pages from those nearly discarded magazines.
“Why didn’t you tell me before this?” His tone was slightly accusing. “I’ve stayed away from religion because I thought it was full of ultimate answers. Here I was contenting myself with superficial questions like ‘Where did Cain get his wife?’ when I could have been asking ‘What is ecclesiastical renewal?’ and ‘What is the anachronistic mind of the believers in the old Individualism?’—or even ‘Who or what is the cosmic Christ?’ ”
“As a matter of fact,” he continued, animation mounting, “I have found so many conflicting statements by the theological experts that I have already classified several questions unanswerable: Is there a God?, What is mission?, and How can you know anything?”
I said hesitantly, “Now that you’ve read those publications, why don’t you try reading the Bible?”
“Why?” he eagerly responded. “Is it full of questions too?”
Next time around I’ll burn my old magazines.
KEEPING SIGHTS STRAIGHT
The article on religious broadcasting, “The Problems and Prospects of Evangelical Radio,” by William R. Wineke (Jan. 1), was superb.… I also find that you pack one surprise an issue and I found it this week in editorials. “Disobeying Orders” was about the best defense I have heard against the rhetoric of the far right.… I could go on and … praise the reviewer of Tom Skinner’s latest books but suffice it to say that I find your publication invaluable in keeping my sights on the goal of the Kingdom and its universal quality.
Oak Brook, Ill.
Your editorial on Commander Eustis did not go far enough. When the axe falls it should get the root of the tree, not just do a little pruning. You blistered Eustis as well you should. But what about … the tarnished brass at the top?
Taylor Avenue Church of God
Lebanon, Mo.
WEAK REASONING
I found the article “Second-Class Citizenship in the Kingdom of God” (Jan. 1) to be exegetically weak and scripturally out of context. Galatians 3:28 was grossly misused. The New Testament, including Galatians 3:28, does not abolish the natural, creative orders when a person becomes a son of God. If we follow the reasoning of the author to logical conclusions, we will not only abolish the male, female order of headship and submission, but also all creative differences must be abolished.… Perhaps Paul’s question in Galatians 3 would apply to the article: “Having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh?”
Mount Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church
Anoka, Minn.
I have now seen it demonstrated that you can quote the Bible to prove anything. Although I do not always agree with the position taken in your articles I can usually respect the scholarship of the author and the quality of the article. I am sorry to say that Ruth Schmidt’s article has absolutely nothing to commend it.
Are we to understand that Paul’s explicit instructions concerning women’s role in the church are only his “personal bias”? Should we not then conclude that they are not “profitable for doctrine, for reproof …”? The author apparently does. I am surprised that CHRISTIANITY TODAY would allow such a low view of inspiration in its pages.
Electra Community Church
Electra, Tex.
I am in full agreement with Ruth Schmidt! God ordained that women be used in his worship services long before Christ came to this earth. They were used in such high offices (as judges), and even a prophetess named Anna confirmed what Simeon told the people about Christ.
Springfield, Ohio
Thank you so much for Ruth Schmidt’s article.… I’ve been watching … for one like that for several years now. We can only hope that soon evangelical Christians will see that there are more options open to women to serve Jesus Christ than ever before.…
It was heartening to note that the author clarifies the difference between wives and women. So often verses are used to keep women down when they are referring to the marriage relationship and not relationships between all men and all women.
(Mrs.) BEVERLY WILLIAMS
Saint Cloud, Minn.
OPINIONATED IMPLICATION
Contrary to the inference in the editorial “Religion on the Big Board” (Jan. 1) the Lutheran Church in America does not endorse pre-or extramarital intercourse.
Part of the statement on sex, marriage, and family adopted by the fifth biennial convention of the Lutheran Church in America at Minneapolis, Minnesota, in June and July of 1970 reads:
Because the Lutheran Church in America holds that sexual intercourse outside the context of the marriage union is morally wrong, nothing in this statement on “Sex, Marriage, and Family” is to be interpreted as meaning that this church either condones or approves premarital or extra-marital sexual intercourse.
It should be the goal of every editor to have the facts carefully separated from his opinions.
Blaine Lutheran Church
Blaine, Wash.
OPINION VS. COMMANDMENT
I was quite surprised to read that Dr. Runia in part two of “What Do Evangelicals Believe About the Bible?” (Dec. 18) does not believe that there is any place in the Bible where Paul distinguishes between what he believes as his personal opinion … [and] what he is writing as “God’s word.” Yet, Paul says in First Corinthians 7:6: “I speak this by permission and not of commandment.” And in First Corinthians 7:10 Paul writes, “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord”.… [These and similar] references make it perfectly clear, it seems to me, that there were times when Paul wishes to make it very clear that it is Paul the man who is giving his opinion of judgment, and that it is not God, who is speaking with the binding authority of divinity and eternity.
Lexington, Mass.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
The introduction to the article by Hendrik Kraemer, “The Church in Search of Mission” (Jan. 1), failed to indicate that his book, The Christian Message in a Non-Christian World, from which the essay was taken, is still available through Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501 ($5.95).
Kregel Publications
Grand Rapids, Mich.
NO LACK OF LIBERTY
In the editorial “Holding the Line on ‘Parochaid’ ” (Dec. 18) you state that the more the government gives money to independent schools, the more their liberty will be sacrificed. This is a popular misconception, and I think that careful reflection will reveal the opposite.
Financial favoritism to one kind of religious philosophy, namely, the humanistic secularism of the government schools, is a realistic way to stifle educational liberty. For most people are unable to pay for two educations: one in the government schools and another in an independent school.… Few tuition-charging schools can compete against the free schools of the state.
If CHRISTIANITY TODAY is to continue its opposition to equal aid for all children in all schools regardless of race, color, or creed, it should abandon its stance of trying to rescue the independent schools from government control. For in reality its stand is causing the schools to close down daily and send their children to humanistic schools against their religious convictions.
Executive Secretary
A Contemporary Translation (A.C.T.)
Wayne, N.J.
ARTFUL CONFUSION
After having read the note in Personalia (Dec. 18) of the National Press Club’s annual art show entry—a bust of Vice-President Agnew—entitled: “Judges 15:15, 16,” I wasn’t sure if the allusion was to the V.P. as an ass, the jaw-bone of an ass, or as Samson. Neither could I be sure that within the scriptural context there wasn’t an allusion to the Press Club as the 1,000 slain, the uncircumcised, the hollow place, or the god who clave the hollow place out of which all must drink.
Hyland Baptist Church
Henderson, Ky.
GOD IN THE STADIUM
Your editorial “God and Games” (Nov. 20) indicts all of the clergymen who have ever prayed at such sporting events. The majority of these men, I believe, were sincere before God. It would also indirectly indict all Christians who attend such events, for if God can’t be invoked there, should Christians be there?… [Such prayers] encourage many hearts to look Godward.… Would not the singing of the national anthem also be perfunctory to many? If so, should not such “disrespect” be eliminated by banning the song? And what about prayer at … the presidential inauguration?
New Life International
Long Beach, Calif.
DISMAYED
I am continually dismayed at the cynicism and sarcasm your writer uses when writing on the subject of homosexuality. I have been a recipient or subscriber to CHRISTIANITY TODAY since its inception. For me it has always filled a great need in reporting evangelical Christianity, and I have defended it against what I believed to be unfair criticism.
For some reason unknown this area of life seems to be galling to your reporter, and the material is not presented in an unbiased manner.… Some research into the subject … would prove helpful to him and to your readers.
Dean
Samaritan Bible Seminary
Los Angeles, Calif.
• Samaritan Bible Seminary is sponsored by a group of homosexually oriented churches which Mr. Ploen serves as elder.—ED.
NO DESIGNATION
In reference to Paul Witte’s article “Can Catholics Learn Anything from Evangelical Protestants?” (Dec. 18) I have only one question. Why any designation at all? Why can’t we be Christians only?
Overlake Christian Church
Kirkland, Wash.
