Charity Begins At Home
There’s never a cloud without a silver lining. If the Viet Nam war divided America, then the Vietnamese refugee problem seems to be uniting us again. In the halls of Congress, in the public media, and even in our local church, we have heard all kinds of arguments. The wonderful thing is how thoughtful people, starting from different presuppositions and pursuing different routes, seem to be able to arrive at the same position, which can be roughly summed up as “Charity begins at home,” sometimes paraphrased as, “What, me pay?”
Senator P. Crassus Malgubernans, famous for his promises of federal generosity in election years, pointed out tactfully that most of the refugees would probably really be happier back in Viet Nam, once they had overcome their initial adjustment difficulties. Congressman L. Avidus Crispus, from a Western state, said that it would be immoral to help foreigners while we have so many dissatisfied people here at home. A leading spokesman for economy in the Senate, M. Tullius Avis, stated that personally he had the greatest sympathy for refugees from tyranny anywhere, but that this is a bad year for the U. S. economy and the price of oil is continuing to rise. One noted ecclesiastic, himself a spokesman for an easily identifiable minority group, stated that Vietnamese refugees are all right but that something must be done for our own people first.
Retired general L. Severus Vindex, who directed the famous “seek and demolish” campaign during the years 1966–68, stated that personally he has nothing against Vietnamese but that we don’t need anything to remind us of our past failures. Noted conservative spokesman M. Pecunius Lupus warned that, deserving though the Vietnamese may be, support for them will be paid for by further government indebtedness and hence by an unacceptable rate of inflation. Anti-Communist publicist I. Rufus Bombastus stated frankly, “The Reds are responsible. Let them pay.” Some conservative Protestants observed that most of the refugees are probably Catholics and hence should be paid for by the Pope, while at least one Catholic thought that they were chiefly Buddhists and hence indifferent to suffering as a matter of principle.
The wonderful thing about all of this is that despite the differences of detail, so many voices are evidently united in one and the same opinion: “We’re sorry, but this really isn’t a very convenient time for accepting refugees. Ask again after some other war.”
There was one dissident voice, hard to catch among the unanimous babble of disapproval, and we could catch only phrases. It went something like this: “Depart from me … for I was hungry and you gave me no food … a stranger and you did not welcome me.” Probably whoever it was doesn’t understand our current economic situation or the realities of political life in America.
Since When?
I was very impressed with the editorial in the April 11 issue, “Waste as a Wrong,” but it struck me as the grossest inconsistency to have an advertisement on the back cover which features the headline, “If you are like I used to be, maybe you can’t see yourself as being a well-paid Christian businessman.” All I can ask it, what’s gone wrong when you allow advertisements such as this to appear in CHRISTIANITY TODAY? Since when has God ever promised business success manifested in the form of a fancy home and a Mercedes Benz? I find this to be particularly disturbing, especially in view of the widespread acceptance of the Lausanne Covenant, where thousands of Christian leaders pledged to adopt a more simple lifestyle to advance the cause of the Gospel worldwide.
Professor
Wheaton College Graduate School
Wheaton, Ill.
A Perfect Fit
I want to congratulate you for your selection of Edith Schaeffer to write articles for “A Layman and His Faith.” When Dr. Bell was writing these articles, they always thrilled and inspired me, and I wondered at his death who could fill his shoes. Mrs. Schaeffer manages to do so beautifully each issue, and every article has been superb.
First Baptist Church
Littlefield, Tex.
A Vote Of No
As a member of the curriculum committee of the Board of Christian Education of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, I would like to clarify a statement in the article “Updating the Sunday School” (April 25). We have not participated in the Joint Educational Development curriculum development. Our Board of Christian Education did send representatives to the early planning sessions, with the purpose of studying JED. Finally, in January, 1974, our Board of Christian Education voted not to become a member.
Independent Presbyterian Church
Brandon, Fla.
From Milk To Meat
Joann and Belden Menkus have diagnosed the adult Sunday-school situation correctly (“Adult Sunday School Needs to Grow Up,” April 25).… The editorial, “Do Something For Your Sunday School,” suggests successive steps for revitalizing the Sunday school. High on this list, I feel, is “train teachers” (making certain the trainer is qualified to train). Many adults of my acquaintance do not attend Sunday school because they are starving for meat and only little drivels of milk are being offered. It’s staggering, the number of adult teachers who are still on milk.
Austin, Tex.
Back To The Books
I very much appreciated both the tone and emphasis of your brief editorial “Debatable Behavior” (April 25).… We desperately need people who will “do their homework” regarding the role of women in the church and in the home.
Edmonton, Alberta
Not A Fine Point
You have rendered your readers a good service in presenting Dr. Carl Henry’s perceptive focus (Footnotes, May 9) on a most dangerous influence which stems from Watchman Nee’s otherwise helpful writings: the disparagement of truth, which devalues “the historical and factual aspects of the Christian faith.” As theological liberalism has demonstrated, acceptance of an agnostic view of truth deductively leads to theological agnosticism. However, I felt that Dr. Henry’s final sentence tended to undermine his own position: “While they [Christian martyrs in Communist work camps] may flub in the fine points of technical theology, they may also teach us a great deal about practical discipleship.” As Dr. Henry says, “… contemporary Christianity needs to become deeply rooted in the biblical view of … reality.” This view is propositional truth. And the issue is not a fine point of technical theology but the very foundation of Christianity.
Fairfax, Va.
Indicative Or Imperative
James Davey’s article, “How to Discover Your Spiritual Gift” (May 9), was a real disappointment to me. It is evident he has not handled the passages in Romans 12; First Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 in the Greek. I am sorry he cannot decide whether we receive our spiritual gift(s) when we become a part of the body of Christ or later. His handling of Paul’s injunction to “earnestly desire spiritual gifts” indicates he takes zeloute (12:31; 14:1) as a present active imperative (command) rather than a present active indicative (action going on). To do this is to cause the Scripture to contradict itself, in fact, within the context of First Corinthians itself.
North Valley Baptist Church
Red Bluff, Calif.
To Keep Abreast
I note with much interest the news story, “The Trial of Georgi Vins” (April 25).… It is absolutely essential that Christians be aware of the plight of their brothers and sisters in Christ behind the Iron Curtain and in different parts of the world.… If we neglect to intercede for them and do whatever we possibly can on their behalf, surely God will be displeased, and a similar or worse fate could easily befall us.
We have looked to CHRISTIANITY TODAY for many years for sound evangelical leadership. In today’s world, with the recent rapid devastating changes in Viet Nam and elsewhere, it is so important that we have reliable Christian sources of information to keep abreast of the news.
Montgomery, N. Y.
