Camel Soup—Not So Good
Everybody knows that the President’s ban on grain exports to Russia has greatly upset American farmers. What people do not know is that this ban is quietly undermining one of America’s most profitable evangelical industries: tours to the Holy Land.
What is the connnection? Very simple: as reported in the national press, the Russians have taken to eating camel meat as a substitute for grain. And camels are a very important part of a Holy Land tour. Ipso facto and e pluribus unum: we are in trouble.
When I heard this awesome news, I immediately made a long-distance call to my dear friend Dromedary Dan, the used camel dealer, whose bright neon sign “Grin and Beirut” is known to every evangelical pilgrim.
In a trembling voice I asked, “Is it true, Dan, that the camel business is in trouble?”
“In trouble!” Dan replied. “It should be that easy! We are ruined!”
After I retrieved the phone with a shaking hand, I said, “Please explain—gently—just how bad things are. Will I have to cancel my next three tours and stay home and preach?”
“I’ll tell you how bad it is. Camelnapping is terrible. Last night I lost six good used camels—stolen right off the lot! It’s terrible!”
“Camelnapping! Have they passed any new laws to control this new crime?”
Dan replied in disgust, “Pass laws? All they do is pass the buck from one department to another. The police say the Interior Department is in charge. The Interior Department says the zoo should initiate new legislation. The zoo says that, since the camel is the ship of the desert, the navy is in charge. So, while all this is going on, the Russians are eating up my profits.”
“But are there sufficient camels for our tour people? Can they still take rides and have their pictures taken?”
Dan sighed. “We’re using two old camels, and the lines look like Disneyland. The camels can’t take it much longer.”
I hung up with humps in my throat. My tour ministry was over. Unless—unless—would it work? Yes! I’ll do it!
Can I send you a brochure of my Holy Land tours—the only tours using dune buggies?
EUTYCHUS X
Brave and Honest
I am grateful to English theologian J. I. Packer for his refreshing evangelical perspective on the charismatic renewal (“Charismatic Renewal: Pointing to a Person and a Power,” Mar. 7). He was brave and honest in exposing his concerns and articulating the lessons evangelicals should learn from the movement.
I, too, am for the Holy Spirit and what he desires to do in, among, and through Christians today. The article solemnly exhorts charismatics and noncharismatics to humbly submit themselves to sound exegetical study of God’s authoritative Word to erase fears, prejudices, irreverence, and suspicions in both extreme camps. A biblically renewed mind will find no room for judgmentalism and spiritual elitism.
T. V. THOMAS
National Evangelist
Christian and Missionary Alliance
Regina, Sask.
Misleading
The article appearing under my name entitled “The Loss of Soul in Rock Music” (Refiner’s Fire, Feb. 22) was too drastically edited and contained a few inaccuracies:
1. One of my major purposes was to demonstrate the parallels between the history of rock music and Francis Schaeffer’s analysis of the history of Western culture. The final product omitted much of this theme.
2. In its edited form the article could be interpreted as a tirade against the whole rock music scene. But I wrote the article out of compassion for those in my generation and in the present generation who have accepted the current world view of apathy and affluence. My major goal was not to grind an axe, but to point those in the rock culture to Christ.
PHILIP M. BICKEL
Lafayette, Ind.
Still Alive
In this bicentennial year of the Sunday school, we expect many to highlight the history and contributions of this movement. Doris A. Freese’s article, “How Far Has Sunday School Come? Where Is It Headed?” is a prime example.
Her discussion of the American Sunday School Union, however, lacked one important fact. The ASSU is still alive. It is now known as the American Missionary Fellowship, headquartered in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It continues its Sunday school ministry as part of a multimethod approach to church planting in rural and urban areas of the U.S.
The name has changed (in 1974), but its commitment to the teaching of the Word remains constant.
IAIN W. CRICHTON
Assistant to Director of Ministries
American Missionary Fellowship
Villanova, Pa.
One of the Best
The February 8 issue of CHRISTIANITY TODAY is in my opinion one of the best you have ever published. Carl Henry’s interview with Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “Apostolic Preaching,” by H. D. McDonald, and “Toward a Holiness Beyond the Obvious,” by Earl G. Hunt, Jr., proclaim the type of Christian witness that needs to be heard in our land—particularly from our clergy.
In addition, Ed Plowman’s report on “The Shaking Up of Adventism?” (News), and Cheryl Forbes’s essay on artist Joe DeVelasco (Refiner’s Fire) give the issue a kind of balance that is both stimulating and satisfying.
HAROLD HOSTETLER
Managing Editor
Logos Journal
Plainfield, N.J.
Clear Thinking
Thank you for printing the article “Finding the Energy to Continue,” by Mark Hatfield (Feb. 8). Even many Christian people do not understand that they have the greatest responsibility for the use or abuse of our resources. Christians have been generally irresponsible and have let the world affect their thinking too much. Senator Hatfield recognizes this and addresses the important issues at stake here. His practical suggestions show the clarity of his thinking and the true value of this article, though they will go unrecognized by many.
REV. GARY KITCHEN
First Christian Church
Brookport, Ill.
Lonely Vigil
How long I have waited for some in-depth spiritual guidance in CHRISTIANITY TODAY that delved into the Word of God. The article “Apostolic Preaching” by H. D. McDonald was outstanding. Mr. McDonald has shown us from the Bible what the Bible teaches and how it is relevant to us today.
ROY F. WOODS
Keesler Air Force Base
Biloxi, Miss.
