More Babies to Adopt
Beth Spring did an excellent job on “When the Dream Child Dies” [Aug. 7]. It seems almost petty to carp about one misstatement in the sidebar “The Alternatives to Infertility”: “Despite an extremely short supply of healthy American infants, adoption remains a preferred alternative.…” There is no shortage of healthy American infants for adoption. The reason agencies have few babies for placement is that birth mothers, in droves, are refusing to work with agencies and opting, instead, to place their children directly for adoption with families they themselves have chosen. This is a response to a terrible lack of services on the part of most adoption agencies. First is the problem of adequate medical services for mother and infant; agencies cannot afford to pay for these. And second, most agencies insist on maintaining a veil of secrecy as to the identity of the adoptive family. Most birth mothers reject this approach.
PATRICIA SHIRLEY
Timonium, Md.
I am grateful Spring discussed adoption in listing alternatives for infertile couples, but disappointed foster care did not get equal time. Adoptive parents often wait many months for a child, while emergency city shelters fill up with foster children waiting for parents. As a foster homefinder in New York City, I am grateful when childless couples choose the “high-risk ministry” of being foster parents. They choose to love needy and often difficult children with no guarantees as to how long the children will be with them.
DONALD G. CARLIN
Queens, N.Y.
Coping with AIDS
The article on AIDS, “High-risk Ministry” [Aug. 7], was thought-provoking and consistent with my emotions and thought processes. My father was told several months ago that he had contracted the AIDS virus, probably through a blood transfusion he was given during a severe illness in 1985. Since that time I have had to deal with emotional issues and medical questions in my role as a physician’s assistant in the U.S. Navy, and with the spiritual questions arising from my role as a believer in the saving power of Jesus Christ. I have endeavored to keep my personal and physical relationships with my father as they were before he was diagnosed with AIDS. I do not believe there is any need to avoid hugging or hand holding. I want to extend the hope of the apostle Paul: looking forward to being with the Father in heaven and trusting the Holy Spirit for the strength to endure all things in this world.
L. E. BAKER
Patuxent River, Md.
You made clear that there are only two extremes in the AIDS problem—hating homosexuals and desiring to expose and “humiliate” their “lifestyle,” and not “blaming” them for AIDS. Many practicing Christians hold another view: that homosexuality is reprehensible and should be strongly discouraged, and AIDS should be treated like any other communicable, deadly disease. Why isn’t this view presented in a favorable light?
MARTHA S. HENRY
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Not all “evangelicals agree that homosexual activity is sinful.” Some of us uphold a single standard of responsible sexual behavior for all people, not one standard for heterosexuals and another for homosexuals. Promiscuity is self-degrading; covenantal, life-enhancing relationships are the ideal.
NANCY A. HARDESTY
Atlanta, Ga.
Tapia stated that there is “disagreement among Christians” concerning a proper view of homosexuality. The Scriptures have no such problem. Homosexual activity is called “an abomination and a perversion” (Lev. 18:22).
REV. RICHARD D. BRADY
Westchester Church of Christ Los Angeles, Calif.
Needed: Repentance
I agree wholeheartedly with David Schiedermayer [“Choices in Plague Time,” Aug. 7] in his call for repentance on the part of Pharisees. I only wish he had been just as strong in his call for repentance on the part of the homosexual.
WILLIAM G. BROUWERS
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
Persecution and desertion have characterized the plight of the plague victim, but that doesn’t say it all. The Christian response, or reaction, should consider compassion; but where are the plans for admission of guilt, repentance, restitution for sin, and humility which normally precede forgiveness? Sodomy bears the stigma of immorality.
JOHN THACKER
Millbrae, Calif.
A Moving Experience
There was a time when people turned to pastors, priests, or psychiatrists if life became overwhelming. But now, a new religious experience has clearly given millions renewed ability to cope.
The sacred scripture of these converts is seen on thousands of bumper stickers: WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH Go SHOPPING. I recently spent a Sunday afternoon sitting in a mall, one of those contemporary cathedrals for committed consumers, the mecca for those seeking secular solace.
I watched the intergenerational congregants: infants sleeping in strollers; toddlers straining to escape Dad’s grasp; teens hanging out; career women striding purposefully in their Reeboks, retirees munching ice cream cones.
Some devout shoppers, of course, don’t attend the mall. It’s too big, too impersonal. They prefer knowing, and being known by, the people with whom they commune commercially. So they faithfully frequent the more intimate family-run shops located on side streets.
Other spending saints prefer the upbeat pace of the city, so they congregate downtown.
But for good or bad, the trend seems to be toward the mega-mall experience, climate controlled and, thanks to escalators, always offering a moving experience.
An incongruous cartoon
I must join what I’m certain to be the response of the majority of your readers in expressing my utter amazement that you would publish that cartoon (“Thou art my beloved son”) in the August 7 issue [Reflections]. It would be difficult for me to imagine anything in worse taste. To have John the Baptist miss the meaning of the divine voice, to apply the words to himself, and for our Lord to say, “Uh, I think He means me,” is anything but humorous. The quality of CT is so commendable, I cringe to see something so incongruous.
DWIGHT HERVEY SMALL
Santa Monica, Calif.
Surely you know the difference between humor and irreverence.
FRANK A. LAWRENCE
Lancaster, Pa.
Don’t blame the pope!
I reject the notion implicit in Philip Yancey’s article “The Pope’s New Weapon” [Aug. 7] that the papacy’s old weapon was the “brute force” of the Inquisition. I challenge Yancey, or anyone else, to produce a papal decree that either advocated or sanctioned torture and executions. What Yancey has neglected to tell his readers is that the Spanish Inquisition was under secular control; its cruel ruthlessness—although a product of that age—never was condoned by any pope.
AUGUST A. ANZELMO
Chicago Heights, Ill.
The Vatican has a black record indeed in recent decades. The present Bishop of Rome has proven himself, by his inaction and refusal to “clean house” at the Vatican, to be supportive of his predecessors’ shady dealings. Yancey should look elsewhere, to godly men in Protestant ranks, or to the cynical Pope’s co-religionists Cardinal Leger or Mother Teresa, who have sacrificed all for their Saviour, not counting the cost, contrary to the example of their tarnished pontiff.
GERALD PARKER
Montreal, Que., Canada
No do’s and don’ts
Thank you for “Gray Matters” by Ronald G. Habermas [Aug. 7]. I appreciated his comments, especially when he refused to give a list of do’s and don’ts, but merely suggested some of the issues Christians argue about today. It continues to amaze me how men and women go beyond what is written in Scripture and come to their own conclusions about subjects and matters that are not addressed specifically in the Word of God.
REV. WILLIAM H. KETTS
Faith Bible Church North Platte, Neb.
A too-short report
I was disappointed by the relative paucity of space devoted to the “Singapore ’87 Younger Leaders Conference” [Aug. 7]. Your editing of J. D. Douglas’s report barely covered the essentials of this international meeting, which may prove to be the catalyst to invigorate any Lausanne-related congress on world evangelization to be held in 1989. There was no mention of the mood or spirit of the gathering (in which there was significant cross-cultural interaction about matters of personal integrity, family life, spiritual warfare, and cooperation for world evangelization); no reference to the dynamic of the exchange in small groups, regional meetings, or plenary sessions; no comment on the potential this group already possesses in influencing the next generation or the world for world evangelization; no sharing of the stories of costly discipleship many emerging leaders told. Here was a story bursting with global implication that went begging for a hearing.
STEPHEN T. HOKE
World Vision International Monrovia, Calif.
God’s will for Pat
I believe the candidacy of Pat Robertson for President [“Will Pat Run?” News, Aug. 7] would become more embarrassing to the Christian community than Oral Roberts or Jim and Tammy Bakker ever thought of being. The secular media will crucify him, and only Jesus could survive the crucifixion. When Pat says, “I know this is His will for my life,” to what is he referring? That he be a candidate? That he win the nomination for President on the Republican ticket? Or that he become President? The media will dig up every strange and unbiblical thing Pat Robertson has ever done in his life and use it against him. Doesn’t he know that?
REV. RICHARD A. BENNETT
Pulaski Wesleyan Church Pulaski, N.Y.
Another chance
Why must Gordon MacDonald resign from IVCF and stop speaking [News, July 10]? In a day when Christians seem very willing to welcome back Christian leaders who start over with new partners, should we not thank God for Gordon and Gail MacDonald’s decision to go on building on their many years as husband and wife? Young people need to see how Christian husbands and wives can forgive each other and go on to build something even better than they had before. The MacDonalds have a wonderful opportunity to model this, but it will be lost if the Christian community insists upon “putting them away privily.” The idea that Gordon MacDonald can be part of the church, but cannot be a church leader again, only feeds the illusion that leaders are a breed apart. It is this kind of value system that encourages leaders to pretend to live up to false images. It should comfort all of us to remember that God gave David another chance.
MARGARET D. AND ANTHONY CAMPOLO
Eastern College St. Davids, Pa.
