As always, I enjoyed your annual book awards feature [April 29]. I noticed that a number of your top selections have to do with the recent craze over the quest for the historical Jesus. For some reason, the so-called conservative position on this issue seems to be coalescing around the work and thought of Luke Timothy Johnson, profiled by Robert J. Hutchinson in this issue [“The Jesus Seminar Unmasked”]. Admittedly, Johnson is closer to historical Christian orthodoxy than John Dominic Crossan and his Jesus Seminar brethren, but he nevertheless falls far short. Thus it is disappointing to see that Johnson’s views–which seem to downplay the necessity of the historicity of the gospel narratives with respect to the facts surrounding the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus–come under only mild criticism.
Peter Van Houten Mt. Prospect, Ill.
* After reading the review of Luke Timothy Johnson’s book “The Real Jesus,” I came across the following in Martin Kahler’s “The So-Called Historical Jesus” and the “Historic Biblical Christ,” written over a hundred years ago: “The real Christ, that is to say, the living Christ, the Christ who strides through the history of peoples, with whom millions have fellowship in childlike faith . . . the real Christ is the Christ that is preached.” It occurred to me that Johnson’s proposal to choose the “real Jesus” (Kahler’s “real Christ”) over the “historical” one is not only hardly novel but, in fact, a blind alley that others have been led down before in vain. Indeed, by claiming the “real Jesus” of the New Testament while yielding the “historical Jesus,” Johnson is paying a greater price than he seems to realize: the rootedness of his Christian faith in the real, historical life and work of the earthly Jesus. John wrote his gospel “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ.” It appears that Johnson, like Kahler a century ago, calls us to make a choice between (the historical) Jesus and the (“real”) Christ that the biblical writers themselves would never have felt forced to make.
Dr. Andreas J. Kostenberger Assistant Professor of New Testament Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Deerfield, Ill.
* Johnson’s response to the quest is not satisfactory from an evangelical viewpoint. Johnson diagnoses the basic misconception of the quest to be the notion that “history somehow determines faith,” and his response is that “Christians direct their faith not to the historical figure but the living Lord Jesus.” Johnson removes the quest’s threat to orthodox Christian faith by saying, in effect, that the historical Jesus is irrelevant anyway. But evangelicals believe that the historical Jesus is important for Christian faith; our response to the quest is to challenge its claim that the historical Jesus is not the Jesus we believe in. By affirming that there is continuity between the historical Jesus described in the canonical Gospels and the living Lord Jesus we experience today, we are saying that the very presupposition upon which the quest is based is false. We are not claiming to have extensive knowledge of the historical Jesus; what we are asserting is that the limited information in the Gospels which purports to be historical is just that. My response is detailed in books by evangelicals who use arguments based on reputable scholarship to establish the reliability of the canonical Gospels (“Cynic, Sage or Son of God” and “Jesus Under Fire”). Johnson seems unaware of such work, since he alleges that the academic conservatives use the “paraphernalia of the academy” to “support conclusions already determined by doctrine” instead of engaging in meaningful critical scholarship.
Helen Mildenhall Oak Park, Ill.
CRITICIZING PERETTI
* Thank you for destroying Frank Peretti in your book review [“Saint John Wayne and the Dragon,” April 29]. The one author that has challenged the saints of God to be more active in prayer on their knees through his awesome style of fiction does not deserve this kind of criticism. His books aren’t good-guy and bad-guy books in which you know the ending before you finish the first chapter but rather are riveting novels that get you on your knees before you finish the book.
Remalian Cocar Troy, Mich.
* I enjoyed Peretti’s other books but did not appreciate this latest release. His other books encouraged me as a Christian and captivated me with exciting coverage of the supernatural battle of good and evil. However, this latest story provided excessive graphic violence, a predictable plot, and a weak theological message. I kept reading to the end of “The Oath” in the misguided hope that it might improve. Where I previously recommended Peretti’s writings, I suggest skipping his latest book.
David E. Lindsay Chicago, Ill.
GENUINE SAINTS AND HEROES
Tim Stafford’s review of Robert Wuthnow’s “Learning to Care: Elementary Kindness in an Age of Indifference” [April 29] was a perfect example of what is wrong in some sectors of the evangelical community: arrogance. Setting out to be a saint or a hero on behalf of others comes from an overweening sense of self-importance and leads to militaristic attitudes and agendas. Some of Stafford’s old missionary hymns need to remain buried. Real saints and heroes have always been far too humble to recognize themselves as such. They are focused on simply being kind (as Wuthnow suggests) to those around them. The church needs every one of us to “brighten the corner where we are” every day of our ordinary lives without expecting rewards or recognition. That is very hard to do, but that is the stuff genuine saints and heroes are made of.
Sara W. Wilcox Paoli, Pa.
ISRAELI ANTIPROSELYTIZING LAWS
* Thank you for printing my letter in Letters to the Editor [April 29]. The editor’s note after it reads: “There is a law in Israel against proselytizing; however, Christians are able to give expression to their faith in Christ.” That comment may only further confuse the subject of Israeli law and evangelism. The only such law in Israel against proselytizing, of which I am aware, has their courts defining proselytizing as the offer of a material inducement to encourage a person to change religions. Western Christians might find such a law odd.
In the missiological tradition of Fr. Elias Chacour, such a law might seem to be a limitation. In the Eastern tradition, the emphasis is upon the social mandate; the giving of material aid in the name of Christ. To my knowledge, the antiproselytizing law in Israel has not been applied in any contemporary case where evangelism was the primary intent. CT readers should not be left with the impression that it is illegal to proclaim the gospel in Israel. The antiproselytizing law has not intimidated Israeli evangelicals, nor should it.
Tuvya Zaretsky Jews for Jesus Los Angeles, Calif.
There is indeed a law prohibiting the offering of financial incentive in proselytizing, enacted to curtail the activities of certain unscrupulous missionary groups that offered financial rewards to people to induce them to convert. It is important to stress, however, that “Christians are able to give expression to their faith in Christ” freely and openly in Israel.
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Chicago, Ill.
JESUS’ RADICAL ACCEPTANCE OF WOMEN
The article “Ministering Women” [April 8] is the first one I have read that has linked women’s roles in the church to church structure as a whole, a connection I have wanted to see addressed for a long time. Thanks to Mary Kassian, who said, “The whole ‘women’s question’ is not a women’s question at all. It’s a question of how we do church–how we view ministry and the spirit’s gifting.” When will the church be able to take an honest look at its structures and its history and realize how far it has strayed from the example of Jesus and the early church? We have mimicked a very human, worldly system of authority, hierarchy, control, money management, power, and building programs instead of adopting the radical, servant love of Jesus, who constantly exposed the hypocrisy of religious “leadership.” When will we examine the New Testament church and its attempts to live in humility and compassion with one another, recognizing each person’s incredible call to an intimate relationship with God the Father and giftedness for complete participation in church life for the edification of the body, regardless of a person’s sex, race, or social status?
I have struggled with the “women’s issue” for years, experiencing many of the humiliating and inexcusable comments by men in the church that the women spoke of, and I have studied the views of many Christian writers. I have come to understand that Jesus offers a radical acceptance to women that few churches seem to be aware of.
Cindy Benson Andover, N.H.
Enough already about “What God expects from Eve’s daughters”: the correct question is, What does God expect of his daughters? Your title is part of the problem. Men tend to see women in a negative way–as damaged through Eve and disqualified. I am a woman; I am also a child of the King of Kings. I have a new life, a new lineage, and a new heritage in Jesus Christ, born of his incorruptible seed. I am chosen of him, and precious, gifted, and ordained to go and bring forth fruit in the power of his Spirit. We need to be reminded again that God so loved and understood the woman that the promise of the seed was to the woman. All of us in Christ, male and female, are children of that promise to Eve.
Joan Fredrickson Goleta, Calif.
Surely, these Christian women would have something to say to me who remains home with my five children to teach and nurture them in their faith. Surely, my ministry to my children is a valid one, and I am using my gifts fully in the lives of my children. I believe I have come a long way by making this sacrificial choice in the context of a secular and church culture that seem to be moving further and further away from affirming, encouraging, and directing women to use their gifts to teach, nurture, and train their children in godliness.
Karen Blaauw Grimsby, Ont., Canada
As I read this article, I realized that no one was speaking about the unique issues single women (ordained and lay) face in the church. All four major presenters are married. Your article rendered single women invisible.
There are many women who want to adhere to their roots found in conservative evangelicalism but have no more energy for discussions concerning “headship,” “authority,” and “submission.” Women like myself have moved way beyond these issues and are experiencing the loneliness once again because the majority of our friends and churches have not moved with us.
– Rev. Alice J. Petersen Associate Minister Beulah Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. Pittsburgh, Pa.
I take issue with the response made by Jill Briscoe regarding the positive effect the Promise Keepers movement is having on men and women. A cult teaches believers they must have Christ plus something. This is what Promise Keepers does to women. They must have Christ plus a man. This is positive for women and their daughters? Sorry, my position in Christ is the same as a man’s.
Dorthy Van Meter Leavenworth, Kans.
Of the four featured women and the six women highlighted in the sidebars, I was disappointed that not one was engaged in ministry as a senior pastor. Am I to assume this is not what God wants from Eve’s daughters?
Pastor Kathleen Leadley Orchard Creek Fellowship St. Catharines, Ont., Canada
Your recent article on women in the ministry was the last straw. Please cancel my subscription immediately. I will not begin to rehearse the theological and pragmatic issues involved. Suffice it to say that promoting women in the pastoral role goes against the literal, inerrant interpretation of the Scriptures. You have once again crossed the line by suggesting modern rationalizations against the written Word of God.
Dr. Curtis J. Creath Middletown, Ohio
– As a Canadian, Christian, feminist, academic, I am deeply disturbed at the way Mary Kassian appropriated the 1990 Montreal Massacre for anti-feminist ends. Rather than blaming feminism for sending “confusing messages to men,” why not ask what message the execution of 14 female engineering students sends to women?
Sheila Hassell Hughes Emory University Atlanta, Ga.
In reading “Ministering Women,” Eve’s situation came to mind. Apparently, instead of celebrating all the freedom and opportunity she had in the garden, she became preoccupied by that one fruit that was forbidden. Throughout the New Testament I find only two basic prohibitions directed at women in the context of the church–teaching men and exercising authority over men. The other few commands seem to be applications of these. Yet, a main theme throughout the forum (although not expressed by every woman) seems to be the participants’ preoccupation with how women have been victims of these prohibitions. In a world half populated by women there is certainly no lack of biblical ministry opportunities for those desiring to teach or lead, not to mention limitless ways of ministering to men outside teaching and leading roles. As in the garden, the important thing today is submitting to God’s revealed will with an attitude of thankfulness for the tremendous freedom within his will.
Missionary Tim Cole Nagano Ken, Japan
COGIC WAKE-UP CALL
We were thoroughly impressed with “Building the Church (of God in Christ)” [April 8] covering the meteoric rise of our church. Your astuteness is to be commended, and your observations will go a long way in bringing about an awareness of “our” Pentecostal roots. Thank you for your “reconnecting points” and strong reminder of the value of the legacy left by Bishop Charles H. Mason. You’ve given the denomination a “wake-up” call.
Elder Willis L. Vaughn Christ for the Crises Revival Ministries Kansas City, Kans.
I was surprised that Joe Maxwell would present such an interesting and thorough portrait of COGIC without any reference to the worldwide missionary programs of this denomination. It is a sad commentary that you would ignore the single most important biblical characteristic of the spiritually obedient church, her involvement in mission activity in those far-flung locations of our world where the Good News has never been proclaimed.
David Straves The Bible League South Holland, Ill.
CLARIFICATION
An Arts article titled “Theater of the Oppressed” in the February 5, 1996, issue failed to give due credit to Gary Wood and his Peace Troupe for the workshop that produced the “Invisible Theater.” Affiliated with the Mennonite Board of Missions, Peace Troupe is not the same as the Mennonite Peacemakers Reconciliation Team mentioned in the article. CT regrets the oversight.
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