January was specially gratifying in several ways. A $53.03 checkbook balance survived my annual income-tax payment (next year’s surtax will doubtless alter that). And fellow religion editors commented sympathetically and generously on my personal plans for theological research.
Since I made passing mention of death-of-God theologians as among those needing evangelical confrontation, not a few volunteers have worked my telephone overtime with offers of help in showing God alive.
An Arlington, Virginia, cab driver called to say that he is “the Truth,” that he was raised from the dead April 3, 1931, and that he has been conscious of his divinity since 1964. I thought I had escaped that climate when I moved from California, but almost anything can now happen in the Washington area too.
Another to volunteer help in my “search for God” was a stranger who said he had gathered scientific proofs to end all doubt. And a college professor asked that I send him periodic bulletins, as and if such are issued, on the current state of the supernatural world.
With help of this kind, the year ahead should be remarkably interesting, if not fruitful.
Clearer than ever is the fact that evangelical Christians are overdue participants in the modern dialogue. And what is necessarily said at scholarly levels must also be preserved at journalistic frontiers, where many ordinary readers need and seek theological help.
While we pray for peace, we need moral clarity about this war.
As my doubts about his teachings grew, so did a secret fascination with Jesus.
C.S. Lewis recommended discernment over diatribes in exactly the moments we’re most eager to indulge in critique.
