Eutychus and His Kin: August 22, 1969

The Case Of The Lunatic Boots

It can only be a matter of time before the literary revolution wrought by Apollo 11 is made the subject of a doctoral dissertation. For example, after four centuries of high-flying, if you will pardon the figure in this context, green-cheese stock has slumped badly. Another diversion of our and General James Wolfe’s childhood, Gray’s Elegy, needs to be rewritten at one point; at no extra charge I proffer the following:

O moping owl that erstwhile told the moon

The grievous things that did thy spirit vex,

Cut it right out, for now thy peevish tune

Will be relayed forthwith to Houston, Tex.

Even Shakespeare could be amended, for nothing is sacred here. No more may we declaim: “It is the very error of the moon; / She comes more nearer earth than she was wont, / And makes men mad.” For “moon” try substituting “earth” and vice-versa, but be sure to retain that last clause for my next para depends on it.

One guy perhaps made mad wrote a letter to an influential newspaper which promptly and unkindly published it. “During the television broadcast,” he complained, “I was alarmed to hear that among the debris to be left on the moon will be a couple of pairs of old boots. One is used to finding such relics on Earth’s more popular beaches and picnic haunts, but must this disgusting habit be practiced the very first time man steps outside his own backyard?” I agree: you can’t nail this sort of thing too early. Future moongoers should be read a lecture on lunar litter laws and warned of the dire penalties for violating what will come to be known as the dreaded Triple L.

An evangelical has solemnly insisted that “the devil’s in the moon for mischief”—a word uttered originally with all the authority of that eminent theologian, Lord Byron. He may be on to something, but I can’t get down to the undoubted profundity there for wondering why our brother was reading Don Juan in the first place.

The moon safari has predictably been condemned most often on the basis that the billions of dollars involved might have been given to the poor. While acknowledging that a case of sorts could be made for that, one might inquire whether regular concern for the poor is not a necessary condition of adopting such a line of talk (the middle part of Mark 14:7 tends to be unjustly neglected).

Years ago I found a poem in which the writer said something like this, which may be thought pertinent to the current controversy: “God may have other words for other worlds, but for this world the word of God is Christ.” A useful thought for religious speculators, new Athenians, diversion-creators, and all in danger of falling into the gutter while gazing at the moon.

EUTYCHUS IV

Humanity In The Heavens

I thoroughly enjoyed the interview with Dr. Rodney Johnson (July 18). It is the best I have seen on this topic. I especially appreciated his development of the idea that space travel does not represent man playing God, but man becoming more human.

Director

The Dight Institute for Human Genetics

University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minn.

Eagle landed, Armstrong and Aldrin walked, and my mind began to wrestle frantically with all the theological implications of our new age.…

Now the evangelical theological world (labels are so important, aren’t they?) is frantic. The space age is here, and we have little to say about it except to desperately search for some Christian employees of NASA who can tell us it’s all right for men to walk on the moon.…

I confess a certain bewilderment on these issues. Like many others, I want to discover how adequately our “old, old story” meets the needs of a new, new age. I am confident that the Gospel is as alive today as ever, that men need Christ more than ever before. But perhaps it is time for us to cast off into the space of God’s Word, discarding the timeworn labels, words, and all-star cast of evangelical theologians. Perhaps we need fresh questions, and fresh answers.

First Baptist Church

Collinsville, Ill.

What about ethical matters as they relate to space: How does an astronaut treat other forms of life that do not appear human? What does he do if attacked? Suppose an astronaut is stranded in space—do we leave him?

I think now that the moon landing has been accomplished, theologs will begin to think seriously about developing a space theology. So far it has been mere theory. Also, what are some of the ethical and theological problems space scientists are grappling with? Theologs need to know.

Temple Baptist Church

Fullerton, Calif.

I have read with interest the interview with Dr. Rodney W. Johnson. Without any idea of criticism at all, I would appreciate your comment on Psalm 115:16, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; but the earth hath he given to the children of men.”

Houston, Tex.

“The Apollo 11 Astronauts: Recognition of Religion” (July 18) is a surprisingly shoddy piece of reporting and is an arrogant judgment of the astronauts’ faith.

Astronaut Collins’s high-school teacher is quoted and evaluates Collins as he was in high school. Do you honestly expect your readers to assume there has been no spiritual growth since high school? Would you want your current religious profile based on someone who knew you only in high school?

The reporter apparently never asked the astronauts themselves; and the reporter seems to miss from their friends the comfortable and recognizable code words … that agree with the legalistic standards of your reporter.

Your so-called “news” item reeks with pharisaism.

Lansing, Mich.

The Ground Of Government

John Montgomery’s article “Demos and Christos” (July 18) was, as usual, quite excellent.

I agree that the link between Christianity and democracy is better demonstrated from Scripture than history. I felt, however, that he missed the most fundamental biblical passage of all that bears on the subject.

The creation record provides us with two truths that are indispensable for a successful democracy. Because we are related in Adam, we have a common ancestry and a common birthright to humanity. The ground in Eden as well as at the Cross is level.

Secondly, the creation record implies that we have an awesome personal responsibility before God. No democracy will be successful without this dual sense of equality and responsibility.

By the way, I know Montgomery likes Luther and so do I, but that quote from Luther does nothing for Luther or Montgomery’s argument.

Northeastern Collegiate Bible Institute

Essex Fells, N.J.

I was somewhat disappointed in the article by Montgomery. Certainly the true attitude of Christianity is to be ascertained from Scripture, but Jesus’ injunction that none of his followers be called master since they were brethren hardly implies that the democratic state is optimum.…

Another bothersome point is the unqualified fiat, “[democracy] is unquestionably the best government for ‘sinners saved by grace.’ ” The good professor’s bag may be history, but moot is such a sweeping generality, along with the idea of obligatory participation in the democratic process. True, the Christian is called upon to eschew evil and hold fast to that which is good, but whether this entails holding office, campaigning, or even voting for every Christian is highly questionable, especially in this day when usually neither the candidates nor the issues are either clearly Christian or anti-Christian. Let us thank God for the land we live in and for its freedoms, instead of extolling a particular form of government.

North Kingstown, R.I.

From Grasshopper To Gadfly

When a self-confessed “grasshopper mind” (Eutychus IV, July 4) finds relevancy in the 1831 defense of John Macleod Campbell’s teaching on the atonement, your grasshopper has become a burden.

On page 258 of the book Scottish Theology by Principal John Macleod, D.D., we find this criticism: “This view [of Campbell] held implicit in its bosom the Deistic teaching that an adequate repentance is the only Atonement that is needed.… Its engrossing doctrine was that of a Divine Fatherhood which is quite universal.”

If in this area the Church of Scotland now takes a soft line, and “many an evangelical’s reputation for orthodoxy depends on his not being asked certain questions,” it is time the grasshopper changed into a gadfly.

The Garden Grove Orthodox

Presbyterian Church

Garden Grove, Calif.

The Specific Response

You err, and you err seriously, when you list what you term the “specific response” (“Itemizing the Reparations Bill,” News, June 6) made to the Forman demands by the United Presbyterian Church. The truth of the matter is that no specific response was made to the Forman askings. Instead the General Assembly moved in a direction to which it was already pointed to respond to human needs.

The 181st General Assembly did take a preliminary step toward planning a fund-raising effort on behalf of deprived and dispossessed persons in our nation. It authorized a study of this whole matter and development of proposals which will be considered by the next General Assembly. No exact dollar figure has been determined, although the assembly’s action suggested that the goal of such an effort should equal or surpass the one attained in the recent Fifty Million Fund for capital needs.

Stated Clerk

The United Presbyterian Church

Philadelphia, Pa.

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