Eutychus and His Kin: December 4, 1970

NOT SUCH POLES APART

In seminary I once took a course under a professor who would present facts but seldom venture an opinion. A fellow student given to mimicry was wont to cheer flagging spirits with sotto voce mutterings of “Black and white, God and the devil, the same thing? Many scholars would disagree with you, but there might be something in what you say.…”

Among the dissentients would be Cardinal Wyszynski of Poland. There the two-year peace lull between church and state has been shattered by a press attack accusing the cardinal of “disgraceful activity” in trying to introduce “a policy of dividing people into believers and non-believers.” While putting not my trust in prelates and their powers of judgment, I think this one is on to something crucial, and the Communists are completely justified in expressing apprehension.

But look at how Ecumenical Press Service treats the refusal of Archbishop Loane to worship with Pope Paul at this month’s ecumenical service in Sydney, Australia. Five lines are given to Dr. Loane’s statement, six to the background, and nineteen to critics, including a partisan comment from Geneva, disguised as fact. “Shortsighted,” they say of Dr. Loane’s position, “based on a misunderstanding of ecumenism … not representative of the world-wide Anglican Communion … more an expression of bygone days.” EPS is silent about support for the archbishop.

Shortsighted? Yes, inasmuch as Dr. Loane has probably scuppered his chances of being elected to the vacant office of primate of Australia. Based on a misunderstanding of ecumenism? Maybe the archbishop understands “ecumenism” too well. Not representative of Anglicanism? This is, alas, almost certainly true, but what does it prove? An expression of bygone days? Perhaps, but why interpret this as a criticism?

Dr. Loane has said that the dogmas of the Roman Catholic Church are “radically inconsistent with and alien to the New Testament.” He would, however, be totally in agreement with Cardinal Wyszynski’s stance that there is a great gulf fixed between believers and non-believers. It is surprising that, like the Communists, a WCC publication should reflect active dislike of doctrines emanating in Scriptures “of bygone days.” When an aggressive ecumenicity teams up with the intolerance of liberalism, the prospect is frightening indeed. The late Professor Ian Henderson prophesied that the Coming Great Church would be a persecuting one. I’m beginning to see what he meant.

HITTING THE PEAKS

My special thanks to News Editor Russell Chandler for the very well-done article on “The Mennonites” (Sept. 11). It included a sweep of 450 years of history, touching the mountain tops of important points in the life and teaching of the Mennonite Church.…

I do appreciate the good work being done in the Christian world by CHRISTIANITY TODAY. I find the magazine one that I renew from year to year when I have allowed some others to expire.

Ghana Mennonite Church

West Africa

NO NEED FOR VALOR

I am afraid that you are crediting those of us in Christian churches in Rhodesia (“World Scene,” Sept. 11) with a valor which we do not possess or, at least, do not need to possess!

Knowing the position of Christian churches in Rhodesia from personal experience, I am afraid that the statement, “Christian Churches in Rhodesia are risking their existence to defy the new apartheid law enacted by Smith,” is very wide of the mark. As the minister of internal affairs recently said, “Those who preach the gospel and good will to men have nothing to fear in Rhodesia.”

It would appear that you are receiving news from Rhodesia from somewhat biased sources.

Salisbury, Rhodesia

WIDE-EYED APPROVAL

I wish especially to commend Dr. Lindsell for the two articles on “COCU: A Critique” (Oct. 9 and 23). I find myself in complete accord with his whole presentation.… Surely this will open the eyes of many of the promulgators of this (to me) highly questionable ecumenical scheme.…

CHRISTIANITY TODAY is printing much valuable material—much that I wish could appear in many secular publications.

Dixon, Mo.

The article by Dr. Lindsell is the very best, most informative, and revealing that I have found explaining the plans and the proposed theological trickeries of the “new church”.… I thank you for a good job well done.

Paradise, Calif.

• We have received several requests for reprints of “COCU: A Critique.” We do not plan to publish reprints of the article, but those wishing to make private copies of it may do so.—ED.

RESISTING THE DRAMA

I have just read “Psychosocial Origins of Stability in the Christian Faith” (Sept. 25). Dr. Clouse, I am afraid, completely misrepresents Christian education in order to dramatize her point that children must be given opposing viewpoints by their parents, which they counteract (or help the child counteract), thus producing resistance to attacks on their belief. The entire assumption is that Christian school education is so inadequate that intellectual questions and skepticism concerning Christian truths are never presented.…

A person cannot be described as educated if he has not faced the intellectual issues which oppose and challenge any philosophy. Parents are often ill equipped to introduce such objections because of their own limitations, and churches can do so only on a small scale. It is Christian schools that present the Christian philosophy of education that are able to introduce the countervailing views which must be honestly faced and considered. It is the Christian mathematics professor or science and psychology professors that understand best the weaknesses in their Christian perspective, and hence can raise the most difficult problems, and tender the soundest solutions.

I wholeheartedly concur in the proposal of Dr. Clouse, but I sharply resist her comments on Christian education and suggest instead that such schools are the classroom for the “inoculation” of opposing views.

Attorney at Law

Willow Grove, Pa.

QUOTE VS. QUOTE

In the news report “New Reformed Covenant” (Sept. 25), your reporter states that the World Alliance of Reformed Churches condemned “all churches such as … the Presbyterian bodies in Ireland, guilty of supporting injustices committed against their neighbors, and of failing to minister to individuals and peoples who find themselves in conflict with society.” This is a completely inaccurate statement. In actual fact the council referred to “the urgent tasks of our members, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the Congregational Union of Ireland, to continue and strengthen their work for reform and better relations in the community, to resist all those groups which spread communal prejudice, and to speak frankly and fairly the Gospel of reconciliation; and to do all this work in the sphere of ecumenical co-operation, also with the Roman Catholic Church.”

Convener,

Inter Church Relations Board

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Belfast

ACCURATE EXCEPT …

Your misleading and inaccurate article, “S*E*X in the Army” (Oct. 9), was a disappointment; it confuses our friends and works an injustice to the Salvation Army around the world.

The facts are that:

1. The services of Mrs. McClure as a commissioned Salvation Army Officer (ordained minister) were a constant source of concern to her leaders, who had been dealing with the situation and her for many months, incidentally, doing so completely unaware of any complaints to attorneys, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or others.

2. As a Salvation Army Officer Mrs. McClure had received living allowances and quarters in common with that provided all officers, male or female.

3. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had, by the time your article appeared, completed a thorough investigation and withdrawn its case from which you extensively quote.

4. Mrs. McClure’s Salvation Army officership was officially terminated July 19, 1970, and that action relates in no way to her complaints or charges.

It is our hope that CT will remain an accurate and authoritative source of information.

Public Relations Secretary

Salvation Army

Atlanta, Ga.

SANITY RETURNS

I heartily commend you on your sane, but disturbing, editorial, “Another Look at Abstinence” (Nov. 6). Indeed, it appears that the evangelical world has become indifferent to this vast and spreading evil. I am thankful CHRISTIANITY TODAY dared to speak up and “tell it like it is.”

First Wesleyan Church

Roanoke, Va.

AN ANSWER TO FROMM

Thank you for Howard Snyder’s article “The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit” (Nov. 6). Erich Fromm has stated that “the deepest need of man … is the need to overcome his separateness, to leave the prison of his aloneness.” Mr. Snyder shows us the Christian answer to the need that Fromm describes. Memphis, Tenn.

Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here.