Eutychus and His Kin: September 24, 1971

ELECTRIC WELTSCHMERZ

I recently attended a rock music concert. I state this fact with no claim of extenuating circumstance, throwing myself completely on the mercy of my readers.

Since I’m a little old for this sort of thing, I attempted to be as inconspicuous as possible by dressing casually and youthfully. I forsook the dull blues and olive drab of my ordinary garb and wore a brightly striped pair of orange and black flares with a vivid green sport shirt.

At the concert pavilion I walked confidently down the aisle only to discover that I was about as inconspicuous as Liberace at an Amish service. There I was in my casual, youthful attire, awash in a sea of faded blue denim and army surplus olive drab.

The generation gap is wider than I thought.

However, I was undaunted by my sartorial incongruity. I bravely led our party of four to the grass area for which we had tickets. (My ambivalence over the whole adventure caused me to buy the cheaper lawn seats.) We spread our blankets, broke out the picnic dinner, and waited for the high-decibel assault to come, oblivious of the bemused smiles on the faces of our neighboring picnickers.

Waiving for the moment such annoyances as pot smoking and the overabundant use of copulative verbs on the part of the audience, it was an interesting and not altogether unpleasant evening.

Rock lyricists originally erred in an unseemly emphasis on drugs and erotic love. Now they have compounded their felony by seizing on such troublesome matters as loneliness, hate, war, death, politics, poverty, pollution, and the meaning of life.

It’s certainly a depressing turn of events for those of us over forty. Where, we ask, are those simple songs of yesteryear, songs that explored such vital questions as:

Does the Spearmint lose its flavor

On the bedpost overnight?

If you paste it on the left side

Will you find it on the right?

What happened to songs that probed such deep problems of personal involvement as:

Who takes care of the caretaker’s daughter

While the caretaker’s busy taking care?

And where are songs that set forth such profound cosmological insights as:

When you order ham and eggs

By the time that they appear

‘Twill be nighttime in Italy

And Wednesday over here.

Professor Whitehead couldn’t have said it any better.

Let’s face it, they just don’t write songs like that anymore. Other concerns now obsess the young generation. You can listen to their music and tell what’s on their minds.

Just listen … please.

BETTING TOGETHER

Eutychus, man, your comments about our need for high-level, two-year Christian junior colleges—and the reasons for same—are right on (“Pay Your Money and Take Your Choice,” Aug. 6)! There are at least a couple: Trinity (Christian Reformed) in Chicago, and Trinity (Evangelical Free) in British Columbia. But I still won’t take your “bet.” For I’m as convinced as you are that we won’t repeat this on any significant scale. In fact, I expect we’ll go right on doing the traditional things, building additional four-year colleges—even though a lot of people might agree that your idea makes a lot of sense.

You know, Eutychus, we could take a further step. We could swallow our pride and admit that the Mormons have the real answer for the seventies. Then we could rent or build our “institutes of religion” adjacent to state university campuses. One full-time academic dean could coordinate a faculty of moonlighting (or volunteer) evangelical professors from across the street. Curriculum? Some Bible/theology content; but mostly seminars integrating the various disciplines into a Christian world and life view—designed for Christian students, but open to the honest seeker, too.

On the non-suitcase campuses, we could even retain in loco parentis, if we must, be renting a couple of apartment buildings. Hire a dean of students and a couple of assistants. With or without “dorms,” capital investment and budget would be peanuts, relatively speaking. And we could serve a lot more of our young adults.

I understand there are already a few such institutions. We could use hundreds to supplement our existing four-year colleges—maybe sponsored by these experienced schools as extension departments. But like you, Eutychus, I’ll “bet you five dollars” we won’t do it.

President

Missionary Aviation Fellowship Fullerton, Calif.

A PARROT’S WIDESPREAD WINGS

The editorial entitled “The Orange Enigma” (Aug. 6) prompted me to reply because of its biased, uninformed statements. Undoubtedly, there have been instances and there will be instances of discrimination in jobs, housing, and in local government; but this is not a general widespread practice, which you infer. I come from a long line of Ulstermen; and to allude that the Orange Order is made up of brainwashed bigots is truly showing that your investigations, if any, have been very shallow.

Please take the time to correspond with the publication “Ulster Commentary,” Belfast, Ireland; and I’m sure they can set forth the true facts on the alleged discriminatory practices you so freely parrot.

Winder, Ga.

The editor gives the impression that all the woes and troubles lie at the door of the Orange Order. I take exception to this. During my visit to Ireland last year (1970) it was my privilege to address approximately 10,000 Orangemen on the 12th of July. Nowhere would you find a finer body of men. The 12th of July means as much to them, and the Ulster people in general, as the 4th of July means to us Americans. It is part of their heritage. To quote Prof. B. K. Kuiper in his book “The Church in History” (page 320), “The Battle of the Boyne saved Holland, England and America for Protestantism.” It is true that many orangemen do not live by the great biblical principles on which the order is founded. Neither do church members. There are hypocrites in the church, and always will be, yet you do not condemn the whole church of Jesus Christ.… All this, however, is beside the point. The basic issue today is not religion, although originally it may have had its roots in religion. It is more political. Until the year of 1969, the people of Northern Ireland, Protestant and Roman Catholic (with few exceptions), were prosperous, peaceful, and law abiding citizens, whose only desire was to extend the hand of friendship to their neighbours in the Republic.

Rochester, N.J.

Like the report of the death of Mark Twain, the account of Northern Ireland affairs in your editorial is “grossly exaggerated.” It must seem strange to American ears that the Northern Ireland Government, which pays 100 per cent of the salaries of the separate Roman Catholic schools, should be accused of “shameful subjugation of a minority.”

A recent report of the Commissioner of Complaints covering [such areas as] housing and employment states that while he found maladministration in only 5 per cent of the cases investigated, there was no evidence to confirm discrimination by local authorities or public bodies.

Coming to some of the other allegations in the editorial:

1. It is not true to say “no Ulster Unionist member of Parliament can be elected without Orange Order sanction.”

2. Few people in Ulster or elsewhere have ever seen a “drum-beating procession” on the Twelfth July celebrations. As in the St. Patrick’s Day processions in New York or elsewhere, the only drums in evidence are, like the majorettes, part of the bands in the procession.

The reference to the victory of William over the Catholic James at the battle of the Boyne suggests a very superficial view of history. Even if many Orangemen and more of your readers do not know it, the Dutch William supplanted James with the approval of Pope Innocent XI to limit the power of Louis XIV. When he fought the battle of the Boyne, James still regarded himself as king of England—he had fled from England but did not abdicate—and his main forces at the battle were French, along with support from the Irish.

Belfast, Ireland

I was surprised and disturbed by “The Orange Enigma.” Surprised because so many of the true facts have apparently been ignored, and disturbed because a magazine of the standing of CHRISTIANITY TODAY is being used to spread propaganda started by those whose hands are red with the blood they have shed in an attempt to wipe out religious freedom in Northern Ireland.

One fact often overlooked is that the fighting is confined to the Belfast and Londonderry areas. Word I have received from Ulster is that about 95 per cent of the Protestants and Roman Catholics in Ulster are living together peaceably. The trouble was not started by the Protestants, but by agitators who wish to take over Ulster, chief of whom are the I.R.A.…

While it is true that there are some Protestant extremists, such as Ian Paisley, whom you falsely called a fellow traveller of the Orange Order, probably 99 per cent of the extremists are on the other side. From behind their barricades they made raids on the Protestant areas where they fire-bombed Protestant places of business, and murdered people, then retreated behind their barricades where they were protected from the Protestants.

(Lic) ARNOLD J. SLANEY

Meductic

New Brunswick, Canada

OF LIGHTS AND LIONS

Both revival and Robert E. Coleman’s “The Coming World Revival?” (July 16) are needed today; too many professing Christians … have loins burning and lights girded!

Heart of America Bible Society

Kansas City, Mo.

There is just one change I would make in Robert E. Coleman’s excellent article and that would be to change the question mark to an exclamation point.…

Christianity Today has done a commendable job of reporting (and encouraging) the many revival movements of our times, both here in the USA and elsewhere in the world. The secular press has also noted—often, surprisingly, with approval—the amazing vitality among Christians, both inside and outside the traditional churches. These movements are harbingers of a great world revival.

“Coming events cast their shadow before,” says the adage. It is significant that Christians are discussing a great coming revival. Prior to the Protestant Reformation the Church was alive with talk of reform. The yearning for reform became very vivid and concrete in the mighty pre-Reformation revival in Florence under Savonarola. Savonarola was put to death but within a generation the Reformation began.

We are now living in the shadow of the great coming world revival. The hope in the hearts of so many of God’s people is not simply wishful thinking. It is itself a sign and a promise.

Central Baptist Church

West Franklin, N.H.

I wish to express my appreciation for “The Coming World Revival?” So often in articles written regarding the second coming of Christ the writer presents his own interpretation of the chronological order of events. Mr. Coleman records several possible meanings when it is not clearly stated. In view of the times we are living in, I do hope we may have more articles on this glorious truth that He is coming again and perhaps soon.

Houston, Tex.

SOME KEY POINTS

In reply to Mr. Sandstroem (Aug. 27), the translation of Bede’s work (from the Latin, obviously) by Alfred or someone he commissioned is so familiar a classic of Old English that it has almost primary status. Most studies of English style refer to it. But Bede has also been often translated into later forms of English, including modern. To distinguish the original Old English of Alfred’s time from the other versions (within the context of stylistic features, of course) I referred to precisely what I had in mind—the original Old English version as distinct from later translations. The “original Latin” was in no way germane to my topic. I was not discussing Latin style but English style, and the original Old English version was the subject of my paragraph. (I rather assumed, I am afraid, that readers would be quite aware that Bede wrote in Latin. All monkish writers did in his day.) … Mr. Sandstroem’s point that Middle English “works written more than 200 years apart” are not to be considered in the same “age” for purposes of treating broad stylistic developments is, I am afraid, uninformed. Of course there are many dialects and many styles in that long period known as the “Middle Ages,” as there are in that equally long (or longer, according to what theory you follow) period called the “Renaissance.” But it is possible (and in a brief article about very broad developments, it is essential) to summarize key points. And, of course, styles actually changed slowly in the Middle Ages. Manuscripts were few and far between; few were literate; and until the late fifteenth century, and printing, very few writers were concerned with such things as style.

Dean Professor of English Literature

The George Washington University

Washington, D. C.

COSMIC SEARCH

Re your article, “Therapist and Theologian Look at Love” (Aug. 6), I am reminded of the increasing vagueness of word meanings in our culture. Specifically, the author refers to “a cosmic environment of love,” at the close of his article. If such a thing is the solution to the problems discussed in the article, I would like to know what it is and how I can go about finding it.

Hightstown, N.J.

ONLY A CLICHE?

I wish to reply to the news story, “Box Office Religion” (Aug. 27). I disagree with Miss Forbes’s affirmation of current Broadway musicals, particularly one Godspell, and her contention that they are viable means for evangelism.

Miss Forbes says Tebelak, the author of Godspell, is laboring under the compulsion to “answer despair” and thus wrote Godspell. Recently, when interviewed on the Today program in between numbers performed by the cast of Godspell, Tebelak did not seem concerned about despair. He admitted no belief in the doctrines of Christianity but, rather, had been a student of myths at school and realized there was potential in the Jesus myth in the song-and-dance field. After hearing this self-revealed unbelief and seeing the result of that unbelief very evident in the mock-gospel he had created, I was very dismayed to read the article by Miss Forbes praising Godspell as “evangelistic”.…

[She] says that at least Godspell is “fun” and “entertaining.” If that’s what it is, we know for sure that it can’t be a vehicle for “evangelism” as claimed, because we all know that evangelism is not fun and entertaining because it has to do with seeking lost souls. And it is telling lost souls about Christ which is meant to bring salvation to man and glory to God. And we never speak about these subjects as being “fun” and “entertaining.” I hope Miss Forbes and those who praise today’s mock-gospels will follow logic and reject the conclusion that Godspell is “one of the best ways to reach today’s kids with the Gospel and to open them up to the claims of Jesus Christ.” It seems this latter assertion is one of those cliches one hears in evangelical circles on occasion which is attached to unusual things not making any logical sense at all. I think the instance at hand is one of those occasions.

St. Paul, Minn.

A UNIQUE PERIODICAL

For seventeen years I have been a steady reader, supporter, and promoter of CHRISTIANITY TODAY because of its uniqueness in truth and accuracy, whether it be biblical or historical. It has enriched my ministry. I often quote from it and recommend it.

Senior Chaplain

Glendale Adventist Hospital

Glendale, Calif.

FEARLESS EXPLOITATION

St. Paul a moderate on the subject of women (“St. Paul and the Liberated Woman,” Aug. 6)? On Mr. Miller’s scale Paul is indeed a moderate, but so what?

We are still left with Paul’s statements which rank woman as second-class citizen. Even if he regarded women as liberated in Jesus Christ, Paul would have regarded a woman who spoke out or taught in the Church as a disobedient sister. For Paul a liberated woman was one who was obedient to Christ and man.

In Miller’s article we can chalk up another victory for the platitudes of male chauvinism, and the churchmen who Miller classifies as “right wing” can continue to enunciate Paul’s dictums as they exploit women without fear. Miller might well have spent some time discussing the Church as exploiter of women. It has always been interesting to me that those who are anxious to cite Paul’s views on women forget all about them when it is time to find that new teacher for the primary department.

Incidentally, I always thought of myself as a moderate on this subject, but now you can classify me as a “right-of-center radical.”

Cucamonga, Calif.

THE SOUL OF COMMERCE

Your interesting panel discussion on “Evangelism: How to Get Involved” (Aug. 27) has at least two points which should receive criticism.

One: we dare not “celebrate” in public worship what we have done during the week. Instead, Christian worship celebrates what God has done for us in Christ to forgive the past week (since our best accomplishments are still “filthy rags”) and to strengthen and guide us for the coming week of service to him.

Two: I can’t possibly imagine St. Paul agreeing with the idea that we dare not try to be with people for the sake of winning them to Christ. True, we must show Christian love to all, regardless of their response. But why did Paul go on his missionary journeys except to win people to Christ? Why does any missionary go? Why does Jesus command us to go? And why does he even command his people to “shake the dust off’ regarding those who rejected their evangelistic mission. You may label this a “commercial spirit,” but apparently he knows how best to serve him.

St. John Lutheran Church

Oakes, N. D.

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