Letters

Sabbath Rest

Reading Ben Patterson’s editorial, “Rest? Never on Sunday” [Sept. 19], I wondered if I was reading something by a Seventh-day Adventist. However, the duality of Sunday/Sabbath belied that. Nevertheless, some of Patterson’s comments sound strongly akin to Ellen White’s teaching: “The Sabbath is the great question which is to decide the destiny of souls.”

No one would deny that God wants his people to care for their physical health, but it is clear from Hebrews 4 that Christ is the believer’s Rest.

MARY LYONS

Hyannis, Mass.

There seems to be considerable confusion among not only non-Christians but also Christians about the concepts of the Sabbath and the Lord’s Day. Why not feature a clear presentation of the Scripture teaching regarding these days and their present relevance?

DAVID M. ROESSLER

Hazel Park, Mich.

Patterson falls right into the trap of the sabbatarians. Seventh-day Adventists and other sabbatarian legalists will read the editorial, smile, shake their heads, and wonder at the biblical naïveté of the writer and CT editors.

If Ben Patterson thinks we should keep the Sabbath, then why not the seventh day? And why not keep all the biblical commands regarding the Sabbath? CT readers deserve a better account of why Christians should observe Sunday worship and one day a week for rest.

DONALD E. ANDERSON

Wheeling, Ill.

I appreciated the September 19 issue. There are at least three articles that concern me very much: “The Cost of Being Black”; “A Separate Altar;” “What Do You Mean When You Say ‘God’?”; and the editorial, “Rest? Never on Sunday.” Having come out of Seventh-day Adventism, the editorial reached me.

WILLIAM RITZ

Santa Cruz, Calif.

What Did Aquinas And Barth Really Say?

As I read through the article “What Do You Mean When You Say ‘God’?” [Sept. 19], I was convinced this was the work of some well-meaning person who had read a lot of secondary sources on Aquinas and Barth, without reading the original authors. Aquinas once said that none of the great philosophers with all the effort they expended knew as much about God as does a little old Christian lady in her faith. J. I. Packer would do well to read Aquinas, Calvin, and Current Protestant Thought by the Reformed scholar Arvin Vos. What Packer says about Barth and general revelation is true of Barth’s earlier writings, but not his later writings.

REV. PIERRE WHALON

All Souls Episcopal Church

North Versailles, Pa.

I really appreciated Packer’s article on God. It was informative and stimulating.

STEPHEN GRUDAM

Appleton, Wis.

Debates Over Constitution And Scripture

Charles Colson describes the debate taking place concerning how to interpret the U.S. Constitution [“What the Sodomy Ruling Really Means,” Sept. 19, and “Is the Constitution Out of Date?” Aug. 8]. He is right in saying the outcome of that debate is key to the future direction this country will take.

The same debate is going on concerning the interpretation of Holy Scriptures. Should they continue to be interpreted as they were when God spoke, or should they be interpreted in light of today’s thinking? The outcome of that debate is also key to the direction the church will take in the future.

REV. WILLIAM G. GROUWERS

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

Discrediting The Pornography Report

Thank you for Kim Lawton’s article outlining Gray and Company’s plan to discredit the Attorney General’s Commission on Pornography’s report [News, Sept. 19]. Gray’s tactic of using First Amendment issues is only a guise to try and get the American public to buy into their scheme, since Gray would be hard-pressed to find many people who are in favor of sexually violent material and child pornography. Obscenity is no more protected by the First Amendment than is libel or slander, and, in fact, the Supreme Court has ruled that obscenity is illegal.

ANN DEVOE

College Hill, Ohio

Theistic Evolutionists?

In the article “Christian Scientific Group Plans Response to ‘Cosmos’ ” [News, Sept. 19], it is stated that many American Scientific Affiliation members call themselves “theistic evolutionists.” If they hold to this position, that God created all things through evolutionary processes, I fail to see how they can believe the Scriptures to be his inerrant Word. Evolution requires an ongoing cycle of life and death over a great period of time with micromutations bringing new creatures into existence, of which man is supposedly the highest form reached thus far. The problem in trying to reconcile this teaching with Scripture is brought out in Romans. If death entered the world as a result of Adam’s sin, then how could Adam have “arisen” through evolutionary processes. If one wishes to believe in “theistic evolution,” it is clear that the God of such theology cannot be the God of the Old and New Testaments.

JACK R. JOHNSON

Beloit, Wis.

Wasp Venom—Not Honey

In the editorial “Fixing History,” Kenneth Kantzer has attempted to break through the barrier that separates white Christians from black. Sadly, the great majority of blacks are not being reached by any church or loving witness. Most of us are reluctantly beginning to realize that our rapidly growing (and mostly impoverished) minorities (Hispanic and Indian as well as black) are in desperate trouble. Meanwhile, we proud “WASPS” all too often have more venom than honey to share with them.

HARVEY AND GLORIA SPERRY

Farmville, Va.

Just who is it Kantzer wishes to include in his mia culpa discussion of historic racial injustice? If it is me and my house, then I most emphatically take exception. The Bible says: “The son will not share the guilt of the father …” (Ezek. 18:20). I have no personal part in the past crimes of any people, white or black, and I refuse to accept guilt simply because the perpetrators were my same skin color. As a Christian and an enlightened citizen, I am need-oriented but color blind, a state of mind I urge upon both the church and the nation.

J. L. TRIMMER

Bakersfield, Calif.

The failure of churches to display true unity in Christ among people of various racial and wealth groups has hindered the gospel. But to address the core of the problem is not to speak of “equal opportunity” and in other vague terms. To address the core problem is to face the issue of racial intermarriage. Give us a nice biblical exposition on this, rather than the moderate, pop talk on civil rights and “racial equality.”

MICHAEL BRAY

Ray Brook, N.Y.

Supernatural Call And Enabling

I greatly appreciated Beth Spring and Kelsey Menehan’s sensitive article, “Women in Seminary: Preparing for What?” [Sept. 5]. I gave birth to two of my three boys during seminary, while my husband worked 60 hours a week (on a poverty-level salary) to provide for his family and put me through school. I graduated magna cum laudeand serve with my husband in a wonderful evangelical congregation who enthusiastically embrace the concept of teamwork in ministry. How could this be so, were it not the supernatural call, enabling, and blessing of our Lord?

REV. WENDY ZOBA

Central Baptist Church

Atlantic Highlands, N.J.

Can women in the governing headship of the church beget strong men who are servant-heads of their families? Is there a role distinction between husbands and wives in the family to be reflected in the church? The job of pastor and elders (and pastoral-elder couples) is not just to preach well, comfort, and counsel, but to model healthy families. Can this be done if the roles of authority in the family are reversed in the church?

DANIEL C. JUSTER

The Union of Messianic

Jewish Congregations

Rockville, Md.

I was a female seminary graduate when it wasn’t as popular as it is now. I packed my schedule full of OT courses, studied Hebrew locally, and took advantage of any teaching opportunities that came my way. Today I am happily teaching Old Testament and Jewish Studies at a new, small, but good evangelical seminary. I realize some still want to see women teaching only women. That’s fine—if women’s groups are as active intellectually as they are socially. Those of us women who sincerely want to teach the Bible are grieved when we see Christian women’s groups offering “pop psychology” or “color coordination” instead of serious Bible study.

PATRICE FISCHER

St. Petersburg Theological Seminary

St. Petersburg, Fla.

Since a woman is not to exercise authority over a man (1 Tim. 2:12), she cannot be an elder. This does not preclude her from having a life-absorbing ministry.

LINDA RAPP

Houston, Tex.

Your article gives the impression that the normative question (about the ordination and the role of women in church offices) has been settled to your satisfaction. Has it? I’m sure your readers would like to know.

PHILIP BLOSSER

Lenoir-Rhyne College

Hickory, N.C.

Initial Impressions

I’ve discovered the key to becoming an influential Christian leader. It is not education, perseverance, sacrifice, commitment, or any of those other good things that take time and energy. No, the key is simply having the right initials. You know, the kind that command attention, convey authority.

The evidence speaks for itself; it’s no coincidence that many of our most widely read and quoted leaders have invested in a fine set of initials. In the theological world, you’ve got guys like J. I. Packer, R. C. Sproul, D. A. Carson, and F. F. Bruce. Well-known speakers include E. V. Hill and W. A. Criswell. And of course all the writers we’re so fond of have great initials: C. S. Lewis, T. S. Eliot, G. K. Chesterton, and J. R. R. Tolkien (who apparently felt he needed an extra initial for insurance).

Some have tried to hide their initials by putting them in the middle. But you didn’t pull any wool over our eyes, Carl F. H. Henry. Nor you, Harold O. J. Brown. Nor even you, John R. W. Stott.

Good initials are not something people are born with. When Tolkien’s childhood friends called him on the phone, they probably didn’t ask for J. R. R. But at some point along the way, he and J. I., E. V., W. A., R. C., C. F. H., C. S., D. A., J. R. W., and G. K. discovered the secret of success. And if it worked for them, maybe it will work for me.

U. T. CUS

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