Letters to the Editor

Plant a Tree

Thanks for Ron Sider’s article, “Redeeming the Environmentalists” [June 21]. As we seek to engage concerned citizens who believe Christianity to be the antithesis of love and concern for the earth, we must convince Christians in a new way that we have no right to despoil what God has created and called good. We [must] not proclaim our status as the highest of God’s creations and hence our entitlement to treat other levels of creation as though they were made entirely for our benefit. Rather, we rejoice in the opportunity of “being-with” God in a new and loving way when we are reconciled to him through Christ, and in our new capacity share this love with fellow humans and all other creation.

Christ has tarried for 2,000 years. We may long for the immediate appearance of a new and better world, but we can’t presume to know it will arrive before another 2,000. Better to follow the advice of Luther, who said that even if he knew the world would end tomorrow, he would still plant his apple tree today.

Nathan Hult

Logan, Utah

I was amused by the World Council of Churches’ conclave refusing to recognize that people are any different from monkeys or moles. If that be true, then people have no more responsibility for the environment than monkeys and moles, either to protect or reclaim. It is precisely because humanity is a unique species that its “dominion” must be exercised as lovingly as God exercises his dominion over us.

Dorothy T. Samuel

St. Cloud, Minn.

Sider, although lower keyed than most “environmental” writers, still gets sucked into and passes on as fact assumptions that are just not true and are, in fact, propaganda meant to enhance an ideological foothold to advance a state-run economy.

First, it is not “increasingly clear” that we are in trouble environmentally. It is increasingly apparent that we are improving. Our ability to create more efficient technology with fewer resources has dramatically enhanced our environmental situation. Second, there are no “gaping holes in the ozone layer.” The man who first discovered the alleged “ozone hole” now tells us it is a naturally occurring phenomenon, growing and shrinking constantly, not affected by man-made products or environmental changes. Third, the disasters he serves up—one-fifth of our topsoil lost, one-third of our rain forest destroyed—are problems rooted in and exacerbated by political decisions of various nations.

Sider encourages Christians to “stride boldly into the mainstream of the green movement.” But that movement is itself a religious cult run by men and women with an anti-Christ ideology and activist agenda. The mission of Christians should be to preach and defend the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Craig R. Dumont

Okemos, Mich.

Jimmy’d again

Your Church in Action article [“Jimmy Carter’s Sunday School,” June 21] is an example of how far from a biblical standard your magazine has fallen: you lack meaningful spiritual discernment, for you wrote a beautiful, gushing piece on how good and competent former President Jimmy Carter is as a Sunday-school teacher. Balderdash! Carter is known to be a staunch proabortionist, and to possess a liberal philosophy toward homosexuals. Both standards are biblically reprehensible before the very God of love you say he represents.

Walter E. Adams

Casselberry, Fla.

Israel’s Law of Return

I am writing to clarify Israel’s position on the status of three Messianic Jewish families in Israel [News, June 21].

The State of Israel does not discriminate on the basis of religion or creed. Christians, Jews, and Muslim citizens and permanent residents in Israel enjoy full equal rights. Messianic Jews also live in Israel with equal rights (there are over 2,000). The families in your article—the Beresfords, Kendalls, and Speakmans—have never been citizens or permanent residents, only tourists.

The Beresfords, born to Jewish parents in South Africa, applied for immigrant visas in 1985 and were turned down on the grounds that they are Messianic Jews. In 1986, they arrived in Israel as tourists and placed another application for an immigrant visa, which was refused for the same reason. They appealed to the High Court of Justice on two occasions and their appeals were rejected. On all these occasions, the Beresfords had asked to immigrate as Jews under the Law of Return (established shortly after the birth of the State of Israel). This law defines a Jew as a person born to a Jewish mother or a convert to Judaism. The law also guarantees citizenship to relatives of Jews so families can stay together despite differences in religion. However, a person who was Jewish and converted voluntarily to another religion is deemed to have thereby declared his/her desire to dissociate from the Jewish people. Consequently, the law does not apply to such a person.

The Beresfords, whose most recent tourist visa expired on February 20, are still in Israel, as their case is still pending. The Kendalls and the Speakmans joined the Beresfords’ second suit and have the same status.

The Beresfords belong to a group that believes Jesus is the Messiah; it is this belief that marks the clear separation between Judaism and Christianity. The couple chose this faith, and the State of Israel respects their choice. However, they are not considered Jews, since they voluntarily converted and are, therefore, not eligible to move to Israel as Jews, under the Law of Return.

The Beresfords then applied for permanent residency, which was also rejected. They claim they were turned down because of opposition to their faith. This is not the case: the application was rejected because they do not meet the general criteria the State of Israel uses in its decision regarding eligibility for a permanent residency visa. The fact that they are Messianic Jews does not come into play, according to the Court.

The fact that members of their group are residents and citizens of Israel further refutes their contention. In the cases of other individuals, there were circumstances that justified giving citizenship or residency, and their religion was not an obstacle. Ms. Beresford claimed that being kept away from two of their sons, who are Israeli citizens, would cause her profound emotional harm. The Ministry of the Interior went beyond the letter of the law and disclosed the criteria by which family-reunification decisions are made (i.e., a parent who is alone and has no children abroad). Ms. Beresford is not alone and has four children abroad. Her sons have never appealed to any government agency. This silence on their part casts the veracity of Ms. Beresford’s claim into doubt.

After the end of the deliberations, Ms. Beresford’s mother, who has been an Israeli citizen for five years, asked to be reunited with her daughter because she needs her assistance. The family neglected to mention that the mother did not live in Israel after she became a citizen; she arrived only recently, after all of the family’s appeals failed.

Finally, for the charge that Israel is carrying out “deportations,” the three families’ tourist visas have been extended again and again. The Ministry of the Interior in Israel allowed the families to stay in the country for the duration of the hearings and extended their visas for four months after the end of the hearings so that the families could get organized. If the families comply with the law, they will be able to visit the country again.

Avi Granot

Counselor for Church Affairs

Embassy of Israel

Washington, D.C.

No early-church counselors?

As I read “The Therapeutic Revolution” [May 17], the thought kept coming back to me: How did the church ever survive for over 19 centuries without psychology, psychiatry, and therapeutic counseling?

Carroll M. Swenson

Oklahoma City, Okla.

As a youth leader from the 1940s until now, at age 80, I feel many of us were taken in by psychology, psychiatry, and so-called Christian counseling. After counseling many who have spent thousands of dollars on these “false teachers,” I am convinced that the Bible alone has the answers. We need a good solid dose of 2 Timothy 4:1–8: the Book, the Blood, and the Blessed Hope are still the only remedies for the ills of the saved and unsaved alike.

Thank the Lord there are a few psychologists and psychiatrists who have seen the truth. We need to be like the Berean Christians and search the Scriptures daily.

Jack Wyrtzen, Founding Director

Word of Life Fellowship, Inc.

Schroon Lake, N.Y.

I am normally not a stickler about gender-biased journalism, but I was overwhelmed by the exclusive male focus. The cover illustration, photo inserts, list of “luminaries” in the field, quotations from experts, sidebar feature—in addition to the author—were all male.

My experience as a clinical social worker tells me that a majority of therapists and their clients are female. Even a token recognition of women would have enhanced an otherwise excellent article.

Janet Clark

St. Catharines, Ont., Canada

In the article, the way John MacArthur separates spiritual resources from human resources borders on gnosticism. When looking at our sufficiency in Christ, let us not forget the example of his incarnation—one person, fully human, fully divine, without separation between the two natures.

If MacArthur wants to be consistent with his position, he shouldn’t follow any specific strategies for exercising and eating to stay healthy, because such strategies are human resources and not found in the Bible. Like the science of exercise and nutrition, there are specific strategies for improving relationships and dealing with addictions. Unfortunately, there is bad psychology out there, just like fad diets that don’t work. But let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water.

Clifford Chu

Ewa Beach, Hawaii

The rise of “Christian counseling” parallels the rise of “me-ism” in American culture, circa 1960–93. We are very much like the mechanic who always tinkers with his engine to make it run smoothly and flawlessly but never goes anywhere with his car. Jesus said, “Whoever will seek to save his life will lose it.”

Can this obsessive inwardness at least partially account for the dismal failure of American Christianity to impact our hedonistic society? Furthermore, I regard this constant craving to be counseled as a symptom of biblical illiteracy and the neglect of personal sanctification through the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Alan Rosenberg

Christian & Missionary Alliance Church

San Bernardino, Calif.

Of all the thought-provoking statements in the article, two seemed especially profound: Larry Crabb’s recognition that “Christ’s command is to love God and our neighbor from the heart. Somehow love has to reach the deepest level of our emotions and desires,” and Dave Stoop’s observation that “most pastors see recovery groups as works of compassion, and they are, but they fail to see them as incredible works of evangelism.”

Phyllis Beatty

Indianapolis, Ind.

The church confused

My hat goes off to the writer of the May 17 Speaking Out, “Don’t Lie to Homosexuals.” I have been out of the homosexual life for about 10 years. I have seen the church remain in a confused state on its stand on homosexuality. One side has become so intolerant that we have condemned the homosexual struggler to the depths of Sheol. The other side has adopted the ever-present idea that homosexuals can’t change, so they offer to love the straggler and remain as hopeless for change as the individual who struggles.

We should always stand for the truth with the facts of the homosexual life. I was both oppressed and depressed by the effects of living as a homosexual. It gave me no hope for my future. People loved me but were always truthful about their feelings on the consequences of living gay. I was never turned off by their honesty. It only drew me closer to Jesus, because I saw him through people who exhibited his love.

Marty Ward

Louisville, Ky.

God’s grace in a faithful father

Thank you for Mark Noll’s little classic about his father, “At the End of a Straight Road” [From the Senior Editors, May 17]. I grew up in Morrison, Illinois, on US 30 and traveled that way from Michigan many times. Everything he said about that road I can verify, including “driving along at 20 miles per hour in a snowstorm.” But I most like the conclusion: “He died as he had lived: a straight man at the end of a straight road who knew the straight highway of his God.”

Devout parents keep on inspiring faithfulness to the Lord long after they are gone. I know of few things that are so powerful for the kingdom of God. Special appreciation is due for writing so warmly and so authentically about the grace of God that comes to us through faithful people.

Donald A. Vandenberg

Holland, Mich.

“Dysfunctional” Christians

Kenneth Meyer, in his May 17 editorial “Are Christians Fanatics?” states, “If this kind of behavior were typical for people of faith.…” Well, this kind of behavior is typical of some believers. The world may call some of us “fanatics,” but in reality, we are “dysfunctional”! With these toxic faiths, dysfunctional churches, and Christians, many meaningful believers believe this kind of behavior is of the Lord. And with the abortion issue, many dysfunctional churches and organizations will fight to the “bitter end” to get a “law” passed, thus legislating morality to a sinful nation rather than working “functionally” to change the hearts and natures for this fallen race by leading them to the Cross.

The more believers are involved in dictating morality to this nation, the more Koreshes and Kings we will see. Thus, the more we will be classified as “religious fanatics,” and the more restrictions will be placed on “Christians.” Don’t think this can’t happen.

Those who are called “fanatics” are so because they have stepped out of functional Christianity into a dysfunctional one. They live after “laws,” saying, “If only we can get a ‘law’ passed to put God back into our schools, this nation will be moral again.”

There are two behaviors in the body of Christ, dysfunctional and functional. But until believers realize what our true mission is—not to change governments, but hearts—to be called fanatics will become more and more common in the days ahead.

John Rhinehart

Matthews, N.C.

SRA Revisited

“Memories of Satanic Ritual Abuse,” by Perrin and Parrott [June 21], was one of the most disappointing and misinformed articles I have read since I have been a CT subscriber. I find it hard to believe they spent much time interviewing any of the significant number of reputable and trained professionals who deal with SRA issues on a daily basis. True, too often sincere but overenthusiastic, undertrained counselors try to draw their clients into “memories” which may not be there. However, it is at least disingenuous, if not irresponsible, to discount or ignore the well-documented, careful work done by professionals involved in the multi-faceted process of intervention and therapy that must be accomplished to bring healing to those whose stories the world and the church would rather not believe.

For victims or former members of satanic cults, the biggest issue is trying to survive today in the face of a present reality they truly would like to forget.

Pastor Jackie M. English

Central Christian Church

Marble Falls, Tex.

Thank you for your article. I am concerned, however, that it left an impression that most commonly recognized Satanic activity is revealed through counseling in a psychiatrist’s office or from established cult defectors and claimants of organized satanic conspiracies. One was left with doubt as to the validity of widespread Satanism, [as if] we needn’t be so concerned about it.

Some say there is too much emphasis on finding “demons behind every bush.” [But] we do need to discern and recognize how Satan works in every aspect of daily life.

Dorothy Schulte

Fairbault, Minn.

I would like to make some critical observations: I do not describe “Black Masses” in my book Satan’s Underground. I do not say that I bore three children “who were sacrificed by the cult.” I do not claim that I was “used as a ‘breeder’ of children during [my] high school and college years.” And my original publisher did not “question the decision to publish [my] story.” Harvest House states they made the decision to discontinue publishing the book because “There is strong evidence that the controversy will continue unabated without a satisfactory conclusion as long as the book is published.”

You quote Bob and Gretchen Passantino’s article in the Christian Research Journal: “And not a shred of corroborative evidence?” In my newest book, Stripped Naked, I offer many such “shreds” of evidence. It is a blatant error to state that there is no corroborative evidence to substantiate survivors’ stories.

Your article will be heard by survivors of ritual abuse as yet another message that they will neither be accepted nor believed in what they perceive to be “The Church.” This is very sad, indeed.

Lauren Stratford

Tarzana, Calif.

In Satan’s Underground, Stratford describes satanist services where a liturgy is followed, blood is drunk, and people are sacrificed and sometimes eaten—which some describe as a “black mass.” She says she bore three infants who were killed in “snuff films”; according to the book, they were not sacrificed by the cult, nor does Stratford refer to herself as a “breeder.” CT regrets the error.

—Eds.

CT is to be commended for publishing “Memories of Satanic Ritual Abuse.” “Satanic panic” is indeed a danger. Evangelicals of the Paul Crouch variety will not be pleased. They promote whatever beliefs—true or not—that further their organizations. Unprincipled TV evangelists bring derision on all evangelicals.

James L. Sanders

Flagstaff, Ariz.

This article was either poorly researched or [had] deliberate [misstatements]: The cattle mutilations have never been solved. Nor could any conclusion be drawn from the evidence; there was none. It remains a mystery. The authors were correct in stating it was not a Satanist cult that perpetrated these mutilations, but incorrect in stating it was done by coyotes. There was no evidence in any of the cases—just animals minus their sex organs.

J. R. Jones

Denver, Colo.

There you go again: another article by academics with apparently no firsthand knowledge of the subject. The article is noteworthy for what it fails to mention: the influence of Death Metal music and games like Dungeons and Dragons on rebellious or dysfunctional young people; the widespread availability of occult literature and materials; the occult on television and in public-school curriculums; missing persons and grisly murders; the growing acceptance of depravity as an art form or as free speech; neopagans in the White House and Supreme Court giving animal-sacrificing animists the same standing as Christian churches; [cheapening of] human life, especially the unborn, sick, and aged.

It may be to CT’s eternal discredit that it is lulling Christians to sleep when the Enemy is coming in like a flood.

Robert Ditmars

Mt. Vernon, Ohio

I was dismayed at the skepticism. May I remind these “professors” that all things of the spiritual world cannot be explained with “tangible evidence.” I would never undermine Satan, who is the father of lies and deception, nor downplay the abuse delivered by the hands of his followers.

As to the boycott of Procter & Gamble—our church encouraged the boycott of P&G products, not because of any alleged satanic claim, but for the fact that they sponsor the Donahue show, which flaunts every type of perverse lifestyle they can get away with on national TV!

Jean H. Bednar

Reynoldsburg, Ohio

I want to thank CT for publishing the article. Much abuse and confusion has been created by well-meaning Christians who are quick to jump to conclusions and repeat (start?) rumors without verifying the sources. So many times we hear that (at best) we Christians are obsessed with Satan or (at worst) just plain “out of it” and prone to believing every rumor. It is time someone put the facts straight. Thank you for an excellent article.

Frank A. Mills

Portland, Oreg.

The tired complaint that there is no evidence of ritual crime is simply untrue. For example, in San Francisco in 1988 there was a corpse, replete with a pentagram carved on the chest, and all the blood drained. There also was eyewitness testimony and a first-degree murder conviction. In addition, there have been more than a dozen successful prosecutions in cases where there were allegations of ritual abuse of children.

Perhaps the most ludicrous claim is that there have been no defectors from the cults. There have been thousands. We call them adult survivors.

Dale McCulley

Ukiah, Calif.

Letters are welcome. If intended for publication, they must include a signature and address. Letters may be edited for space and clarity. Write to Eutychus, CHRISTIANITY TODAY, 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.

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