Some uplifting articles, some not

Re Full Time Cheerleader, January

Yes, the lord will always be with Patricia Schneider as she mourns and grieves the passing of her beloved husband. How wonderful it is to know the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal friend and Saviour of our lives. How I wish some of the other published articles in the Record were as uplifting and true as this one, not slanderous and full of untruths …

The article by Rev. Laurence De Wolfe (Progressive Lectionary, January) astounds me. Jesus and the Father are one and always have been one. God sent His only begotten Son to this earth when He saw how sinful we all were. He was sent as a baby, to become a man and to die for each of us, that by the shedding of His blood, we would have forgiveness of sins and an eternal home in heaven with Him. I am shocked that a Presbyterian minister would write such an article.

Something different
Re November editorial and related articles and letters

I happen to agree with Mr. Nieuwhof’s theology, and disagree with where Presbyterian theology is and appears to be going. I also believe that a year is plenty of time for presbytery to pray on a matter and come to a conclusion. But this does not forgive Mr. Nieuwhof of poaching members of the Presbyterian Church. I am employed by the Presbyterian Church and have been for almost the last six years. This year I left my congregation and all knew it’s because God has called me to something different. Any are glad to join the ministry my wife and I are starting, but we are leaving alone. One should not use their position to split churches.

I wonder if the practice of offering critiques of the ministry and motives of particular ministers in our denomination, through the pages of the Record, is going to become a regular feature of the magazine? I will supply the editor with names and contact information of parishioners who could offer their criticisms of my ministry, if more material is being sought and the focus broadening beyond Mr. Nieuwhof. With some fine articles of late – such as the pieces by Chuck Congram and Alex McLeod in the last issue – it seems a pity to spend more ink, space and time pointing fingers and tearing down individual congregations and/or clergy. But if this is the newest pursuit for the Record, I would find it difficult to sit back and watch others under the exposing searchlight while I hide in the shadows.

Boldness and courage

As a new member of St. Andrew’s, Penticton, B.C., I applaud Rev. Colin Cross for his boldness and courage. The Walk to Bethlehem (December 2007) was a way to connect with people from all walks even in our own church. People worked side by side for Christ’s sake not their own. They spent an evening in the cold to bring warmth into hearts of all who came. It was uplifting and exciting to be a part of. I look forward to see what God has next for our St. Andrew’s in the heart of Penticton.

The complete picture
Re Mark Tremblay letter, December

Was Luther fishing for laughs when he posted his 95 theses? Or why should it mark an erosion of tolerance and diversity of opinion for people to express an opinion other than Zander Dunn’s? (Letters, March) Isn’t this kind of open expression of ideas what tolerance and diversity are all about? The alternative would be a denomination in which nothing was ever challenged. I’m sure that’s not what Tremblay would want.

Tremblay seems to have forgotten that, although the Bible speaks about faith as an attitude of trust, it also speaks about “the faith” which has a particular revelatory content. Disregarding that content may not undermine faith as an attitude (which can have virtually anything as its object) but it does undermine “the faith” which we are told was once for all handed down to the saints.

Tremblay also speaks about things not making theological or philosophical sense. What I find nonsensical is the suggestion that one can believe in Jesus apart from believing certain things about Jesus. Certainly a belief in Jesus has to begin with a belief in the fact that He’s real. It also has to include a belief in the fact that He lives and can still make a difference in the lives of people today. When people talk about “believing in Jesus,” apart from needing to “believe things about Jesus,” what’s really being said are some things about Jesus which they are prepared to believe and some facts which they aren’t. Let’s be honest about that rather than trying to pretend that you can have a Christian faith devoid of content.

Finally, Tremblay suggests that the absence of any discussion of Jesus’ birth in Mark or John must be a great concern to those who put so much weight in the idea of a virgin birth. Yet the argument works both ways. By Tremblay’s logic, it must also be a great concern to those who put no weight in a virgin birth that Matthew and Luke both include it. The question for us to consider is whether it’s more likely that we’ve been given four gospels so that we can safely ignore parts of some or so that, by looking at the four of them together, we can know that we have the complete picture?

Where has Advent gone?

In my experience, at the best of times it seems very difficult to keep a sense of liturgy before Presbyterians and actually live and experience the riches of catholicity. However, this Advent it has been particularly difficult.

This Advent, the reflections on the bulletins by Rev. Dr. Emily Rogers have been nothing short of brilliant. However, the covers have undercut that brilliance highlighting “Xmas” kitsch rather than the deep mysteries of God which she so eloquently expounds. The covers have displayed (on various Advent Sundays) Christmas tree balls, Christmas tree lights, obviously plastic garland, and red sparkly holiday candles. The theological riches have been betrayed by the kitsch.

The bulletin covers sold by our church offices usually leave me cold—with a few notable exceptions. I often find myself asking, “What does this picture have to do with anything?” Most Sundays the graphic on the cover probably did very well at the camera club, but it seldom illuminates any spiritual truth. Last year, for example (and most years) the festival of Pentecost, the very birth day of the Church was replaced by a bulletin honouring “General Assembly Sunday” complete with a random photo of a nature scene or (one year) a tug-boat.

I wonder if this reflects a certain liturgical and theological apathy among us. We seem to so often give with one hand and take with the other. As a Presbyterian, I find myself having to get used to “diet-Christianity.” Things such as vesture, liturgy, the seasons of the liturgical year, the lectionary, and even the sacraments seem to be falling away. They just don’t seem to be “regular programming” for Presbyterians. Perhaps they never were?

This Advent, I missed out—again and wish my church could do better.

Glen Mohr

Today memories of my camping days at Gen Mohr in the mid 1950’s floated back into my mind as clean and sweet as the days they were made. They came attached to the words of an old camping song. I realize that they were the sweetest times in an otherwise somewhat troubled childhood. My church, Zephyr and Udora Presbyterian, paid the fee for a child who was chosen to attend. For 3 years, I was that child.

I experienced so much fellowship, good clean fun, and friendship that it rises fresh in my mind although I have not seen any of those dear faces since the last year I attended.

I just wanted to tell someone what a difference a place like Glen Mohr made in the life of a child, and how long that impact can be felt.

I spent a lot of my adult life volunteering, when I was still able, and I sponsor a child in Ethiopia. I believe some of the kindnesses I was shown then got paid forward.

I understand that the camp site, itself, has moved but I am willing to bet that the experience is the same.

I would appreciate it if a copy of this letter could be sent to the present Director of Glen Mohr Camp with my kindest regards.

Peace to you all,

With people like Faiz …
Re Jesus Good, January

Andrew Faiz quoted Bruxy Cavey and linked him with a bunch of different authors who are anti-Christian, and I think that was completely unfair. I don’t know if he read Bruxy’s whole book or if he ever heard him preach (he only references the preface of the book), but I personally believe that Cavey has a profoundly prophetic voice that the Church needs to hear. Bruxy Cavey is not anti-Christian; he simply wants those who call themselves Christians to actually follow Jesus. He believes in the importance of Christian community and his preaching is always based on the Scriptures. He is passionate about helping irreligious people encounter the living Christ, rather than rejecting Him because of bad experiences they’ve had with the Church. So please do not ignore (condemn) his message because it confronts the Church of its hypocrisy. I believe that doing so would be equivalent to rejecting a modern day prophet of the living God.

With managing editors like Andrew Faiz, who needs enemies? I’m not entirely clear about the point, if any, of Faiz’s article. It does seem clear that Faiz is as enamored of the word “zeitgeist” as he is of the parenthesis keys on his computer. If his point is that the traditional denominations in North America representing “religion” face a prevailing culture that is skeptical of their compassion and sincerity, then that is worth discussing. If his point is also that this perception is created exclusively by influential writers, then that also is worth discussing.

Where I have considerable problems is with his ill-informed and grossly unfair characterization of the ministry and writings of Bruxy Cavey. Lumping Bruxy Cavey’s views in with a rank heretic such as Bishop Spong or an antagonist to Christian faith such as Christopher Hitchens amounts to little better than a drive-by shooting at the reputation of one of Christianity’s most effective communicators in Canada today.

The Meeting House is not non-denominational, but rather a Brethren in Christ congregation. If one were to read Cavey’s book The End of Religion, one would find that Cavey takes considerable pains to be clear what he means when employing the term “religion.” Cavey’s critique of “religion” contains virtually the same warnings as St. Paul provides in II Timothy 3:5 to avoid those “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” Or the same model as James 1:27 (quoted in the book), “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” I can also confirm from personal experience that the Jesus presented in Cavey’s preaching is not some dumbed-down “Jesus good” as implied in Faiz’s title, but a highly orthodox and high view of Christ as Lord and Saviour. Finally, I can also confirm that the ministry at The Meeting House emphasizes a rigorous
discipleship that would be a credit to any church in our own denomination and might well be the best antidote to the “zeitgeist” Faiz appears to be concerned with.

If we are truly concerned about the credibility in our society of our Christian witness, maybe our examination should be focused inward. Maybe we should be challenging ourselves in terms of whether what we do in our congregations truly reflects Christ to the communities around us. If Faiz wishes to continue to look for “enemies,” maybe he should consider the wisdom of Walt Kelly’s Pogo: “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

Just read your article Jesus Good in the Record. I’m not an expert on the Meeting House or Bruxy Cavey but I have been attending for about 8 months with my 14-year-old son. This church is denominational. They belong to the Brethren in Christ – Mennonite in heritage I believe. They meet every Sunday to praise God and listen to a talk from Bruxy. They encourage the people attending to belong to a home church and actually say The Meeting House is a group of Home Churches getting together on Sunday. Bruxy’s teaching focuses on living a Christ focused life. Study and searching is encouraged. Love, other centred living, radical generousity, looking at each person as an individual with a story, walking with God all the time…these are the themes that I hear each week. You can be anywhere on your journey and be welcome here but they do encourage you to become involved. He bravely talks about every topic. He is not afraid to talk about the dark side of the church or religion. One of my favourite moments was Bruxy passionately talking about why he felt baptism was so important and then at the end he paused and said or I could be wrong… Anyway I feel I am learning a great deal and am understanding the bible more than at any other point in my life. Well I guess you can draw your own conclusions. Thanks for your article.

deWolfe leads

Christian scholars (John Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg and others) have been informing the laity about new discoveries and revised observations about the historical Jesus. The word from most pulpits appears not to have kept up with emerging research. Ministers of the Word seem to prefer the safety of traditional views in spite of their education to the contrary. Thankfully, Rev. Laurence DeWolfe (Progressive Lectionary, January) has broken with the pack in helping us re-consider Jesus’ “son-ship.”