Letters to the Editor
We always appreciate hearing from our readers. In the future, we would like to encourage readers to respond in the comment boxes after the articles. But you may also send us letters via e-mail at christianstandard@standardpub.com, and through the mail: Christian Standard, 8805 Governor’s Hill Drive, Suite 400, Cincinnati, OH 45249. We look forward to reading your comments!
‘Keep Up the Good Work!’
(posted 3-9-12)
Several years ago, I started picking up CHRISTIAN STANDARD and The Lookout for my Grandmother, who lives in an assisted-living facility. Having grown up in the Christian church, I was familiar with both publications, but considered them more for “older people,” not a young 40-year-old like myself. Oddly enough, I found myself reading the magazines and have come to love CHRISTIAN STANDARD. Maybe I’m just getting older, but I really feel that CHRISTIAN STANDARD has a vibrancy about it. The “In Opinions, Liberty” segment has more than once renewed my hope in the church and helped to dispel some of my own cynicism. I look forward to reading Paul Williams weekly article and have often copied and shared a quote from “Seen and Heard.” I appreciated your focus on the Bible last year, and can’t say enough how much I appreciated Matt Proctor’s “how-to-read . . .” articles. After reading CHRISTIAN STANDARD, I often think, “I should let them know what a great job they’re doing.” Well, I’ve finally gotten around to it. Your publication has been educational and encouraging in my Christian walk. Thanks so much. Keep up the good work!
—Tina Campbell
Indianapolis, IN
A Tragedy Occurring Every Day
(posted 9-6-11)
What would we do, what would we think, how would we react if we had a 9/11 type tragedy every day? Actually we do have such a tragedy every day. Your articles related to the 10th anniversary of 9/11 reminded me of what occurred to me soon after the event. If half the people dying in America on an average day go to Hell, then more Americans go to Hell every day than were killed on 9/11. (Two thirds of Americans very rarely, if ever, go to church—even on Easter—and less than 10 percent go every week.) Little-known but very good research shows that nearly all churches are sociologically full. That means there is very little room for additional people in church. Adding another million churches in this country probably would not be enough.
—Bruce Webster
via e-mail
More Scripture, Less Opinion
(posted 8-29-11)
Until lately, articles in your publication had been making some improvements in incorporating more Scripture. I would hope your publication would expect some type of accountability from its writers for how their views and opinions are formed. What better reference than Scripture? If you do not hold your writers accountable, are you encouraging falsehoods?
One article in the August 21 publication was loaded with the Scripture. I would like to commend Brian Giese for his article, “Life Lessons on Prayer.” The article was from his heart, full of truth, and scripturally sound. His every statement seemed to radiate the Word of God. I counted no less than 12 references to Scripture and in his conclusion, he rightfully refers to Acts as a book about prayer. I have never met brother Giese but I’m sure it would be a privilege to share time with him. Your publication needs more men and women like him.
To be quite honest, I have been disappointed with several articles you published for lack of Scripture. Daniel Schantz wrote an article pertaining to the dress of current churchgoers (“The T-shirt Aristocracy,” August 21). In his opinion piece, he refers to Scripture just once and, at best, is stretching the Scripture he uses for wearing a tie or dressing casually. When he quotes Ecclesiastes 9:8—“Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil”—is this relative to dress? Does the word “white” refer to cleansing, becoming white or made clean, rather than dressing in some form or fashion?
Jesus went out daily in his casual clothing rather than dressing up or down to preach the good news. Jesus’ interests, as should be ours, were to spread the good news. In Luke 9:3 Jesus sent out his apostles and told them to “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. There was no mention of a dress code for their journey. Again, their job was to go out and spread the good news, rather than impress their listeners with their clothing. If we would concentrate more on the word and less on man thoughts, we, as disciples, teachers, and preachers would be much better off.
Bottom line, where the Scripture speaks, let it speak and where the Scripture is silent, let it be silent.
Let us not be divided by such trivia, let us follow Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore go out and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus sure can say some powerful stuff!
—Allen Wood Sr.
New Palestine, Indiana
Explanation of Baptism
This comment is a response to Francis Chan’s “simple but effective explanation of baptism” that was mentioned in August 7, 2011 Media Matters.
(posted 8-17-11)
“One of the entries headed “Have You Seen It” says “Pastors are loving Francis Chan’s simple but effective explanation of baptism” found on youtube.
After going to the site provided, I listened carefully to Chan’s explanation, sincerely desiring this highly accepted speaker to be accurate in explaining this essential step in salvation. Although there is much I agree with in Chan’s explanation, I’m afraid Chan has missed a very vital point concerning baptism–it is the point where our sins are forgiven and when the Holy Spirit takes up residency within us.
Much like our Baptist friends who have always claimed baptism to be “an outward expression of an inward grace,” Chan’s description of baptism being a “pledge to God” sounds as though he still doesn’t quite “get it.” He’s absolutely right when he says we should “just do it”, but we need to understand what is taking place when we are buried with Christ and when we rise a new creature in Him. It is far more than a “pledge to God”. The Holy Spirit
indwells us upon being baptized because at that moment, the sin in our lives has been washed away, Christ’s blood has been applied, and we are vessels the Holy Spirit can now fill.
I am not surprised that so many pastors are impressed with Chan’s explanation. It is becoming increasingly more popular to say that baptism is anything and everything except what the Bible says it is. People try so hard to make a very simplistic concept more than what it very significantly is. Without baptism, our sins are not forgiveness and the
Holy Spirit does not indwell us. It’s that simple.”
Cheryl A. Moen, La Crescent, Minnesota
via e-mail
Parents Have Abdicated Responsibility
(posted 7-8-11)
(This letter references the article “13-year-olds Have Sex” by Tony Wood which appeared in the July 3 CHRISTIAN STANDARD print magazine and also at MoreAtStake.com.)
Children are having sex at younger and younger ages because parents have left their place in their children’s lives. It is a parent’s responsibility–not the church’s–to teach about God. (See Deuteronomy 6:4-8.) The church is to back-up the parent.
If a church can’t/won’t help a parent be a parent, how can a church help a teen become a Christian?
Instead of more programs for teens, how about programs on how to parent?
—Diane Mitchell
via e-mail
‘Missed a Critically Obvious Point’
(posted 7-8-11)
The author missed a critically obvious point (in “And God Bless America” by Doug Priest). When politicians or leaders say, “And God bless America,” who is their audience? I’ve never heard any of our leaders use that expression in front of a foreign audience. When I visit with someone and we get ready to depart, I often say, “May God bless you.” I usually don’t add, ” . . . and your milkman, and your paperboy, and the Koreans, and the World.” I hope Mr. Priest isn’t disappointed in me, too!
I’m afraid the CHRISTIAN STANDARD may have had too much ink and too many empty pages, so you settled for “filler” considerably below your “Christian standard.”
—Mike Hucker
La Crosse, Indiana
(posted 6-27-11)
I have read CHRISTIAN STANDARD for almost 50 years and [at one time] was a fairly regular contributor. It is a publication that has been useful to me, and I thank you and your predecessors for your help in my life and ministry. For some time I have resisted the negative comments of many of my friends and members of the church I serve about the direction of the publication I have so appreciated through the years. However, recently I have put my bias aside and have come to the conclusion that your effort to be relevant may very well be leading to irrelevancy.
While I have found some of the “Stake” columns you recently introduced to be interesting, it seems to me the column is designed more to produce controversy than to offer a helping hand to your readers. I continue to enjoy and appreciate many of the articles, but I have come to believe that a greater diversity of writer background, philosophy as to methodology coming from a wider representation of our movement would make your publication more useful to more people. I personally feel that a move back to more freelance and less assigned material would help to solve that problem. And no, that is not sour grapes over having articles rejected. I have not submitted anything in years.The straw that broke the camel’s back leading to this letter was reading Paul Williams’s column “Cease the Day” in the June 19 issue. As an old baseball player, I guess it was neat to learn that baseball players are more intellectual than basketball players, even though often less educated. But pray tell, what does that have to do with anything related to the purpose of CHRISTIAN STANDARD? I pray the Lord will bless your life and your work.
—Danny Pelfrey
via e-mail
Two Additional Questions
(posted 6-16-11)
I appreciated the May 8 CHRISTIAN STANDARD—”What’s Happening with Women’s Ministry.” I wish, however, you would have asked/answered two basic questions in this issue:
1. What is women’s ministry (define)?
2. How does women’s ministry differ (if any) from men’s ministry?
—Jerry Holden
via e-mail
Mr. Taylor, You and I have exchanged emails in the past. In those I saw the occasional glimpse of some internal fortitude, some desire to follow biblical teaching and always a genuine spirit of warmth. What I found totally beyond reason as well as highly offensive was Paul Williams’ article on the back of the Jan. 30th edition. Sure, a man may love his daughter and he may love his new twin grand-daughters, but what is the issue? What is the goal of the Christian Standard? Were you all waiting for an excuse, any excuse to start pushing the agenda for lady preachers? And WHY?
* Don’t you believe, as God told Paul to write, that men are held responsible for their roles as evangelists, elders and deacons?
* Don’t you believe that evangelist and elders will be held accountable for the utilization of our God-given gifts whether we are men, women or children?
* Why is it that the biblical plan is not enough?
* Where do we see in Scripture that some are born with a “Preaching Gene”?
And Mr. Williams didn’t just offer an opinion – he threw down the gauntlet. “It isn’t a matter of if but when.”
To that I must respond that the cancellation of our subscription to the Christian Standard isn’t a matter of if, but when. After all, one biblical command from God thru Paul to the evangelists Timothy and Titus was that they and the elders are to guard the flock from false teaching. What Mr. Williams wrote and you approved isn’t opinion, it is clearly false teaching.
I can’t believe you let Paul Williams put an article in your January 30th issue about his granddaughters haveing the preaching gene. The bible clearly states that women are to be silent in the church in 1 Corn 14:34-35 and also in 1 Tim. 2:11-12
It is really too bad that those that call for the silent women in 1 Tim 2:11~ 12 don’t look up the greek meaning for the word. Tranquil might work or peaceful, but silent is a different word that Paul uses a few verses before. Steadfast would be good translation too.
Thank you, Chuck Lee, for your observations in the recent Standard article. In my view, part of the growing problem with biblical ignorance is that Christian leaders are emphasizing application over content. For too many years the Restoration Movement emphasized knowing Scripture. Then we discovered knowing biblical content meant little or nothing if it weren’t applied to daily living. The pendulum began to swing! We assumed people knew the Bible so we emphasized application. Sermons, Bible school lessons, and most of all, small group, emphasized application. Now we’re merely reaping what we’ve sown by the failure to realize it isn’t content or application. It must be content and application!
Let’s face it! Small groups are not designed to teach content! Small groups operate best when they provide fellowship and call for application and accountability. Electives and “college style” programs appeal only to a few. It is time to once again see a well organized and designed Adult Bible School as a tool to assimilate new members and assure they receive adequate awareness of biblical content. I know it is expensive to provide the facilities for such programs but we are willing to invest millions to reach and entertain children but we assume — wrongly I think — that adults will pick up biblical content by osmosis.
Dear Mark,
I am so thankful for the newsletter from you. I was so encouraged by reading this. I pray for you to be blessed richly.
Thanks.
You really need to consider changing your commenting policy on this website if you want to see a free exchange of discussion and ideas on your articles. As it is, approving comments 2 or 3 times a day is quite stifling of conversation. Yes, there need to be some controls to prevent abuse (capcha can screen out bots and first-time-commenter moderating can take care of most of the trolling).
Just something to consider.
It was so refreshing to see Dudley Rutherford address the NACC dressed appropriately–suit and tie–for the occasion. I thought at the time of the NACC and again in the recent issue of your paper how degrading it was that the main session speakers–except for Mr. Rutherford–”dressed down” to address one of the most important and biggest gathering of Restoration Movement churches and people. How has it become such a casual event that “name” speakers want to speak in such an honorable and honoring setting in sport shirt, not tucked in, rather than with attire fitting to the occasion.?
Have you guys ever thought of having your full magaizine available for download like Christian Chronicle? I enjoy both immensely. Even if you have it ready a month after publication. Use your communion meditiation feature all the time – appreciate it a lot.
Seemingly there is a need to revise the following sentence under the heading of “The Seed” the Christ who sums up in himself the covenant people and in whom the Israel of God are blessed with all spiritual blessings,” explains Alexander Ross
Did the writer intend to write “the Israel of God?”
Thank you.
I read about every page in the christian standard. Weekly. Last week’s issue ( DOES IT MATTER IF THIS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE STUDENT IS ONE OF ‘US’?) covered a topic that is discussed from both sides fairly often. I learned a lot from the Percentage chart. One of ‘US’ is a topic always on the table. Would it be possible to hear the voices of some of ‘THEM’? I wonder if ‘they’ are absorbing much or little of our heritage. Or if ‘they’ appreciate the whole gospel message, or if ‘they’ take the whole Bible seriously. If I have missed the ‘they’ discussion, I stand corrected.
In regards to Paul S. Williams excellent April `1st article “Does Anybody Really Care/” Yes, I care!, however “Christian Standard” needs to update its approach to addressing the GenX group such as the two part GenX Rising article points out. “Christian Standard” is not currently relevant to my 34 year old son with three boys under 7 and a baby on the way, not relevant to my 31 year old newly married son who provides sound reinforcement for his local church or my 29 year old daughter with two children under three. They were raised in the church, but find our worship style wars, lecture style preaching to be old fashioned and not relevant to them. They are, and in is some cases I am, tech driven. I would much prefer to receive “Christian Standard” as an app on my iPhone or IPa, to be read in short bites as time allows. My children would like to see a relevant tweet with a link to the article that they can read on the go and then post comments, additions and reviews on Facebook, Twitter and provide U-Tube® videos for their small group and friends. As to ink on paper, well let just say the Post Boomer generations will be more interested in relevant articles on line, linked to videos, Facebook and their small groups, than picking up a copy at the front of the church. I believe that posting on your Facebook page, developing a GenX preachers following on twitter, tweeting the current posts from the “Stake” columns and the new monthly columns will continue to bring in more readership, but that readership will be online via blogs, twitter and Facebook, not “ink on Paper”, Readers, like me will continue to use the Ink on Paper paradigm until you move to the online version, then at least I will move too! A online subscription for $5.00 or $10.00 per year is possible if relevant content is provides such as video clips of messages, the ability to respond directly to the author of articles, and post to twitter and Facebook feeds. Take for example, the April 1st article “Why should Christians Care about Bioethics?” now this article would is very relevant to both my oldest son and my daughter (a chemist), yet as I loaded the “Christian Standard” web site this morning, no link was provided to this article or if there is, not easily found. This article is very relevant content to my children and they would read it if I could send them a link to the article, you blogged it, tweeted it and placed relevant content announcements on web links they use. This type of article, life relating issues is very cutting edge and what the next generations want and need, not just continued articles about worship style, women’s roles etc., which they have already moved beyond. They are interested in moral issues, like Same Sex attraction, Bioethics, etc. Provide these type articles, heavily based on scripture, with online links and they will come.
Just read my online version of the Christian Standard dated April 4, 2012. After doing so I felt it necessary to let you know this coming Sunday is Easter. That is a pretty important day for Christians. Might have been nice to see an issue highlighting such. I think I know why you are concerned about your readership dropping. HE is RISEN!!!