June 2005 Letters to the Editor

Webmaster | 29 May 2005

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Disturbing Roman Catholic doctrines

Do the following doctrines denote a church leader is a ‘theologian of great stature’ (Archbishop of Canterbury on Pope Benedict XVI, SC, May): Justification by works, the necessity of sacraments for salvation, punishment through purgatory, confession through priests, Mary, the saints, indulgences? This comment suggests either we don’t understand Catholic theology, or the ecumenical movement is succeeding brilliantly.

Andrew Tilsley
Glenhaven, NSW

Reports that the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission has reached agreement on Mary are disturbing; especially the claim that the Immaculate Conception is consistent with scriptural teaching. Romans 3:23 does not have a clause revealing Mary as an exception. Hebrews 4:15 reminds us that Christ alone is without sin. Further, it must be asked why would we ask Mary to pray for us when we have the one true mediator, Christ, to intercede for us (1 Timothy 2:5)?

Philip Cooney
Wentworth Falls, NSW

The lost art of a 10 minute sermon

How refreshing to read John Sandeman (View from the pews, SC, May). Preaching does not mean spending 40 minutes telling the congregation everything you know about I Corinthians 13. The art is to find a single topic, ask more questions than are answered, and hope that at least some will go away, meditate on it, discuss it and pray about it. If you can’t do that in 10 minutes, give up.

S.E.P. James
Edgecliff, NSW

Pray or proclaim?

Gordon Cheng (Letters, SC, May) misunderstands the role of prayer in gospel proclamation. The absence of God’s Spirit as the gospel is preached makes the activity only a sharing of knowledge. Basic to both is prayer and an expectation that God will be involved in the process. The apostle Paul knew this (Ephesians 6:19-20). If God is not involved in our activities they certainly will be “essentially human” and also fruitless. Prayer should not be seen as an alternative to gospel-proclamation but as an essential prerequisite.

Jeanne Conolly
Bexley, NSW

I agree with Gordon Cheng that he was making a ‘fiddly little distinction’ when he wrote that prayer is essentially a human activity but proclaiming the gospel is a divine activity.

His letter reminded me of the words of Paul, ‘…the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered’ (Romans 8:26). If the Spirit helps us in prayer, making intercession for us, then prayer is a divinely-inspired and, at the least, undergirded activity, not merely an act of the human will. Paul followed the life pattern of his and our Lord and Saviour – he preached the gospel a lot and prayed a lot.

Terry Craig
Campsie, NSW

To Gordo my good friend, may I gently suggest some more reflection. Jesus tells me that the key to soul-winning is prayer. (Matthew 9:37-38). The really curious aspect of this instruction is that we are told to pray for workers not converts. The converts are there are already.

This reference also answers Beryl’s appeal for resources at Macquarie Fields (Letters, SC, May). Beryl is correct, the resource lack is clear. Yet also this Diocese has always been very generous in these areas. My own parish has continued to receive grace upon grace.

I believe that the real resource lack is in willing workers. Jesus as always has the answer, prayer! This really is the first and most necessary resource for work in such areas.

The Rev Geoff Taylor
Sadleir Anglican Church

Wake up to earth crisis

Congratulations: the Anglican Church is making the essential connections between our stewardship of the earth and what we are doing to our neighbours (‘Earth in crisis’, SC, May). Central to our love of God is our care for the creation of this evolving planet. We are responsible for the effects of our choices. Industrialisation has seldom been limited by its impacts, and our human shame is that we are ruining God’s gift. Our increasing burning of power is, as the section by Jeremy Halcrow points out, exacerbating poverty and ‘natural’ disasters. How can we face God if we do not use our intelligence to reach for sustainability and the compassion of Jesus in sharing the essentials of life?

Alice Oppen
Kangaroo Valley, NSW

One small correction to ‘Earth in crisis’ – probably due to a poor mobile phone connection. The area inundated in the Solomon Islands I mentioned was a fisherman’s landing place, not an airstrip. But the representative from the Solomons returned from our meeting to severe flooding; the environmental problems of his and other Pacific and Indian Ocean nations deserve much greater attention and help from us.

Ann Young
Thirroul, NSW

Christian churches often leave a lot to be desired when it comes to environmental awareness, with no consideration for the amount of polystyrene cups or the excessive use of paper. If we as Christian churches aren’t setting a good example to our non-Christian friends, then are we being hypocrites by disobeying God’s word in this way? Churches need to be at the forefront of environmental awareness. Caring for our earth just as God has instructed us, in this way witnessing to our world that we do care for God’s wonderful creation.

Stephen Price
Frenchs Forest, NSW

Value of both approaches?
Surely as Christians there are many approaches to gaining souls for Christ – we are on the same team (Youthworking, SC, May). Whether through Scripture teaching in classrooms or reaching out to youth in the community. How can it be healthy to discredit one approach over the other? Each of us has gifts to be used in reaching the unreached. Some are able to engage in a practical sense ie “cooking pancakes” and others to teach the scriptures. Please, let’s work together for God’s glory and value different approaches.

Caroline Kilby
Denistone West, NSW

It was encouraging to read Jodie McNeill’s article. Many churches have made the emphasis on outreach to show the world that Christians are normal people. Our priority must be in teaching and proclaiming the gospel. The article gave me a wake-up call.

Roger Peters
Glenbrook, NSW

West Lindfield a growing, viable parish

I am concerned an article about the ‘parish life cycle’ model (Reinvention, one soul at a time, SC, May) has given an overly negative impression about the future of my parish. Unfortunately the article did not accurately reflect the positive tone of my conversation with the journalist and implied that my parish is ‘unviable’.

I wish to reassure readers that All Saints, West Lindfield is not only financially viable but growing. We have employed a youth minister and the parish has a bright future. There is little doubt that we have moved from being a declining ‘D’ parish to being a church that has reinvented itself into a growing ‘G’ parish.

The Rev Phillip Read
All Saints West Lindfield

No support for musos

I find the Hillsong obsession with feelgood, self-centred, theologically anaemic songs as irritating as your reviewer does (Hillsong: new generation, same tune, SC, May).

However, we are getting the music we deserve. Evangelical churches and organisations within Sydney Diocese as a whole do very little to nurture and develop truly contemporary, theologically literate songwriters. I have lost count of the number of times I’ve heard the story of sending material off and not even getting a phone call or email reply.

I don’t want to hear criticism from Sydney Anglicans unless they can demonstrate they are doing something to fix the problem. We need to pool our talents and work together. If anyone wants to be part of the solution go to http://www.insideoutmusic.net and get in touch with me.

Ken Davis
Email address supplied

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