Letters to the editor: May

AMS Staff | 1 May 2007

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Don’t skirt divorce

Much emphasis is given at Christian weddings that the bride and groom are to say “I will” instead of “I do” in their marriage vows. Cath Finney Lamb’s article ‘Caring for divorcees’ (SC, April) sent me searching for the programs I’ve kept from Christian weddings I attended.

There it is. The officiating minister asks: “Families and friends, you are witnesses to these vows. Will you do everything in your power to uphold […] and […] in their marriage?” The congregation responds: “We will”.

The challenge for Christians is keeping their vows of support when fellow Christians divorce.

Hendry Wan
Matraville, NSW

Whilst I understand SC was dealing with ‘after it happens’, I am concerned you haven’t broached the issues of separation and divorce itself, which leaves open some very wide assumptions about divorce per se. The question of how we care for those dealing with the pain of separation and divorce can’t be isolated from the nature of divorce and our position on what is appropriate and inappropriate. The effect is that your article skirts the ‘real’ issues.

I know I will be met at church with questions raised by your article. Yet the issue won’t only be ‘How do we care for divorcees?’, but also the prior question, ‘How should we think about separation and divorce?’. It would be helpful to give some positional articles on divorce so that people can see the implications of care based on that position. The difficulty in this important topic may be the diversity of opinion even within the conservative evangelicalism of the Diocese. No doubt it would be a great discussion to have - though I sense it may be a little too raw for some.

Shane Rogerson
St Peters, NSW

Summary Offences

Looking for offence is a national pastime; look at the furore created by the Jesus Loves Osama poster (SC, April). The charge that we are all sinful and that God will judge us is confronting in these days of ‘psychologising (excusing) our weaknesses’. But ‘massaging the message of Christ’ is more of a crime.

Anne Cherry
Marrickville, NSW

The so-called ‘agent provocateurs’ covered in your April edition have a lot to learn. They state, “The great thing is that our posters send those who don’t know the answers to those that should have them...”. I suggest the people who drove past the Jesus Loves Osama poster at 60 kph got angry and went nowhere. The concept of God’s love for all mankind versus God’s wrath at man’s sinfulness is not comprehended in the blink of an eye.

Cryptic messages can be useful but only if they pique the curiosity, not if they offend or antagonise.

Jim Campbell
Dee Why, NSW

Offence at the cross leads to soft gospel

How interesting that the ‘Jesus Loves Osama’ article about Outreach Media should follow right on from Claire Smith’s excellent article on the offence of the cross. It was like a good talk – an illustration following the explanation!

It seems that the Australian public was highly offended that Osama’s sin could come under the forgiving power of Jesus’ death on the cross, while they desperately cling to the baseless hope that their rebellion against the Creator will go unnoticed.

It is not only the non-Christian culture that is offended by the cross – it can also be the Christian rank-and-file. As an evangelist, I sometimes get asked to give ‘a soft gospel talk’. When teased out this usually means, “Don’t mention sin or judgement”.

I’m sure their pastors are preaching a rigorous gospel, so where does that sort of question come from?

I think Claire gives us a clue when she says: “But Paul’s response is this: take away the cross and you take away the message. The message of Christ and him crucified is the Christian message. It is nothing less than the power of God for those who are being saved”.
Until we are convinced that God will do his work of conversion his way, using his message, and not ours, we will keep asking for ‘a soft gospel’.

Lesley Ramsay
Evangelism Ministries

Thanks

Many thanks to Claire Smith for her article on “The offence of the Cross”. She is right that even some Christians find the cross offensive – particularly the substitionary aspect of it. In fact, penal substitution is once again under heated attack in the wider Christian community. It is important for us to defend the doctrine as both biblical and essential to the faith.

Craig Schwarze
Annandale, NSW

Just read Archbishop Jensen’s article ‘Christ Frees Us From An Evil Past’. I just want to say, “Amen and well said”.A very important article about a trend which poses much danger for the churches. Thanks.

Kerry Green
via email

Church music: more help required

I have read with interest your article on church music and the ensuing replies.
Dimity Statheos’ point about not returning to the past is a great challenge for those of us who are trying hard to play something modern. We need help with how to do this.
Over the past 18 months I have been working hard to regain skill to play in church. I noticed an advertisement by Susan Deas: ‘Help for Church Pianists’ and Susan has given me tools to do this.
Most of us are scared stiff to go out there and make mistakes in front of everyone. Our fingers freeze on the keys and our heart beats wildly. How wonderful then, when we rely on our God to give us the courage and a very loving and encouraging congregation.
Gloria Lovell-Simons
Tea Gardens, NSW
In her letter Dimity Statheos says: “There is music software available that can transpose songs at the press of a computer button.” This statement is misleading, because there is still work to be done by the ‘nut behind the wheel’ requiring knowledge of transposition, ranges of voices and instruments and other factors. The job is certainly easier now, but not at all automatic.

David McKay
Bathurst, NSW

Here in Exmouth where I’m in a locum tenens the congregation sings unaccompanied from Scripture in Song.My hope is that someone has old tapes of Scripture in Song that can be put on CD so we can have music to sing along to.

The Rev Alan McMahon
Exmouth, WA

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