Have You Tried This?

One of the easiest ways to publicize the Truth is not used nearly as frequently as it might be. This method has several benefits: it can be done at any time; it can be done without ever leaving home; and, best of all, it’s free! Well, it only costs 15 cents —and in this economy, that’s about as free as you can get!

The method is, or course, letter writing. Specifically, I have in mind “Letters to the Editor,” which are a regular feature of virtually every paper in America — from the New York Times to the Sleepy Hollow Farmer’s Weekly.

“Letters to the Editor” require a special style if the garbage can is to be evaded. They must be brief (no more than 3 regular paragraphs), crisp (humor doesn’t hurt), and timely — Remember, nothing is as stale as last month’s sensation, not when there are fresh ones coming along daily. Don’t try for too many Bible references in one letter. And avoid the appearance of “sectarianism” — don’t bother trying to slip in “Christadelphian.” There will be time for that later, if the letter arouses interest and inquiry.

What to write about? A fine man once said that he read two things every day: his daily newspaper and his Bible. And if we read our daily papers imaginatively, with Bible in hand (or in mind), the ideas will come.

Following are several examples of published “Letters to the Editor,” which should illustrate what has been discussed to this point.

On Gambling: Is The Bible A Good Bet?

Under this heading, a misguided local columnist wonders whether the Bible specifically prohibits gambling. (Not a bad question, by the way, for some research.) He can’t find an answer in the Bible, and several ministers fail to shed light on the subject. He concludes by saying, “In any case, I am not certain I would have put much stock in what the Bible says anyway.” The reason he gives: God’s vengeance on the Midianites (Num. 31). In other words, can a god who permits a slaughter of “innocent” folks be worth listening to anyway?

The following response was submitted and published:

Sir,

Nowhere but in America could a “writer^.” who knows nothing about his subject be granted a regular column in a newspaper to express that ignorance. Mr. John Kelso asked a reasonable question (i,e: gambling and the Bible), but then his May 9 article rapidly degenerated into an inane attack on the Bible itself. I’ll give you 5-to-1 odds that he has never read any other part of the Book of Numbers. He has probably read very little of the rest of the Bible, for that matter.

All parts of the Bible, like all other serious writings, have a context — historical and textual — which must be con­sidered. The failure to understand the moral basis for some of God’s actions (like the slaughter of the Midianites) is often due to a flippant attitude. The God of the Bible is a God of judgement as well as a God of mercy. If Mr. Kelso doesn’t understand the Bible, that’s one thing. But to laugh at it? That’s something else again.

Sincerely, etc.

Charismatic Churches

An in-depth article examining the city’s Pentecostal churches provided the opening for the following letter:

Sir:

In regard to the “Charismatic, Churches” (April 10): It has been said that, “The man who has had an ‘experience’ need not bother with a man who has mere reason on his side.” There is simply no common ground between Pentecostals and other Christians. The Bible, which is nominally the common authority, is set aside in favor of extra-Biblical “revelations.” It is not uncommon to find “spirit-guided” Pentecostals repeatedly differing in their respective interpretations of the same verses. Is the Holy Spirit the author of confusion?

Religious frenzy is a dangerous thing, and a thing never intended by the apostles and prophets of the Bible — for whom faith was based upon intelligence and reason. The hypnotic fervor that calls down “love” upon all men is in a moment completely transformed into a hate just as fervent and unreasoning, a hate that brands those who differ as “messengers of Satan.” An acquaintance and myself were recently the subjects of just such a Jekyll-Hyde reception, and were followed into a dark parking lot by several “brethren” and told menacingly by them never to come near their “church” again. “Something is happening” at Pentecostal meetings in Austin, but the results are not always pretty or Christ-like.

Sincerely, etc.

Evolution

References to this modern scientific “dogma” are frequent in the mass media. Generally the proponent of evolution accepts his doctrine more on blind “faith” than does the most fanatical religionist. One such local writer described as “grievously mistaken” those who speak of evolution as a “theory” and not an “established fact.” His serious oversimplification — that evolution is an established, demonstrable scientific “fact” — was a perfect “set-up” for the quotations in this letter:

Sir:

Perhaps it is Mr. Kenneth Tidwell (letter, Nov. 28) who is “grievously mistaken” when he speaks of evolution as an “established fact.” What about the following quotations, Mr. Tidwell?

1. “As we know, there is a great divergence of opinion among biologists, not only about the causes of evolution but even about the actual process. This di­vergence exists because the evidence is unsatisfactory and does not permit any certain conclusions.” (Dr. W . A. Thompson, Fellow of the Royal Society — the greatest scientific honor in the British Commonwealth — wrote these words in, of all places, the introduction to a popular edition of The Origin of the Species, published in 1956.)
2. “It is a pity that the layman is unable to follow the controversies in the biological journals. If he could, he would realize that the foundations of evolution are as firm as quicksand in a hurricane.” (Written by Dr. Alan Hayward, a principal scientific officer in a British government research laboratory.)

Sincerely, etc.

A “Near-Miracle”?

A rather pompous Baptist minister dabbled in local politics and social concerns, and boasted to the editor of his “Christian coalition” which had come quite close to electing its own mayoral candidate. In short it was, in his words, a “near-miracle!” The following appeared in the next week’s letter column:

Sir:

Mr. O’Chester of Allandale Baptist Church (Letters, May 9) testifies that a Christian coalition performed a “near-miracle” in the recent city elections. Then he adds, “Of course, we believe God did it.”

I was unaware that God performs “near-miracles.” What in the world is a “near-miracle” anyway? If Daniel had escaped from the lions’ den minus an arm and a leg, would that have been “near-miracle?” If Jesus had fed, say, 50 instead of 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. would that have been a “near-miracle?”

It seems to me that Mr. O’Chester is abusing the term “miracle” by using God to further his own political ambitions. I was always taught that if and when God sets His mind to alter the course of human events, He doesn’t almost succeed.

Sincerely, etc.

A Suggestion

So why not start thinking this week about a letter to your newspaper? And while you are watching for a good local interest item, why not send something along these lines ? It cannot fail but be timely. And it just might be printed!

Sir,

The facts of the current Iranian crisis are simple: Though the Russian “bear” thinks he is captain of his own fate, the truth is that “the Most High rules the kingdom of men.” Over 2,500 years ago God caused His prophet Ezekiel to write of the “resurrection” of His nation Israel, and the return of the Jews to their ancient land (Chapter 37). Once there, however, they were to encounter fierce opposition from their Arab neighbors and finally a murderous invasion from a great army out of the north (36:6, 15). The prophet saw that Russia, or “Gog, of the land of Magog,” would marshal its allies in this tremendous attack, including — guess who! — Persia! (verse 5)

The handwriting is on the wall. It is perfectly in accord with the Bible that Iran, or Persia, will fall into the Communist sphere: an ancient prophecy being fulfilled on the evening news, and another step in God’s plan to destroy Russia and its anti-Semitic friends in the Middle East, contemporary with the Second Coming. As the old saying goes, “You could look it up!”

So some day soon we can expect to have done with Khomeini and Brezhnev besides. But then we’ll have to contend with Christ! And he may take our oil away from us anyway!