Letters and opinions

Buy from Cokesbury online!

Revisiting debate on doctrine

    I have debated Dr. Les Longden about doctrine in the pages of the Michigan Christian Advocate before and with his article about “Doctrine and experience” in the September 2008 edition I must do so again.
    I agree an opinion of the nature of Jesus should not take the place of doctrine. Someone who believes the opinion that Jesus was not both God and man or that the forgiveness of God is so overwhelming that it must somehow be earned means they miss out on the full story of Jesus and are unable to use the full power of the Christian message.
    However, whether I should always place doctrine over opinion depends on what is in the doctrine.
    For example, many Jews still follow Kosher dietary laws. They find that the discipline of doing so brings them closer to God and their traditions, and helps them apply discipline to other areas of their lives.…
    Many people, including me, have trouble with doctrine because others have insisted that something which is not important, or perhaps even contrary, to Christ’s message must be believed and followed. An example of this is the proper way to treat gays and lesbians. We put opinion before doctrine because of things that are in doctrine that shouldn’t be there.
    –Paul Kinney, Garden City: First

Drilling questions remain

    This letter addresses the continuing concern regarding funding proposals for the future of the Lake Louise camp programs.
    The August Advocate describes the current situation but it needs to be known that the issue of gas drilling is volatile and still current. The summer meetings with cottagers and “experts” were held. Questions were raised but some of us did not feel that all of the questions were adequately addressed. The central issue of many of us that are opposed to drilling is that of the environmental risk. Some of the cottagers also attended a meeting of the trustees held in Lansing in September. When the issue of gas drilling arose those of us who are not board members were asked to leave. Even though in your article both the Rev. Eric Stone and the Rev. David Gladstone (board members) assured us that a vote to lease drilling was not imminent some do not feel assured.
    Since the Lake Louise camp is used by many we would like for voices to be heard: campers, future campers, congregation members and pastors, and all those who have a love of the lake and its pristine forests.
    The issue of lack of funding can be addressed in part by gifts by those who would like to support the ministry. Questions about giving can be addressed to the Director Vaughn Maatman (vmaatman@bignetnorth. net, 231-549-2727) as well as opinions which can be forwarded by him to the Board of Trustees.
    We need to keep in our minds two of the ideas contained in the UM Social Principles. We pledge to continue to be in respectful dialogue with those with whom we differ and we need to have respect for the natural world.
    –Joyce Jorank, Lansing: Central UMC, Lake Louise cottage owner

Blasphemy?

    By any stretch of the imagination, the theology of Rita Nakashima Brock is so far removed from historic Christian faith that it is, plainly and simply, NOT Christian faith. There is no question that she is free to believe whatever she wants to believe.
    The question I have is this: When we have the Truth as our feast – Jesus, the Bread of Life – why was this person invited and allowed to proclaim her blasphemy at the School for Pastoral Ministry? It makes me wonder how many pastors in our conferences welcome and accept any or all of her “re-imagined” faith and are, in turn, offering it as a hollow and empty substitute for the One who said “I am the Bread of Life. Your forefathers ate this manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the Bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the Living Bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread, He will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:48-51)
    –Devin Chisholm, Community UMC, Saganing Indian Church, Standish

Radical hospitality

    A young lady wrote about the unfriendliness of our congregation. Sometimes it takes a layperson to stir up the pastor of the church! Pastor Tamara Williams saw the criticism and it shook her up and she wrote about the deplorable condition of the unfriendliness of our congregation in the newsletter of our church.…
    Pastor Tamara’s sermon titled, “Radical Hospitality,” apparently got the congregation to thinking it applied to our church’s lack of warmth and friendliness. Indeed, Tamara’s sermon seemed to invigorate the congregation to becoming more warm and friendly. I’m happy to see Central United Methodist Church shook up and responding to the challenge of our comfort zone so that we are motivated to follow Jesus with new vigor and vitality!
    –John Myette, Retired West Michigan pastor, Traverse City, Mich.