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Letters April 21, 2008 One of the
most satisfying aspects of this page is the variety of opinions
on pressing issues of today. This edition is especially satisfying,
as we have interesting opinions on climate change, Apostolic music,
shootings, and our recent cover on ministering to a homeless man.
The point of the zine is to create discussion, not dissension
so that we're more spiritually robust and intellectually inspired.
Please don't
hesitate to write us an article, send us a letter, and get involved
in edifying the body of Christ through out little ministry, so
that we can remain a lighthouse in a sea of murk. Re: “Global
Warming” I just read
the letter responses to the global warming article, and am so
discouraged. Why are so many Apostolics so ignorant of our duty
to care for and nurture the Earth? There's always this ridiculous
sort of arrogance when environmental issues come up in our circles.
Why? Yes, the earth
warms and cools in cycles. Yes it's true that we are being overfed
with political propaganda about global warming this year, and
much of it is just that--politics. But why do we say things like
“forget the ozone layer” or pretend that other issues aren't real,
urgent, and spiritual? For as good as we are (as a group) at pinpointing
single scriptures and creating all kinds of doctrinal issues of
them, we do an even better job of ignoring God's request for us
to care for this beautiful planet? I seriously
doubt the Creator is going to “blowtorch” this “silly” earth,
but even if He did, it doesn't negate what we've done to it in
the meantime. Global warming aside, what is certain is
that we've polluted our waters with oil, trash, chemical waste,
even estrogen from all the birth control use (it's actually changing
the fish!). We certainly can't deny the effect our “toss it out”
attitude has had on roadside and urban trash pollution. Erosion
is a very real issue that affects the world's farmers, and is
caused by careless land management. I'll stop short (way, way
short) here, because this could quickly become a book. I just want
to encourage 90&9 to keep pushing the bar in spiritual thought,
and raising the standard for the way we interact with each other
and our beautiful planet. Shannon Rhodes,
Missouri Please note
that the picture that you have on your article is the recent guy
arrested in Florida wishing to duplicate the last horror on campus.
For some retarded reason they released the nut case on $7,500
bail after finding enough arsenal to do some serious damage.
Why you ask? Because of some “technical” reason that the AK-47's,
etc. that he purchased may have been bought at a trade show.
Moronic answer? Absolutely. The reporter asking the local
Florida police chief about the “why” was stunned at his reasoning.
Truly Noah's day and age where all sense of reason and shame is
upon us. Stephen Forkum,
Arkansas Re: “The
State of Apostolic Music--How Bad Is it?” Oh boy, do
I have a response to this topic. I think our (apostolic)
music is stuck in a time warp for the most part. If you
try to be current or relevant and step outside the “traditional”
sound, do so at your own peril. I have heard
so many negative comments about the new “Jesus is my boyfriend”
music, I could just scream. Apparently it has been a while
since some people caught up on the book of Psalms. One thought
in particular: one of you made the comment that our artists need
to be braver. Have you attempted this personally?
I am going to be anonymous in this because I don't want to deal
with further backlash, but my child belongs to a group that made
a CD in the last couple of years. They stepped
well outside of the bounds of “traditional” Apostolic music, which
at the time I knew was a mistake, because I have been around a
while and know that our people aren't all that receptive to change.
But I didn't want to stifle their creativity, so I just kept my
mouth shut. Their release
has been met with much resistance. Before they released
this album, they were used at many district events and venues.
Since they released their “rock” album, there has been a concerted
effort to block them from ministering at events, with direct reference
to the album. Bear in mind, this group has never been inappropriate
in any way in their ministry, they are always well received by
the audience, and always very effective in ministry. It
is strictly in response to the album. So I would
say to any Apostolic artist wanting to be used in Apostolic venues,
be very careful in just how brave you are, you may live to regret
it. I don't make the rules or even agree with them (if you
haven't caught the undertone of slight bitterness in all of this),
but if you want to play the game, beware. Name Withheld
by Request, California Re: “Climate
Change” Dear 90&9, Your publishing
of the last several cover stories have showed great courage.
Thank you for talking about things we may not wish to hear about.
I'm sorry
but I must respond to several of the comments made last week.
I'm not going to write a 10,000 text showing the validity of global
warming and the necessity of action, it has been done by others.
But in a variation of Pasteur's Postulate I must say it is better
to heed the warnings of climate change and be wrong, taking unnecessary
steps to reduce carbon emissions (most of which also have other
reasons we should do them), than it is to dismiss climate change
and be wrong; not taking steps to prevent harm to our neighbors. “Christian
Fluff?” I'm not a theologian but in my Bible I read that Jesus
essentially told us to do two tings and then gave specifications
as to how to do them. In short, first love God, then love
your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40); and it looks like we have about
6.8 billion neighbors. How is feeding the poor, treating
the sick, being responsible for our actions, or being nice to
a liberal? I don't see how you can love someone and not
help them, or worse, hurt them. Don't get me wrong, abortion
is evil and needs to be stopped but it is not the only way people
are dying. I have always thought that a Christian is neither
Republican, Democrat, liberal nor conservative, but a follower
of Christ; not just a phospholipids bag full of water and assorted
minerals, but a force for good. To be honest,
it does not matter if your next car is a Focus instead of an F150
do to global warming or gas prices, or why you switched to CFLs;
it helps. Could we talk about the specifics instead of name
calling, what I'm asking is not insane. John Trombley,
Ohio Re: “The
Homeless Man--Kenneth” While I agree
that a whole lot more should have been and could have been done
for Kenneth and the other homeless individuals, I don't agree
that Kenneth should have been allowed to climb up on the platform
and speak to the congregation. Neither you nor I should
have been/would have been allowed to do so either. There is no
way of knowing what he would have said; no way of knowing if his
message would have been from or about the Lord; no way of knowing
how it could have either positively or negatively affected the
people in the crowd. The young
author did the right thing to provide food for these men, but
did He lay hands on them and ask the Lord for a miracle
for them? He had/has as much Apostolic power as any of the
other preachers/ministers/saints there, given to him by the Word.
(“Such as I have give I unto the...” -Acts 3:6) Name Withheld
by Request, Texas Re: “The
State of Apostolic Music--How Bad Is It?” Most of the
suggestions offered to apostolic artists for raising their profile
seem to be geared toward garnering more Apostolic fans. But what
about non-Apostolic Christian fans? Non-Christian fans?
Atheist fans? Satanist fans? Isn't our mission as
the Church to reach the unbelievers in the world and shouldn't
music be one of our tools in accomplishing that? I am a member
of a band in which all three members are Apostolic. To date
we've played coffee houses, restaurants, churches, and small performance
venues all over our area. In the near future we'll be playing
a farmer's market, in addition to more of the aforementioned types
of venues. Our goal isn't
to get more Apostolics to listen to our music; it's to get more
people to listen to our music. Through music we're
making connections with people, building relationships, and hopefully
shining the light of our Lord and Savior to a people who by and
large live in darkness. To date, it seems that the bulk
of our fans are actually non-Christian, and for that we're very
glad. So my advice
for other Apostolic artists would be the same: play any venue
you can (so long as the nature of that venue won't invalidate
your witness of Christ). I believe God will bless the work
we're doing for His kingdom, and our listenership will grow as
folks are drawn not just to the great music, but to the Lord of
glory who is being lifted up. Don Titus,
Oregon Re: “So
We're Apostolic--What's So Special about That?” I'm glad to
see Jim's article. I'll tell you what's so special--nothing.
I left the UPC, and ultimately Christianity, because of the problem
Jim is pointing out. Oh, there are some twists and turns
to my story, a pastor who told me to study the bible, then got
mad when I pointed out his misuse of certain passages, a “good
brother” who felt that he could go back on business deals and
leave me holding the bag; I had to laugh when he left the aforementioned
pastor holding a similar bag on another business deal a bit later.
There was also the part where I decided to learn Hebrew and in
the course of it found out what “One God” or Adoni Echad actually
meant... Prayer changes
things, I said that when I was in the UPC and I still say it.
In my case Jesus went from being God incarnate, to being a good
Jew who would have rent his clothing to hear what the UPC believes
about him. Had those other guys stayed in the prayer room
instead of building a magnificent new sanctuary, maybe I'd have
never had occasion to question what was going on. Oh, the
business deal, is money the problem here? Hardly, when I
learned enough Hebrew to understand biblical tithing, I saved
more money than the goofy guy cost me, but it cost my former pastor
a bundle because I left the church. Had he preached “hard” about
praying and living by the church's teaching, I'd still be among
the faithful today. As it is, they can call me lost, call
me a reprobate, tell me I'm on my way to hell, whatever. I know what
the Bible says. I know the “truth” and it has, indeed, made
me free. If you and your church actually walk by the teaching
of the UPC, you and yours will not ever understand what I'm talking
about. However, if your church is really just an expensive
social club, beware, others will follow my path. Derek Godfrey,
Arkansas © 2008, ninetyandnine.com --------- |
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