Letters from 9
to 15 July 2007
Like all letters
to the editor everywhere, these letters are the opinions of the writers
and not Anglicans Online. We publish letters that we think will be
of interest to our readers, whether we agree with them or not. If
you'd like to write a letter of your own, click here.
We don't have
to make more Christians in the world to 'prove' we are 'right'
As usual,
I guess, I'm a bit astounded by Ruth Gledhill's interview with +Peter
Nigeria in The Times. My first reaction was that he's just the latest
in a large group to give over to a new form of terrorism -- spiritual
terrorism -- which he feels might only be appeased by somehow proving
to the world of Islam that Christianity can be just as tough and
stupid as any other religion.
One assumes
we who call ourselves Anglicans have all heard somewhere along the
line that a big part of what faith in God, as revealed through His
Christ, means is that we are very likely to be on the cutting edge
of a lot of societal issues -- and, indeed, that we, too, may get
crucified for being there, although our crucifixion is not necessary
for that of Jesus to have been once and for all.
Every time
we try to be exclusive rather than inclusive; every time we try
to beat out the other guy by being tougher and more righteous; every
time we respond (as we are wont to do as humans) to challenging
new examples of the breadth and depth of God's love for His Creation
by condemnation, we betray our Baptism.
For myself,
out of my own experience, I would rather stand in favor of the consecration
of Bishop Robinson, the affirmation of same-sex unions, and the
fear that I might be killed because of it, than I would give over
in fear to anyone who tells me my role as a Christian is to punish,
deny, and abhor the evolving realities of human life that are being
revealed to the world in God's Good Time.
We don't
have to make more Christians in the world to "prove" we are "right." It
may just be that the Church once again is being called to offer
itself up in a shared sacrifice with Our Lord to show what we're
really made of and where we really live and have our being.
But I'm not
sure many of us -- including me -- have the intestinal fortitude
(i.e., guts) to do so. It's far easier to try to fight.
Peter Winterble
San Nicolas de Bari
Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA
peter@winterble.com
9 July 2007
Angry in Islington
We
recently received our Anglican newspaper for
the month of July and we are absolutely disgusted with the decision
of the Archbishop of Canterbury to not invite the gay Bishop
of New Hampshire to Lambeth Conference.
We have been
Christians most of our lives and became confirmed Anglicans 40 years
ago, after finding a spirit-filled church. We find at this time
so much turmoil within the church regarding the homosexual community.
Does our God not love everyone? Are we not to share Jesus' love? As
parents of a gay son, we find this not acceptable and are
seriously considering leaving this type of hypocritical church and
its leaders.
The Anglican
Church gives to so many so many wonderful ministries and missions
and helps the poor and the homeless, never asking their sexual preference,
but will not accept homosexuals into the full body of Christian
love. This is blasphemy of the first order.
Stuart and
Isabel Irvine
St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Islington
Streetsville, Ontario, CANADA
irvine@rogers.com
11 July 2007
Earlier letters
We launched our 'Letters
to AO' section on 11 May 2003. All published letters are in our
archives.
|
