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A reality check on homelessness
In response to Chuck Monroe’s letter
(‘Homelessness a national disgrace,’ March): I would just like
to say that I sleep soundly, despite the fact that I have a roof over my
head and food in the fridge, and despite my awareness of homelessness in
Canada.
Recently, while biking through Vancouver’s
downtown eastside, I saw free food handed out from temporary kitchens in at
least three locations: Oppenheimer Park; in front of the Main Street police
station; and in ‘Pigeon Park,’ at Carrall and Hastings.
Having built up an appetite,
I stopped at a small McDonald’s in the area. In this eatery
were at least four persons who were obviously high on drugs, but who seemed
to have the means to purchase ready-to-eat meals.
According to scripture, St. Paul seems to suggest that
those who will not work should not, therefore, eat. I also know that the
pangs of hunger tend to concentrate the mind intensely on the problem at
hand.
I hate to sound cruel and insensitive, but is it
possible that these people are in dire need of a reality check? Is it also
possible that Christian charity in this area only helps to encourage such
conduct, among the drug-addled?
This, and the secular obsession with ‘human
rights’ – which protects them from responsibility – is at
the heart of the problem.
Does ‘bleeding-heart liberal’ ring a bell?
Larry Bennett, Burnaby
Re ‘Churches, open up your doors!’
(Readers Forum, February): This letter mentions greedy corporations who
love to make obscene war profits.
These corporations were very useful for us during World
Wars One and Two, the 50-year Cold War and now the ongoing World War of
Terror. Otherwise we would have had to surrender and succumb to our enemies
– who would have closed all of our churches.
Ralph Forshaw, Nanaimo
Christians not obligated to tithe
Nowhere in the New Testament are we taught to give 10
percent of our money to the church.
Jesus taught, in Acts 1:8, that the church would
evangelize the world through the Holy Spirit – not through money!
If a pastor says “you are giving 10 percent to
God,” that is a misleading statement.
I was a head usher years ago; so let me tell you what
happens to the money you drop in the offering plate. It is taken into the
back of the church and counted. It is then deposited into the
church’s bank account.
Two weeks later, paychecks are made out to church
staff. None of your money goes to heaven, or to God. More than 70 percent
of the money pays for leaders’ salaries.
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The New Testament doesn’t say that, if you
give your 10 percent to God, he will bless you with more. Such a claim is
outright fraud.
Earl Banks, North Vancouver
Why is it okay to mock Christians?
It is time Christians started standing up for
their beliefs, and publicly taking to task those who would belittle us and
church teachings. So, in mid-March, I sent the following e-mail to the
editor of the Victoria Times-Colonist:
“As a Christian, I am offended by the Dilbert comic strip you have
been running . It uses the name Jesus, and a comic strip character, to mock
and belittle the works of Jesus Christ.
“You would not dare to offend Muslims, Jews or
any other religious body in a similar way – for fear of being brought
before the Human Rights Council, or worse. Why then do you feel at liberty
to mock Christians with impunity? Must Christians take punitive action to
get respect for their beliefs?”
Leslie D. Saul, Saanich
West has moral debt toward Africa
The number of children dying in the world each day, due
to the absence of basic sanitation, is estimated to be 4,500. This tragedy
is particularly serious in some African regions.
Satisfying such a basic human need in these countries
would require a relatively small financial contribution from our country.
The amount represents a fraction of what it costs Canada to occupy
Afghanistan as a vassal country of the United States.
In a Western country like ours, it would mean giving
back only a tiny part of the money taken from them in interest on the
illegitimate debt we force them to pay.
I believe Western societies like ours have an immense
moral debt toward Africa, and many countries elsewhere in the world. This
financial help is the least Canada could do to help Africa save its
children.
Bruno Marquis, Gatineau, Quebec
Kudos to Anglicans for carbon tax
Kudos to the Anglicans (albeit probably few in number)
for their stand against fossil-fuel pollution via a carbon tax
(‘Regional Roundup,’ March). May their initiative spread
trans-denominationally.
Besides the fossil fuel and noise pollution created by
ground vehicles and aircraft, there is the very real danger of
ever-increasing smog and ozone-depletion from such machines.
However, I seriously doubt our politicians will
practice green-orientated goals and place controls over such pollution. The
B.C. ‘Liberals’ are more concerned with creating jobs, at the
expense of our water, land and air quality – i.e. our earthly
life-support.
Frank G. Sterle, Jr., White Rock
April 2008
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Jesus says "Feed my sheep", When a pastor says you are giving 10% to God he is not misleading for the 70% that goes to administration supports entire families. Therefore I do not tithe out of obligation but out of joy in knowing that the money that I return to the Lord as his does indeed feeds his sheep.
I am extremely upset with your description of St. Mary of the Incarnation Church as a “renegade church”. Clearly you are not cognisant of the facts of the matter. It has been suggested that the Anglican parishes that have voted to become part of the Anglican Network in Canada are excluding persons involved in homosexual activity. This thought has and is being presented by many with statements such as, “Many have left their worship at said parishes because they felt uncomfortable with the message of exclusion they heard in the church”. The facts are that membership continues to grow and the commitment of the members strengthens. It should be stated very clearly that the message of the Gospel is not “exclusion” as some would suggest. In fact we welcome all as we are all sinners and are called to repentance. We welcome thieves, adulterers, pedophilias, homosexuals and those involved in such activity --- all who seek redemption through the blood of Christ.
This does not mean that we approve of ANY sin and it is clear from God’s word that you cannot “bless” any sin. There is a world of difference – might I saw as far as east is from the west – between denying attendance and/or membership in the church because of a sinful lifestyle and welcoming sinners seeking redemption. It is the latter to which we have been called. I would suggest to your readers that they read the invitation given at the Communion service – “Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead the new life, following the commandments of God . . “(italics mine). That is not a statement of exclusion but an invitation to ALL.
We do not bless adultery or pedophilia – because both are contrary to the Word. So is homosexual conduct whether monogamous or otherwise. The really damaging aspect to this thinking is making same-sex couples believe their union is blessed. The church does indeed welcome all sinners, including homosexuals; but that does not mean the church endorses such activity.
We are all saved by grace and we are called to repent. By claiming to bless any sinful activity, a church clearly misleads its members. The time has long since passed when clergy at all levels to realize God’s word is not subject to their approval or to the majority vote at any synod. In fact Scripture warns of the broad path as opposed to the narrow way.
The “renegades” are those who seek to pervert the teachings of Scripture and the Articles of the Church. It is the apostates that are determined to “spit in God’s face” and it is tragic to see weak-knead clergy and parishioners are willing to be taken in by their false teaching. Any schism within the Anglican Church must be placed at the foot of the apostates. For too long we have used the polite words ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’; but the correct terminology in this matter is ‘apostasy’ versus ‘orthodoxy.’
As to the legal issue of property ownership, this will be a matter for the courts to decide. But it is clear that the current problems within the Church relate to the apostates within both the clergy – and yes, that includes bishops – who are promoting ‘political correctness’ rather than upholding the vows made at their ordination and consecration. If the courts should decide to give the properties to the Dioceses, under the present circumstances it would be tantamount to allowing a bank robber to retain his loot.
In the secular world individuals are subject to adhering to the rules and instructions relating to their employment if they wish to retain their position. Clearly many apostate bishops need to face the same consequences.
Frank C. Wirrell
#21 – 35253 Camden Court
Abbotsford, B.C. V3G 2X2