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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-08-19, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19,1992. From the Minister's Study. Evil at work in Christian community, says pastor BY JAMES H. CARNE, PASTOR THE MISSIONARY CHURCH, AUBURN The words leapt up at me with a bold audacity: “perhaps we will discover that everything in the Bible is, first of all, not eternal, and second, not necessarily true.” Rather strong stuff for someone who has been raised on the assertion that, “All Scripture is God-breathed ...” (2 Tim. 3:16 N.I.V.) and, “No prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of men, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (2 Peter 1: 20, 21 R.S.V.) NEIL MCDONALD The community was saddened to hear of the passing of former Brus­ sels resident and well-known busi­ nessman Neil McDonald of Heidelberg who died suddenly at Kitchener-Waterloo Hospital on Thursday, Aug. 13, 1992. He was 43. During his years in Brussels Mr. McDonald was a member of the Lions Club and served briefly on council. Mourning his passing most deeply are his wife the former Larke Carson and children Heather and Craig. He was the beloved son of Jack and Dorothy McDonald of Brussels and son-in-law of Richard and Reta Carson of Kitchener. He was the loved brother of Paul and Jane McDonald, Gail McDonald and John and Merilyn McDonald all of Brussels. Also surviving are his grandmother and grandmother­ in-law Alma Jardine of Wingham and Agnes Timm of Listowel. Mr. McDonald rested at Betts Funeral Home, Brussels from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Rev. Brian Robinson of Calvary United Church, St. Jacobs officiated at the funeral service on Saturday at 2 p.m. Carol Robinson was soloist. Carrying floral tributes were Greg Ducharme, Rick Hodgins, David Hodgins, Dave Gowing, Jerry Dillow, Wayne Davison and Wayne Zeigel. Pallbearers were Larry Rice, Bruce Hahn, Gerrit VanKuelen, Bill Armstrong, Doug Lowe and Bill Witt. Interment took place at Brussels Cemetery. In remembrance donations to the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated. MR. HENDRIK FIDOM Hendrik Fidom of RR1, Clinton died at Clinton Public Hospital on Aug. 11, 1992. He was 92. A son of the late Roelofje Hof and Willem Fidom, he was bom on August 6, 1900 in Ruinerwold, The Netherlands. On May 25, 1929 he married the former Maria Kastelein, who survives him. The family emigrated to Canada in 1949 and resided in Port Bruce, Woodstock and Ingersoll before moving to Clinton in 1958. Until retirement Mr. Fidom was employed as a farmer. He was a member of the Clinton Christian Reformed Church. Besides his wife, he will be dear­ ly missed by his children William and Anna of RR1, Belgrave, Ruth and Clarence Vanderlei of RR1, Londesboro and Tony Fidom of RR1, Clinton. He is survived by a sister Grietje Wensveen and sister- in-law Dien Schimmel, both of Holland. Twelve grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren will remem­ ber him. Mr. Fidom was prede­ ceased by a daughter, Grace, one sister and three brothers. The words that had so shocked my sensibilities were written in an excerpt from a book entitled “Living In Sin?” by John Spong. This book purports to be an exegesis of scriptures that deal with the subject of homosexuality. As one peruses the book it becomes apparent that, to accept Spong's thesis that our more modern understanding of sexuality invalidates the admitted condemnation of homosexuality by the scriptures, it is necessary to believe, as he does, that “ ... everything written in the Bible is ... not eternal and ... not necessarily true.” Mr. Spong’s contention is that the Bible is outdated. Because Biblical Rev. Dirk Miedema was the offi­ ciating clergy at the funeral service on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Christian Reformed Church. Carrying Mr. Fidom to his final resting place at Clinton Cemetery were Ken Fidom, David Vanderlei, Kees Dykstra, John Nykamp, William Roest and Lome Snell. GORDON GIBSON Gordon Gibson of Wroxeter passed away on Monday, Aug. 10, 1992 at Braemar Nursing Home, Wingham. He was 98. Mr. Gibson was the beloved hus­ band of the late Lulla Cooper. He was the loving father of Crawford and Elizabeth Gibson of Stroud, Garry and Ella Gibson of Oshawa, Bonnie MacDougall of Burlington and the late Lulu Refell. Fifteen grandchildren and 15 great-grand­ children are also left to mourn his passing. He was predeceased by three brothers and three sisters. Forest Lodge #162 Wroxeter conducted a memorial service on Wednesday evening, Aug. 12 at Betts Visitation Centre Gorrie. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. on Thursday. Rev. Vem Tozier offici­ ated. Carrying Mr. Gibson to his final resting place were Lance Gib­ son, Shane Gibson, David Gibson, Donald Gibson, Drew Gibson and Dean Refell. Flowerbearers were Doug Atkinson and Randy La Fraugh. Interment was at Wroxeter Cemetery. Mennonite news On Sunday, Aug. 16 Pastor Tom Warner preached from 2 Peter 2: 1-9, at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship. Linda Campbell was worship leader and Thelma Steinman led the singing with Kathy Procter playing the piano. The Youth group had a camping excursion to Cyprus Lake camp­ grounds this week. A group from the church held a birthday party for the residents of Braemar Nursing Home, Wingham, with August birthdays on Thursday afternoon. Elwin Garland has resigned as Elder to pursue the studies at Waterloo University College. He will also be assisting at the Riversdale Mennonite Church at Crosshill while the Pastor, Glenn Zehr, will be on a one-year leave of absence. writers were not party to our modem understanding of sexuality they cannot possibly speak to us. He asserts that the Bible is culturally-relevant: the conditions and culture of Biblical times were so different that Biblical statements and standards cannot possibly apply to our times. More than that, he argues that, if Christians can set aside some standards of scripture, such as the keeping holy of the seventh day of the week (Saturday), it cannot be a big step to set aside also the Biblical prohibitions concerning homosexuality. It is my observation that, whenever one seeks to justify that which the Bible condemns, it is necessary to call in question first the validity of the scriptures. It is no surprise to me that, when a major religious denomination meets in General Council this month in New Brunswick, twin concerns that will face the delegates are the question of whether or not ministers may bless homosexual unions and the authority and interpretation of the scriptures - the place of the Bible in church life. One would have thought that the latter matter, at least, should have been settled long ago! According to a recent newspaper article on the upcoming Council meetings, the endeavour will be made to establish the Bible as a foundational authority in determining how to live the Christian life. Detractors of the report point out, however, that, the failure to say “the” foundational authority makes the Bible only one of many authorities. Indeed, as one supporter of the report observes, “For some people, the call to be part of the church community and having God's presence in their lives is also a foundational authority.” This statement confirms the fears of the report's opponents: human experience is as valid an authority as the scriptures, so, if one can claim a call to be a part of the church and to have God's presence in his life, regardless of the fact that this lifestyle is condemned by scripture, his “experience” neutralizes, at best, scriptural authority. One of the members of the report committee stated as a purpose of the report the encouragement of people to continue reading, studying, and interpreting the Bible for themselves. “This report doesn't shut the Bible down; it opens the Bible up.” I wish that they could convince a friend out west of that, who wrote recently, enclosing the excerpt from John Spong's book which, in my opinion, so emasculates the Bible, stating that, after having read it, she is so confused and disillusioned that she cannot bring herself to pick up the Bible any more. There is an insidious evil at work in the Christian community. Jude warns about, and describes it, when he cautions, “... certain men ... have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a licence for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” (Jude:4). It is not surprising then, that, in the opinion of one disenchanted observer, “The best the report can do is to call Christ mentor and friend ... there is nothing in there about Lord, Saviour, Messiah, or anything like that, and those are the kinds of words that are used in the Basis of Union ... I think that it is not an accident that these words were omitted.” Well, remember: Jude said it first. But who is Jude? Probably just one of many culturally- irrelevant writers of a former unenlightened day who were deprived of our modern understanding of life and therefore cannot speak to us, in spite of the fact that the omniscient Holy Spirit moved them so that they “spoke from God.” BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH Rev. Cameron McMillan Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313 e 11:00 a.m. - Joint Summer Worship Service at Melville Presbyterian Church "This is my Father's world” THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA You are welcome this Sunday Pentecost 11 - August 23 Morning Prayer - BCP Trinity, Blyth st. John's, Brussels 9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m. The Rev'd E. Paul Acton, 887-9273 HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY CHURCH PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515 10 a.m. - Family Bible Hour 11 a.m. - Morning Service 8 p.m. - Evening Service Wednesday - 8 p.m. - Prayer & Bible Study Friday - 7:30 p.m. - Youth you are. ‘Welcome at the BLYTH CHURCH OF GOD 9:45 a.m. - Sunday School for Children and Adults 11 -12:15 - Morning Worship Bible Studies - Wednesday 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. Phone 523-4590 McCONNELL ST., BLYTH MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Carolyn McAvoy Joint summer worship service with Brussels United at Melville Presbyterian Church in August 11:00 a.m. - Morning Service We welcome you to come and worship with us. BLYTH UNITED CHURCH Invites you to join them in Worship at 11 a.m. Guest Speaker: Rev. John Roberts Phone 523-4224 A BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH GUEST SPEAKER: Rev. Cliff Turpstra from Mt. Hope Sunday at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Church of the "Back to God Hour" and "Faith 20" Back to God Hour 10:30 a.m. CKNX Sunday Faith 20 5:00 a.m. Weekdays, Global T.V. All Visitors ‘Welcome ‘Wheelchair accessible BRUSSELS at MENNONITE FELLOWSHIPJOIN U3! For a Time of "Worship, Singing, Praying, Loving, Fellowshipping and Hoping" 9:25 a.m. Worship Service Pastor: Tom Warner 887-6388 Elder: John Baan 887-6967