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Surrey problems underestimated

Clockwise: Surrey pastor Kevin Cavanaugh; Mayor Dianne Watts; and NightShift’s Mary-Anne Connor.

In ‘The Church of Surrey’ (May), pastor Kevin Cavanaugh was reported as saying: “Churches are rising up to minister into the great needs of our city.”

As a youth outreach worker, I was keenly interested in that enthusiastic statement from a well-known Christian leader. I don’t doubt the sincerity of our church leaders; but if history is any indication, the average local congregation is ill-prepared for this mission.

After a decade of ministry in the Whalley/ Guildford area, I can confidently say your article understated the problems with poverty, addictions, crime, violence, sexual exploitation and corruption in our city.

These problems are so widespread that any strategy which addresses Surrey’s ‘great needs’ would have to include people who don’t seem like they would fit in with the church.

I work with kids from terribly dysfunctional homes. Their families have often had a good deal of involvement with local churches – mostly because they have gone to them seeking help.

Often, churches have attempted to fit them into a program, instead of taking time to care for them personally.

This approach fails, because the most needy people from our community don’t usually respond well to the existing strategies of church ministry. They are not able to function at a level we find acceptable. When we operate this way, we fail to include and care for them.

In contrast, Jesus operated quite outside of the religious system of the day, taking time for those who didn’t fit within it.

If we are prepared to sacrificially involve ourselves in the lives of our neighbours – caring for them individually and offering them real community – we might make a difference. But it’s a humble path, and will cost us much. Are we prepared to do it?

John Cassells, Surrey

Palestinians remain in God’s hands

Re ‘Unfair to Christian Palestinians’ (May, Readers’ Forum): From a human perspective, the Christian Palestinian situation is deplorable. However, as part of the church, they are in God’s hands; and we are not more merciful than God.

What is truly “unconscionable” is the Palestinian people’s election and support of a terrorist government – one which is determined to annihilate Israel.

Romans 10:1 states: “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.”

Christians everywhere understand this – even the Palestinian Christians.

Cherryl Katnich, Maple Ridge

Favouritism being shown to israel is not unbiblical, because there is no time stamp on the statement God made when giving that land to israel. It was not given to a people group called ‘the Palestinians.’

The Palestinians won’t allow Israelis into Bethlehem; and it is not israel who built extensive walls along the West Bank.

Anti-Israel Christians have their facts mixed up. If they believe Jesus is coming back, they will have some difficulty – because Jesus said he won’t be back until Israel acknowledges him as the Messiah. This is happening right now. I have personally witnessed the revival sweeping Israel.

Ashley Cornwell, Victoria

Afghanistan war the only alternative

In ‘Why is Canada is Afghanistan?’ (May, Readers’ Forum), Glen Kruck says the Taliban have never threatened Canada, and asks why we’re fighting them rather than doing peacekeeping.

The Taliban harboured Al Qaeda, which has inflicted mayhem worldwide. Canada’s proud peace-keeping role was discredited in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, when Canadian peacekeepers had to stand by while masses of people were slaughtered.

How can Canada have any dignity if it doesn’t help countries that are less fortunate? How can we send aid workers to Afghanistan, when we know they are likely to be murdered?

Canada’s present role in Afghanistan may be repulsive; but I haven’t heard of any alternatives that match its honourable intentions and realistic methods.

The only Christian alternative I can think of is a new philosophy of aid modelled on Christ’s example: He came to help us when he knew it would cost him his life.

Kenneth Affleck, New Westminster

reFocus speaker’s views are off-base

Regarding ‘reFocus at Willingdon’ (May):

I was amused at the statement by Mark Driscoll, pastor of Seattle’s Mars Hill Church:

“Your nation is a mess ! Mine is a mess – but Canada is worse !” At this point, Jesus must have gotten out of the way.

I’m reminded of a quotation attributed to Mother Teresa: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”

George H. Epp, Chilliwack

So Mark Driscoll would “die for” his stance on “the issue of gender,” advocating the rejection of female elders. I certainly would not die for that. I’m glad the charismatic Christian denominations didn’t take his attitude.

As Mary Slessor of Calabar wrote in her Bible beside 2 Timothy 2:12: “Nay, laddie, but you are wrong there.” This all revolves around whether that scripture is a word from the Lord, or an example of Paul’s personal opinion (as he clarifies in 1 Corinthians 7:12).

In my travels around the globe, I have met some outstanding servants of Christ, including many women. I have been privileged to have as executive assistants a number of fine, intelligent, highly spiritual women – who have rescued me more than once!

I wonder if Driscoll would have turned his chair around, as Southern Baptist males did, when Ann Graham Lotz rose to speak.

It’s amazing what people would die for. Do all the ladies cover their heads in Driscoll’s church? Some would die for that, too!

Around the world, both men and women are dying for Jesus’ sake. The last thing they think about is gender.

Bernard Camper, Kelowna

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Olympic support is misguided

The article ‘2010 a catalyst for church unity’ (May) is alarming for its uncritical embrace of the 2010 Olympics. Regrettably, it mirrors the right wing’s oblivion to the fallen nature of culture, and the de facto empire we live in.

Since the Tower of Babel, humans have hoped they could reach the heavens and make a name for themselves. Man’s departure from God resulted not just in fallen individuals, but also a fallen culture.

It is a culture marked by idolatry, injustices and the rich oppressing the poor.

Despite the Roman Empire's apparent power and excesses acquired through military violence and an oppressive tax system, Christ did not align himself with colonial elites – but with the poor and the marginalized.

Driven by a commitment to God’s kingdom rather than his own popularity, Christ drove lucrative businessmen out of the temple; taught that it is difficult for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom; and asked followers to guard against the ‘yeast’ of the Pharisees and Sadducees – the legalistic and wealthy political elites.

Today’s church must resist the temptation to procure social acceptance and political influence through blinded compliance with the interests of the powerful in this empire.

Today’s empire uses subversive tactics to achieve global power: through the control of global economy and culture, including trade, entertainment – and sports, like the Olympics.

The latter, now evolved into a global business monopoly, has much in common with the public bloody spectacles conducted in the Roman Colosseum.

Both were designed to entertain and numb the senses of the citizens of a fallen, idolatrous civilization. Both were staged at the expense of the most powerless citizens.

For the 2010 Olympics, many are made homeless due to the destruction or conversion of single room hotels for market housing. Thousands will follow, as their rents continued to skyrocket. Impoverished aboriginals will be further dispossessed, as more unceded territories are taken over for Olympic facilities. Meanwhile, big corporations will benefit from their Olympic sponsorship.

The Olympics have much more to do with the rich and elite than anything remotely represented in the gospel – which overwhelmingly puts Jesus in the presence of the poor and in judgment of the wealthy.

Serving and pandering to the Olympics is not a biblical example of ‘effective evangelism’; nor is it a good example of gospel living. It is a great shame and tragedy when Christians genuflect before power – and the weak and poor are sacrificed to serve Moloch.

When Christians are lured to do the equivalent of handing bottled water to Colosseum spectators while Christians are martyred inside, there is a desperate need for much repenting by those who claim that Christ is Lord. Those who serve imperial interests will be victimized and enslaved by such interests.

Constantine and Caesar have reappeared, and we need to see through such false gods. Bill Chu , Vancouver

Ron Dart, Abbotsford
Joseph Jones, Vancouver
Annie McKitrick, Victoria
Elizabeth Kelliher, Vancouver
Lane Walker, Vancouver

It saddens my heart to see local churches aligning with the Olympics. Will 2010 be a catalyst for church aggrandizement?

This roaring lion of hype roams our airports, hotels, sports venues and the shopping malls of Vancouver and Whistler, devouring the time and works of the misguided faithful.

Meanwhile, truly spirit-filled Christian samaritans are roaming the alleys of the Downtown Eastside and other Lower Mainland ‘2010 legacy’ dumping grounds, witnessing to the least of these – doing in secret that which our Lord rewards in public.

The lure of “Christian witness” is Satan’s whisper in the ears of the pious leaders mentioned in your article – those who adorn themselves and deceive the flock with a tainted vision of 2010 crowns of glory.

How many of us will be passing by the lost, anxious to sing praises of God’s marvelous works in front of the world’s cameras, come 2010? I call on these leaders to see to the lost sheep, not the hormone-enhanced sports idols at the 2010 starting gates.

I personally won’t be preparing myself to plant seed among the filthy rich corporate arcade jet set Olympic pin traders, flying in for a couple days to schmooze, suckle, and be seen at the fatted calf of the glory of sport.

Gordon Scott, Surrey