Articles : March 12, 2012
Editorial
-
Faith and politics freely exercised
Separating church and state is different from separating faith and politics. The former is the cornerstone of U.S. religious liberty. The latter would remove a source of moral guidance from politicians’ and voters’ decisions. The first is essential, the second impossible.
Letters
-
Power in the blood
I grew up with a William Cowper hymn, written in 1772 and no longer in our hymn books, and, as puzzling as this may be, it is still a favorite: “There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins; and sinners, plunged beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains.”
-
God’s wrath, love
The Feb. 6 editorial, “Biblical Violence: God’s or Ungodly?,” prompted me to write. I am a Mennonite pacifist whose fist is in the mouth of Jesus. The sword in his mouth (Rev. 19:21) will complete the sentence of Isaiah 61:2: “And the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.” The martyrs are anticipating this word: “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood?” (Rev. 6:10). For God had taught them through his prophets Moses and Isaiah to expect vindication: “Vengeance is mine, and recompense” (Deut. 32:35). Jonah and Jesus show us a God who withholds his fury in the face of repentance because of his steadfast love.
News
-
Majority of BIC favor keeping their name
Results are in from a survey of the Brethren in Christ Church of North America that asked whether people favor a denominational name change. About 52 percent of respondents said “no.”
-
Help offered for Low German-speaking addicts
WINKLER, Man. — Thanks to Ed Zacharias, Low German speakers around the world struggling with alcoholism will now be able to learn how to take it een dach opp eemol (one day at a time).
-
Europeans mark end of 50-year Intermenno cultural exchange
For nearly 50 years, European Mennonites shared their lives and culture with young North Americans through the Intermenno program.
-
Burkina Faso seminars encourage spiritual renewal
The Mennonite church in Burkina Faso is small, counting only 315 members, but participation in church events is large.
-
Who can heal war’s spiritual wounds?
ELKHART, Ind. — A psychotherapist who specializes in trauma healing called Mennonites to heal the spiritual wounds of war when she served as Peace and Justice Guest at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary Feb. 28-March 1.
Sunday School by Grimsrud
-
Eternal life, love
Although John 3:16 is one of the most familiar — and beautiful — verses in the Bible, the passage where we find it is actually quite complicated.
Due Consideration
-
What is a parent’s legacy?
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. — from Psalm 36, one of my mother’s favorite passages
On My Desk
-
Don’t expect an end to war
On my desk is The End of War by John Horgan, published by McSweeney’s Books, San Francisco, 2011, 232 pages, $22.
Views from the Pew
-
One lasting invitation
As Mennonite Weekly Review evolves into Mennonite World Review, I will evolve another way.
Virginia Ham
-
Hard to let go
While I’ve known this for a long time, it’s still not easy to publicly divulge. I’m not good at “letting go, moving on.” But I’m finding this is my modus operandi these days. The latest development — offering this “swan song” discourse after serving up slices of sometimes half-baked food for thought in this publication since 1990. It’s been a delectable journey, and I conclude my periodic musings with much satisfaction even while anticipating some ongoing freelance jottings in MWR.
Download