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A Christian Insurrection
A quick note to let you know how much I appreciated your article āReflections on a Christan Insurrectionā (online: bit.ly/38DFzmL). It was insightful, prophetic, and forceful in a good way. It is my hope that it will stimulate important conversations throughout the denomination on an issue that we have been reluctant to confront. Thank you for your courage. Blessings as you continue to speak out!
Gary VanArragon // Guelph, Ont.
God and Natural Disasters
With much delight, I read the informative article āWhy Do We Blame God for Natural Disasters?ā by Mary Hulst, Calvin University pastor (February 2021). Could the COVID-19 pandemic be called a natural disaster? Is it considered an āact of Godā? Itās defined by Websterās as āan extraordinary interruption by a natural cause (such as a flood or earthquake) of the usual course of events that experience, prescience, or care cannot reasonably foresee or prevent.ā I postulate that the pandemic is indeed a natural disaster, as well as a national and universal disaster! The health, social, environmental, economic, and political dimensions of this disaster are embedded within one another, and they need to be considered together. Praying that God will guide us as we navigate the pandemic in this era.
George Groen // Thousand Oaks, Calif.
I am disappointed in Mary Hulstās simplistic answer to the very difficult question of whom to blame for natural disasters. While Rev. Hulst is certainly correct in pointing out that current human actions sometimes lead to or exacerbate so-called natural disasters, it is a stretch to suppose that all natural disasters have human origins. How is the shifting of the earthās tectonic plates that led to ... the 2004 Asian tsunami that caused the deaths of at least 230,000 people due to the equivalent of humans pouring gas on their lawn? Calvinist doctrines of Godās sovereignty and predestination provide major problems for theodicy, i.e., the problem of the origin of evil if God is wholly good. Jobās friends were judged as completely wrong in attributing Jobās misfortunes to his own sinfulness. Similarly, the questions surrounding the origins of evil and suffering as represented by natural disasters are certainly more complex and difficult to answer than Rev. Hulstās column suggests.
Robert W. Bruinsma // Edmonton, Alta.
I agree with the author partially. We should not blame God automatically for natural disasters. Yes, often we cause our own disasters, but there is another possibility, namely, that Satan has been given permission by God to cause them for whatever reason. The story of Job makes that pretty clear, I believe. So the cause of natural disasters is not either/or, God or us. Itās more along the lines of āIs God punishing us, did we ourselves bring this about, or has Satan been allowed to bring this about, spoiling more of Godās good creation?ā
Evert Vroon // Edmonton, Alta.
Evangelicalism and the CRC
What a beautiful, eloquent, theologically spot-on, inspiring, encouraging, and empowering definition of evangelicalism you gave in that recent edition of The Banner (āAre We Evangelicals?ā March 2021)! Iām a pastor in the CRC, and hereās the thing that puzzles me: I donāt think most of our churches get or embody this definition. I feelāat least in my experienceāa radical disconnect between what I see at the think-tank and leadership levels compared to the staunchly embedded us-vs.-them, dualistic thinking and living I keep finding at the local church level. I donāt have any answers, but I encourage you to keep saying things like this; hopefully itāll trickle down with some repetition.
Josh Schatzle // Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
The article and the related editorial (āWhat Is Evangelical?ā March 2021) raise an interesting issue. During my year at Calvin Seminary back in 1992, professors often explained theological issues by placing the āliberalā understanding on the left, the āevangelicalā understanding on the right, and then the Reformed understanding right in the center. That confused me because the evangelical seminary I had attended previously, Regent College, had also taught me that more centrist understanding. When I questioned one professor on the matter, his response was, āOh, but that's British evangelicalism.ā Yet many American institutions would teach the same thing, and the evangelical periodical Christianity Today often holds much the same more centrist position. I have generally referred to myself as an evangelical, often adding the Reformed distinction for nuance. But I sympathize with the questions raised by Shiao Chong in his editorial, and ācultural evangelicalismā has become very problematic. ... These days, when asked if Iām an evangelical, Iām more likely to respond, āWhat do you mean by āevangelicalā?ā
Rev. Gary Roosma // Vancouver, B.C.
A Religious World
Justin Baileyās smart article āIs Our World Less Religious Than Ever?ā (March 2021) brought me to a favorite passage of Scripture in Acts 17. ā¦ Pluralism was on display in Athens, just as it is very evident in our world today. The apostle Paul responds with a message of a personal God who commands personal repentance, all based on the (death) and resurrection of Jesus. ā¦ May our Christian response to present day pluralism and secularism spur us to ālook carefullyā at what people are buying into and respond gracefully with the gospel message of forgiveness and hope in the name of Jesus. The culture we find ourselves in now needs that message more than ever.
Mike DeVries // Byron Center, Mich.