| OCR Text |
Show i6 Saturday, January 20, 1996 The Daily Herald Armageddon doesn't have to be an v I'Y'4 '. ft' j , inevitability ! "And the Lord said, 'They shall gradually, so as not to cause 'unemployment nor interfere with .. Corporate profits, beat their By DEBORAH KOVACH ; ; ; I' j"-- By SHEILA SANCHEZ The Daily Herald , .. Orem resident Marty Whitney's dream to have a chartered United Methodist Church in Utah County may soon become a reality. : Marden I. Clark wT ' Swords into plowshares.'" is the This caption on one of my favorite New Yorker cartoons C2 August 1993) my insertion in rackets. The drawing shows a ' , priest very worldly-lookin- g (.maybe even a bishop) in his iobes, speaking with a rather sly look and very open mouth. 1 ; suspect that both the cartoon and my fun with it are a bit sacrilegious. I'm probably vulnerable tp such cartoons simply because I sense the dilemma the cartoon defines as complex, sad and very ' " . funny. The cartoon catches that dilemma with ingenious preci- - ..... sion: the priest as representative -- ; . of the church whatever church adding his bit to the scriptures, modifying them to make ' them fit his contemporary congregation's needs or desires. In all seriousness, though, the church should carry the real message of beating our swords into plowshares. The biblical passage is part of Isaiah's vision (repeated in Mic-aof an idyllic "last days" when peace shall come to the earth, usually interpreted by modern Christians to refer to our time and beyond. Perhaps some time after a terrible modern Armageddon. It is one of my favorite verses, this that envisions no more swords or spears but a time when all weapons shall be turned into tools for producing, not destroyh) ing. But I shrink from the Armageddon part, maybe because it's just too horrible to envision if fought with nuclear weapons, or even with less totally destructive modern weapons. I also shrink, though, because I don't really believe we have to have a modern Armageddon. No matter how 4 graphically described, such carry for me a Erophecies always IF do not " you repent .... And I especially hate to sense kind of relishing, sometimes in "a people close to me, of the coming destruction: when all of those unrighteous shall be destroyed, leaving only us righteous to carry out the Lord's work and enjoy his presence. Surely a major responsibility of religion and the churches is to help bring to pass some version of Isaiah's prophecy. If, as I j argue, the Gospel of .repeatedly ' Jesus Christ is a gospel or peace, ' then we as Christians should be the very ones to start beating our ! , , , ,' ''swords into plowshares, regard- -' 'less of the effect on unemploy- -' rlient or corporate profits or even the gross national product.. Instead, some of the most ..powerful opposition to serious .disarmament comes from the very ,; religious sources that should be proposing, not opposing. Yes, Vm only too aware of the . .argument that strong arms and armies are our only guarantee. of peace. But how strong is strong "enough? I keep hearing that ''America makes more arms than all the rest of the world put . .together. And we are by far the world's largest exporter of arms to third world countries, who could hardly wage war without ' "buY arms. '. '.. Given the terrifying destruc- -' ; live capacities of modern "weapons, war should be unthinkable today. Yet we continue to think it. And to create (the horri-- '. ble irony of this word in a reli- gious context!) unthinkable weapons. As with so many of our problems, I can't help wondering how Jesus must be responding to what we are creating. Some place, there has to be a stopping point. I can only pray that we find it soon, that we quit creating swords and turn our amazing productive capacities to helping spread the goods of peace ' to the world. Or Gxl may grant us neither goods nor peace to spread. We may really have our Armageddon. Marden J. Clark is a retired professor of English at Ihigham Young University. - - The 61 year-old retired nurse, who moved to Orem from Simi Valley, Calif., more than two years ago, has been instrumental in forming a United Methodist fellowship. The group, made up of about 20 families, started meeting in September of 1994 and had its official worship service in January of 1995 at the Orem High School cafeteria. It now. meets in the evening on the second Sunday of every month at the Orem Community Church, 400 E. 130 North. The felldwship is an extended member ministry of the 800-plu- s Hilltop United Methodist Church in Sandy, located at 985 E. 10600 South. The Rev. W. James Cowell, minister of Sandy's Hilltop United Methodist Church since 1991, said the families have been traveling from Orem, American Fork, Lehi, Richfield, Payson, Spanish Fork, Springville and Provo to attend services at the Sandy location. Whitney said the Utah County fellowship is offering a geographically convenient worship service -- Matter Unorganized ' " Missionaries;" readjusting slowly to life in U.S. said of Cowett's reaction to her comment. "The fellowship has been a source of strength to us. Particularly when my husband's health has been critical." Phil Evans, a lay speaker from Sandy who's been participating in the monthly service, said the group's primary goal is to build a core of leadership in the area and then become a chartered church. The fellowship would need a minimum of .100 members in order to do so. The Rocky Mountain Dallas Morning News Thousands of cars DALLAS plodding along LBJ Freeway remind David Whitson of the migration nia. Confer- ence of the United Methodist Church, headquartered in Denver, Colo., would then select a pastor for the congregation. The conference is the governing bod for 200 United approximately Methodist churches in Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. Kathy Butler, director of congregational care for Sandy's Hilltop United Methodist Church, said the faith wants to reach out hi J , evan-gelistical- ly ' Of course, cars roar along at faster speeds than animals, and engines are a lot louder. But then everything is faster and louder in the United States than in the central African country of Tanzania. Those are but two of the differences Whitson and his wife, Betty Ann, notice after 32 years of tending to Tanzanian churches as Southern Baptist missionaries. There they lived in four cities, helped establish 10 churches annually and baptized -as many-a1,000 people a year. The Whitsons, now retired, will settle in nearby Kaufman, Texas. Like other former missionaries, they're dealing with culture shock. "One of my friends asked me the other day, Where is home for you?'" Betty Ann Whitson said. America is always home, but home is also the place where you are with friends and family. So you have two homes." The Whitsons reared five children, all now grown, in Tanzania, d Christian. which is about Their youngest son was born there. Drew, the third son, has followed his. parents into overseas work. He and his wife, Martha, and their, four small children live one-thir- ' 30-ye- ar of wildebeests in Tanza- s to those who are not members of the church and to help those who are moving into the county. Butler said she recently received a telephone call from a Spanish Fork woman thanking the church for sponsoring the local service. "This is a growing area and it's really important that we reach out and lend our support to start a new for the growing number of congregation. It s really exciting to see that happening," Butler Methodists moving to Utah Counsaid. "It's exciting to see people's ecoas a the of area's result ty nomic surge. willingness to come together in a Cowell has said that depending new fellowship." on the needs of the congregation During his ministry and the amount of membership which includes work in Tengrowth, the United Methodist, nessee, Colorado and Utah Church will consider establishing Powell has helped establish two a chartered or incorporated church United Methodist congregations in Utah County. in Colorado and has written three Marty said she began looking books, Sponsoring New Congre- -' for a United Methodist Church in Your Congrethe area after attending a United gations,'s Extending Welcome and IncorporatMethodist congregation for more gation than 30 years and commuting to ing New Members. Cowell also served as director of congregathe Sandy Hilltop Church for sevtional development while on the eral months. She said that's when she asked General Board of Discipleship for Cowell dbout forming the local the United Methodist Church from 1983 through 1991. Methodist fellowship. Methodists say their church is "He just laughed," Whitney - in Yemen, a Muslim country on the Arabian Peninsula. He works as a business administrator in a Baptist hospital. AP Photo "It's been a very challenging, Marty and Ralph Whitney of Orem are one of several Methodist famrewarding life," Betty Ann Whitilies meeting for the first time in the United Methodist religious felson said recently as she sat with a lowship at the Orem Community Church. Previously, area Methodists of tea in her living room, talkcup had been driving to Sandy's Hilltop United Methodist Church to worabout mission life. Because ing in a Utah since there chartered Methodist church isn't County. ship Drew and Martha are home on furEvans said the community's growing in the state. It has recentlough for a year, there was much discussion about life in Africa ly chartered two churches in St. ' response to the group's formation over the holidays in the Whitson George and West Jordan. has been' positive. "I think Utah house. J United Sandy's Hilltop County has some stereotypes that The past few months have Methodist Church has grown from aren't necessarily based in, fact. adjustments. Betty Ann 500 to more than 800 members in It's not a closed community; like j brought Whitson is getting comfortable the past three years. There are 8 many perceive. We've been throwing out storage bags and United Methodist churches in warmly received with many open- ' using paper towels to wipe the kitchen counters. In Tanzania, she Utah. Its estimated there are more ing their doors to us when they recycled everything. In fact, when than 5,000 Methodists in Utah. didn't have to do that." the family came home on leave every few years, they would return to Africa loaded down with medicine, clothes and cosmetics. The Whitsons hoarded cans, of pecans and cherry pie filling, tubes of Pringles chips and cartons of Dr "Any institution has a tendency ment," said Dr., Don Argue, president of the National Association of Pepper to turn into itself rather than outenough to last, four said. Rose a their church call "If years. peoEvangelicals. "They wardly," turns inward, they may be successple to commitment spiritually, but :' ' Now, everything is available all ful in programming and the time. "And all the sales!" Betalso call their people to commiteven. But the question I would ment in lifestyle, ty Ann Whitson said. "It just have is: Are they successful in "An evangelical accepts the .. blows my mind." They've adjusted to automatic accomplishing the mission God inspiration and the authority of teller machines, voice mail, drihas for them as a people of faith, Scripture, and when people sense ving on the right side of the road, which is to reconcile people to there is teaching in the Scripture cards, America's lax etn God and to provide a cup of cold regarding tithing then they are gasolineeating, in restaurants, and quette, water to those in need." anxious to respond." television. Betty Ann Whitson said Members of evangelical and she was baffled for a time by the The downward trend in U.S. conservative churches gave almost church-givin- g doesn't stop with word "miniseries," which she twice as much of their income to benevolence. Total church contri- ' thought was pronounced ; benevolence than did members of butions in 1993 were 2.52 percent t Yet it's not just popular culture mainline denominational churches, down from ' 3.14 in of income that delights and amazes them. It's' 1968. according to the study, released ; majestic worship and beautiful: late last year. "Most church members are not churches. And' it s this country's Those in eight evangelical and returning a portion of their income .. freedom. conservative churches, including to God out of gratitude," Years ago, while the Whitsons the Church of the Nazarene and the Ronsvalle said. "They are just were home on leave, they drove toJ Fellowship of Evangelical Bible paying the bills of a congregation New Mexico. When they crossed the border, the children cot verv Churches, gave .79 percent of their and, as a result, their church stewincome for benevolence. This ardship is very little different than quiet. Finally one of them asked,-- ' Where's the border stop?" ' compares with .40 percent for club dues or, even a step further, Martha Whit- Daughter-in-laeight mainline churches, which ' the purchase of services. in Yemen are women said son include the Christian Church (Dis"We would suggest there is a astounded when she describes the ciples of Christ) and the Evangelidynamic at work in stewardship in" freedom U.S. women have. In that cal Lutheran Church in America. the United States that is affecting women marry at 14 and "One of the characteristics of a the entire church. We see it as a country, become their husbands' property; growing evangelical church is that crisis of vision and communicathey can't speak to men other than ' tion." their husbands, brothers or fathers. they call their people to commit -- i i ( 1 , Members' giving for be nefif of others declines needs." Evangelicals, Members conservatives donate more By ED HOUSEWRIGHT Dallas Morning News Less than a penny. That's how much of each dollar the average churchgoer gives to church benevolence, a new study shows. Further, contributions to benevdefined as any spending olences unrelated to church operations have declined for eight tive years, according to a survey of 29 Protestant denominations by empty tomb, a research organization in Champaign, 111. This penurious giving doesn't bode well for efforts to pass some welfare initiatives from the government to the churches. "People who are looking to the churches really ought .to be aware of these trends because the trends are very, very strong," said Sylvia Ronsvalle, executive vice president of empty tomb. "Thev do not suggest, as it stands now, that there is an informed body of people who have been willing on a voluntary basis to meet these kinds of of the 29 denomina- -' tions gave .43 percent of their income to church charity in 1993, the last year for which figures were available, according to the study. This is down from .51 percent in 1985 and .66 in 1968, a qurrter century earlier. This trend in giving alarms but doesn't surprise some church leaders. "I think the church, unfortu- nately, has been shaped more by the culture than it shapes the culture," said Larry James, director of Central Dallas Ministries and former pastor at a large Church of Christ "More congregation. churches see benevolence as a program, a part of what they do, and usually a marginal part. "God sees justice and equity and compassion and ministry to the poor as the heart of the kingdom of God." Churches are guilty of turning inward to meet their own needs rather than the needs of those outside their walls, said Dr. Royce Rose, associate professor of administration at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. ' fund-raisin- g, "min-EE-seer-e- . . w' Mysteries of God understood through prophecy H7; good is it for a man to gain the whole world, xet forfeit his soul (Mark 8:36)?' Prophecy begins by opening our spiritual eyes to the things which God has prepared for those who love him. All biblical prophecy is the result of communication originated by God. The purpose of God's communication is to direct mortals toward what can be expected from God. What can be expected is for God to lead those who accept his rule over their lives to a restored relationship which will. last forever. Our concerns are not temporal, but eternal; not physical, but spiritual (Colossians 3:1). Prophecy is not written to glorify nations, or identify certain earthly kingdoms and principalities which we may label "evil empires" or "anti-Chrisystems" or any other league which appeals to contemporary theories. Instead, prophecy is a peel, into st the eternal mysteries of God (a mystery is something which has John Oonlsn iff?'; vt I Jkxi try, 7 r,i Soul Food been hidden). When we peek into hidden things, they are no longer hidden. These are the things God wants to reveal of himself. The imagination of worldly men cannot visualize such things. When the mysteries of God are exposed and spiritually decoded by God's spiritual children, they are no longer mysteries but revealed prophecies. The last series of prophecies which are recorded in our Christian Bible are found in the book of Revelation. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ through his servant, John the apostle. There is a contrast between the instruction recorded in Daniel and that recorded by John. In Daniel 12:9, the revelator warned, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and scaled until the time of the end." This closure speaks for all Old Testament prophecies. Until the Revelation of Jesus Christ was made known in its fullness to e John, prophecies of the remained closed. Joel wrote that, "Afterward. I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit end-tim- in those days" (Joel 3:28-29- ). , Peter understood Joel's words to be a prophecy fulfilled in the establishment of the Church (Acts 2:16). Here the reappearance of prophecy is a sign to illuminate the mission of Jesus the Christ with revelation from God. Confusion results from many interpreters who have failed to sense the conditions to which biblical prophecy responds. It is much like the confusion in Israel at the life of Jesus. The orthodox interpretation anticipated that the Messiah would establish a literal kingdom to restore political and military autonomy to Israel and drive out the Romans. In contrast to this expectation, Jesus revealed that "God is Spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). Pilate may have asked the classic question. "What is tiuth?" (Luke 18:38). However, in the context of Jesus' words, truth is the reality of ; God being spirit. Truth is the opposite of pre- tense or superficial actions. Truth ; is the reality of entering into the t very presence of God. In any study of prophecy, the student . .. embarks upon a spiritual and not a geographical or historical journey! Therefore, what one is looking for is not a preview of World War HI, but rather, a revelation of what it is that God expects of those ; who claim His name for salvation. The thrust of all prophecy is that ' humans may come to an understanding of God's purpose and. design for individual lives. It ism ; also an assurance that God will keep his promises regardless of the circumstances which seem to hinder His working. The Rev. John Conlon is pastor of the New beginnings Fellowship CluuvhjifTheNazarene in POO Prow. |
