Edward Tigchelaar

Sirs/Madams

Predictions of catastrophic Global Warming (aka known as Climate Change) are based on models that Charles Krauthammer said  are" inherently flawed and forever changing"    In  an article entitled "The Church of Global Warming" that appeared in the Washington Post on May 30, 2008, Charles goes on to say "on the basis of speculation, environmental activists, attended by compliant scientists and opportunistic politicians, are advocating radical and economic social regulation"

There we have the problem in a nutshell.   Anyone wishing to read the article in its entirety is invited to Google the referenced source.

I would like to make two personal observations.  (1)  I was in Anchorage Alaska several years ago when the senior climatologist, upon whom other climatologists  around the globe  relied on for climate data, was found to be 'cooking' the global books.   He was dismissed from his post  but that has not deterred the global warming advocates.   (2)  Climate change is obvious (it changes daily) but no matter  how many times the media tells us "the Artic ice is melting and the polar bears are sweating" the globe is not warming beyond normal modulations. 

Norman;   Could it be that the feeling of malaise that comes over many members when the word "Classis" is mentioned has it origins in the growing detachment Christians appear to have toward "Christendom" along with  its requisite structure?

Blaise Pascal* said "We know the truth not only through our reason but also through our heart.  It is through the latter that we know first principles, and reason, which has nothing to do with it, tries in vain to refute them."   Could it be that  'first principles' betimes get overlooked not just in Classis but in congregations too?

Malcolm Muggeridge addressed the subject of  Christendom in two lectures he gave at the University of Waterloo (UW) in Ontario in October of 1978.  (The Pascal Lectures).   His topic was "The End of Christendom", (but not of Christ). As he explained, " Christendom is something quite different from Christianity,(the former)  being the administrative or power structure, based on the Christian religion and constructed by men,  It's founder was Emperor Constantine whereas the founder of Christianity was of course Christ".

In his introductory remarks, John North who was then President of UW said:  "Most of the great universities of the West were founded with the conviction that theology is the queen of the disciplines, and that the key to man's wholeness is the pursuit of the truth through Jesus Christ.  Apart from that truth, it was believed,  all other expressions of truth are fragmentary and sterile"  .

If refocusing is required by either Classis or Congregations,  the Muggeridge lectures are well worth reviewing, at least in my opinion.  It is possible the two lectures could be retrieved in their entirety from the archives of the publisher, Wm B Erdmans (1980).

Sincerely,

Ed Tigchelaar

*Pensee 110

I have not read the book, but from the general description of the content, it may be a necessary read for those interested in helping others, particularly in third world countries.   I served on the board of a large NGO for 12 years and witnessed first hand some of the uselessness of some of the projects.   It struck me at the time that something important in the relationship with the recipients and the stewardship of the 'helper' was seriously missing.   There is a danger in rushing in with a solution when the problem has first not been clearly defined.  The best projects were those wherein the recipients arrived at the correct solution on their own with the NGO acting as a sounding board.   If the project is successful, credit has to go to the recipients.

George:    You hit the ball out of the park with this excellent piece.  Sincerely,  Ed Tigchelaar

Pastor Dekker:

The compassion and understanding that permeates your posting confirms you have seen a lot of pastoral failings in your 35 1/2 years of ministry.   I am certain your family, colleagues and the angels in heaven rejoice that you (and many others) were able to stay true to your calling.  However, ...your responsible behaviour is the expected and normal behaviour of every human being, no matter what his/her calling is.

We wish to believe that these failings of people who are in responsiblei positions are the exception but each day the papers report on people who have broken the law, broken a trust, swindled investors out of money or repeatedly made public promises on a variety of issues that turn out to be flat out lying.     Unfortunately, this type of behaviour, both within and without the pulpit  will continue until  The Lord returns.

With respect to Mr. Ford,  he was elected by the people of Toronto to do a job for them and he is doing it.   Does he have personal failings? Yes.  Is his personal behaviour appalling  and disappointing?  Yes...but not to all.   Many people have said to me that they let their hair down every so often;  why  they ask, shouldn't the mayor do the same thing?   Should he resign?   The jury is still out on that one but as you indicate, no legal avenue exists to fire him.

In defense of Mr. Ford, I think his idol may be Mayor Hazel M, next door in Mississauga.   She claimed two or three years ago that her City is debt free and has " $750,000,000 in the kitty".  The City of Toronto on the other hand is a bloated beauracracy with significant debt.    Ron Ford set about to reduce redundancy and reduce debt and thereby made a number of enemies who would love to see him go.    That does not excuse his personal failings but it may explain why he is stil mayor and why his popularity with the people who elected him remains high.   

Sincerely,

Ed Tigchelaar

If, as stated elsewhere, a majority of leadership is struggling with serious issues of sin, people in the pew will become disheartened, disinterested, disengaged and the membership will go into decline.....just as certainly as night follows day. 

The story is told of a well respected theologian who was asked:  if you were able to summarize the doctrines of Scripture into one sentence,  what woud that be?    His answer was "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so".   

2 Tim 2:11 says:  "Here is  a trustworhty saying:  If we died with him, we will also live with him.  If we endure we will also reign with him".  That cannot be said of any other person.  It can only be said of Christ.  It cannot be said of CS Lewis, John Calvin, Luther, Whitefield, Wesley or a host of other legendary saints....only Christ.   Put Jesus Christ first.....everything and everyone else second.

Preach it; live it....and watch the Holy Spirit go to work in your church.

Danielle:   With respect to Islam "being a religion"  I was also of that understanding at one time,  but found that  Barnhardt's use of the  word 'masquerade'  (refer to Hebrews 4:12,13) made the correct distinction i.e. Islam is a politcal system masquerading as a religion.

Greg:  In Leviticus 19:33 God said" love" and added "do not mistreat him (neighbor)".  However in Judges 6:16 the Lord said to Gideon "I will be with you and you will strike down all the Midianites together".   On the one hand, do not mistreat and on the other hand stike them down.

So obviously some discernment is required.

When Jesus sent out the twelve disciples he warned them to "be on your guard against men" (Matt 10:17).  and  he encouraged them to be "shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves". (Matt. 10:16)   In  other words: to prevent harm to yoursellves," know the folks you are dealing with".

How many Christians really know and understand the Islamic faith?   I would venture very few.  Nonie Darwish in her book "Joys of Muslim Women" provides a number of  insights into the workings of Islam including:

>in the Muslim faith a man can marry a child as young as 1 year old and consummate the marriage by age 9

>Radical Islamists are working to impose Shariah law on the world, teaching that non-Muslim (including Jews & Christians)  are to be subjugated or killed.  (Sadly and to their dismay,  Holland and Britain are finding out what Shariah law is all about as is Dearborn Michigan).

>Islamic scholars agree that those who criticize Islam or choose to stop being Muslim should be executed.

 When witnessing to a Muslim neighbor we would do well to follow what Reagan did with Russia "Trust but Verify".  Similarly,  Jesus gave excellent advice to his disciples.  We would do well to heed it. 

Sincerely,

Ed Tigchelaar

 I picked up a book in Toronto some time ago written by Ami Ben-Chanan wherein the author compares the Quran and the Bible.  His hope is that the reader will understand the origins of these Books and find theTruth contained in its pages. (Quran-Bible..Comparison).  The book was distributed at a gathering of people honoring the Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders who is solely responsible for rolling back some earlier decisions that allowed Muslim culture to  thrive  alongside Dutch traditions.  To keep his head attached to his shoulders Geert required the protection  of 9 security people including 4 RCMP officers,

Many folks who confess to believe the Bible  have only a vague understanding of the Truth contained between the pages of Scripture.   I would encourage a thorough study of the Truth in Scripture first before picking up the Quran.

With respect to Truth, check out the website of : WildBillforAmerica,   who provides some insights into the practices of the  Islam faith, as follows: (direct quotes)

-Islam is committed to brutally eliminating all who do not worship Allah

-Sharia Law does not permit Muslims to befriend Christians or Jews

-Muslims in the Middle East live under horrible oppression

-The Muslim community is shamefully silent about Muslim attacks

-In those countries where the Muslim population is greater than 6%, violence skyrockets.  France, Spain, Norway, Sweden, the Philipines are some examples

-wherever  Islam sprouts, violence and bloodshed follow.

As Christians we are encouraged to spread the love of Jesus Christ  to all peoples, which include Muslims.   However, in order to witness effectively it is wise to first understand the mindset/culture/faith of the people being witnessed to.

Thanks for  your input Greg.   There is absolutely no need for you to be sorry.  As you correctly concluded, "Ami" is given as  a pseudonym. The author (whoever he is) likes to be assured he can rest at night in his own bed,  unlike Geert Wilders who, for his own safety  has to sleep in a jail cell when in his home country.

Nevertheless, "Ami's" book was written in 2007, is registered as ISBN 0-9781206-0-4 and I think  represents the positons of both faiths, Muslim and Christian in an unbiased manner.

As for Wild Bill, he is a colorful character but no one, or any one group, has sued Wild Bill for libel nor are any suits pending.    Secondly, Bill is known to be a strong and discerning Christian....not afraid to separate fact from fiction.   North America needs more men with similar backbone, present respondents excepted of course.

Thankfully my Christian faith does not preclude me from reaching out to people of all persuasians, including Muslims.  I appreciate your concern in that regard.

I have been in lay leadership in the CRC and in one other denomination since graduating from Calvin College in 1967.  You have asked a great question with respect to how graduates of Calvin Seminary can best serve the churches they are called to.  In my own experience a congregation will become robust  when it  understands that Christians are "dead to sin but alive to Christ".   Unfortunately this is not understood and therefore not accepted by many congregants as there continues to be more emphasis in the Seminary on the life and teaching of John Calvin as opposed to the life and teaching of Jesus Christ.  Secondly, almost 300 years ago one of the strongest Calvinists on the planet at the time, George Whitfield,  insisted that ministers of the gospel be "born again" for he asked " how can dead men begat living children?"  This challenge continues today.  Addressing these two issues at the Seminary will result in changes in the pew.