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Best of Comments October 19 – 23, 2015

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In order to highlight the great feedback we often receive as comments to the articles on the Spectrum Website, the editorial team has introduced the Friday feature, The Best of the Comments. Spectrum editors select comments that exemplify respectful discourse and that further the conversations that begin with Spectrum's articles and news stories. Here are eight comments we especially appreciated this week with links to the articles under which the comments appeared. -Editors

In Response to "Religion Can Be Fun" by Jason Hines

Comment by James Londis:
So right, though I would recommend folding "entertainment" into "joy." Preachers should use self-deprecating or "natural" humor frequently, the kind that is embedded in daily life! When telling a story to make a serious point, in almost every instance there are humorous element in the story which can and ought to be used. My opinion only!!

Comment by Graeme Sharrock:
Six-year-old Angie and her four-year-old brother Joel were sitting together in church. Joel giggled, sang, and talked out loud. Finally, his big sister had enough.
"You're not supposed to talk out loud in church."
"Why? Who's going to stop me?" Joel asked.
Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, "See those two men standing by the door? They're hushers."

In Response to "Rebuke and Retribution for the Hard of Heart" by Jean Sheldon

Comment by Thomas J Zwemer:
Yes even the church, yes especially, the church can become an idol. God gave man individuality, and communion is one on one with no institution between. Certainly those of similar relation come and worship together and rejoice and share their faith, hope, and love. But be assured that no institution stands between the person and God. The church may have a teaching function but not an intercessionary role. This is the most compelling basis for WO. And also the greatest barrier to achieving that goal. The priesthood of all believers is fundamental. Can we dare we be like a Daniel?

Comment by Sirje:
Christianity is based on Christ, not the OT covenant relationships. Whatever else Christ accomplished, His outreach was to individuals. He called his disciples one by one; and that call wasn't based on any predetermined covenant. The "new covenant" places God's will into the hearts of men – not by decree, but voluntarily by experience – the experience of being the recipient of grace and forgiveness.
The idea that God has a favorite people, be it Israel and Judah back then, or a particular denomination today, goes against everything that Christ came to demonstrate.

In Response to "ADRA Serbia Assists Migrants" by Alita Byrd

Comment by Carolyn Weasner
Thanks for this terrific interview – always good to hear what's happening in more depth than the typical 30 second news flash. I glad that ADRA works there continually with worthy local projects and partners, but then also responds to new crisis as they emerge as an example of demonstrating the gospel in action. Everyone should support ADRA!

In Response to "The Great Disappointment of 2015: The De-Valuing of Women" by Alisa Williams

Comment by Mackenzian:
Thank you for writing, Alisa. What do we do when our patience has expired? How do we care for ourselves, and still live out the callings that we have in or beyond communities that don't make space for us?
I'm in your corner as you and others across the denomination work this out over the upcoming months and years. I would love to see what emerges from these "ashes." Thanks again.

Comment by Cherry Ashlock:
I appreciate your observations and along with you 100's of other members were disappointed! It is appalling that our church is arguing about the value of women in this day and age! We should be the leaders in treating others just like Jesus did and would. He respected women and tried to show that they are equal and have value. He created women as the crowning act of creation to be equal and a team member with men. Anti womens ordination is nonsense!

Comment by Janet Brock:
I've been waiting fifty years for the church to fully recognize women. There was a time during my teen years when I planned to leave the church because of its treatment of women, but I decided to hang in there. Over the years, we made some progress–women elders– and then women ministers. I figured ordination would eventually come as well. And then along came San Antonio–and not only San Antonio–suddenly some people were trying to roll back the progress we had already made. And so now at the age of 66, I have become much more active in promotion of women's ordination. But I have to admit it's very discouraging. I've done my best over the years in the church's education system to promote equality of gender, and I hope I have made a difference. By the way, I have been a wife for over 40 years and a mother of four grown kids. Yes, motherhood was a full-time occupation for me when my kids were preschool, but that time is only a small part of a woman's life. I have been able to contribute quite a few years to Seventh-day Adventist education since then. My mother before me was a church school teacher and she was insistent that every woman needed a career, needed to be able to fend for herself if she needed to, and so my three sisters and I each chose a career, one of the smartest things we ever did!

 

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