MidnightCall Magazine
In this issue:
- Hear theWord of the Lord — By Thomas Lieth
- FirstThessalonians 3 and the Rapture — By Dr. Ron J. Bigalke Jr.
- Popular Prophecy:CheckingDogmaTwice — By Wilfred Hahn
News From Israel MagazineIn this issue:
- Why Jerusalem is Jewish — By Arno Froese
- ON THE HORIZON:
- Analysis: Birthright Needs to Transform on Larger Scale
- Israel Praises Turkish Authority for Preventing Hezbollah Attack
- Relationship with American Jews Is Changing
- A Festival of Discrimination—Funded by the EU
- The Cyrus Cylinder
Answer Man
Dear Arno Froese,
I will not renew my subscription to your magazine. Not that I find fault with it. To the contrary, I have really enjoyed reading it. But because of my age (91+) and related factors, I must simplify my living. Among my efforts is cutting down the volume of papers coming in via mail. There is so much unsolicited stuff I cannot control, so I control what I can. I've eliminated all subscriptions gradually. Yours is the last to go- reluctantly.
I've enjoyed the many prophecy articles. For seventy years, I've studied prophecy and understand from the first how important it is and what a great tool it is for evangelism and for holier living, especially today. How sad that so many churches are brain-dead where the Rapture is concerned.
My least favorite section is the question-and-answer part. There is too much opportunity to gender strife, which it did on occasion.
However, no one aside from our Savior knows everything about everything. When one becomes an "Answer Man," he projects the image of one who does know everything, perhaps without realizing it. He will offer his opinions and attempt to proof-text it with Scripture to prove himself right. In your case, you are very knowledgeable about the Bible. I am fairly knowledgeable myself and can recognize truth when I read it. I pray constantly that I will not be deceived. I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit, who leads any truly seeking soul to the knowledge of the truth. But you lose creditability when you comment on some subjects. Example: alternative medicine and a Christians' civic responsibilities. Your answers reflected a bias based on a lack of fulll knowledge on the subject, in my opinion of course.
-W. Allen, IL
Answer: From the reaction I have received, the quesiton-and-answer section is one of the most favored columns. HOwever, you are correct in that it does present opportunity "to gender strife."
In your case, you revealed the reasons "alternative medicine" and "a Christian's civic responsibility." Some time ago I asked Dr. Waron of the Asaf Harofeh Medical Clinic in Israel about "alternative medicine," to which he answered, "There is no such thing. At most, you can call it supplementary medicine, and that would be vastly exaggerated." Dr. Senn, a Swiss physician and former president of Midnight Call International, confirmed this definition as well. I have carefully studied the subject, but doubtless, I do not have "full knowledge on the subject."
As to "civic responsibility," you mean Christian political activism. I am willing to learn if it is in Holy Scripture. We are "strangers and pilgrims on the earth." We "desire a better country," as is written of Abraham. He looked for the eternal city prepared by God.
When it comes to "civic responsibility" we have the clear instruction in Romans 13. But don't forget, that is applicable to all, whether living under a dictatorship, communism, socialism, democracy, or monarchy.