Letters to the editor regarding previous months' articles and other topics of interest. Email can be sent to the Editor via editor@tidings.org.
Dear Bro. George,
I hasten to express my appreciation for your “Signs of the Times” article ending with the quote from Isaac Newton. That is a message that needs saying — and saying more often. The New Testament sets the example: the gospels give quite a number of fulfilled prophecies that were very obviously only expected to be understood when the event occurred. Thus they confirmed the faith of those watching the events unfold. Is this not how we should watch? The shepherds, the wise men, Simeon and Anna all rejoiced when they saw the prophecies fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, but they seemingly had no idea of the next event in the sequence.
John the Baptist, although filled with the Holy Spirit from birth (Luke 1:15), gave no evidence — in his preaching about the Messiah — that he knew how the prophecies would unfold. Some of his words about the forthcoming work of the Lamb of God are still awaiting fulfillment, i.e., “his winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his threshing floor and gather the wheat into his barn” (Luke 3:17). It is interesting how our Lord responded to the messengers who came with questions from John: he told them to report to John what they saw happening (Luke 7:22). He expected John to perceive, in events as they unfolded, the fulfillment of the prophets’ words. Thus they would learn to wait for, rather than anticipate, the fulfillment.
It concerns me that so many seem to be so sure about the order of coming events and the parties involved in those events. If they are wrong, and events at the end unfold so rapidly that we do not have an opportunity to rethink, then our faith could be seriously undermined — especially if we are following those who say (or have put in writing) that the way to be ready for the return of Christ is to understand, beforehand, exactly what is going to happen.
David Caudery, Canterbury (Melbourne), AUST
Having been on this earth 85 years, I have seen several generations that thought Christ would return during their lifetimes, although the signs were not nearly so strong then. Now the signs are very exciting (and somewhat frightening).
When I read the recent article, “War in Israel!”, I recalled a day when we were having meeting at Bro. E’s farm — the feeling was so strong that I could still smell the lilacs that bloomed outside an open window. Bro. E said that the reason Israel would be invaded one day was because of Mideast oil. How amazed he would be today if he were to see the signs we are seeing. I always loved Bro. E; he had the biggest heart, and he was the biggest reason I was baptized. I will throw my arms around his neck when I see him again, and tell him I love him.
For those of us who are old and no longer needed at work, it is so exciting every day hearing and seeing signs that we have studied all of our lives. Now they are coming to pass! It gives us a reason to get out of bed each day. It is indeed an exciting time. How blessed we are that we have means of getting the news practically the moment it happens.
Edith Scott
A younger brother writes, “I think I am going through a bit of a transition. I am only 28 years old and have been in the Truth for seven years. When I was younger I saw things as clear black and white. I now realize that issues in the Truth (and in life) are not so clear, and I don’t always have the answer.”
Editor’s reply:
Congratulations, you are almost there! When I was 25 I thought — as you put it — everything was black and white, and that I had all the answers. But by the time I was 30, I realized that there were a lot of things that were not nearly so clear. And from that point forward, I have been learning to accept it, and live with it, and I have been trying to focus on the things that seem to be the most important.
Two men were talking, as they walked one day. The younger one was clearly troubled, and finally he said to his companion, “There are some things in the Bible that I don’t understand, and they trouble me.”
The older man replied, “Why, that’s no problem at all. There are things in the Bible that I DO understand — and those are the ones that trouble me!”
As for what we don’t understand perfectly (?), these have to be filed away in special slots in our minds, along with other related (and very practical) matters, like illness, failure, suffering, etc.
These are special areas because, when we go there in our minds, we realize that these situations and circumstances are where God is teaching us humility — IF we are paying attention.
I have a hard question to ask on my own initiative, which has worried me for a very long time.
In many matriarchal societies without a strong Christian, Jewish or Muslim tradition, the Biblical concept of a patriarchal nuclear family is virtually incomprehensible — being foreign to the local majority culture. Many Caribbean societies, for example, as well as many in Asia and Africa, are matriarchal in family structure and practice. It is no help at all to approach these people as if they are merely heathen fornicators. They are very often much more moral overall than are most westerners. In the experience of many of us, this is an enormous obstacle to acceptance of Bible truth. Any ideas as to how to deal with this problem.
With much love in the Lord,
Alan Eyre
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