^LETTERS
World Peace: A Paradox?
by Keith Miller
World peace Is something we all
Idealize. It sounds nice on paper, it
sounds good to friends, but Is It truly
obtainable?
World peace Is, In my opinion, a
paradox. In trying to obtain It, we
ultimately fall In our goal. The concept
Is nice, but consider that In order for
us to enjoy world peace, we would find
the neccesslty of obliteration of the
human race essential In obtaining It.
Change Is the Important factor
which limits this wonderful Idea.
Everyone has expressed at one time or
another the Idea of change. Simply by
witnessing to someone, for example, a
Christian Is expressing an Ideology he
wishes someone else to accept. World
politics work the same way. The United
States as well as other world powers
tries to Implement through change the
Idea of freedom. The Soviets do not
choose to accept this idea, and
therefore we have a stalemate In which
neither side Is willing to make the
change for the other. How will we solve
this perplexing problem? We won’t.
World peace Is the total homologation
of Ideas. There would be no differing
opinions or Individuality If world peace
was to occur. There could be no other
way.
Try to remember that the concept
of world peace Is only a concept. Like
an economic model. It looks good on
paper. When applied to the real,
Imperfect world, It shows Its one
weakness. An imperfect world cannot
create a perfect solution It just isn't
possible.
/
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May I have this dance Mrs. Sul 11ns?
IT’S TIME TO
WAKE UP
by Beth McCoy
"Whatever happehs, conduct
yourselves In a manner worthy of the
gospel of Christ." (Phlllpplans 1:27) A
lot of things have been happening
lately, on this campus and around the
country, that are forcing me to take a
long honest look at what Is being said
and done In the name of Christ.
If you’ve been reading the papers
or watching T.V., you couldn’t escape
the screaming headlines about the
resignation of television evagellst Jim
Bakker from his PTL ministry. The
media has bombarded us with all kinds
of Information about Bakker’s personal
life and problems, and this Issue has
grown to Include a lot of speculation
concerning the motives and means of
many Christians In the public eye. This
can directly affect how people look at
all Christians, and so this Is a matter
of great concern to me.
I’m not writing this story to
re-hash a "scandal." Nor am I writing It
to be judgemental of Jim and Tammy
Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, Oral Roberts,
or anyone else Involved. Whether or not
I agree with their actions Is beside the
point. If Jim Bakker truly believes what
he says he believes (and I’m assuming
he does) then he Is accountable to God
and It is God who must search his heart.
I think Bakker knows this.
The point here Is not whether you
are a "Pentecostal" a “fundamentalist,"
a supporter of Jerry Falwell or an
ardent defender of the views of Jimmy
Swaggart. If you claim to follow Christ,
then you are a part of HIS body, ONE
body. . - and no matter how It acts,
whether unified and strong or divided
and weak, we’re In this life together.
Why am I writing this then?
Because In the midst of all the
problems, the controversy, the
shattered Images, I feel we are called
upon to examine ourselves.
There are needs In the world the
church Is not meeting. There are needs
on this campus that myself and other
Christians are,not meeting. Let’s face
It—much of what the secular media has
come up with has more truth In It than
we'd like to admit. We are all
hypocrites. In one way or another; we
can never live up to the standard that
Christ’s life was and Is. The good news
Is that we don’t have to. The grace
given by Jesus Christ covers us. This
doesn’t give us the excuse to sin more
and more... rather such great love and
mercy should encourage us to live
better lives In every way, and that
Includes morally.
Another point: a lot of times when
something major like this happens. It
does affect decisions. Sadly enough,
some people really might reject or
accept God on the basis of an Incident
Involving a Pat Robertson or an Oral
Roberts. If Jim Bakker falls, they try to
take God with him. This Is alarming,
this Is sad; we need to pray that others
might realize the frallltles of mere
human beings and look to the Heavenly
Father whose plan Is always right and
whose timing.Is always perfect.
I'm not saying that what has
happened Isn’t bad. It is, and Satan can
use it as a way to tear down and
discredit Christians. But God is greater
and He Is In control. The bride of Christ
Is bruised and battered, but Jesus has
promised that she will survive, not only
that, but she will be pure for her
wedding day.
So be encouragedi God’s Word still
stands. It Is still truth. No matter If
some of the church’s greatest leaders
stumble or mess up their priorities. No
matter how badly we mess things up,
God Is still at work. Through Incidents
such as the Bakker problem the Lord Is
helping to purify and clean up the acts
of those He has appolhted as His
ambassadors.
Ambassadors. Not just the guys on
channel twenty-seven. You and me.
And here Is where I think It’s time
to wake up and glance In the mirror. We
get so caught up In the things that go on
In our stain-glassed buildings and
television cathedrals, that we forget
what we’re really supposed to be doing.
Sure, our leaders, our ministers, those
who are spot-lighted both In good times
and bad—they need our prayers. But
before we get so upset over their
"hypocrisy" or before we start hotly
defending their actions, let’s see what
WE are doing to proclaim and spread the
news of Jesus Christ.
I won’t deny that God can (and
does) use media ministries, be It
television or radio. But when Jesus
walked this earth, that’s not how He
operated. No publicity stunts, no
cameras. He spoke to people, ministered
to people, healed them, loved them, one
on one. You think about how many times
He directly cared for someone's needs.
The woman at the well who was caught
In a web of adultery, the blind man who
wanted his sight, Peter's
mother-in-lav. 11! with a fever, a
questioning Pharisee named Nicodemus,
a doubting disciple, an Insane man
possessed by demons.
We, as His followers, need to do
exactly that-reach out to others In
love, seeing each and every person as a
unique Individual that Jesus Christ
loved enough to die for. It Is not enough
to talk holy and then just walk right on
by the people who are hurting and
crying.
When we start doing our job, there
will be no room for others to call down
the church, to berate It for Its
hypocrisy. And If they do, we’ll be able
to answer with our actions.
Cardinal Suhard once said: “To be a
witness means to live In such a way
that one’s life would not make sense If
God did not exist." We all have a long
ways to go before we can match this
definition. Personally, I know I have
tons of room to grow. But I’m excited
because God has promised me that "He
who began a good work In you will carry
It on to completion until the day of
Christ Jesus." (Phlllpplans 1:6b)
He’s still working In Jim Bakker.
He’s working In our teachers and In the
leaders on campus. He’s still working In
ME, and I find.that exciting. For. "What
shall separate us from the love of
Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or
persecution or famine or nakedness or
danger or sword?. . .Nol In all these
things we are more than conquerors
through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:
35, 37)