Your Views

Dear Editor,

Thank you for Ian Hamilton’s article on ‘Fearing God’ [read said article here]. Perhaps we could add that the fear of God shrinks all other fears (implied by Isaiah 8v12-13). And may we add non-biblical illustrations? There are earthly things larger than us yet which we are drawn to approach (if not use), but these will prove fatal unless we respect the terms of engagement: the sea for swimmers, the cliff for climbers, the rope for cavers, the air supply for astronauts, the road for drivers, and electricity for our devices.

Dear Editor,

As a lady of a certain age (65 to be precise), I am really pleased to see many young families in our churches. However, there is a tendency for church leaders to accommodate these people more than those of my own age; events accessible by scanning QR codes and questions to leaders using slido.com [a way in which people at an event such as a conference or church service can ask questions from their phones and vote for their favourite ones]. I fully realise that these families are the next generation, but I would appreciate comments from other readers of every age with their experience in their churches.

Dear Editor,

Christians can and do speak on controversial subjects, from abortion to Zionism, and sometimes disagree. This cannot be helped, and probably does no harm, so long as Christians on all sides are seen to be wise, thoughtful and gracious. If we seemed to be silly, ignorant and spiteful it would do a great deal of harm, even if we all agreed!

Dear Editor,

An important PS to your piece about the problematic Baptist Union presidential candidates this year [read said piece here].

Dear Editor,

I am grateful for David Reynolds’ comments on my article about the monarchy. It is good to be challenged!

We do not normally publish letters of this great length – and the recommended maximum continues to be 200 words. But occasionally, very occasionally (!), there is an exception that proves the rule. And such is the helpful letter that follows.
-Ed.

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

I enjoyed the article by Graham Daniels that tentatively examined Wales’ performance in Round 1 of the Men’s Six Nations.

Dear Editor,

I can see why John Funnell wrote about why he wants to lay out the case for loyalty to church as to a family or spouse.

Dear Editor,

I fully understand Andy Mellen’s reasons as a Christian for being a member of the Green Party as it once was, even if I disagree with him on some of its environmental policies. Unfortunately he didn’t mention that the Green Party of today is not the old Green Party.

Dear Editor,

In recent editions of en, the word “secularism” has cropped up many times. I led the track on secularism at the Lausanne Congress in Seoul in September 2024, and we worked on a model of analysis which I think clarifies the issues.

Dear Editor,

Kirsten Birkett’s article “Connection and community for the lonely” touches on a core issue for today’s church. Loneliness is a most powerful driver for church attendance, spiritual searching, and serving. Mother Teresa, Elisabeth Elliott, and numerous other missionary figures wrote extensively about it as the deepest of human needs.

Dear Editor,

Helen Thorne-Allenson is right about conspiracy theories (see en article here), and especially right that we should try to protect “believers” from isolating themselves. “It is the act of casting out that makes the outcast”, as C.P. Snow so wisely said.

Dear Editor,

With yet another article about the arrests of members of the Early Rain Covenant Church, readers might like to read what the (now arrested) leaders of that church, and other house churches, said in anticipation of this time.

Dear Editor,

It was a joy to read Wallace Benn’s article on questioning whether we are only willing to follow Jesus up to a point. He asks if faithfulness to the Word of God and the gospel of Christ is at stake are we willing to lose everything and look to God to vindicate that?

Dear Editor,

We are aware, along with many others, of the considerable disappointment among the LGBTQ networks with the recent decision from the October meeting of the House of Bishops to pause the Prayers of Love and Faith process due to legal and theological reasons. They have expressed feelings of being misled and given false expectations by being offered what, as was clear to some for a number of years, the process envisaged could never deliver. For this reason they have our sympathy.