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The Mail Room Letters from Volume 31 Welcome to the Mail Room for Present Truth Magazine! This is where we post some of the interesting letters which we receive from our viewers. All of our viewers are invited to E-mail us your comments and views and we will post these views for all to consider! "Theology and Body" Your issue "Theology and Body," was timely. Sometimes Christianity tends to be so heavenly minded that it is of no earthly good, but this issue was a good example of theology practically applied. The article by George Eldon Ladd, "The Greek Versus the Hebrew View of Man," points up the need of recognizing our "cultural idols." Those of us who have been educated in Western culture have unconsciously grown up with distorted views of the nature of man which our civilization received from the Greeks. When we read the Bible, we fail to receive the message God has for us because of our culturally learned bias.
"Covenant" Thank you for your magazine. The two issues featuring "Covenant" were outstanding. I have never read a better treatment of such an important subject. Your article on "The Signs and Seals of the Covenant" was not only fair and biblical but helpful in its clearcut manner of presenting salvation by grace alone through the means God alone could ordain. Timothy Vettrus, Lutheran Pastor Canada Pietistic Perfectionism I find Present Truth quite unique in today's world of pietistic and popish perfectionism. Your journal is a breath of fresh air that the Christian world needs in order to get our feet back on the ground of faith which was preached by the apostolic church founded by our Lord Jesus Christ. Normal Christian Life I want to tell you how much I appreciated your issue on "Sanctification" (Feb., 1975). After years of a diet of victorious-life teaching, it was surely refreshing. I think the so-called victorious-life teaching ends up with a defeated Christian life; it did for me. I have begun to see what the "normal Christian life" is. Off Center I feel that you are just as far off center as is the charismatic movement. I'm sure both of you will have an equal number of deceived souls in hell before your wickedness is finished. On Target Thank you for producing an outstanding publication. It is right on target. I have appreciated your clear teaching on the reliability of the Word of God, on justification by faith, and the forthright treatment you have given to the present trend toward subjective experience as apart from, and indeed superior to, the clear teaching of divine truth. May God bless you and strengthen your witness. Stimulating Thank you for the regular arrival of Present Truth. It gives me much pleasure by its well-written and thought-provoking articles. Of course, one does not necessarily agree with all that is written, but the presentation of other views is stimulating. Ruination "Reformation?" Your magazine is a ruination! "Dedicated to the restoration of New Testament Christianity?" You plan to bring about a ruination of New Testament Christianity. Second Reformation Present Truth is a continuous blessing to read. I find the articles beneficial spiritually and for wisdom. As an assistant pastor with a limited book supply, your magazine coverage is indeed a source of knowledge that is most useful. I pray that you will continue in your striving for a second Reformation in our spiritual outlook and attitude. Keep Publishing Thank you for your publication. Justification by faith is a topic that needs more broadcasting than it is given by churches today. In today's liberal-minded religious circles it is a topic seldom, if ever, discussed. Keep publishing your magazine and telling the world of the central theme of the Scriptures. Appreciates Emphasis Present Truth has become of utmost importance to me in my study of God's Word. Among the number of magazines that cross my desk there are only two that I consider collectors items, and yours is one. For the clarity and emphasis of your teaching on justification I am deeply appreciative and indebted. I cannot help but believe that in the years to come much fruit will be seen from your labor. Election and Grace Thank you for your magazine. I have received tremendous benefit in considering its contents. Especially helpful have been insights into a previously difficult area for me—election and grace. I believe that I am beginning to see some light on these matters. I appreciate your stimulating writing and look forward to receiving each issue. Enlightened I have been very impressed and spiritually enlightened by Present Truth, given to me by our Presbyterian minister. You have penetrated the superficial to get at the basic truth where the latter parts company with error. I love the sole gretia, solo Christo, sole fide, and sole Scripture. Thank God you are standing where Luther stood! Knotty Problem I look forward to your outstanding publication, Present Truth. I have enjoyed wrestling with the knotty problem of being both an evangelical Christian (Presbyterian) and a scientist. I have often found that God has led me into situations of witnessing to someone where it has been necessary to really know what I believe—and the basis for that belief. Likes Cassette Tapes Having now been acquainted with Present Truth's literary power for almost a year, I have definitely grasped more truth through its instrumentality than I have in four years of consistent attendance at numerous evangelical meetings and the like. I am sure that many readers of Present Truth can similarly testify to its much-needed presentation of the objective gospel. Charitable? I wonder if you really believe you are "the people and that wisdom will die with you," as Job said of his friends. I find your uncharitableness saddening. There are very few Christian writers of your caliber who, while expounding and standing fast on the Word of truth, at the same time show forth such warmth and charity for our fellow Christians in Catholic and evangelical circles, as well as Pentecostal, who still mix much error with their devotion to our God. I thank God for your work. Anita Wheeler Connecticut Disillusioned Having recently returned from Brazil after fifteen years of service as a missionary trying to put New Testament principles into practice, I came across your publication in the home of a friend and would appreciate very much receiving it. It seems necessary to acquire all the information I can on the so-called charismatic movement. This movement has left thousands completely disillusioned in Brazil, and I am sure it is doing the same here. Experiential Rubbish At times one begins to weary of the continual onslaught which threatens to submerge the gospel of Christ in a sea of subjectivism and liberalism. And then along comes a publication like Present Truth, and one begins to sense that the battle has faltered for lack of ammunition. Thank you, not only for the logistical base grounded on the Holy Scriptures, but for the inspiration to continue to stand on the objective truth rather than the experiential, emotionalistic rubbish so prevalent today. Fight the good fight, wage the good warfare, proclaim the truth in all of its splendor and power, and perhaps an omnipotent God may yet save this generation from itself. Helped As a Christian living in a truly non-Christian environment of a nuclear-powered submarine, I find great encouragement and some very strong help from Present Truth. I really believe that its message to those men who feel themselves too intelligent to believe in and follow the living God is unavoidable. Out of Context You refer to Martin Luther too much in your articles rather than the Bible. When you do use Scripture, you twist it and take it out of context. Much to Learn I am only a recent student of theology, but I appreciate your strong perspective on Reformation Christianity. It does not take too sharp an observer of the present situation of the church to see that we need to recover some things. And I suspect we have much to learn from close application to scriptural truth and the writings of the Reformers and other godly men. God bless you in your effort to remind us. Joy to Read I very much appreciate your magazine. Your fresh translations and clear terms (as well as the easily-read type) make it a joy to read. I look forward to each issue.
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Congratulations on the article by D. Weston Allen, "