Unqualified to be pastor
In reference to Brooks R. Faulkner’s article in the Feb. 9 issue, “I’m Unqualified to be a Pastor in 2006,” three cheers and a dozen “amen’s” for him!
I am not qualified to comment on his items 1, 2 and 6, since I am an 89-year-old layman and a Virginian transported to North Carolina after 63 years in my native state. I would like to comment on items 3, 4 and 5 of Dr. Faulkner’s piece.
Being old, and naturally old-fashioned, I also dislike the modern trend of loud music in church that “overpowers melody.” I recently attended a state Baptist conference where the messages presented in song by excellent singers were completely drowned out by the loud music. I switched off my hearing aids, using them instead as ear plugs to protect my ears from further damage.
I also share his concern about “excessive, spontaneous expressions and gestures in worship,” which to me is distracting, unnecessary, and with all due respects, sometimes gives the appearance of trying to attract attention. I think such activities are more applicable to private devotions, however, an occasional “amen” should not disrupt the service.
Faulkner’s item 5, concerning dress codes really hit the mark. Present dress code, or lack of it, leaves me wondering what happened to respect and reverence for worship. I was raised when we had only a few clothes, but what we had were designated as “Sunday clothes” and “everyday” clothes, with the Sunday clothes being the best that we had.
Faulkner deserves our respect and admiration for speaking out, and I trust that he will not allow modern pressures to alter his convictions concerning the matters he wrote about. Carry on, sir.
L. W. McDowell, Powells Point, N.C. Adultery
In reference to the letter “When adultery pays off” in your Feb. 9 issue. I found even the title of the letter to be offensive and more what you would find in secular news than in Christian news.
I am a victim of adultery that disintegrated my marriage of 22 years. The former pastor that wrote of his woes in not being given a chance to again be in a leadership position is in need of strong, loving Christian counseling. His flippant remark that he’d be better off if his wife had committed adultery makes me physically ill. He has no idea what he speaks of. He is oblivious to the devastation adultery brings to the lives it touches. He is in a very self-centered place in his life.
He obviously has not embraced how seriously God takes a covenant between a man and his wife. In his “poor me” letter he spoke of how unfair it is to have a double standard about divorce. there is no double standard. There is only God’s standard. The church is to glorify and exalt God. The church is to hold to his Word and his way. The only permission God allows for a divorce is adultery. And that is a suffering in itself that only God can help you bear.
Outside of that His covenant is not to be broken, especially because you feel taken for granted. As Christians we are called to a higher standard and through Christ we must make every endeavor to live accordingly. We must also encourage others to seek His help in persevering through their trials.
This letter impacted me in a very personal way. God allowed my divorce because of adultery (and with His help I offered repeated forgiveness), but I know He hates it. Six years later and I continue to understand over and again why. I would have loved for my marriage to have remained free of adultery and intact, even if it would have been miserable. No, this man is selfish and callous in his thinking and I feel you were careless to put his letter in print, especially without identification.
Gail D. Gregory, Bluefield, W.Va.