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letter. You are in our prayers. Regarding air mail, since Until, for some unknown reason, I was given a copy of
the postal rates are so high for this mode of delivery we the Plain Truth to read and that set me off on a new
are forced to use surface mail to get the magazine, etc. to quest -- the search for new understanding. But I first
our large overseas mailing list. Even then it can cost as needed all there was to know BEFORE I asked to join at
much as $5.00 per magazine! 61 and be baptized at 62. It was a period of reading all I
could read -- I was insatiable about this new kind of
*** revelation. But by December 1992 my disappointment of
the changes caused me to resign, and another awkward
period was to be endured during which I, nevertheless,
Dear Sir,
learned much and became to realize that this was a very
necessary progression in my search for the truth. The
Thank you so much for The Berean Voice magazine, way that the W.C.G. was organized would NEVER have
which is really fantastic. I have received the renewal allowed me to get to where I am now!
form for the magazine, but I was wondering, is it possi-
ble to renew my subscription over the Internet? As I am Theology as a study of religion is fine but when it be-
still a student, it is hard for me to send money as I do comes a systemic form of religion with rules and doc-
not have a job. Thank you so much for your considera- trines to which one must assent (consent and agree) or
tion by sending me your magazine, which I enjoy very otherwise finds oneself in very deep waters has cer-
much. I am also learning a lot from the magazine and the tainly become odourous to me. Religions, all too often,
Bible. Also, would it be possible to send me the latest are pitted against each other, showing more of our hu-
booklet Muhammad, Islam and Terrorism! Thank you manness and in the process forget about the Purpose of
so much for all that you have done for me. God and God Himself!
Yours Sincerely, Often people call themselves non-conformist as a kind
M.t.B. of sign to others who are not, yet are so conformist
Western Australia (conformed) to the particular belief-system of their cho-
sen 'church' that, it seems, it is a detriment to the
COMMENT: Your subscription has been renewed and TRUTH in or out of season.
the article sent to you.
Denominational life has, of course, a fulfilling aspect to
*** it and helps people to grow both socially and spiritually
but the opposite side of the coin can be that members
Dear friends, begin to feel that 'they know it all.' The ministry in the
W.C.G., f.i., would project such an image with also minis-
ters having to be called 'Mister' (another form of 'master')
Through my mother's insistence over a Godless father, I and so according to themselves certain privileges as
was sent to a "School with the Bible" 'attached' to a now well as a distance between themselves and the 'laity' but
very beautiful restored 13th century church building of also promoting the idea that all members virtually were
the Dutch Reformed Church situated in a small village. assured a 1st. resurrection by virtue of being in the
But after my schooldays little, if any time, was afforded W.C.G. which, I think, was an utterly dangerous practice
to religion until about my 24th year when I became very and which promoted in many a kind of laziness toward
much the free-thinker with philosophy thrown in for proper study of the Word.
good measure during the next 35 years.
The last five years, very much with the help of kind min-
Just the same, having become my state's head of the istries such as yours, have been truly amazing! The ex-
church group, it became more and more clear to me over pansion of consciousness cause me sometimes to have
time that I could no longer hold on to the theological sleepless nights from sheer excitement, especially you
doctrines that formed part of my ordinations, and so, at magazine's articles on the Pre-existence of Jesus. Today
55, I resigned and was kind of in a wilderness of confu-
sion. It was not that I doubted God -- in fact I had a I was reading the Pre-Existence and the Christ -- article. I
strange reassurance -- but I felt very lost for deeper un- just had to stop reading on p.17 re: The Biblical Pre-
derstanding. I realized there HAD to be more to it all but Existence part for a while just to cool down!
WHERE to find it and so another 5 years passed.
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