Letter to the Editor – Channels Magazine

A searchable, downloadable PDF of the original article appears below.

To the Editor,

We all know our alphabet is made up of letters from A to Z. But in writing our alphabet not all of us dot our “i” ’s and cross our “t” ’s in quite the same way.

This is my personal reaction to my friend Cal Chambers’ recent letter in response to my article on renewal. Let me say that I am grateful that he felt my recent article on renewal worthy enough to receive comment and response. I am always delighted when such articles create discussion on important issues within the life of our church.

However, I must take exception to the interpretation Dr. Chambers has given to my article. In calling for a comprehensive vision for renewal I argued that we need to emphasize spiritual vitality, theological renewal, and structural reformation. Under spiritual vitality I talked about the need for revitalization by God’s Holy Spirit. I am grateful to God for what Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Third Wave Christians are contributing to the life of the church and I believe we need to embrace them, but I do not think we can reduce spiritual renewal to their vision alone. In any case, I do not see how I can be accused of excluding them in what I wrote.

Likewise, when I wrote about theological renewal I spoke about the need for biblical, Reformed, and evangelical doctrine within the life of the church. To be Reformed means to stand in continuity with the holy catholic church as understood in terms of the historic creeds and confessions. It is Dr. Chambers who places a sectarian interpretation on my words. I believe we must be open to what God is teaching the global church in every part of its life, Anglican, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, United Church, etc. I do not see how I can be accused of fostering, either carelessly or unintentionally, the idea that Presbyterian renewal ought to operate in isolation from the rest of the church.

Let me conclude by saying that from now on I will try to my mind my “p” ’s and “q” ’s in what I write.

Yours in Christ,

John A. Vissers
Newmarket, Ontario

index of channels editions and searchable pdfs

66. Winter 2006 – Articles
65. Summer 2005 – Prayer – Articles
64. Fall/Winter 2004 – Education – Articles
63. Summer 2004 – Health – Articles
62. Fall 2003 – Articles
61. Spring 2003 – Articles – PDF
60. Fall 2002 – Evangelism – Articles – PDF
59. Winter 2002 – Articles – PDF
58. Summer/Fall 2001 – Articles – PDF
57. Spring 2001 – Articles – PDF
56. Winter 2001 – History – Articles – PDF
55. Fall 2000 – Articles – PDF
54. Spring 2000 – Articles – PDF
53. Fall 1999/Winter 2000 – Articles – PDF
52. Fall 1999 – Articles – PDF
51. Spring 1999 – Articles – PDF
50. Fall 1998/Winter 1999 – Articles – PDF
49. Summer 1998 – Articles – PDF
48. Spring 1998 – Articles – PDF
47. Winter 1997 – Articles – PDF
46. Summer/Fall 1997 – Articles – PDF
45. Winter/Spring 1997 – Articles – PDF
44. Fall 1996 – Articles – PDF
43. Spring/Summer 1996 – Articles – PDF
42. Winter 1996 – Articles – PDF
39. Winter 1995 – Articles – PDF
30. Summer 1992 – Articles – PDF
29. Spring 1992 – Articles – PDF
28. Winter 1992 – Articles – PDF
26. Spring 1991 – Articles – PDF
25. Winter 1991 – Articles – PDF
24. Summer 1990 – Articles – PDF
22. Winter 1990 – Articles – PDF
20. Spring 1989 – Articles – PDF
19. Winter 1989 – Articles – PDF
18. Summer/Fall 1988 – Articles – PDF
17. Spring 1988 – Articles – PDF
16. Winter 1988 – Articles – PDF
15. Fall 1987 – Articles – PDF
14. Summer 1987 – Articles – PDF
13. Spring 1987 – Articles – PDF

41. Fall 1995
40. Spring/Summer 1995
39. Winter 1995
38. Fall 1994
37. Summer 1994
36. Spring 1994
35. Winter 1994
34. Fall 1993
33. Summer 1993
32. Spring 1993
31. Fall 1992
27. Summer 1991
23. Spring 1990
21. Fall 1989
12. Winter 1987
11. Fall 1986
10. Summer 1986
9. Spring 1986
8. Winter 1986
7. Summer 1985
6. Spring 1985
5. Winter 1985
4. Fall 1984
3. Spring 1984
2. Winter 1984
1. Fall 1983