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Vol. 46, No.
23 SOUTHSIDE ORACLE August 15,
2003
The Bulletin Board
The area-wide picnic last Saturday was
very well attended. An estimated 400 attended, including about 100 from
Southside. Our thanks to all from here who worked to make this a success,
especially Bobby Valentine.
Camp Notes – The Family Week began
Sunday and will conclude Saturday. The Labor Day Encampment
will be August 29 – September 1. For information see the posting on the
camp bulletin board.
New Sign – Perhaps you noted Sunday that
the sign in front of our building had been taken down. It was removed to
make room for installation of a much better sign which should be installed
soon after it arrives.
The Sick – Martha Sepulveda underwent
angioplasty and several tests at St. Luke’s Hospital Tuesday to treat her
heart and breathing problems….Sheryl Melendez, sister-in-law of Amelia
Melendez, has been diagnosed with brain cancer. She is in St. Mary’s
Hospital in Racine.
Congratulations to Hope Zettel on
reaching her 90th birthday August 11th.
Address Change – Mark & Corrina
Orlovsky (contact the church office for
details).
ATTENDANCE
RECORD
Two years ago Last
year Last week Goal
Bible
classes 99
99 119 170
Morning worship
180 193 *216 250
Evening worship no
count 49 70 80
Contribution
$4028.67 $3817.41 $4509.40 $4200.00
Calendar of Events
August 29 – September 1 – Labor Day Encampment,
Fallhall Glen
September 14 – Elders & deacons meeting, 4:30 p.m.
September 14 – Praise and Palate, 6:00 p.m.
September 20 – Family Bible Day
September 26, 27 – Ladies’ retreat at Camp Matawa
September 22 – 24 – 40th annual Midwest
Preachers’ Retreat, Fallhall Glen
October 11 – Annual Southside Give-Away
On Being Tolerant
In 1598, Henry IV, king of France, issued
the Edict of Nantes that granted the persecuted Huguenots (Protestants) the
right of public assembly. His decree was similar to Constantine’s Edict of
Toleration in 313 that formally ended the persecution of Christians in the
Roman Empire.
When the Constitution of the United States was
adopted it guaranteed the right of all people to freely exercise their
religion. We call this religious toleration. Toleration has been defined
as meaning forbearance without approval. Even if you
disapprove of another’s actions, you will put up with him. You acknowledge
his right to choose his own lifestyle, though you may personally find it
abhorrent. This is the essence of tolerance. It is the willingness to live
with those with whom you disagree without conflict. Of course, in every
society tolerance has its limits. When the safety and well being of others
are involved, the actions of the thief, the child molester, and the
embezzler cannot be condoned.
However, in today’s world tolerance has been
given another meaning. In our post-modern society many people reject all
value systems, including the Christian faith. They believe that each person
should not only be allowed to adopt his own lifestyle without interference,
but that the lifestyle itself should be above criticism. If one dares to
challenge another person’s ideology, the action of questioning the
ideology becomes an act of intolerance, and the greatest affront to
society is intolerance! I submit that the one who thus seeks to restrict
public discussion has in turn become intolerant of the questioner.
A related issue has been raised in the religious
realm. Does tolerance imply all-inclusiveness? This is the issue in the
current Episcopal Church struggle over ordaining a practicing homosexual as
a bishop. Should not Christians accept all people including homosexuals?
Did not Jesus accept all people, including publicans and prostitutes? Of
course, the answer is “yes.” But to the adulterous woman whom he accepted,
he also said, “Go now, and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11).
Acceptance does not imply endorsement!
What should be our attitude toward such issues
as homosexuality if we are to be truly tolerant? First, we must seek to
treat ALL people, including homosexuals, with understanding and compassion.
This is true tolerance. But we must also teach what we believe to be truth
in keeping with our religious faith. We should not expect others to agree
with us and should respect their right to sharply disagree. Since the Bible
does condemn homosexual practice (Romans 1:26, 27), we must also teach what
we find in the Scriptures. We must not change our teaching to accommodate
the changing perspective of a secular society. If the world shapes the
church’s doctrine, we forfeit the right to wear the name of
Jesus. __Monroe Hawley.
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