“PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH U.S.A.: SINCERELY WRONG” is the title of the Editorial of Moody Monthly for September 1983. Jerry B. Jenkins comments on some paragraphs from a lengthy document on the implications of genetic research and human engineering. The !95th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA adopted resolutions based on this three year study by an Advisory Committee. The first paragraph commented o n proposes that , if possible, abortions should be performed during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy because the procedures used are safer and less like labor and delivery of a child. The concession is made that the fetus is not “of less moral significance” at this stage, but Jenkins points out that its welfare is ignored in the interest of the safety and experience of the mother. So he goes on to point out errors in several other statements in all of which the welfare of the unborn is not considered. In fact, the Assembly makes the declaration: “We affirm the intent of existing law in the United States regarding abortion: protecting the pregnant woman.” Jenkins concludes, “We submit that no religious denomination—however careful its study or sincere its motives—has the right to act as God. If its leaders wis h to affirm that some may be more or less worthy of life, they had better first be infinitely and miraculously equipped.”
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF MISSIONS IN KOREA. Moody Monthly (9/83) has three articles reflecting on the Centennial of American mission work in Korea. In the first, Dr. Sweeting, President of Moody Bible Institute, gives some impressions from his eight day stay in Korea. He preached in two of the largest churches in the world , and te lls of the prayer meetings held every morning in many churches at 4:30 in the morning.
Many young Christians are preparing to go out as missionaries to neighboring Asian nations. South Korea is about 25 percent Christian and many leaders in industry and government are believers. The second article is a report on Sweeting’s activities, accompanied by some very interesting pictures. “More than 70 Moody Bible Institute alumni have served in Korea and at least five are ministering there now.” In an article emphasizing miss ions Dr. Sweeting goes into detail as to the goals, needs and promise of the enthusiastic mission program of the Korean churches.
ZONDERVAN PUBLISHING HOUSE EXPANDS. Evangelical Newsletter (8/12/83) reports that Zondervan has acquired the Fleming H. Revell Co. of Old Tappan, N.J., one o f the oldest Christian publishers in the U.S. for $10 million. Zondervan Corporation is America’s largest evangelical publishing conglomerate with an expected gross this year of $100 million. Some months ago Zondervan also acquired Chosen Books of Lincoln , VA and more recently obtained full control of Britain’s Marshall–Pickering, Ltd., itself a merger of several evangelical publishing firms.
SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS PRAYER IN CONGRESS AND STATE LEGISLATURES. Although it has maintained its ban on prayer in public schools, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that Congress and state legislature may employ chaplains to open their sessions with prayer. Chief Justice Warren E. Burger said that this is “an acknowledgement of beliefs widely held by the people and was not an unconstitutional entanglement of church and state.” Evangelical Newsletter 8/12/83
PARACHURCH MINISTRIES AND THE C HURCH. Evangelical Newsletter for 8/12/83 contains a review of a study on Church and Parachurch, a study paper published by the Reformed Ecumenical Synod. Dr. James A. De Jong, new President of Calvin Seminary, discusses the “Parachurch Movement in Historical Perspective.” “Parachurch” is defined as referring to “organizations and institutions which conduct an ostensibly Christian ministry, but are not part of the existing congregational or denominational structures. . . .” It is estimated that there are in North America over 10 ,000 independent organizations that fit that description! De Jong expresses gratitude for the great amount of good done by such organizations in the past.
Dr. Dick L . Van Halsema, President of Reformed Bible College, warns against those who understand “para” to mean “in place of,” or even “alongside of‘ the church in such a way as to ignore or by-pass the church. He points out that parachurch bodies arise when “the church as institute does not or cannot fulfill its calling . . . .” At the same time “they exist an d serve basically by drawing on the resources of the church (its prayer, goodwill, people and money).” He lists several advantages of parachurch ministries. A concluding contribution by Laurence N. Vail raises the question of church planting. As a mission secretary he sees the problem . that arises when such organizations, whose organizational structure is often modeled on American business corporations geared to efficiency and profitability, try “to teach biblical church government while at the same time modeling a non–biblical organizational structure.”
EVANGELICALS FAVOR NUCLEAR ARMS FREEZE. A Gallup Poll conducted for the National Association of Evangelicals surveyed individuals in the 78 denominations of NAE and found that 60 % of those polled supported an immediate verifiable freeze on testing, production and deployment o f nuclear weapons, if the Soviet Union agrees. 18% were opposed and 22 % had no opinion. However, 67% indicated they were not in favor of a freeze if the Russians would not agree and said they would oppose it. EN 8112/83
BEIRUT BIBLE SHOP WRECKED BY BOMB BLAST. The American Bible Society Record (June/July ’83) reports that the Bible Society bookshop in Beirut was bombed February 5. Employees had left the building only a half hour before the explosion, so none were among the 20 killed and 200 wounded by the blast. The building was badly damaged and declared unfit for use and a large stock of Scriptures was destroyed . The United Bible Societies has issued an urgent appeal for $80,000 U.S. with which to buy a new bookshop and replace furniture and equipment that was destroyed.