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others , that I perceived their emotion , which was both one of shame and one of acknowledgment that they had injured their neighbor , as well as many other worthy feelings that I cannot describe . ( Spiritual Experiences 3067 )
I have always been impressed with these statements and felt that they describe a very admirable quality . So I was touched to see that same quality in the newspaper account . The Rev . Jeremy F . Simons Bryn Athyn , Pennsylvania
Out of Step ?
To the Editors :
In a recent letter to the editors of New Church Life ( September / October 2016 , page 418 ), a prominent minister of the General Church wrote , in part : “ Our old way of holding our faith – as being the one and only answer to people ’ s theological questions – is largely out of step .
“ People , in my experience , are not searching solely for a theology but are searching as well for a mission-centered purpose-driven community . So that is where we must start – with created loving , caring , compassionate communities that move forward into the world with purpose .”
Out of step with whom , or with what , I wonder ? The Lord ’ s revelations through Emanuel Swedenborg are the way of life for all mankind – God ’ s WORD , in other words ! How could it be that , ‘ holding that faith as being the one and only answer to people ’ s theological questions ” is now considered to be “ out of step ”?
If what we want is mission-centered , purpose-driven communities we should take lessons from the Rev . Dr . Robert Schuller with his Crystal Cathedral and his Hour of Power TV show . He had a following of millions !
However , in the end his church went bankrupt and its cathedral was sold to the Catholic Church . Do you suppose that maybe the real power lies in the truth of God ’ s Word ? I , for one , am not sure that compassionate communities moving forward with worldly purposes is where we “ must start .” Should we be trying to provide “ what people are searching for ,” or should we be trying to share “ a new view of the way , the truth , and the life ”?
Martin E . Klein Boynton Beach , Florida
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