Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

Glimpses of the Religious WorldRev. L. E. Kilpatrick, D. D.1031 E. Glenrosa AvenuePhoenix, Arizona 85014THE STATE AND RELIGIONThe current EP News sheet has at least four itemsthat come under this category.First, Zondervan Publishing House in Grand Rapidshas released a biology text book that presents "a scientificallyaccurate alternate to currently available biologytexts which contain heavy emphasis on biochemical andphysical science principles of abstract explanation ofmatter and energy." For "the first time in nearly half acentury" there is presented evidences for creation as wellas for evolution as an explanation of origins.Then, in Wisconsin a group of ministers has askedthe Department of Natural Resources to edit itspromotional films to eliminate references to the age of theearth, which, the ministers say, are "offensive to thebeliefs of thousands of Wisconsin citizens." One of theministers is the Rev. Karl L. Barth, president of the SouthWisconsin district of the Lutheran Church, MissouriSynod.At Pittsburgh, a Baptist minister in suburban AllisonPark has challenged a book used in Deer Lakes HighSchool senior English classes, charging that Catcher inthe Rye contains "hundreds of phrases where God's nameis used in vain." School Principal Ralph Mastandrea saidhe "might have to do something about the book in the lightof the complaint. . ."Finally, Mrs. Madalyn Murray O'Hair, after havingbeen denied by the Supreme Court a review of the originalsuit that she brought against the Bible reading and prayerby the astronauts in space, which suit had been dismissedby a lower federal court, is now claiming that the"religious ceremonies" were part of the original flightplans of the Apollo 8 flight, and were planned by thegovernment rather than having been a spontaneous expressionof the men themselves. She is renewing herrequest for Supreme Court review of the original suit.Actually, I see that there are four more such itemsthis week, one dealing v/ith a suit to prevent Dayton, Ohiofrom furnishing parochial schools with books usingfederal money, another with a threat of legal action inWallington, New Jersey to eliminate "religious holidays(such as Christmas and Easter)" from the schoolcalendars, another in which county clerks in New Mexicohave been told by the State attorney general to acceptpractically any claim of an "ordained minister" forperforming "valid and binding marriages," even thoughthe "ordination" was a mail order house affair, andstillanother reporting that the Internal Revenue Service isexempting churches "from close scrutiny of accounts."Have we really kept Church and State separate?"GRAHAM URGES REVIVAL TO STEM TIDE OFEVIL"I trust that this is merely a news service headlinewriter's statement, and not Billy Graham's. Revival ishardly something to which we can be urged, and thenproceed to have. Revival is the work of the Spirit of God.THE POPE AND IAN PAISLEY TO AUSTRALIAEvangelical Action's editor, the Rev. W. R. McEwenof McKinnon, Victoria suggests that the visit of the PopetoAustralia achieved at least one good. "Matters offaithhave become an issue of public interest to an extent rarelyseen in this country." But he goes on to say that themilitant Protestant, Mr. Paisley, who has been muchinthe news that relates to Northern Ireland recently, woulddo well to "decline the invitation that has been senttohim" to come to Australia at the same time as the Pope."We believe that his presence would only increase theconfusion and obscure the real issues. . . . (He) hasbecome associated in the public mind with issues andattitudes that do more to enflame than inform. This is notaltogether his fault. The press has done much to project aPaisley image which is a distorted caricature of the realPaisley. ... let us seize on the occasion of the Pope'svisitto confess the faith of the Gospel over against the apostateGospel of Rome. As we do so, we may well turn evilintounparalleled good."None other doctrine does establish faith or make menhumble and thankful unto God. And finally, that noneother doctrine makes man careful to obey God accordingto His commandments, but that doctrine only whichsospoils man of all power and virtue, that no portion ofhissalvation consists within himself; to the end that the wholepraise of redemption may be referred to Christ Jes 118alone.—John Knox4 COVENANTER WITNESS