SUNDAY SPORT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 89, 20 May 1949, Page 4

SUNDAY SPORT

Sir, —The joint letter of R. T. Dodds and J. N. Smith appearing in the Beacon 13/5/49 is certainly unique. Leaving the point of issue, (texts for Sunday sacredness as asked for by “Christian”) the writers most obviously circled widely and shrewedly for an uncalled-for attack on Seventh-day Adventists. The letter is certainly as void of Scriptural proof as it is of Christian love and tolerance, and in this latter respect it could seldom have been surpassed. I should like a little space to reply. Our attacking clergymen, you will note 1 , side-track “Christtian’s” request most obviously to advertise a little booklet. Earnest seekers after truth always believe there are two sides to every question, so your correspondents might be happy to recommend another booklet written in reply—“ Forty Reasons Why You Should be a Seventh-day Adventist.” If the testimony of one man who left the Adventist Church means anything, then perhaps the number of ministers including Presbyterians who have left their former Churches to join the Adventist Ministry may mean something; and a revelation of these facts may also have some bearing on the rather nervous anti-Adventist campaigning we have witnessed, in the last fourteen months.

This manifested spirit of acridity however, we are not prepared to accept as the united voice of the Presbyterian Church, for I happily call to mind the somewhat different attitude of a certain Presbyterian Minister in one of our North Island towns. There a, young company of Adventists has grown up without a Minister, or Church building in which to worship. Learning 'of this,the local. Presbyterian Minister kindly offered his Church to the young company for Sabbath services, with a further offer to minister to them from time to time. This we feel is more like the spirit of Presbyterianism “Christian” asks for Bible proof for Sunday sacredness—and this is all Adventists, too, have been aska ed. The Catholic world also has taunted Protestantism for years about this very question. I quote from Cardinal Gibbons’ book ‘Faith of Our Fathers’ p. Ill—“ Not to mention other examples, is not every Christian obliged to sanctitfy Sunday? . . . But you may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and you will not find a. single line authorising the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday.” In closing, lest any should be tempted to imagine that Adventist teachings are based on Jewish ceremonialism etc. (through the circulation of little pamphlets and sermons preached against Adventists) I quote from Dr. J. E. Brown, President of John Brown University and President of the International Christian Fellowship—“On all the cardinal doctrines of the Bible—the Miraculous Conception, the Virgin Birth, the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension, the Deity of Christ, the Atonement of Christ, the Second Coming, the Personality of the Holy Spirit and the Infallable Bible—the Seventh-day Adventist rings true as steel.”

We find great pleasure, Mr Editor, in discussing any Bible topic, but always in the spirit of brotherly kindliness.

A. GEOFF RATCLIFFE, Seventh-day Adventist Minister.

Sir,—We wrote on behalf of Presbytery to protest against organised Sunday Sport. We are unwilling to continue further a discussion that sidetracks our main issue or to give the desired publicity to an “ism” that teaches error and even that without straightforwardness. Thanking' you for. your courtesy. Yours etc., R. T. DODDS, Member, Bay of Plenty Presbytery. J. N. SMITH, Moderator, Bay of Plenty Presbytery. This correspondence is now closed.—Editor.