Letters

Published March 18, 2004

Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 250 words.

RICKSHAW RALLY

Bold, doctrinally sound

This letter is in response to an article in the March 2004 issue of Christianity Today regarding VBS [Vacation Bible School] "wars" [to which a link has been added to "Is LifeWay's 'Rickshaw Rally' culturally sensitive to Asians? What's the debate about?" in the December 11 issue of the Witness, online at www.FloridaBaptistWitness.com]. As parents, my husband and I constantly teach our children to look for the truth in all circumstances. This article is a perfect example to why it is important to do that. I read the article and something just did not sit well with me. My initial comment was that this was a very political agenda against the Southern Baptist Convention and LifeWay Christian Resources. Upon further exploration, I took the opportunity to visit the Web site reccomended in the article and found it to [be created by] an activist with his own agenda aimed at an uprising against this program. The contact information offered leads to a Web address for the church Soong-Chan Rah belongs to, but conveniently he is presently on sabbatical until June, 2004. The alternate Web site to contact leads to the "Angry Asian Man" Web site which, I must add, really raised my suspicion. Not only is this gentleman not a believer, his Web site has profanity here and there with pro-"rainbow coalition" articles.
I find it very convenient for Soong-Chan Rah to suddenly begin calling for this uprising again, at a time when many churches are selecting their VBS curriculum for the year. I am not affiliated with LifeWay in any way and was shocked after we chose their VBS for this year to find out about this Web site against it. In my opinion this is the most powerful, bold, and doctrinally sound VBS available for our youth. I further took the opportunity to speak with my own Asian American friends and asked for their input. They unanimously added it was "not offensive and thought it looked like a lot of fun and a great learning opportunity for children".
People are always going to see us as controversial when it comes to bringing the Gospel, no matter what vessel we use!

Cassandra Austin
Colorado

RICKSHAW RALLY

Urban Japan 'eclectic'

My Japanese wife and I looked briefly at the Rickshaw Rally materials on the Web. We can't understand the reason for the controversy [See "Is LifeWay's 'Rickshaw Rally' culturally sensitive to Asians? What's the debate about?" in the December 11 issue of the Witness, online at www.FloridaBaptistWitness.com].
Urban Japan is very eclectic and comfortable with both its tradition and Western imports. It may be harder for immigrants to achieve the same ease, but surely it would be a loss to force others to over-compensate.

David Hawley
Matsudo Chiba, Japan

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