A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

elevision programs, but against television sets, against the "invention" itself. Although the 1958 resolution had a stronger emphasis on the use of television, the constituency remained confused on the specific intent of the statement. This ambiguity was unfortunate since it allowed for two interpretations. The more conservative congregations considered the possession of a television set a violation of the conference resolution and hence excommunicated some members on that basis. The more liberal congregations accepted the resolution as a warning against questionable programs. This controversy is another illustration of confusing cultural issues (i.e. the invention of television) with ethical concerns (i.e. the watching of objectionable television programs.). In retrospect it would appear, however, that the whole controversy may have been a blessing in disguise, since it alerted the constituency to the dangers that could arise for church and family by an indiscriminate acceptance of the programs that were presented by this new instrument of the mass media. In concluding this chapter on Mennonite Brethren adjustment to cultural change, the following paragraph from an article on "Cultural Change and Christian Ethics" appears pertinent: Some cynics would claim — and we hear such voices occasionally in our brotherhood — that the Christian ethic is merely the product of a "cultural lag." They maintain that the secular ethic of today will be the Christian ethic of tomorrow. We reject this claim, although we do not deny that in Christian communities a "cultural lag" can often be observed. This is, however, a good thing. An instant cultural adaptation provides no opportunity for discernment and discrimination. A "cultural lag" makes it possible to reject what is sinful and to accept what is good in a changing culture. Moreover, the Christian ethic of the FACING CULTURAL CHANGE 341 New Testament is supra-cultural and supra-national. It is our responsibility, however, to formulate comprehensive Biblical principles, in which cultural changes can be incorporated without sacrificing ethical or spiritual values. " The late B. B. Janz on one occasion offered this practical advice to the brotherhood: Never use the gospel-horse to pull the culture-wagon; but hitch culture to the gospel and let it promote the cause of Christ. May it ever be thus in the Mennonite Brethren Church! Chapter 20 Giving to Caesar: Perspectives and Problems In Church-State Relations The proper relations between the church and the state have always been among the Christian church's most vexing problems. Ernst Troeltsch is reported to have said that there is no ultimate solution, only a periodic reformulation of the problem. The early Christians, as well as the Anabaptists of the sixteenth century, were not as pessimistic as Troeltsch, but believed that the New Testament provided directives with respect to Christian resp