Originally published in print for Fuller Theological Seminary\u27s community from 1962 through 1977.https://digitalcommons.fuller.edu/fts-opinion/1156/thumbnail.jp

Fuller Theological Seminary

Lewis, Greg

Digital Commons @ Fuller (Fuller Theological Seminary)

Fuller Theological Seminary
Digital Commons @ Fuller
The Opinion Fuller Seminary Publications
1-1-1977
The Opinion - Vol. 16, No. 01
Fuller Theological Seminary
Greg Lewis
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Recommended Citation
Fuller Theological Seminary and Lewis, Greg, "The Opinion - Vol. 16, No. 01" (1977). The Opinion. 157.
https://digitalcommons.fuller.edu/fts-opinion/157
resumes publication after an extensive layoff 
this is Volume Sixteen the First Edition
this ¿journal is a publication of, 
associated with Fuller Seminary-- by, and for anyone especially its students
the opinion has does and will contain
excerpts stories poetry pieces of term papers
humor graffiti letters to the editor
any opinions any way you can or wish to express them
with a special section on sharii^ in the Fuller 
especially through answers to prayers community
inside this issue (somewhere)i 
action line
prophet-taking ..........
community life 
letters to the editor
a moral tale ............
poetry ' .......
a testimony of grace ....
how to kill an idea 
culture shock 
opinion pall
E. <1 Carnell (1962)
Jim Hassmer 
LauraGrace Eisenhowei 
Murray Gossett
editor« greg lewis, address all submissions to
box 428
editorial assistants« jim montgomery steve pattie
mark fleming
ALLAS TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE
Leaving the home there in 
•exas was a pretty rough thing 
;o do anyway but heading off 
:o California where you hear 
'f all kinds of odd groups 
nd odd things makes the trip 
ven more uneasy. I felt the 
iord had directed me to Cali- 
ornia and Fuller basically 
o learn to trust Him more 
'ith every facet of my life, 
was eager to allow Him to 
tretch me in trusting Him 
ore, but sadder by having to 
eave many friends and family 
had developed in twenty-two 
ears in Dallas with the added 
urden of the unknown.
The trip was a long needed 
ransition period in which I 
as comforted and encouraged 
y a third year student I came 
ut with. My first few hours 
n California were not very 
mpressive as I had seen plert- 
y of dry, hot places in Tex- 
s. We made Pasadena at night,
0 I did not have the pleasure
f seeing the cement city that 
tretches for so faiv_— -------
The first few days reminded 
e of many Young Life camps 
nd for that rather so did 
rientation. It was just a 
eat time of meeting people 
nd getting a flavor for the 
ind of people one would be 
tudying with the next few 
ears. The real unusual facet 
f meeting all the new people 
as that all the people had a 
reat interest to devote them- 
elves to full time service
1 our Lord and that hopefully 
od had led each of them to
ae same area as He had led 
yself.
Murray Gossett
A real part of my life that 
I felt I missed out was that 
I lived at home for most of 
my college years. At the 
Fuller apartments I think 
there is still a little fla­
vor of that bygone era. What 
could be more enjoyable than 
living around 200 people—  
married and single, from diff­
erent areas of the country, 
each adding their own insights 
and particular background to 
the community. The joy of 
just running into people on 
their way to class or sharing 
a meal or a little study break, 
getting to know your fellow 
students better is a real bles­
sing. I can so see the wisdom 
of the Lord in providing me 
with such a cushion of loving, 
caring people to be around.
Old friends can never be re­
placed, but it sure helps when 
new people are open and friend­
ly and willing to just be a 
friend.
I Editor's Note» Subsequent 
! to submitting this to THE 
OPINION Murray was elected 
President of the Junior 
class. We trust this confirms 
his right decision to come to 
Fuller. (Murray's the tall 
dude who looks like Burt Rey­
nolds and who learned to play 
football by watching "The 
Longest Yard")
CARTOONIST WANTED!« III
COMMUNITY AT FULLER
Some people question whether or not a professional 
school in which the students are either working or study 
ing can have any sense of community. Is there any unity 
of identity in the student body besides that of having 
one's head in one's books or making his few bucks to pay 
his tuition. We trust that THE OPINION will be used as 
a forum to express the life of the community which is at 
Fuller Seminary. Please share with the editors anything 
of interest and news which would not appear in the SEMI. 
We are especially interested in how the Lord is working 
in individual lives and then placing those lives within 
the context of fellowship and community with others.
Give us some answers to prayers. Share with us how you 
think you've grown or been helped by others.
Many books.
Wise men have said, are wearisomei who 
reads
Incessantly, and to his reading brings not 
A spirit and judgement equal or superior, 
And what he brings what need he elsewhere 
seek?
Uncertain and unsettled still remains—  
Deep versed in books, and shallow 
in himself.
— Milton
"Paradise Regained"
OPINION PALL
Let it not be said that the students at Fuller do not
iI?Vo+KPini0ns of1ti®ir ow2. but only parrot the opinions of others, especially professors and theologians now gone to their glory.
In light of the grade inflation at the nation's 
schools and universities, the question we would like to 
start with isi
Jould you do anything to get an A in a course? 
If so, what?
Any answer or response, serious or humorous, is welcome. 
Submit to the editor, box 428
PROPHET-TAKING
The following appeared in the 
November, 19o2 edition of 
"the opinion" and was written 
by a former professor and 
president of FTS.
A Christian and Social Ethics 
by Dr. E. J. Camell
Social ethics deals with 
the question of just relations 
between members of a group.
When an individual is treated 
justly, he experiences a sense 
of dignity and well-being! 
when he is treated unjustly, 
he does not. Thus, the white 
man's shameful dealings with 
the Negro can serve as a fer­
tile field of investigation 
for the student of social 
ethics.
This may be well and good, 
but how does it affect the 
Christian worker? Shouldn’t 
such a worker devote himself 
exclusively to the cause of 
the gospel?
These questions cannot be 
answered until a very impor­
tant distinction is made. A- 
part from the light cast by 
such a distinction, we may 
confuse the duties of the 
church with the duties of an 
individual member of the church. 
Every church member, whether 
or not he is ordained to 
preachthe gospel, must assoc­
iate with other human beingsi 
and to the degree of this 
association he is part of a 
social order. Such membership 
carries responsibility.
The duties of the church 
include (l)the preaching and 
defense of the gospel; (2) 
the comforting and edifying 
of believers» and (3) the 
providing of help for the 
needy. The substance of these 
duties is in no way altered 
by the kind of society of 
which the church happens to
be a part.
The duties of an indivi­
dual member of the church 
include (1) a wholehearted 
support of everything that 
falls within the cause of 
the gospel) and (2) a 
wholehearted support of every­
thing that falls within the 
cause of justice. Whenever 
a believer downgrades just­
ice, he offends the whole 
counsel of God. "Thus says 
the Lord God . . . Put away 
violence and oppression, and 
execute justice and righteous­
ness . . . ” (Ezek. 45»9),
The interest of the gospel 
and the interests of justice 
are not barbed incompatibles» 
they are gentle moral corre­
latives. If it is disturb­
ing to see liberals neglect 
the gospel in their attempt 
to promote justice, it is 
no less disturbing to see 
conservatives neglect justice 
in their attempt to promote 
the gospel. The one should 
be done, and the other not 
left undone.
Conservatives should re­
member that God is rightebus 
in his very essence. The 
atonement of Jesus Christ 
was heaven’s answer to the 
just requirements of the 
law (Cf. Romans 3*25-26,
8;^, etc.). Hence, the more 
we honor just relations, the 
more we bear witness to the 
divine image in us. Justice 
is a child of love, and love 
is the queen of Christian 
virtues.
Conservatives must also 
be careful not to define 
saving faith too narrowly. 
Whenever we fitly believe on 
the name of Jesus Christ, we 
actually surrender every part 
of our life to the will of 
the Lord. Since the lordship 
of Christ accompanies the
initial act of saving faith, 
the pursuit of justice 
ought to be as natural as 
the founding of missions 
or Sunday Schools, It so 
happens that a truly work­
able social ethic is struc­
tured on the disclosures 
and graces of the gospel 
itself.
Concern for justice is 
a clear sign that the love 
of Christ is actively at 
work within the.heart of a 
believer, and it is by the 
cords of love that lost 
souls are drawn to consider 
the claims of the gospel.
If a believer deliberately 
hinders the cause of just­
ice, he may so outrage the 
lost that crucial opportu­
nities to present the gos­
pel will be surrendered.
Therefore, whenever a 
believer is afforded an 
opportunity to advance the 
cause of justice, let him 
seize this opportunity wit 
all his might. But let 
him never be deceived into 
thinking that a citizen's 
crusade for justice will 
result in such pleasant 
utopian conditions that 
society can dispense with 
the church's preaching of 
the gospel. The regenera­
tion of the social order, 
if we may use such languag 
awaits the blessed return 
of our Lord and Savior 
Jesus Christ.
LOVERS
"What brash on-matched ego-centricity 
Demands man be himself eternally!
The: time has coke to end the myth with mind," 
They said, and tfrus embrased faith redefined.
TPhat we should talk and walk again, what need? 
When memory, influence, even our very seed 
Shall add their blessings to our best endeavor; 
What need that we ourselves should live forever?"
And so they laughed, and loved, and lived their day, 
And then one died. I heard the other pray,
Shaking the bare of his enlightenment 
He beat his head against the wall of grief 
Screaming, "Can this be all? Oh God) tis not enough! 
Where is that word which speaks of endless day?"
LauraGrace Eisenhower
,ETTERS . . .  WE GET LETTERS
Sirs«
If I come study there at 
y*all's school, can I still 
drink my beer?
B. Carter 
Plain 01' Georgia
(Editors« whoever heard of a 
beer-drinking Baptist?)
Sirs«
Thank you for the invi­
tation to jump across your 
campus on my bike, but your 
request that I turn over my 
$2 million TV and royalty 
rights to your seminary iB 
untaxable. What could a 
seminary possibly do with 
that much money?
E. Knevil 
Hell, Michigan
Sirs«
Someone has sent me a gift 
subscription to your journal 
and its the best thing I've 
read since the National En­
quirer this morning.
H. Lindsell 
Across the Street 
from the Treasury
Sirs«
This is my last personal 
warning to you. Next time 
you'll hear from my lawyers. 
Your people cannot throw my 
people off that campus. You 
do not own it. I own it and 
everything else on this earth.
Sun Moon
1000 Stars, N. Y.
Sirs«
Thank you for your invita­
tion to speak in chapel, but 
that day I will be just out 
of speaking range in Phoenix.
L. Ogilvie
Loquacious,
Louisiana
CULTURE SHOCK
The U. S. Congress is cur­
rently considering an excit­
ing new concept for funding 
artists and cultural institu­
tions. A recent Harris Poll 
has shown that of the 
adult citizenry would be will­
ing to donate $5 to support 
the Arts« would be will­
ing to donate $25i and 
would contribute $50. Pro­
jecting these figures, the 
potential is nearly $1.8 bill­
ion in contributions. The 
Arts and Humanities Bill,
HR 827^, would provide a sim­
ple way to collect and dis­
burse individual donations.
The Bill calls for a check­
off box on Federal Income Tax 
forms wherein the taxpayer 
may make a tax-deductible do­
nation to the National Endow­
ment for the Arts, the Nation­
al Endowment for the Humani­
ties, or both equally. These 
monies would be used for pro­
grams eligible for Endowment 
funding, and would be supple­
mental funds over and above 
the usual Congressional appro­
priations. There has been an 
enthusiastic response tn HR 
827^ from the arts and educa­
tional communities. That en­
thusiasm must now be channeled 
to get the Bill passed. You 
can help by sending a short 
statement of your support of 
the Bill to your Congressional 
representative.
For Pasadena residents«
The Honorable Carlos Moorhead 
The House of Representatives 
Washington, D. C. 20515
Is there any talent at Fuller? 
Prove itllJ
ACTION LINE HOW TO KILL AN IDEA
Q. Why is there only one 
copy of The Battle for the 
Bible in the library?
A. The librarian does not 
want that particular author 
to receive any more royalties.
Q.' Can I take chapel for 
credit?
A. Who takes credit for 
chapel?
Q. If that that exists has 
existed, isn’t it logical to 
assume that that does not; ex— 
ist Will exist? I mean, af­
ter all, if it was not for 
this to exist, wouldn’t it be 
logical to assume that this 
does not exist? Or does it?
A, Yes, it does.
Q* Is there any culture at 
Fuller Seminary?
A. Is there any culture in 
Southern California?
Q. What do you predict will 
be the single burning issue 
at Fuller this comir£ new 
year? ^
A. InnJJrrancy
Q. Is there a recycling 
program at Fuller?
A. It’s presently beir^ 
recycled.
Q. Is there some way to 
recognize a budding famous 
theologian next to me in 
class?
A. Yes, he (she) doesn't move 
his (her) lips when reading 
Greek.
Don’t be ridiculous
We tried that before
It costs too much
It can’t be done
That’s not my responsibilitj
It's too radical a change
I don't have the time
I'm only one person
j That’s not my problem
| I’ve never done that before
I Let’s get back to reality
i Why change it» it’s still 
| working okay
j I'm two years ahead of my 
time
i
| I'm not ready for that
| People don't want to learn
It's too hard to sell 
people on
Others would never go 
for it
I’ll be a laughing stock
I'll think about it later
I can get by without it
Has anyone else ever 
tried it?
It won’t work in my 
situation
Sirs i
I have never been, am not 
now, and will never be a 
Dutchman.
J . Calvin 
The Neverlands
BRUTUM FACTUM Jim Hassmer
The other day I had one of 
the hardest assignments of my 
eight year career as pastor 
of Walnut Street Presbyterian 
Church. Mr. Johnson, one of 
our church elders, called me 
with the news that his 16 year 
old son, Gary, for whom our 
church had been praying for 
the past six months since he 
ran away, had been found by 
the police— dead from hunger 
and overexposure. Mr. John­
son asked me to take care of 
the funeral service. Mr. 
Johnson's wife, Janet, left 
him ten years ago when she 
could no longer take his con­
tinued long hours spent to 
build up his lucrative life 
insurance sales. When his 
wife left, he employed a black 
domestic to assume responsibi­
lity for the upbringing of 
Gary, then only six years old, 
while he continued his frene­
tic sales pace. Minimum wage 
he paid her— said that was all 
he could afford. Over the past 
ten years Gary developed an 
extremely close relationship 
with the son of the domestic, 
who was about the same age as 
Gary. When Mr. Johnson re­
fused six months ago to sell 
a policy to his domestic to 
cover her son’s drivir^, ex­
plaining to her that he con­
sidered her son to be a poor
business risk, she resigned 
from his service in protest. 
At this point Gary ran away 
from home, leaving a note 
saying, "With Mom gone from 
here and you away most of the 
time doing your sales stuff, 
the only love I've received 
is from Nancy (the black 
domestic) and Isaac. When 
you rejected Isaac’s request 
for car insurance "for the 
sake of your business" and 
drove Nancy away as a result, 
you took away all my reasons 
for staying at home." When 
Gary ran away I had just 
finished a series of sermons 
on the topici "The Great 
Physician's Prescription for 
Health« Caring and Sharing." 
Mr. Johnson shook my hand 
after each sermon in the 
series and repeated his cus­
tomary "great message, Pas- 
torl" I thought I was get­
ting through to him that 
last sermon when he said, 
"Sure i3 great the way my 
son is caring for our colored 
domestic’s boyj" Then came 
this car insurance thing, 
and Gary running away, and I 
saw how mistaken I was about 
Mr. Johnson’s growth. All 
he would say at the funeral 
parlor was, "I needed my 
sales money to guarantee my 
son's future. I needed my 
sales money . . ."
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The Opinion - Vol. 16, No. 01

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The Opinion - Vol. 16, No. 01

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