Ho Sundas, Murch 6, 198% North Shore News HUGH McCULLUM, editor of the United Church Observer, wrote the Globe and Mail fast week about the re- cent misfortune of Jimmy Swaggart and the unfortunate effects that may have on television evangelism in general, it is remotely possible that Mr. MeCullum may be suffering from sore jaws and facial muscles this week, from the effort of trying to keep a straight face and not burst into gleeful laughter over the evangelist’s troubles. His Globe and Mail piece was sober and straightforward, There wasn‘tan ounce of sorrow, or pi- ty, or compassion, or sympathy, or forgiveness in it. It is unthinkable that spokesper- sons for the mainline Christian churches, being religious and ail and full of love toward every human being except maybe That- cher and Reagan, would harbor any ill-feelings toward their Pen- tacostal brothers or rejoice in their afflictions. Unthinkable or not, some ill-will and rejoicing seem to exist. Maybe this comes about because Satan has conned the mainliner churches out of talking about Satan and sin and got them preaching social justice and socialism. This cost them membership. The Pentacostals, who were not so conned, increased their membership greatly. The mainliners are naturally embarrassed. The United Church Observer's editor sort of lets slip his church's anger and glee here and there in his article. Some examples: **His (Swaggart's) scandals dealt a massive blow to TV religion and the right-wing evangelical move- ment.” “He (has) lashed out at homosexuals as evil, hammered the public school system and raged against abortion."’ “Using the model of free enter- prise, TV evangelists don't just preach the word of God, they market it." There you have it: the only deadly sins that spokespersons for the mainline churches recognize are ‘“‘right-wing"’, free enterprise, WHEN IT COMES TO THE CRUNCH you've been injured in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation far out-of-pocket expenses, last income and pain. If so, call Patricia Armstrong or Howard Bradbrooke, our personal injury claims team. They're experienced at providing valuable counsel and representing your best interests. What's more, they'll work for a fair and reasonable fee; either an hourly rate or ona percentage basis. For a free consultation on these and other legal matters, call us at 980-8571. BRADBROOKE CRAWFORD &GREEN miarkeung and opposition to abor- tion, homosexuality and a failed or damaging public schoal system The one big advantage the mainline churches have over the Pentacostals is that the Pen- tacostals insist upon high moral standards and the mainliners don't insist on any, OF recoenize any. So, when an evangelist falls from grace, i's world-wide news. When a mainliner does it, it doesn't rate a line. This is a neat, if shifty, gambit. It allows you to condemn others who fail to meet their own moral standards, while you run no risk, having none, and being non- judgmental of your own kind. Sul, the question remains: why are all these prominent male televi- 1 (EXCLUDING SPECIALS) sion evanvebsts sa. cumbiny to tomptahan and tucking about saith females not then ames? The first possible reason -. the usual male excuse -- 1s that the male is the hapless victim of Pee, the temptress, who desires to per- petuate the species, The second possible reason may be that the poor dumb male. under genetic insinuchion to perpetuate the species.feels he must pollinate many gratetul Mowers. These 1Wo reasons — oF excuses ~- have been offered up for thou- sands of years, but they don't completely answer the question. All males are imperilled by these facts of life, but a great many do not succumb to them, out of laziness, boredom, cowardice or moral virtue. The third reason may very well be that the Devil, with the help of his apprentice Murphy (creator of Murphy's Laws) is now clearly in charge of human affairs in most large urban centres and most areas of human thought and activity. The Pentacostals and the evangelists are the Devil's only remaining vocal and powerful op- ponents; and they are now being subjected to the Devil's (and Mur- phe most devastating schemes anal attacks fhe fourth reason as probably the Pink Elephant syndrome, sherein sou advise someone to iz: nore that pink elephant ina corner of the room. The poor devil will then think of nothing else. {tis more than probable that any preacher — no matter how virtuous and sirong-minded, «ho goes on, five days a week or more. 50 weeks a year, year in and year out, talking about fornication, adultery, lust and unbridled sexual gratification — all hellishly attrac- tive snares Satan has spread in our path — is almost bound to ¢rack under the strain of avoiding temp- tation. Some of the antics and the roar- ings of the television evangelists are corny and embarrassing. Sull, they are still out there preaching against sin and admit- ting thes, too, are sinners. And that is better, if one must choose. than the smooth-mannered mainline churchmen who wouldn't recognze sin if they saw it; and if they did, would find some sacio- economic-psychological excuse for io LIGHTOLIER ON SPECIAL! a MOVING PROJECTORS ON TRACK Tle 5d... sets}eomplete 59 oy 2ISW Removable Trach 21S W Remora Projectors, 1M Joiner Tract 1 Canopy KA or Condsat Trach Heads 4 Md, Jamar Track, + Canopy Kit of Condeet