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WHERE’S REPENTANCE?

I found CH #151 on “Awakenings” to be one of the most important and interesting issues of CH to date. This three-part series on revival will be remembered as some of your best work! Thanks, Bill! However even in issue #151, I was struck by a rather unfortunate glaring omission. In the intro article on “defining revival” and elsewhere, one cardinal factor of true revival is sadly absent . . . the critical feature found in all true awakenings, repentance, is omitted. Why? Finney and other uncompromising revivalists would be aghast. Otherwise, the issue is fascinating, and long overdue. Thanks. 

P.S. “Transformative” implies revival, but fails to clearly I.D. it! Not good!—John Herbst, Dixon, MO 

Thanks for writing in, John. CH identified four characteristics of revival to help readers understand what it has historically looked like in broader terms. You’re right in that the “transformative” category covers repentance and conversion—which we do demonstrate in each movement covered in this past issue. All begin with prayer and clear repentance of sin. Perhaps our issue advisor Michael McClymond said it best in #151’s interview: 

Revival . . . involves a recognition of radical sin and corruption in human life; the conviction that sinners are spiritually lost and unable to save themselves or escape God’s judgment; that God alone saves and forgives, cleanses, and renews those who trust in Christ; and that God’s forgiveness is complete, since Christ made full atonement for sins.

DRAMATIC STORIES (AND CORRECTIONS)

This new issue (#152) is a really wonderful insight into how Christianity through the ages has used drama and song to present the Bible. A truly interesting read, so glad this subject was chosen for this latest issue.—Shane Rouse, Sagamore Beach, MA

Enjoyed the CH issue on drama. A memory and an epilogue. My grandmother recalled a period in the early/mid 1900s when her church was doing a renovation and the use of visiting drama and visiting actors in church life was popular. The plans called for a stage and theater-style curtain.—Paul Bailey, Fayetteville, NY 

I enjoy and admire your magazine. In issue #152, you have incorrectly confused John Heywood with Thomas Heywood. Although Thomas was also a playwright, having written If you Know Not Me, You Know Nobody (1605) (a two-part play about Elizabeth I), as well as An Apology for Actors (1612), The Hierarchy of the Blessed Angels (1635), and other works, he was not “a devout Catholic playwright” who “worked for Henry (and later Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth)” as you have stated. That honor belongs to John Heywood, a “survivor” who orbited the Tudor court under four monarchs (Henry, Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth). . . . The Play of the Wether is also much more than a piece of advice asking that Henry “not be swayed” by the multiple voices he was hearing. Heywood’s play ends by Jupiter declaring that the weather will stay as it is. The drama offers a clear allegory for Henry, and an argument that he not rock the boat, as it were. Heywood was a conservative author who favored Queen Catherine of Aragon’s party.—Mark Rankin, Harrisonburg, VA 

Nothing gets past our readers! Dr. Rankin is correct; we meant John, not Thomas, Heywood. The error is corrected in the online version of the issue. In earlier versions of this article, the correct Heywood and the further explanation on The Play of the Wether were included. The latter was simplified for space. 

We need a hiero

Have you ever done an issue on the art of Hieronymus Bosch? I’m working on a class about him now and he was very religious, unlike how some have interpreted his tripytchs. Or maybe a more general issue on pictures of Jesus in art through the ages.—Robert L. Anderson, York, PA

This is a great suggestion. We’ll add it to our list of potential topics. You can get a taste of Bosch’s work in issue #152: Christianity and Theater on page 1!

SHARING CHRISTIAN HERITAGE

Thank you for considering us prisoners as any way worthy of receiving your magazine. You have gone well beyond all of that and treated me (us) with dignity and compassion, even enlisting our prayers for you. You get it. My thought is to educate the believers here in prison with whatever you choose to send me. Many here are babes in Christ or have no idea about our Christian heritage. Everything you send will prove to be eye opening and a blessing.—Dean, VA  CH

By readers and the editors

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