Thank you for your gracious response. Until Mr. West returns from sabbatical, it will not be clear what, if any, changes will be made to his presentation. Time will tell. I am confident that, to the extent actual error (as opposed to a simple difference of interpretation) is involved, TOBI would be committed to portraying faithfully the teachings of the Church. Having spoken personally to some of the personalities (apart from West) involved, I assure you that the criticisms have been heard.

Having spent the first 30 years of my life as an evangelical Protestant, I’ve witnessed firsthand the very real, lasting damage that can be caused by those who take it upon themselves to dole out correction without the corresponding necessary humility (I’m NOT referring here primarily to Dr. AVH), I am convinced that the storm that has blown up — initiated with the best of intentions — have taken a dark turn. As Dr. VH’s supporters wait for a response, it would be a good idea to consider whether some of her more ardent “defenders” need to repent as well.

Our ultimate goal MUST be unity. It’s what Jesus prayed for … and it must be our goal as well. “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

God bless you!

Heidi Saxton

I appreciate your comment. I would just say that while there is much about both approaches that is commendable, that of AVH does not include substantial errors, while that of Christopher West does. This has been going on for more than a year, and still no one in West’s camp has admitted that anything substantial is in need of change.

For example—and this is a comparatively small matter—there really was never anything behind the Paschal Candle theory. It was a puff of smoke. It has been thoroughly debunked as a complete myth, and to this date there is still no acknowledgment of that fact from the West camp.

There is some serious need of revision and some of us are a bit weary of being called on our manners when those who cry foul do not seem to be listening. At some point when a person realizes he or she is wrong, even if that person thinks his or her critics are jerks, it is just time to admit it and make some revisions. That time arrived long ago.

Perhaps someone like yourself might be able to get through to them. I have nothing personal against any of them.

God bless you.

The difficult thing about mentors is that they, too, are human. That is why taking second- and third-hand information is problematic. We cannot take unquestioningly how others interpret CW (or Dr. AVH); we need to read the original sources for ourselves.

What I find most regrettable about this whole scenario — and my purpose in writing the article in the first place — is to point out that there is room for multiple approaches in addressing a topic as important as TOB. Those approaches may need mid-course corrections at times — and I sincerely hope that all those will come through this firestorm having learned something from the exchange.

I acknowledge that I, too, am far from perfect. I had several individuals (including two whom I knew were more closely allied with the AVH “camp”) read my article prior to publication. It is so important that, whenever possible, we work from a presumption of charity. “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world …”

Let us continue to pray for one another!

Blessings

Heidi Saxton