Revs. Andrew Lanning, Nathan Langerak, and Martin Vander Wal:

August 10, 2022

Dear Editors of the SWORD and SHIELD:

Being conscious of the reality that writing is a very risky activity, I write nevertheless with confidence and Godly, Christian concern. I request the publication of the letter in its entirety in the next Sword and Shield.

Lying on my desk is a copy of the letter of June 4, 2020 I sent for publication in the July 2020 issue of the SWORD and SHIELD. More than two years have passed since the initial publication of the SS. I have read it immediately, faithfully, critically and with discernment. Two years means that 24+ editions of the periodical have found their way into the hands of many who are members of the Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC).

“FROM EDITOR LANNING” was posted in each issue of S and S. The post ended with hope of the Editor that the SWORD and SHIELD would speed into the hands of the readers. It did. Thanks for the periodical sent me without payment.

I have discarded most of the 24+ issues of the SWORD and SHIELD. If I had kept the two years, the 24+ issues of the SW0RD and SHIELD, with the intention of binding them, it would be a 8.5 x 11 inch 700 page book. Astounding!

I found the content and subjects to be repetitious. I also found much of the polemic to be hateful, and filled with manufactured and unnecessary name-calling. The slanderous and libelous nature of the articles would not continue to be of interest to me in the continuing history of the PRC and other ecclesiastical or cultic organizations.

It is obvious to all that the SS is a periodical that has simulated unmitigated antagonism and hatred. The writing is a form of hateful criticism. I believe that my warning in my letter of June 4, 2020, against a polemics aimed at persons and not at the theology of writers and opponents has not been heeded. The diatribes by certain writers in many issues of the SS are so obvious that readers of the SS must agree.

It is obvious that the warlike style and approach promised by Editor Lanning in the June 4, 2020 SWORD and SHIELD is the outstanding characteristic of each issue and in many ways a dishonorable aspect of the writing.

The editorializing of Editor Lanning and Associate Editor Nathan Langerak is evidence of their vengeance. The disagreement of AL and NL is vengeful and not the Godly critique expected and required of Reformed and Christian theologians who differ in Theology and Biblical Dogmatics.

The Apostle Paul was a vigorous and godly apologist saved by his Lord Christ on the road to Damascus. The converted and eternally saved Apostle Paul warred unswervingly, diligently and faithfully against the errant theology of the Judaists, the enemies of Christ. I refer especially to the dispute and the instruction by the Apostle Paul in chapters 1-3 of the Epistle to the Galatians. The instruction by Apostle Paul was orthodox but was rejected by the Galatians; Paul was not vengeful because of the unfaithfulness of the Galatian proselytes. The Apostle Paul overflowed with love for fellow believers in Christ who had fallen from the truth. Paul was not angry when he said “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you…Galatians3:1”. Paul teaches, “…let us by love serve one another…” Galatians :13.” Simple and powerful instruction.

In Romans 12:19 the Apostle Paul says, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Cf. Deuteronomy 32:35, Hebrews 10:30)

The sacred precept and admonition of Jesus recorded by Luke speaks unconditionally and lovingly to every one of the children of Christ. “…as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them like wise. Luke 6: 31.”

We should cease using our pens for angry name calling and instead turn our eyes upon Jesus and pray for each other.

“…bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. Matthew 5: 44”

By the mercy of Jesus Christ,

Agatha Lubbers

Reply

Miss Lubbers, I am happy to see your letter. You were the first reader ever to send a letter to Sword and Shield for publication. The first issue of the magazine was published June 1, 2020, and your letter was dated June 10, 2020. Yours was also the first letter to be published in Sword and Shield (see volume 1, issue 3).

I am even more happy that you have faithfully and discerningly read every issue of Sword and Shield since then. May your tribe increase.

Having read the magazine faithfully since its beginning, you offer your evaluation of the writing in Sword and Shield: repetitious, hateful, slanderous, libelous, hateful criticism, polemics aimed at persons, diatribes, warlike, dishonorable. I know that many share your assessment.

Readers, you have heard the evaluation of one faithful reader. Now I say, “Let the other readers also judge.” Sword and Shield is readily and freely available to everyone in print and online. I would suggest that the reader might first read Jeremiah 5 and Matthew 23 before he reads Sword and Shield. The discerning reader will then undoubtedly write a letter to the editor asking why our magazine is so tame and soft-spoken.

Miss Lubbers, you also offer your judgment of the persons of Rev. Nathan Langerak and me: personally vengeful, whose critique of the PRC is ungodly, un-Reformed, and un-Christian. To that I say, “Let God judge.”

Friend or foe, we are happy that you are reading.