‘Age of outrage’

Feb. 17 Janie B. Cheaney’s article made vivid for me the destruction wreaked by progressive liberalism’s Culture of Death. Like the untold numbers of classic novels never written, we will never know how many world-changers were among the hundreds of millions murdered in the womb worldwide. Perhaps their absence is our punishment. —Melvin Lee / Dover, Pa.

‘Dissolving identities’

Feb. 17 The Berenstain Bears book called He Bear, She Bear begins, “Every single bear we see is a he bear or a she.” Papa Bear says to Brother: “I’m a father, I’m a he. A father’s something you could be.” Mama Bear says to Sister: “A mother’s something you could be.” Some places might ban that book now for not endorsing gender fluidity. —Anna Stewart on Facebook

‘Kisses of regret’

Feb. 17 I read I Kissed Dating Goodbye aloud to each of my kids. I’m sad for those who heard a legalistic message guaranteeing a blissful dating life and marriage, but it gave my family a workable mindset to navigate relationships. I’m grateful. —Beverly Parrish / League City, Texas

Why are we castigating Josh Harris for calling Christians to live in purity and according to God’s standards? I was 22 when the book came out and recall vigorous debates over its principles. I still feel that people didn’t like it because it’s hard to do things God’s way. —Ursula MacDougall / Modesto, Calif.

The book reflects the seriousness of God’s Word regarding sex and marriage. The fact that some people felt awkward and had unmet expectations is not an indictment of the book but of our failings as sinful humans. —Jeb Rice / Fishers, Ind.

‘Hindsight and hope’

Feb. 17 It’s impressive that Harris is willing to dive into the impact of his book, but people should have to answer for what made them famous. I grew up in the thick of the courtship era; the book has plenty of holes in gospel and logic that we all missed. —Melissa Dickinson on Facebook

Harris apologizing for a book he wrote 21 years ago about purity in relationships boggles my mind. —Herb Van Schoick / Lancaster, Pa.

Harris is too hard on himself. There are always people who react in unhealthy ways to any teaching, but that doesn’t invalidate the truth of the message. I wish I could have read it before I played the dating game. —Lynn Lewis / Gainesville, Va.

‘Take Henny Youngman, please’

Feb. 17 I loved your column about Henny Youngman. When I was an airline hostess for TWA in 1963, my crew was stuck in Vegas, so we went to one of his shows. His jokes were the funniest I’d ever heard, and clean. It was good to read that he had a wonderful marriage. —Ann Williams / Alpine, Calif.

We enjoyed some laughs from this column and thought it was quite fitting as we celebrate 50 years of marriage this year. As Proverbs says, “A merry heart does good, like medicine.” —Tom & Ruth Lucas / Coopersville, Mich.

‘Politically correct persecution’

Feb. 17 Democrats worry that Sam Brownback will “weaponize” the State Department against women and LGBT people, but perhaps Democrats see a threat where nobody else does because they had already weaponized the State Department. —Kenneth Isgrigg on wng.org

Thank you for your positive article on Brownback. He was an outstanding governor, a principled leader who was always on the right side of the issues that mattered most. —Scott Printz / Abilene, Kan.

‘Phantom Thread’

Feb. 17 The last hour of this movie is disturbing and gives a warped view of love and marriage. The ending was truly reprehensible. —Rob Martin on wng.org

‘Once we’ve confessed’

Feb. 3 I wouldn’t call it “crucifying” Andy Savage to keep him out of ministry. It might have given his family much less grief in the long run. Yes, Jesus’ blood covers all who repent, but different situations should be handled differently, depending on whether a ministry leader is involved and on the severity of the sexual sin. —Julie Horner on wng.org

‘Not just noise’

Feb. 3 How sad. Now that we finally have an administration that defends the preborn and Christian liberty, and seeks to limit an intrusive big government, WORLD concentrates on Trump’s faults. —Grayce Abel / Winfield, Kan.

‘Moody blues’

Feb. 3 It’s difficult to expose a venerable Christian organization like Moody Bible Institute, but I think you uncovered some real red flags. Most disturbing for me are the possibilities of theological drift and political liberalism. —Igor Shpudejko / Goodyear, Ariz.

‘Under the radar’

Feb. 3 For the Gladney Center for Adoption to place a child in an immoral environment is a serious sin. All who work in and contribute to Gladney and do nothing about this except pass the blame are guilty. —Gene Pomiak / Hemet, Calif.

‘Physicians in white’

Feb. 3 I think some form of maintenance of certification for physicians seems reasonable. I must renew my teaching license every three years and prove I have participated in continuing education. It would be comforting to know that my doctors are also required to keep abreast of new developments. —Amy McClish / Milwaukie, Ore.

Comment

I started reading WORLD News Group in seventh grade for current events assignments, but now I read it to find hope in a dark world. Ever since the 2016 election, Fox and CNN have hit me with negative headline after negative headline. They do not have hope, but you infuse every story with the gospel. —Carter Keller / Dallas, Texas

Clarification

Translators have provided New Testaments for hundreds of languages in Papua New Guinea (“Different world, same Word,” March 3, p. 56).

More letters, emails, and comments we didn’t have space for in the print edition:

‘Kisses of regret’

Feb. 17 I think I Kissed Dating Goodbye is great. God expects us to use the discernment we gain from knowing Scripture and judge what any author says. It’s not fair to put that burden on Joshua Harris when it belongs on the reader. —Christine Denning / Tulare, Calif.

Instead of blaming a book, maybe Christians should blame ourselves for being a little too gullible about our media. We should instead ask questions and seek answers that delve into the heart. —Shane Richardson / Holden, Mo.

Courtship and dating are two cultural practices mentioned the same number of times in the Bible: zero. For relationships, the Bible teaches godliness resulting in chastity. —Daniel Ong on Facebook

‘Once we’ve confessed’

Feb. 3 How did a youth pastor and a 17-year-old girl end up parked on a dark, empty road in the first place? Had church leaders done the training and vetting that might have made this less likely? The larger issue is that churches should prepare young people for early marriage rather than expecting them to be hands-off until they start careers. That’s absurd. —Paul M. Stokes / Miami, Fla.

‘Not just noise’

Feb. 3 You say Donald Trump is unable to accept that the United States is “a nation of laws, not of man.” You must have been referring to Barack Obama. Trump is reversing Obama’s legally dubious, some say unconstitutional, executive orders. As for words, Trump is making words like “American,” “country,” and “capitalism” great again. —Marilyn McGee / Colorado Springs, Colo.