Mailbag

‘Challenging Darwin’

June 25 | We can have a healthy debate about creation if we all recognize that Scripture is not always as simple to interpret as we would like. If we admit that we do not know what we do not know, then we can have a constructive debate.

—Brendan Bossard on wng.org

If the length of the process were unimportant, God wouldn’t have spelled it out in His Word. A plain reading of Scripture does not allow for millions of years.

—Wilson Hickman / Sierra Vista, Ariz.

Creation is not a fundamental of the faith, but any philosophy that puts death before Adam and Eve cannot fully explain the gospel.

—Rick Flanders on wng.org

Even if “multiple independent lines of evidence contradict” the young-earth position, advocates base their view on Scripture’s clear teaching. Multiple lines of evidence also contradict the possibility of a virgin birth and dead people returning to life.

—Karen Cox / Waynesboro, Ga.

I don’t believe that deconstructing evolutionary theories brings people to faith. Only professing the truth of His Holy Word will allow the Holy Spirit to work faith in a person.

—Dave Dahlke / Port Orchard, Wash.

‘Me before us’

June 25 | Thank you for this timely review of Me Before You. The idea that suicide is glamorous or noble is false; the wreckage it leaves behind among survivors is devastating. The church is woefully silent and backward in dealing with this growing phenomenon. While awareness and prevention are important, only the gospel can address the deep-seated spiritual causes of despair that lead to suicide.

—Elizabeth Stone / Beckley, W.Va.

Just like Philadelphia, the groundbreaker in promoting sympathy for homosexuality, Me Before You no doubt is a favorite for an Oscar, regardless of its cinematic value.

—Elaine Neumeyer on wng.org

One of the biggest obstacles to government-enforced healthcare coverage or socialized medicine is the likely runaway cost. The glamorization of suicide is a predictable Hollywood answer to this question.

—Rich Asper on wng.org

Reading the book on which this movie was based was an emotional exercise filled with hope until the very end. How cowardly and self-consumed Will’s character proved to be. Your contrast between Will and Charles Krauthammer is very heartening.

—Jo Grey on wng.org

‘Standing in line’

June 25 | We, too, have stood in our fair share of lines. The DMV is one of our favorites to complain about; not only are the lines long, but it always takes more than one visit to complete our task. Things could be much better if we privatized some government functions.

—Laura Piazza / Syracuse, N.Y.

Could our American definition of productivity be just a little askew? We often ask God to give us opportunities, but even more important is to ask Him to help us see the opportunities He gives us, things that might not seem important at the time.

—B.J. Harding on wng.org

Joel Belz should consider what, in America, we are standing in line for: movies and the latest cell phones instead of clean water or bread. We wait in doctors’ offices for the best medical technology in the world instead of walking miles to see volunteer optometrists. It sounds more like gluttony than supply and demand.

—Jody Graese / Glenwood City, Wis.

Things work so well here that a little waiting in line has us in an uproar. Maybe we are just too focused on minutes instead of the bigger picture. Paul was delayed for months when shipwrecked on Malta, but he got to work, and 2,000 years later the majority of Maltese are Christians.

—Lewis Codington / Franklin, Tenn.

‘Race to the bottom?’

June 25 | Like Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton insists upon a perception of reality that favors her objectives and desires. I know the media is complicit in this, but where is the outrage from “the people”? This is beyond spin. It is mass delusion.

—Sven Trenholm / Adelaide, Australia

‘Going cold on a hot spot?’

June 25 | Mindy Belz excellently analyzed the perpetual enmity between peoples God has appointed for that portion of His world. I especially appreciate her use of biblical history. I can only say, “Maranatha”—the Lord is coming.

—John Monroe on wng.org

‘Bridal gown’

June 25 | This column is beautiful. It is too easy to be distracted in our troubled times from the blessed hope we have in Christ Jesus.

—Holly McMillan on wng.org

‘An American icon’

June 25 | I was surprised to see no mention of regret that Muhammad Ali rejected the Christian faith. His iconic status achieves nothing for him in eternity, sadly.

—Rachel Knoepfel on wng.org

‘Sins of their fathers & mothers’

June 11 | Mary Jackson’s article on the divorce revolution now affecting the third generation totally grabbed me. That’s the story of my family tree. Fifty years ago we looked like the most perfect family in church. Today we have 33 divorces from 50 marriages. No-fault divorce changed the conflict resolution traditions, and there is no end in sight to the tragedy. Unspeakably sad.

—Dan Woodard / Carstairs, Alberta

‘“Never” too soon’

June 11 | Never Hillary and never Trump. Both have shown over the years they are unqualified to be the leader of the free world. I'm writing in a candidate.

Jesse Cook on world.wng.org

By allowing Clinton to win, the “Never-Trumpers” just might be responsible for adding to the already horrific number of abortions. I would not want that on my conscience. Trump’s choices for the Supreme Court are worthy of our trust.

Barbara Adams / Port Orange, Fla.

I've been reading The Cost of Discipleship by Bonhoeffer. It's surprising how closely the time of its writing parallels ours: powerful personalities, mass propaganda, and increasing hostility to orthodox Christianity. Bonhoeffer's solution is to concentrate on the person of Jesus Christ. If God is in control, our concentration on Him ought to remove all worry about the future.

Fin Pendegast on world.wng.org

Our country may well deserve judgment, but I refuse to hasten its coming by acting in a way that, for all intents and purposes, results in a vote for Hillary.

Laura Thomas / College Grove, Tenn.

‘The real idiocracy’

May 28 | Janie B. Cheaney aptly describes what passes as discourse in politics these days. We don’t discuss ideas; we congratulate ourselves on how right we are and characterize those who disagree as lacking some intellectual or emotional function. Do we in the Christian community do the same with theological discourse? If someone raises legitimate questions, do we consider the questions or label that person a heretic?

Don Wipf / Collinsville, Okla.

‘Golden opportunity’

May 28 | Thanks for Marvin Olasky’s advice to find out your family history while your parents are still around. I found photographs my parents had stored; before they passed away we got to spend a lot of quality time poring over the pictures, identifying people and guessing years. I'll always treasure that time together.

Jack Pavie on world.wng.org