Mailbag

‘Divided we stand’

Dec. 1 Your articles covering the election of President Obama, national disasters, same-sex “marriage,” liberal campus politics, plus crises in Syria and Iraq, lead me to thank the Lord for our many blessings. But because we are blessed, we must speak to the needs of people all around us. WORLD continues to open our eyes more clearly to a world of need. —William Swenson, St. Louis, Mo.

‘Building blocs’

Dec. 1 Thank you for an illuminating evaluation of the last election. People in this country want to let their sin nature reign, and our president and progressive party are all too willing to promote that. Our electorate overlooks or does not recognize the false rhetoric, broken promises, and blatant lies of this administration. —Bill Russell, Brighton, Mich.

‘Tipping point’

Dec. 1 It is sobering if America has reached a tipping point. Nations rise and fall so citizens of heaven do well to remember Gamaliel’s counsel from Acts 5, that if these things are from God we cannot stop them. —Wayne Fowler, Blairsville, Ga.

I thought Joel Belz’s analysis was excellent but it is not enough to “influence a few ‘takers’ to become ‘makers.’” Modern liberalism is indeed bankrupt, but conservatism has insufficient funds to cover human nature’s deficit. We shouldn’t withdraw from politics, but only the gospel can empower people to change. —Quinn Skinner, Chinhae, Republic of Korea

One lady in our church did not vote for Romney because he is “rich,” and another said, “I’ve been watching all the ads on TV and I don’t know what to believe.” I gave her a voters’ guide, but Americans truly have a dependency problem. If God is bringing judgment on our country, then we better keep praying for mercy and evangelizing the lost. —P. Steve Klein, Vincennes, Ind.

My experience at a call center was that people who leaned conservative but still planned to vote for Obama thought Republicans hate homosexuals, start wars, and want to break up Hispanic families. They thought socialism isn’t so bad, and when confronted about abortion they backed down or got angry. I plan to explain to more people I meet that God loves them and sent His Son to rescue them. —Rachel Ann Lowers, Wyoming, Mich.

Why was Obama elected? Adversity is God’s way of getting our attention. It is our motivation to cry out to God to purify our faith, to increase our hatred of evil, and remind us to pray for our authorities. —Rudy G. Hoggard, Marion, N.C.

‘Bound by blood’

Dec. 1 Thank you for highlighting the Woods family and its response to such a great loss. The offenses of this world are not against us, but against Christ. There will be sorrow and suffering because of others’ actions, but as we mature in Christ we realize that we need not take up those offenses. —David Shepherd, Bluffton, Ind.

If I expect to check all my boxes before I forgive, then it may never happen. Christ pleaded with God to forgive those who were killing Him; He didn’t wait for their apology. I will forgive faceless people because God is judge. Withholding forgiveness is a dangerous thing. —Dave Forwood, Manheim, Pa.

Unless there is a show of repentance that points to a specific offense that the transgressor acknowledges, no forgiveness can be granted, nor should it be. The heart must always be open and ready to forgive, but until there is confession of sin, acts of forgiveness are imaginary. —Nelson Banuchi, Concord, N.C.

I wholeheartedly believe that forgiving freely in Jesus’ name blesses the Lord and heals the forgiver. The Lord delivered me from bitterness several years ago, teaching me that the choice to forgive is my part, and that He causes my feelings to catch up with that decision. —Laura Hill, Nashville, Tenn.

Our need to forgive is not dependent on knowing the guilty party or his seeking forgiveness. Our need to forgive is necessary for our own healing, growth, and peace of mind. And sometimes forgiveness does not come easy, even when it is sought. —Julie A. Hecker, Littleton, Colo.

‘We were exhausted’

Dec. 1 This story, about Christian respite care centers for autistic children, was very encouraging coming after the political coverage. Christians engaged in sacrificial action for others speaks much louder for our Lord than Christians campaigning, though that should not be neglected. —Rodney Stent, Dallas, Ore.

‘The Lamb’s agenda’

Dec. 1 I have rarely read such a lucid, sensible, and biblical assessment of the immigration issue as Samuel Rodriguez expressed. Is there no Republican politician who could articulate some of Rodriguez’s grasp of the “Lamb’s agenda”? —Howard E. Dial, Jonesboro, Ga.

‘The power of high places’

Dec. 1 Thanks for the encouragement. I’m studying history at the University of Oxford and plan to return to the United States to teach. I’m excited about the field God’s called me to, but know it won’t always be easy or comfortable. —Daniel Ostendorff, Oxford, England

Excellent column. If citizens listen to the liberally biased media long enough, they will often adopt those perspectives as their own. I have seen too many of my friends and family swept away with leftist and progressive ideology. God help us if we let others do the thinking for us. —Bob Woodford, Hudson, Mass.

‘Christmas mix’

Dec. 1 I appreciate the honest, informed critique of secular vs. Christian artists’ Christmas offerings, but we need to guard our hearts. Mandisa or Jewel? We will cast our dollars toward Mandisa to support musicians who consistently point to Christ. —Lane Walker, Saint Charles, Mo.

‘Thanksgiving secret’

Dec. 1 I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer last July. The months of difficult treatment have led to an astounding discovery of moments of “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” I hadn’t quite understood how until I read in this column, “The best way to learn thanksgiving is to taste it.” —Joy McArtor, Hot Springs, Ark.

‘Campus politics’

Dec. 1 The statement by “disgruntled Mount Hermon alumni” that Liberty University is “intellectually narrow” was annoying. It confuses narrowness with epistemological coherence. And calling Liberty “homophobic” while dismissing that school’s biblical foundation is ethically absurd. That educated people say such things is disturbing, and suggests that believers have much work to redeem our culture and reach people within it. —Scott Julian, Livonia, Mich.

‘Opposing the truth-trashers’

Nov. 17 As a subscriber who inherited WORLD from both Presbyterian Journal and Eternity magazine, all I have to say is: Both Donald Gray Barnhouse and Nelson Bell would be proud. —Beulah Williamson, Dexter, Mich.

‘Lolo on ice’

Nov. 17 I was disappointed with the comment about Lolo Jones not “living up to the hype she helped manufacture.” Her faith lifted her out of homelessness and crime. She is a shining example to thousands of young women. —Dean Davis, Carbondale, Ill.

‘Broken spirits’

Nov. 3 I was featured in this article and have mixed feelings about it. How does spending an hour in the waiting room of an inner-city family practice allow you to determine our patients have “broken spirits”? Although this article offered a lot of insight, it missed core components of what we do here and the mission of the practice. —Takesha Leonard, Buffalo, N.Y.

WORLD Around the World

Pohnpei, Micronesia Submitted by Doug Abels

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