Mailbag

‘Give me your tired’

Nov. 16 The plight of refugees worldwide is heartbreaking, and Mindy Belz’s plea for the United States to accept more refugees is commendable. However, as a volunteer refugee mentor, I see what they must endure to make it in this country. It’s not easy. Caseworkers are badly overloaded and government benefits are mind-boggling to navigate. I have seen refugee men so frustrated by it all that they snap. If we are to welcome more refugees, we must offer more resources. —Esther Luna, Richardson, Texas

I disagree that the U.S. government should do more to aid Syrian refugees. Instead we need to remember our close friends and allies and do a much better job at helping them. We don’t have the resources to help every nation going through a natural disaster, self-induced crisis, or civil war. —Matt Moughamian, Idaho City, Idaho

‘Don’t be so predictable’

Nov. 16 I normally appreciate your thoughtful perspective but was taken aback by how this column used Bible verses as sledgehammers to attack Miley Cyrus. As Christians, we can do better at engaging our culture with wisdom and love. —Lisa Adams, Winchester, Va.

We shouldn’t be surprised by Cyrus’ public meltdown. Her sudden fall from teen idol to edgy and unhinged 20-year-old is just a well-orchestrated publicity stunt. The object lesson is for the rest of us. It wasn’t any more acceptable to idolize the pop star when she was the squeaky-clean Disney persona than it is now. —Paul Holcomb, Marietta, Ga.

‘Salt over sugar’

Nov. 16 I am thrilled that CCM culture is shifting from “missions to profits,” and it’s great to see these new artists relying on honesty and musical excellence rather than popular culture and radio play. —Elijah Tate Buck, Warsaw, N.Y.

‘Broken music’

Nov. 16 J.B. Cheaney’s comparison of the breakdown of families to the breakdown of music nicely complemented “Salt over sugar.” Modern music, which had “established principles of harmony and melody,” as Cheaney said, is dying along with Western culture. CCM lyrics need sound theology. —Nick Greear, Cedaredge, Colo.

‘Cease your sulking’

Nov. 16 Reading Andrée Seu Peterson helps me be honest with myself, God, and others, and she did it again with this column. I’ve had a long struggle with anger and have now resolved to finally let it go. Often I have reread “From this day forward” (Dec. 29, 2012) and wept over the losses of the past and the hopes of the future. Perhaps I shall weep less over the losses and more for future blessings. Perhaps it is really not too late. —Katie Maddox, Gray, Ga.

‘Not bluffing’

Nov. 2 I am weary of Christians attacking other Christians for matters of conscience. Thank you to WORLD for not casting stones and thank you to Jerry Jenkins for reminding us that being in the world and not of it enables us to “rub shoulders with unsaved people” and share Christ. —Lea Ann Brookens, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Perhaps we need to judge things such as poker by asking, Would Jesus do this? Does it glorify God? Is it good stewardship? Am I avoiding the appearance of evil? As for finding unbelievers to rub shoulders with, we are surrounded by hurting people if only our eyes will see them. —Melissa Brock, West Unity, Ohio

Although the Bible does not explicitly forbid poker, in the interest of love and mutual edification Jenkins should quit playing publicly. —Jim Hasak, Prescott, Ariz.

Reading about Jenkins’ poker playing was deeply disappointing. As a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, I believe he should step down from his position as chairman of the board. I have seen the devastating effects of gambling in several families and pray he looks for another way to spend his leisure time. —Jackie James, Prairie Village, Kan.

‘Still going strong’

Nov. 2 How about trading a paying job for the joy of productive retirement? Rather than valuing only work for pay, we should consider retirees who demonstrate the many productive activities in which “retired” people engage. That might move the conversation beyond the stereotype of healthy seniors living off the government so they can golf every day. —Cheryl von Drehle, Roscommon, Mich.

‘Whole new ballgames’

Nov. 2 Your article on the rise of Gaelic hurling in the United States reminds me of when it was occasionally featured on ABC’s Wide World of Sports back in the ’60s. This exotic yet brutal sport fascinated me. Given our nation’s love affair with sports, I wonder how long until it has its own cable network? —Stefan A.D. Bucek, San Jose, Calif.

‘Science supremacists’

Nov. 2 Steven Pinker’s position looks like it was stripped from the pages of C.S. Lewis’ science fiction novel, That Hideous Strength. It appears to be a resurgence of logical positivism (if it ever faded). Should Pinker ever become chairman of the humanities table, his approach means that he would soon be the only one at the table. —Bryan MacPhail-Fausey, Fenton, Mich.

‘The high cost of negligence’

Nov. 2 Thanks for the article on reporting sexual abuse. A few years ago a relative called me crying because her brother, who had abused her in childhood, had violated her daughter. She initially refused to call the police because “it would destroy” her family, but turned him in when her pastor said he had to if she wouldn’t. Now her brother is in prison. She kept this secret for 25 years and as a result others became victims. I hope your article will encourage others to report sexual abuse. —Jone Reid, Winston-Salem, N.C.

‘Dead seriousness’

Oct. 19 As well as asking, “How many innocent people die because we enforce the death penalty?” we should also ask, “How many innocent people die because we fail to enforce the death penalty?” —Charles Hodges, Louisville, Ky.

Thank you for this thoughtful treatise. I thought I already had a biblical perspective on capital punishment, having been taught years ago that Genesis 9 was the final word. I appreciated the challenge to my conviction and am persuaded that I’ve been wrong all these years. —Beverly Jacobson, Naples, Italy

Many Scriptures emphasize that the object of putting an offender to death was to eliminate an evil influence from society. Our system has executed innocent people, but the alternative of life in prison is also barbaric and does not really “purge the evil from among you.” Thank you for an insightful article. —Paul E. Leightner, Pisgah Forest, N.C.

Andrée Seu Peterson

I recently spent a profitable morning reading through many of Andrée Seu Peterson’s columns in the WORLD online archive. She helps us see the obvious, remember simple truths, and learn from everyday life. —Amy Tanaka, Poulsbo, Wash.

WORLD’s online archive of Peterson’s columns is available on wng.com.

Corrections

The U.S. commitment to take 10,000 Syrian refugees is 0.5 percent of the number of asylum seekers (“Give me your tired,” Nov. 16, p. 32).

Jennie and Mike Landreth have been married 18 years and have three children, the oldest adopted domestically (“Not Annie The Musical,” Nov. 30, p. 44).

WORLD Around the World

Toora Kem, Russia Submitted by Allen E. Bassler

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