Mailbag

‘A battle of wills and ideas’

June 15 Every year I spend two to four months teaching theology in Nigeria. The battle does involve “wills and ideas,” but far beyond what Obama is speaking about publicly. The battle involves an anti-Christian hatred that has escalated into slaughtering innocents for the sake of establishing Sharia law. It’s beyond understanding that USAID is supporting Islamic schools in Nigeria or that the State Department is offering a trip to Auschwitz for imams. This is a spiritual war. —Donna Maxfield, Canton, Ohio

As a former missionary kid to Nigeria, this article breaks my heart. But it’s the right information. It helps us understand how all this is affecting individuals. Deborah Wakai and her mom will be in my prayers. —Jordan Sampson, Southbury, Conn.

‘Rotten to the core?’

June 15 This country will soon decline to the point that the headline should have an exclamation mark instead of a question mark. —Sallie Hite McDaniel, Raleigh, N.C.

Thank you for Joel Belz’s lucid warning about the extent of moral corruption, not only in the federal government but in our culture. —Dave Hillquist, Arcadia, Mo.

Joel Belz makes a good point: Our form of government is designed for a type of person becoming a smaller and smaller percentage of our society. —Steve Gimbert, Clarkesville, Ga.

I pray that the next great thing the Lord does is send a great awakening to our nation so we might once again deserve godly statesmen in our highest offices. —Phillip S. Kite, Lubbock, Texas

Anyone can see the imminent danger, but will anyone do anything about it? How about those of us who vote these men and women into public office? —Ted Ludlow, Georgetown, Texas

I was born in 1931 and raised by devout atheists, so I’ve watched three generations of the decay Belz accurately described. One addition: It was already obvious in the late 1930s that the rot had begun long before. Belz asks who will “write up those articles of impeachment?” Blessedly, the Holy Spirit did thousands of years ago. —Art Thomas, Topeka, Kan.

‘The morning after’

June 15 This column brings to mind the Scripture, “As it was in the days of Noah.” Do I pray for God’s judgment or do I pray for more time, more mercy, and revival? The depth of man’s sin and rebellion seems even more unsustainable than it was in Jeremiah’s day when God told him, “Pray no more for these people.” —Gloria Beidler, Sutherlin, Ore.

I would despair if I didn’t firmly believe that God will carry us through it all, even if this country becomes the darkest, most oppressive regime ever. Our nation needs to learn we have not enjoyed freedom and peace and prosperity because we’re Americans. —Pam Gessler, Hendersonville, N.C.

Four hundred years ago the Pilgrims fled first to the Netherlands and then to what became New England looking for religious freedom. Today I find myself wondering where my family can flee to. —Bill Kinderman, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Why do all who embrace deviant behavior think that they are pioneers in breaking out of the restraints of society? It is no different from Eve’s defiance of God’s constraints. Thank you for being yet another watchman trying to shout God’s warning. —Debbie Slingo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

‘Serving the sparrows’

June 15 In the article about Redeemed Ministries working with women caught in sex trafficking, I appreciated the emphasis on relationships, a difficult aspect of social work in our individualized culture. But I think the contrast in the headline between relationships and armed rescues was unnecessary, for there can be complementary roles for men and women in a rescue. Men need to deal forcefully with pimps while women need to provide love and support for the “sparrows.” —Jon Chase, Everson, Wash.

The very people motivated to address human trafficking may be unwittingly supporting it by using or tolerating pornography. I can’t stress enough how important it is to change the cultural narrative along these lines. —Daniel Weiss, Omro, Wis.

‘Fifty-year calling’

June 15 Cal Thomas is one my favorite columnists. Years ago he was a regular commentator on the radio show, “All Things Considered.” The tension on that show between biblical and secular views of reality was palpable. Eventually Cal separated from NPR and wrote what became my all-time favorite column: “Not Quite All Things Considered.” —William Camp, Pike, N.H.

Excellent questions and answers. I have respected Thomas over the years but I was truly shocked when he took issue with Dr. Ben Carson for speaking out at the National Day of Prayer, saying he should apologize. President Obama is the one who should be apologizing. —William Grove, Fort Worth, Texas

Dispatches

June 15 Your comment that “Oklahoma Baptists deployed more than 100 volunteers to the tornado disaster site” failed to include the thousands of Christians of other denominations who contributed, not to mention those who helped just because they are Oklahomans. —Tim Adams, Broken Arrow, Okla.

‘Growing in a loophole’

June 1 Health sharing ministries are not “insurance” but they take the place of insurance in people’s lives. These entities depend not just upon the goodwill of other members, which is abundant, but also on the financial projections and relative health of all members, both of which are hard to predict. If they run short of members or have greater costs than members can share, then hospital claims will not be paid and those unlucky few will be left holding the bag. —Richard Miltenberger, Helena, Mont.

‘Stacking library shelves’

June 1 As a public library director, I appreciated this article. We have added many of the suggested titles to our collection. Please know that while ALA, NEH, and other organizations may have agendas, local librarians still retain jurisdiction over their shelves. What librarians need are more articles like this to provide analysis of controversial topics of interest to both searchers and Christians. —Bill Nelson, Casper, Wyo.

‘Lessons from a clothes dryer’

June 1 I appreciated Andrée Seu Peterson’s comparison of the decline of America’s morals with the decline of Israel as revealed in the Old Testament. It dismays me to see all the hype about today’s economy while neglecting attention to morality. —John Bascom, Cincinnati, Ohio

‘One monster among many’

May 18 Thank you to Andrée Seu Peterson for her coverage of the Gosnell trial. I have no words—even my prayers are simply tears. —Kim Summers, Elgin, Ore.

When we come to Judgment Day, I don’t think that God will be asking those who aborted babies if they did it legally or not. —Marj Otto, Elnora, Ind.

WORLD Around the World

Montrouis, Haiti Submitted by Naomi Carlson

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