Mailbag

‘A life worth living’

July 26 My sisters and I cared for our mother through her decline with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia to the very end. We offered this gift daily to her and to God, thanking her for her years of self-sacrifice. God transformed us while we cared for Mamma, improving our lives as He drew us closer to Him. Grelen’s point is so very true: God determines the purpose of life, not humans. —Frances Poston Bennett, Charleston, S.C.

No one can say how another person “experiences” life, and that should affect how we treat those at the beginning and the end of life. We must stand up for those who are most defenseless among us: the unborn, the disabled, and the elderly. —Gus Nelson, Louisville, Ky.

What will our four small children say about our marriage when I am on my deathbed? Will it inspire them and their future spouses and children? Growing up I was blessed to see similar devotion in my grandparents and parents, and it strengthened my resolve to do the same if necessary. Taking care of the elderly at the end of life can be a beautiful thing to witness. —Chris Clem, Chattanooga, Tenn.

‘Little word, big meaning’

July 26 This column was so encouraging. I am a father of three preparing for the birds and the bees conversation with my oldest, so it is timely hearing that a commitment to sexual purity lies in complete submission to Christ and not in anticipation of a reward payable-upon-vows. —Ron Philley, Birmingham, Ala.

How much has Christians’ widespread acceptance of premarital physical affection (as long as it stops short of “that little word”) contributed to the acceptance of sex outside of marriage? We could help our young people by teaching them a fuller, more biblical view of sexual intimacy that goes beyond the act of consummation, one that focuses on how the glory of marriage reflects Christ and His bride. —Karen Cox, Waynesboro, Ga.

‘The great escape’

July 26 Marvin Olasky’s column about how Christians should be saboteurs in “enemy-occupied territory” reminded me of Oscar Cullmann’s metaphor: We are living between D-Day and V-Day. We know Who has won, but we are still involved in a massive mop-up operation. Only royal children can have such optimism. —Jeremy Larson, Waco, Texas

Speaking the gospel to men in county jail, I point out that they are prisoners in a war between God and Satan, a situation much more significant and devastating than their temporary incarceration. Their only means of escape from their POW status is faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. —Ron Mears, Alpine, Calif.

‘Debt decisions’

July 26 David Skeel asserted that student loans are justifiable as a “public good,” but where is the constitutional warrant for taking my money and transferring it to someone else’s children for their education? An endless list of items might benefit the “public good.” This excuse has been the manure to fertilize the growth of our fast-growing, unconstitutional, and “benevolent” tyranny. —Jeff Singletary, Lebanon, Ind.

‘Tolerance in the court’

July 26 While the Supreme Court was deciding Hobby Lobby’s case, demonstrators on both sides carried signs; but the photo of their expressions said much more than the words on their posters. The truth does not have to scream, shout, or angrily demand you conform to it. —Elaine Neumeyer, Big Canoe, Ga.

Quotables

July 26 What could Hillary Clinton say to college students that would be worth $300,000? What a waste of money when colleges are hurting for income. —Max Taylor, Collierville, Tenn.

‘Fundamental right’

July 26 The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that homosexual couples have a “fundamental right” to marry, but fundamental rights involve things that have been around since the beginning. That includes life, marriage between a man and woman, bearing children, and worship of the Creator. Gay “marriage” will never enjoy this status, whether or not the courts impose it on us. —Joe Marincel, Flower Mound, Texas

‘Married to Darwin’

July 12 I am an evangelical Christian, a young-earth creationist, and a practicing scientist. I greatly respect those who try to reconcile modern science with the Bible, but I believe the issue is moot. Once you accept that God created supernaturally, you must also accept that you can’t extrapolate back from what we observe today to the origins. Given this, why would one compromise what the Bible plainly says just to accommodate what science teaches? —Adam J. Coleman, Dayton, Ohio

It really is a question of God versus Darwin and not God versus science. Christians, of all people, should know to embrace the account by God, who was there, rather than a human hypothesis. —Joshua Porter, Pensacola, Fla.

Thank you for the recent articles upholding the literal interpretation of Genesis. It is so refreshing. I also appreciate all the reporting done on the other topics in America and the world. —Tim Gilmour, Siloam Springs, Ark.

‘Study halls’

July 12 Susan Olasky’s piece on Hemingway Editor had me laughing for days after I noticed that it included an image showing the website’s low score (readability: 21) and assessment (“bad”) of her own story. Thank you for reminding me how to have a little fun at one’s own expense. And, by the way, she deserved a much better score. —Steve Ferrier, Corvallis, Ore.

‘Humble pie’

July 12 I read this column on the same day I failed a test for a job on which I had placed much hope. In the past two years I’ve had plenty of painful failures in job pursuits and often felt as if I’ve wandered off the trail of God’s leading. I’ve prayed fervently to hear from Him, and in this column I did. —Mike Mitchell, Saratoga Springs, Utah

‘Defining pluralism’

July 12 Some define pluralism, as Joel Belz said, to mean that “all worldviews are equally true or valid” in an attempt to rationalize moral relativism or neutralize opposing worldviews. But that is irrational. It violates the law of noncontradiction. —Brian J. Williams, Valparaiso, Ind.

Please remove me and this church from your mailing list. Your attacks on the president and anything other than conservative Republicanism stinks of anything but God’s Word. —Pastor Kevin Schrum, Buckroe Baptist Church, Hampton, Va.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the staff of WORLD. How blessed we are to have a publication like this. —Ron Class, Indianapolis, Ind.

Correction

Nazry Mustakim’s drug offense, while not an aggravated felony in criminal law, qualified as an aggravated felony in immigration law (“Detention contention,” Aug. 23, p. 38).