Mailbag

‘Charitable confusion’

April 19 Pastor John Crosby voting in favor of World Vision hiring same-sex married employees is another example of Christians trying to conform to the world instead of standing for truth. Doesn’t Romans 12:2 say we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds? Instead of conforming, shouldn’t we be loving people in God’s truth so much that they begin to seek transformation from the only One who can give it? —Marty Bruns, Grand Forks, N.D.

Crosby’s statement that World Vision “was trying to figure out how to present itself as Christian in a diverse world” is ludicrous. The answer is simple: Make the Bible the foundation. And Rah’s assertion that leaving theology to others “honors the church as a whole” is just outlandish gibberish. —Roger A. Faber, Westminster, Colo.

Thank you for the excellent article. After the initial World Vision statement in support of hiring homosexual couples, we decided to continue supporting our sponsor children in Kenya, whom we have visited twice. Mr. Stearns’ reversal was bittersweet, as it reveals deep trouble within World Vision leadership. —Kristofer Sandlund, Zanesville, Ohio

If you cannot verify that more than seven of the 17 board members profess faith in Christ, how can it be a Christian organization, and why would you expect it to make biblical decisions? —Elizabeth Kerr, Ontario, Calif.

‘No mercy’

April 19 I saw the movie, and Ted Baehr’s assertion that Noah “doesn’t significantly stray from the biblical source material” is laughable. Noah wanted to wipe out humanity to save the “innocent” animals and end human life. The “Watchers” appear to be fallen angels who redeem themselves by helping Noah, and Methuselah is a shaman. It seemed more influenced by new age religion, gnostic belief, and environmentalism than Scripture. —Donna Hayden, Portland, Ore.

This movie’s success unfortunately means Hollywood will continue to remake the Bible according to Hollywood. Just like the serpent in the Garden, Noah takes something that resembles the original message and then distorts it. You envisioned people dusting off their Bibles, but it’s more likely the movie reinforced a negative, hateful image of both God and Christianity. —David Staats, Fort Collins, Colo.

‘Patient and wise’

April 19 Perhaps 70 percent of our ills would “take care of themselves” without medical attention because the Healer has made our bodies in a fearful and wonderful way. Let’s give credit where credit is due. If we want to think radically, let’s look for healing on the inside and not just the outside. —Bill Decken, Roebuck, S.C.

I object to the opinion that people should just wait for symptoms to go away; people pay for professional advice because they don’t know whether the symptoms will go away. As for saving money by spending less on medical care in our final year, none of us knows when that will be. Perhaps the care will result in 20 more years. So who gets to decide? —Elisabeth S. Hall, Anchorage, Alaska

Dr. Payne has spoken well about the end of life. Why do Christians fight so hard to live a few months, weeks, or days longer when we can have confidence in Christ for our eternal home? Long ago I adopted a slogan: “Age gracefully.” I hope my family will witness my faith to the end. —June Ruyle, Sun City West, Ariz.

Quotables

April 19 It was only a matter of time before we faced a commercial featuring a same-sex couple or “family.” Soon we’ll face pressure not just to accept but glorify homosexuality; if that sounds too strong, ask the pastors in other countries who have gone to jail for preaching the Word on homosexuality. —Elaine Neumeyer, Big Canoe, Ga.

Dispatches

April 19 Was President Obama listening to himself when he told Vladimir Putin, regarding Russia’s annexation of Crimea, “No amount of propaganda can make right something the world knows is wrong”? These same words could apply to gay marriage, abortion rights, and even Obamacare. —Emily Chase, Mechanicsburg, Pa.

‘Turkey’s U-turn’

April 19 Jerry Mattix tells of a life-changing experience in Turkey that gave him a new perspective on life, but the Christian life in the West doesn’t have to be lived on the level of “metaphorical rhetoric.” The New Testament can take on “full color” in our own lives right here. The challenge is to have an attitude of expectation and live on the razor’s edge all the time. —Kathryn Lee, Indianapolis, Ind.

‘A father’s grief’

April 5 Marvin Olasky’s comments on James Brownson’s recent book are well taken. Those who advocate legitimizing homosexuality seem not to notice how commonly people must live with unfulfilled desires, even biblically valid desires for children or a fulfilling marriage. If a family member’s same-sex desires force us, as Dr. Brownson says he was, “to reimagine how Scripture speaks about homosexuality,” must we also reimagine its language about heterosexuality? —Bernard R. Grunstra, Bristol, Va.

Notable Books

April 5 Although I was excited to hear your take on Temple Grandin’s latest book, The Autistic Brain, I am disappointed that you described autism spectrum disorders as diseases. I have Asperger’s syndrome, and it allows me to see the world in ways others can’t. While it does present challenges, I see it as a gift from God, given so I may reflect Him in a truly unique way. —Danielle Price, Tucson, Ariz.

‘The Second Great Embarrassment’

April 5 A couple of megaministry scandals here in Orlando lead me to believe the problem is deeper than Marvin Olasky suggests. To my knowledge, neither church here had any overt “hero worship,” and the leaders were orthodox and very talented communicators. Hopefully all these failures will leave a strong impression on churches, and we’ll all be more careful—but we’ll probably forget again. —Gary Merideth, Windermere, Fla.

‘Reigning classic’

April 5 You reported that African-Americans are the “most avid” Bible readers, with two-thirds opening it up at least once a year. Surely an “avid” Bible reader would read it more than once a year. And the information that only 9 percent of survey respondents read their Bible every day is indeed disappointing. —Carol Blair, Gladewater, Texas

When I first found WORLD on a breakroom table in a furniture plant, I thought it was typical leftist propaganda. It took months for me to be won over by occasional reading, but you didn’t tell me what to think or believe. You just contrasted the culture with a godly way of seeing things. I had to think, and you gave my wife and me hope because of the amazing, positive things people were doing around the world. —Blake Gardner, Clayton, Ga.

Correction

No Greater Joy Ministries (NGJ) operates out of offices and warehouses on property owned by the ministry (“To train up a Pharisee,” May 3, p. 45). Also, we inadvertently left out of the print version of that story the following paragraph:

To Train Up a Child does include this warning: “There are always some who act in the extreme. These individuals are capable of using what has been said about the legitimate use of the rod to justify ongoing brutality to their children. … They would call themselves ‘strong disciplinarians.’ ‘But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea’ (Matthew 18:6).”

We included that paragraph in our digital editions.

WORLD Around the World

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Submitted by Richard & Meridith Rizzuti

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