Shown otherwise

I found "Third-degree Burns" (Oct. 28) accurately portrayed the double-facedness of Jon Tester. He attempts to look like a good 'ole farming Montana conservative, but his record shows otherwise. Meanwhile, the only thing he can find wrong with Conrad Burns is that he took money from Jack Abramoff, but so did Max Baucus, Montana's other senator and a Democrat. I am appalled that Montanans are buying into this nonsense. -Ethan A. Harrington; Hamilton, Mont.

I was surprised at Mark Bergin's article on the U.S. Senate race here in Montana. The negative characterizations of Burns and glowing prose describing Tester would be surprising in the liberal Montana Standard newspaper in Butte. The article only lightly touched on their positions on the issues. -William Grinder; Cardwell, Mont.

Better than he deserves

I know "Religion-baiting" (Oct. 28) was not intended as an endorsement for liberal Democrat Harold Ford Jr., and for thinking Christians it is not. But for those being swayed by Ford's slick ads and talk, your article paints him in a much better light than he deserves. -Susan Rudge; Brentwood, Tenn.

Wash the laundry

The negative propaganda surrounding my beloved Republican Party only made me more determined to "Go out and vote" (Oct. 28). Should we have turned our backs on our convictions or should we have stayed the course and held the GOP accountable during the nomination period? Sure we have a lot of dirty laundry, but we are the only party concerned with preserving life and respecting the belief that we are under the protection of a mighty God. -Kim Demer; Camden, S.C.

How disappointing to read "Go out and vote" on the eve of the November elections. The harsh reality is that neither major political party in the United States represents people of Christian faith and their concerns. Marvin Olasky attacks those who would form a Christian political party in the United States, but Christian political organizations are a logical response to political paganism. -Barry Kroeker; State College, Pa.

Curious Kuo

How curious. David Kuo felt compelled to write a book because we Christians are being used by politicians ("Should the saints go marching out?" Oct. 28), then he fell into (or bought into) the same pit. -Rich Reid; Boise, Idaho

I am sick and tired of American politics. We say we are trusting in the Lord and His perfect plan, but we expend a lot of energy and rhetoric on politics. I agree with Kuo and just want to walk with Jesus in such a way that people will see Him and want to know Him through my life and words. I am by no means a "bury my head in the sand" Christian, but every political leader I have ever trusted has been a disappointment. -Meg Ishikawa; Okinawa, Japan

Republicans use evangelicals, and that's fine because evangelicals can return the favor. I will continue to vote for Republicans because I think they are a little better than Democrats. I have stopped thinking that winning elections matters a lot: The outcome of this election, or any other election, isn't of eternal importance. -Jody Van Ness; Coatesville, Pa.

Things the Lord hates

As a pro-lifer, I appreciate Joel Belz's column, "Abortion proportions" (Oct. 28). Proverbs 6 lists six things that the Lord hates, and one of them is "hands that shed innocent blood." Becoming lethargic about the murder of millions of unborn babies is against God's holy Word. -Elizabeth Grosse; Elkhart, Kan.

How can some pro-lifers argue that "the people at large" have the right "to make such important decisions" as whether or not abortion should be legal? They are asking for nothing less than a collective "right to choose." And if they say that the Supreme Court should listen to the majority of Americans opposing abortion now, what will they say when, sooner or later, the majority supports it? Instead, they should argue for a right to life that is derived not from the will of the electorate but from the will of the Almighty. -Lynn Rutledge; Naperville, Ill.

It is true, as Joel Belz points out, that Christians and conservatives are building a crucial advantage by having more children and refusing to abort. But a huge percentage of these conservatives and Christians are surrendering that advantage to the enemy by sending their children to public schools and state universities to be indoctrinated with leftist propaganda. -Paul Young; Cape Town, South Africa

Belz says the "prevention of implantation" of a very young child conceived by rape or incest is "compassion," but those children are people, too, and don't warrant the death penalty because of the crimes of their fathers. Kudos to South Dakotans for trying to save the lives of some unborn children; let's also recognize the right to life of all children. -Joanne Brockhoeft; Peebles, Ohio

Scripted response

I do care that cursive script is disappearing (Quick Takes, Oct. 28); I just don't know how to make a difference in the system. In the '40s, our Christian school used a penmanship curriculum. All who qualified received a certificate at the eighth-grade graduation ceremony. It was enjoyable, even therapeutic, to make lines of joined "sticks" and "circles" and be taught how to hold the pencil correctly-unlike the person in the illustration. -Phyllis Van Prooyen; Dyer, Ind.

Except when I am required to use cursive (in order to have a distinctive signature, for instance), I have used block print all my life. I find cursive to be a waste of time and, due to its unreliable legibility, a barrier to effective communication. -John Ames; Sturgeon Lake, Minn.

Captivated

I strongly disagree with Priya Abraham's negative review of One Night with the King ("Death of a good story," Oct. 28). From start to finish, I was totally caught up in this beautiful movie. Everything about the picture was captivating: the sets, the images, the costumes, the musical score, the characters, and yes, even the dialogue. The scene where Esther, uninvited, finally approaches the king was exceptionally well done. I couldn't believe that Abraham could concentrate on the fact that Esther seemed to flop into the king's arms abruptly. I certainly prefer a "script gap" now and then to a movie replete with violence, profanity, lewdness, potty humor, and immorality. -Karen Bower; Toledo, Ohio

Take it seriously

Andrée Seu's point ("Plucked out of the burning," Oct. 21) was that God uses imperfect people to accomplish His will. As an example, she contrasted John Wesley's ministry with his failures as a husband. I fully agree with her point, but would argue that no amount of success in the pulpit should justify failures of this nature at home. Scripture makes it plain that failing in one's home must disqualify pastors and elders. For too long, I think, we have not taken this Scripture as seriously as we should. Could our failure to hold pastors and elders to this standard explain the long-standing phenomenon that a strong majority of children raised in the church walk away from the faith? -Michael Farris; Purcellville, Va.

Progress assessments

I was disheartened to come across movie reviews in our first issue of WORLD. Why do Christians give any attention to those who produce the movies that have so emaciated our culture? Please cancel our subscription. -Ann Flanagan; Billings, Mont.

One can see why WORLD's board is not intrusive ("Progress report," Oct. 14). I appreciate your forthright statistics about your content, the acknowledgment of needed improvements, and above all your unequivocal service to God. It's time for me to renew. -Tom E. Herzog; Dayton, Wyo.

Correction

Michael Steele is Maryland's lieutenant governor ("Scorecard: East and South," Nov. 4, p. 23).