Voice and vocation

Thanks for Mr. Veith's insightful article regarding the Chevrolet sponsorship of the recent Come Together and Worship tour ("Like a rock ... musician," Nov. 23). As those of us fortunate enough to attend this incredible worship experience can attest, the participants clearly exhibited how each of us should be using our talents in working as if for the Lord and not for man, whether or not in a "Christian" profession. Any profession that honors Christ is a vocation and a calling, as well as a ministry. - Zanese B. Duncan, Norcross, Ga.

I disagree with Mr. Veith. Theologically themed songs are not just entertainment, they are acts of worship. Now we want secular industry to finance our worship. The world has crept into the church, and the results are all too obvious--wishy-washy lukewarmness. The church of Jesus Christ has entertained itself to death, and the marketing of Christianity has shamed the name of our all powerful God by relying on gimmicks and secular ways instead of the Holy Spirit. - Frank Nolton, Goodrich, Mich.

Why would anyone be alarmed at having Chevrolet sponsor a Christian tour? If God chooses to advance His Word by using His resources at General Motors, great. - David H. Eichen, Alton, Ill.

Gate debate

Mr. Olasky carefully dissects four anti-immigration arguments, but he left others unmentioned ("Don't close the gate," Nov. 23). It is one thing to allow the sojourner to glean from your land; it is another to be left to glean your own field after the sojourners have made off with the bulk of the harvest. After a year in which my wife and I were laid off from our high-tech jobs, our own government is still allowing a continuous stream of immigrant workers into our job market via H1-B temporary worker visas. Companies and the government say there is a dearth of skilled American workers, but this is clearly a facade to justify hiring workers who can be paid less than market rates, offered fewer benefits, and who cannot shop their skills to other employers (because H1-B workers must stay with the company that obtained the visa for them or face deportation). When the jobs we apply for are routinely filled by H1-B workers, how can I feel anything but disenfranchisement? - Dan Edelen, Mt. Orab, Ohio

Mr. Olasky is right that we should teach potential citizens English and American ideals. However, many of our schools do not even teach our current citizens those American ideals. - Thomas N. Burley, Grand Rapids, Mich.

"Journalistic leverage" is a call to arms and a call for word-wielding writers to rise above the murky oozing mud of liberal contamination. Thank you, Joel Belz. - Harold G. Freeman, Hastings, Mich.

Baggage claim

After reading "Unclaimed baggage" (Nov. 2), I felt that I should make you aware that the Jackson County Historical Association (JCHA) plans to commemorate the Scottsboro Case, an event many historians regard as the beginning of the civil rights movement, with a marker on the courthouse square in Scottsboro. The historical marker committee of the JCHA meets on Dec. 9 to finalize the narrative for the marker. We appreciate Mr. Olasky's interest in Scottsboro; hopefully the Scottsboro Case marker will be erected before his next visit to our city. - Drenda King,, Jackson County Historical Association Scottsboro, Ala.

Praying for leaders

As an immigrant and naturalized American citizen, I and my family rejoiced at the election of Jim Talent and other like-minded candidates ("Majority maker," Nov. 23). It always baffles me how conservatives manage to get elected in a country where the godless and liberal news media ridicule everything that has even a hint of Judeo-Christian values. Many of these values have been eroded by legislation legalizing sin to make it seem respectable and even honorable. Our family will continue to beg the Lord to grant godly wisdom to our leaders who are on the right path and convert those who are not. - Winfried Schroeder, Roscoe, S.D.

Is the function of Christian music to please us or to please God? I question whether contemporary Christian music concerts have praising and worshipping God as their primary motives. Is it ever proper to praise God for profit? - Sally Koning, Glenn, Mich.

I attended the worship service of Third Day and Michael W. Smith in Peoria, Ill. I'm sure there were people who attended the event and considered it a concert but there were also those of us who attended the event and worshipped. - Kathy Holeton, West Burlington, Iowa

Think twice

I take issue with the characterization of genetically modified food in your summary of James Glassman's article ("Europe's harmful superstition," Nov. 23). It is unwise to claim that there are "no adverse health risks" when the products using GM food may not have been available to the general public long enough for conditions to develop. More importantly, the companies that create and distribute these products are undermining sound agrarian practices. The development of plants that grow sterile seed is only one example, and we do not understand how the modifications may be affecting other wildlife around the plants. - Ron Southwick, Nedrow, N.Y.

I would agree with Mr. Olasky that this country was founded upon immigration and immigration needs to be maintained. However, being from eastern Nebraska in the middle of packing house country where illegal immigrant workers are the norm, I would like to qualify this statement. Turning a blind eye to illegal immigration sends the wrong message. What does it teach our children when we hear that one of our packing house companies was caught providing illegal green cards for the immigrants? Also, our young people leave our small communities because they cannot support their families on the low wages in this area. It is hard for us in these communities to believe that the influx of low-wage illegals is anything other than an expression of greedy corporate America. - Dwight Boysen, Howells, Neb.

Off and on

Regarding "Journalistic leverage" (Nov. 23), I might agree that the United States needs more conservative journalists, but I do not agree with Mr. Belz using his column to suggest that I send contributions to the World Journalism Institute. This column totally turned me off to the rest of your magazine. - Tim Wilson, Richmond, Va.

Free speech zone

I read with interest WORLD's short report on the legal battle taking place in Salt Lake City ("Street fight," Nov. 16). The important question is not whether churches have the right to remove protesters from their property, but whether they have the power to set and enforce behavioral restrictions on a public right-of-way. The property is a public easement on which, as the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, constitutional freedoms for the public must be maintained. The court upheld our Constitution when it ruled that no one, be it city or church, has the right to "create a 'First Amendment Free Zone'" on public easements. - Sharon Lindbloom, Eden Prairie, Minn.

Corrections

Clifton Kirkpatrick is the Stated Clerk of the P.C.U.S.A. (Nov. 23, p. 31). Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) is the new majority whip in the House (Nov. 23, p. 8).