Enough already

It is so sad that Christians will undoubtedly fall for the lure of The Prince of Egypt ("Answer to prayer," Nov. 7). Multiple millions of dollars will be spent by evangelical holiday shoppers on a film just because it has a biblical overtone, that takes the he out of references to God (because it's "clearer to young children") and "removes the gender" (the stated ambition of producer Penney Finkelman). So we may not get the movie junk at MacDonald's or Burger King, but I'll betcha it'll be in all the Christian bookstores. Ugh. Enough already. Of course Tommy Nelson is excited about this "opportunity ... we've never had before." They are the ones who will be cashing in on the sanitized movie merchandising. The church should be determining how and when the gospel is shared, not Hollywood. If we are starting to rely on the movie industry to help us along, then we are truly more lame than I imagined. - Mrs. G. Frank Strickland, Lisbon, Maine

Eyes off the prize

What are we doing focusing our attention on Moses on Dec. 18 (the day The Prince of Egypt is scheduled to premiere), one week before Christmas? Even if The Prince of Egypt proves to be biblically correct instead of politically correct, Hollywood still wins, because it has succeeded in redirecting our focus away from Christ. - Don Ritsman, Cedar Grove, Wis.

Closer

DreamWorks' The Prince of Egypt may not have hit the bullseye, but it is on target. We all should try to get our children, grandchildren, and ourselves out to see this one or there may not be another. Perhaps if The Prince of Egypt does well, the next one will be closer yet to the mark. - Clayton A. Riehle, Portville, N.Y.

Misleading

The cover story about the film The Prince of Egypt was grossly misleading and ambiguous. Statements on the cover referring to "a new pharaoh" and "Exodus from Disney" made it sound like the film was another watered-down, altered, and redefined history lesson from Hollywood. And the caption "DreamWorks' Prince of Egypt follows Disney's Pocahontas & Hunchback" ... does that mean Prince of Egypt follows the same philosophies and historical rewrites of those movies or just that it was released after those two movies? - Kimball D. Chase, San Dimas, Calif.

Sobering satire

Roy Maynard's "An Innocent Abroad" (Nov. 7) was excellent satire: finely spun, understated, morally pure. I would like to have seen the article greatly expanded along the same lines. We should also remember that Francis Schaeffer and others warned that our own descent into degeneration is only about a generation behind that of Europe, and take heed from the picture Mr. Maynard painted. - Tim Harris, Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

Some would be Christian

When I saw The Big Chill with my husband in 1983, I made a comment that I still think is true: If the movie maker really wanted to capture what happened to the radicals of the '70s-one of them would have become a Christian ("The chilling effect," Nov. 7). The heart of the '70s was idealism-and there were many truth seekers who stumbled their way into the kingdom of God. Yes, the majority chose narcissism, but the Jesus movement walked alongside these radicals and led many of us from emptiness to the only real meaning there is in life-a relationship with Jesus that in turn spills over to others. - Dale Karen Edwards, Baton Rouge, La.

Good tonic

How sad that many do not see what Marvin Olasky was saying in his "World serious" column (Oct. 17). For many like myself, it was both a breath of fresh air and a dose of good tonic. What he said was insightful, concise, and easy to understand. Although many were offended to some degree at his conclusions, this should in no way make WORLD drop the ball and give up the debate. Paul, as evidenced by his scriptural analogies, gave proper significance to athletics. To paraphrase the writer of Ecclesiastes, everything has its proper place under heaven, along with a time and purpose for it. For those offended at God's providence in this matter, I for one find no coincidence in the birth of professional sports with the effects of the Industrial Revolution, where the body was suddenly free of much work. I suppose one could find almost anything to be work that would break the Sabbath commandment if done on Sunday (or Saturday for some sects). I've found it most helpful to hear pro athletes themselves often declare that "We get paid to practice-we play for free." Practices on Sunday? Let's hope not. Sports in place of worship? May it never be! Hopefully, the games themselves are relaxation for fans, and recreation (to re-create, or create anew) for the participants. Remember: "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27). Was WORLD serious? I sure hope so. - Michael Hughes, Candler, N.C.

Get out of the chapel

I read your article "Recovery time" (Oct. 24). I think it is wonderful that Darryl Strawberry turned to God and is now a Christian. Buy why are photographers in the chapel? Can't they be told to leave? - Katie Dorn (12), Momence, Ill.

Too worldly

Please cancel my subscription. Your mix of being Christian and being of the world is too dangerous for me. You have a real "worldly" WORLD magazine-and you can keep it. - David Pedersen, Galesburg, Ill.

-ish? Yech!

"Worldviewishly" ("Sound out ar-ro-gant," Oct. 31)? Mercy! - Pete Linch, Abilene, Texas

Right for wrong reason

Your pro-life violence article ("'Pro-life' violence: Here we go again," Nov. 7) was a good example of arriving at the right conclusion for all the wrong reasons.There's nothing inherently wrong with vigilante justice. The rule of law is not an end in itself. It's supposed to be a means to an end-the promotion of justice. To say that the death of Slepian was wrong because "no one knows when God will change the heart of an abortionist" is ridiculous. If WORLD is concerned with "pro-life" violence, it should offer an article with some constructive suggestions. It seems to me that the most promising strategy is not governmental but economic. Sponsor a Christian legal society that recruits women who have suffered physical and psychological trauma as a result of abortion, and then start filing law suits. It only takes a few victories, a few precedents, to raise malpractice premiums to the point where the abortion clinic becomes prohibitively expensive. The same strategy would apply to the pharmaceutical industry (i.e., the abortion pill). It may not work, but nothing else is working, so it is worth a try. - Steve Hays, Kirkland, Wash.

Why give more ammunition?

Thank you for your thoughtful article on the murder of abortionist Barnett Slepian. It is oxymoronic for a person to murder in the name of "pro-life." Jesus warned that wolves would come in sheep's clothing. Evil is always done in the name of some "larger good." Witness the murder of millions under communism in the name of social justice. When a person unilaterally takes the life of some person apart from judicial procedures and righteous law, that person is guilty of murder, whether it is the life of an unborn, or the life of the doctor who performs the procedure. John the Baptist deplored the adultery of Herod, and paid with his life, but he did not conspire to take Herod's life, even though the law of Israel required the death of adulterers. The examples could be multiplied. To conspire against the life of anyone without the safeguards of divine order is to act as a loose cannon against the rights and safety of anyone. All such is contrary to God's divine order and merits condemnation, no matter what the private justification is. The man who took the life of Dr. Slepian is guilty of murder, and you are to be praised for calling it like it is. Pro-life should be pro-everybody's life. Why give the anti-life lobby more ammunition? - C.W. Powell, Colorado Springs, Colo.

No more Clinton

I am sorry but I am sick of hearing about Bill Clinton. Okay, we all know what he did.We all know he is not the greatest president; but give it a break! I don't necessarily like Mr. Clinton, and I know he did lie. But reading about him week after week, page after page, is quite annoying. - Ashlee Jones, Cornelius, N.C.

Thanks

Just a note to thank you for the uncompromising devotion to Christian values shown in your magazine. While many of your articles may be too explicit to be read by our 10- and 12-year-old children without benefit of parental guidance, it does conservative parents a great service by providing a springboard to discussion of the thorniest issues. And, while mainstream media often introduces such topics with the hidden agenda of subverting parental authority and Christian ethics, you do not hesitate to denounce corruption where it is encountered. Finally, while I continue to read letters from irate readers cancelling subscriptions because they object to the tone of specific articles, or to the mere fact that you do not hesitate to cover and condemn the moral cesspool that is Washington, D.C., I say, as our British cousins might, "Good on you!" The uncomfortable fact that it is impossible to denounce the sins of the Clinton administration without touching upon illicit behavior makes me admire you that much more for daring to broach these subjects in a Christian publication. As they say, roaches and other loathsome creatures can't stand the bright lights. Keep up the good work. - Barry Jones, Fort Payne, Ala.