‘The great reversal’

Nov. 26 | Your stance was misguided, but God in His mercy spared us a Clinton presidency. I didn’t cancel my subscription because WORLD has done so much good over the years that I couldn’t end the relationship over a single error. I’m looking forward to you holding the new administration’s feet to the fire. —PAUL SCHUH / Silver Spring, Md.

We don’t expect leaders to be perfect, but we do expect to see personal growth, and I believe Donald Trump has shown that. We should reserve judgment until he becomes President Trump and actually does something. —GEORGE KREM / Holdrege, Neb.

I read the cancellation letters with dismay. That I agreed with your position is irrelevant; this is a perfect example where we as Christians need to extend grace and understanding to opposing views. Thank you for being the one news source that I trust even though I occasionally disagree. —SHANE CLARKE / Lacey, Wash.

After the election I looked for some sort of apology for your call for Trump to withdraw. There was none. How can we trust you? Please cancel my subscription. —THOMAS R. ANDERSON / Bozeman, Mont.

If Trump had done as you suggested, Clinton would likely be the president-elect now, but the Bible calls for all believers to take principled stands. Some are now punishing you for -taking a consistent stand on Biblical principles. You called for Trump to step aside; you didn’t try to tell people how to vote. —MARVIN DEAN COX / Eagle River, Alaska

I could not bring myself to vote for Trump. It was torture, given the stakes for the Supreme Court and other issues, but we are to be witnesses to the world of unbelievers first. But after the election I was relieved that Trump’s win opens the possibility of a conservative court and other benefits. —KAREN FARLEY / Bend, Ore.

‘Life without television’

Nov. 26 | I identify with John R. Erickson’s experience seeing TV invade our culture. Before TV, imagination added wonder to radio broadcasts, and I lament with him America’s mindlessness in submitting to programming “there to hold us for the ads.” —BILL SWENSON / St. Louis, Mo.

Although I grew up with TV (does black-and-white count?), I feel Erickson’s tension with today’s social media and its effects on my teenage boys, beyond even advertisers’ bombardment and data collection. Kids communicate better via texting and social media than by conversation and seem afraid to talk to each other on their phones. —WES WOODWARD / Minnesota City, Minn.

My husband and I have lived without TV for 45 years. Not only did our sons survive, they don’t have television either. Call us unredeemed snobs, but when we happen to be where TVs are on, we’re stunned by the inanity—and the immorality. —CHERRY NEILL / Fort Worth, Texas

‘This American era’

Nov. 26 | What a disappointing read. I can’t think of one thing I will miss about President Obama. It certainly won’t be his policies, or his dismissiveness of the fact that all lives matter, or his continued support of the dismemberment of babies before they are born. He can’t get out of the White House soon enough for me. —MELINDA BROWN / Plano, Texas

I believe most other Christians will not miss this leftist president’s “calm demeanor.” With millions of other pro-life citizens I cannot wait to see Obama’s “size 12 shiny Florsheims” leaving the White House. —BILL RUSSELL / Brighton, Mich.

‘Communication breakdown’

Nov. 26 | Thank you for this excellent column. It is always heartening to discover scientists who honestly assess the inadequacies of their own research. —GREG REYNOLDS / Manchester, N.H.

‘Finding God in the USA’

Nov. 26 | I enjoyed this article, as I am a literal neighbor to Chinese professors here in Nampa. Our local Christian university has a Chinese-government-sponsored Confucius Institute teaching Chinese language and culture. In the last few years we’ve gotten to know four women professors (one a Christian), sharing meals and studying the Bible with these wonderful ladies. —RACHAEL ANKENY / Nampa, Idaho

‘Being West river’

Nov. 26 | Andrée Seu Peterson’s line, “I can’t imagine myself being any more or less charming in West river than I presently am,” cracked me up! I’ve read so many of her columns over the years that I feel that I know her. —ROBERT GORDON on Facebook

‘A food & fuel Thanksgiving’

Nov. 26 | Compliments for this article and “A big bowl full of oil.” You offered a balanced perspective on the California drought and how government and farmers need to share responsibility to sustain agriculture in our country. Similarly, oilman Tim Dunn’s substantive comments on fracking helped readers consider what’s best as our nation proceeds toward energy independence. —PATRICK P. CARUANA / San Antonio, Texas

It is indeed difficult for farmers to make a decent living with all of the regulations, in addition to having to find enough water. This insightful article just scratches the surface of how thankful we should be for those who give so much of themselves to provide the food we take for granted. —MELVIN HADLEY / Port Hadlock, Wash.

‘In Caesar’s shadow’

Nov. 26 | Your articles are very encouraging. We go to the battlefield each day often feeling alone, but our brothers and sisters are all over the globe getting up, putting on their shoes, and marching to the lines, waiting for the “glory of the Lord to appear, when all humanity together will see it.” —ERICA S. REITER / Vienna, Va.

Corrections

Toye Oyelade worked for the Chinese telecom company Huawei in Nigeria about eight years ago (“A world apart,” Dec. 10, 2016).

A 2015 report on Pentagon spending identified $125 billion in bureaucratic waste (“By the Numbers,” Dec. 31, 2016).

The photo in WORLD’s review of Manchester by the Sea pictures Casey Affleck and Lucas Hedges (“Manchester by the Sea,” Dec. 31, 2016).

More letters, emails, and comments we didn't have space for in the print edition:

‘The great reversal’

Nov. 26 | Thank you for publishing opposing views with such a thoughtful and respectful tone. It is sad to see the reaction. When did we become so afraid of hearing an opposing argument that we must shut out all voices that disagree with us? —JEANNINE LIEBMANN / Eureka, Mo.

I was hoping I could again look forward to reading your magazine after the election, but I cannot. You choose to uphold some personal standard I had never heard of (asking Bill Clinton to resign) rather than God’s standard of protecting the “least of these.” Please cancel my subscription. —BRETT LOYD / Greenville, Ind.

‘Trolls’

Nov. 26 | We had already seen Trolls when I read your review, and I was surprised you left out the running gag of someone saying “Oh my God!” As a family with three young children who easily pick up phrases, we were not happy with this violation of the Third Commandment. —LINNEA MINTZER / Kapolei, Hawaii

‘Keeping the light on’

Nov. 12 | The difficulty Andrée Seu Peterson and her husband experienced in the ministry meeting over giving tacit sanction to homosexuals reminds me how Biblically illiterate so many Christians are today. Solid food is for the mature, Hebrews reminds us, who can discern good and evil. Thanks for being faithful to uphold the divine order. —JEFFREY C. DANCO / Bridgewater, N.J.

If Andrée finds herself again in a similar situation perhaps she could suggest, in the spirit of accommodation, that alcoholics be provided with an open bar. —SHERYL NELSON / Soldotna, Ark.

‘Gene dreams’

Nov. 12 | Janie B. Cheaney’s concern about editing out sin has already been addressed; some scientists think that improving morality is simply a matter of genetic manipulation. A recent article in Scientific American discussed “moral enhancement” using medical methods. There is no need for a Savior as long as we have smart folks to make good use of science—a sobering prospect indeed. —BRIAN PAULSON / Littleton, Colo.

‘Out of balance’

Oct. 15 | I have always appreciated Mindy Belz's global reporting. This past year, I have learned so much about the refugee crisis, and I want to do more than fret. I pray, and recently the head of an aid organization reminded our church that “what we see as the enemy God sees as the harvest.” Thank you for consistently reporting what few others do. —DANETTE MATTY / Lincoln, Neb.