Mailbag

‘Holding the line’

July 13 It took me better than a week to regain control of my blood pressure after reading the first three paragraphs. I never thought I would end up on the wrong side of the law after serving 13 years in the U.S. Air Force, but I could be in worse company than with “hate groups” like evangelical Christians, Catholics, and Chick-fil-A restaurateurs. What happened to sanity in our military?—Gary Roth, Celina, Ohio

My wife’s father received a pocket-sized New Testament and Psalms when he was an enlisted man in the Navy during WWII. On the inside front page a message from President Franklin D. Roosevelt begins, “I take pleasure in commending the reading of the Bible to all who serve in the armed forces of the United States. …”—John Silver, Morganton, N.C.

‘Leaving Exodus’

July 13 Your story emphasized Alan Chambers’ “weariness in fighting the battle against homosexual sin,” but the issue is really his reduced emphasis on repentance for rebelling against God’s design. Chambers himself now repents of things for which he should not apologize, such as believing that his marriage was better than a gay marriage. Why does he apologize for upholding God’s design?—Linda Ames Nicolosi, Encino, Calif.

Chambers was the public face of Exodus, but the local leaders, staff, and volunteers who worked with the sexually confused and broken people did the real labor. Chambers should have left Exodus over a year ago. Instead, he dug in his heels and tried to remake the organization in his own image. Praise God that faithful leaders and ministries will carry on the vital work of sexual sanctification.—Karen Booth, Monroe, Wis.

You quoted Christopher Yuan noting that Christian churches should work harder to affirm celibacy “as a robust way of life.” Amen!—Gayle Robinson Snyder, Raleigh, N.C.

‘Staring at death’

July 13 Biblical anthropology has the answers for Dmitry Itskov, now and in 2045. Jesus defines eternal life in terms of relationship to God, so the difference between living forever and merely lasting forever is the difference between heaven and hell.—Richard Fisher, Tampa, Fla.

Marvin Olasky asks if we are “all in with Paul.” I am, completely! I can’t wait to go home and meet my Maker.—Nancy Nance, Ocala, Fla.

‘Back to the states’

July 13 The Supreme Court’s majority decision striking down part of DOMA demonstrates how little interest there is in religious freedom. The First Amendment rights of tens of millions of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim believers are vanishing.—Nolan Nelson, Eugene, Ore.

‘Stretch marks’

July 13 The main issue is not how long you date or how well you know a person before marriage, but God’s will. My wife and I dated mostly by mail. I am still growing in love for her after 44 years of marriage. Knowing that our marriage is and always will be God’s will for our lives makes unconditional commitment a no-brainer.—Fred Stoll, Sebring, Fla.

Many thanks to Andrée Seu Peterson for identifying the lie of “Shacking Up.” As a wise friend said, no matter what you do to try to prepare, you will never know what it’s like to be married to him until you marry him.—Gary Gaskins, Asheboro, N.C.

‘Prison bars or pillars?’

July 13 The church’s greatest witness to the world is in honoring marriage. In marriage the church understands its role as the bride of Christ, and through it the world may glimpse the wonderful love of God available through Christ.—John Monroe, Carrollton, Texas

‘God bless the USA!’

July 13 Eighteen years ago I arrived via Air India at the JFK Airport to start living my American dream. My family and I could not have arrived where we are now in life but for our founding fathers’ confession: that all men are created equal and invested with dignity because of their Creator. I would pitch my tent here in the U.S. of A.—warts and all—rather than anywhere else in God’s wide world.—Dan Paul, Richmond, Mo.

‘Civil War storyteller’

June 29 I disagree with Maxwell that the Copperheads have “not been justified by history.” War is a righteous means of protecting a nation from invasion, but as a social change agent war is a gross failure and a disgusting waste of human lives, and this was especially true in the Civil War. History has instead vindicated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who helped accomplish, without violence, what brothers killing brothers failed to do.—Clif Springer, Clarksdale, Miss.

‘Commodity control’

June 29 The Last Hunger Season by Roger Thurow brought tears to my eyes in every chapter. When I tried to explain the desperate situation in Africa to my 4-year-old daughter, she said, “Mommy, should we pray about it?” We did. It is thrilling and a relief to read about One Acre Fund and its focus on being a servant.—Renee Wendt, Cambria, Wis.

‘Against the mental grain’

June 29 Given the mess our country is in, it was not reassuring to read that our leading law schools no longer teach the principles that our nation rests upon. Is it any surprise we get a president like Obama and Supreme Court justices like Sotomayor and Ginsberg?—Meredith Berg, Hudson, Wis.

‘Beware of “comfort care”’

June 29 As a registered nurse, I was shocked at how some healthcare professionals are interpreting the term “comfort care.” To me it always meant doing everything to relieve a patient’s suffering while supporting the patient and his loved ones in their choice to decline advanced interventions. It certainly does not mean hastening death.—Becky Rubio, Oak Park, Ill.

‘Rotten to the core?’

June 15 This is the best Joel Belz column I have ever read. Thank you for expressing this serious concern about our dying nation.—Don Spencer, Lake Tapps, Wash.

‘The morning after’

June 15 Judgment is just the background against which the New Testament sets the message of saving grace.—Wayne McManigal, Sutherlin, Ore.

‘One monster among many’

May 18 Over the years I have been getting less and less shocked reading accounts of abortion, and it bothers me that I can be so desensitized about things that ought to be too horrifying to read. But thank you to Andrée Seu Peterson for reawakening me. I don’t want to condemn anyone. I just want it to stop.—Karlene Gade, Chaska, Minn.

‘Nice going’

April 20 I just received this issue here in Zambia where I am teaching temporarily at a Lutheran seminary. I appreciated this column. Keep fighting for the Truth. As Martin Luther said: “Peace if possible, truth at all costs.”—K. Spevacek, Avondale, Ariz.

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