God and affirmative action

In response to "The second wrong," April 13, Mr. Olasky's conclusion that affirmative action is fundamentally wrong because it is inconsistent with God's biblically revealed justice is narrow-minded, considering the person and heart of God. He is not only a just God, but a loving God as well, setting his affection on those whom he chooses. If God's choices to favor one over another cannot necessarily be understood from the perspective of justice, why then should we reject the concept of affirmative action on the basis of justice alone? Could it be that the motivation behind affirmative action is closer to the heart of God than we may think? - Christopher C. Mangum, Raleigh, N.C.

Still an open question

D. James Kennedy ("It begins in the pulpit," April 27/ May 4) sees the prospect of Bob Dole's making Supreme Court appointments as a good reason for voting for Mr. Dole, but we have to remember that the court now has seven Republican appointees. Roe v. Wade was written by a Republican appointee, and it is now held firmly in place by the self-anointed "center" of the court, four Republican-appointed justices, headed up by Justice O'Connor (Reagan), followed by Stevens (Ford), Kennedy (Reagan), and Souter (Bush). Whether Mr. Dole's appointments to the Supreme Court would be friendly to the unborn is an open question. - James Huffman, Burlington, N.C.

Irresponsible attitude

"It isn't easy being green" (May 11/18) is the second article I have read in the last year in WORLD that is insufferably weak in its emphasis of responsibility as caretakers of the earth. God has given us dominion over the earth, but that does not mean we are to use it up. We will be held accountable to the Creator for how we use it. - Karen R. Fazekas, Longwood, Fla.

Overcooked figures

I'm confused. Your article on environmentalism says that the average American eats 250 pounds of meat per year. That seemed like an awful lot to me, so I got to figuring. There're six people in our family, so that's 1,500 lbs. per year. Or 125 lbs. per month. Or 4.11 lbs. per day! Since I'm the cook around here, I know we don't eat more than a pound most days. Frequently less. Sometimes none at all. I guess I just don't believe the Evangelical Environmental Network's figures. I seem to be short 3 pounds a day around here! - Karen Evans, Oxford, Ohio

Christian behavior

Your "Give us a king" editorial (April 27/May 4) seems more to describe your personal inability to find the "delicate balance" with which you end your article than to give a framework within which to deal with the issue of attempting to gain spiritual ends via political means. Since someone must make and enforce the law, who better to do so than Christians who know what Christian values are, even if our own behavior is imperfect. This is not an attempt to Christianize America in a theological sense but to Christianize America's behavior in a constitutional sense. Politics is the system of making our laws and regulations, and it is legitimately used by Christians to ensure that law and regulation do not unconstitutionally restrict or offend us. - Edward L. Corringham, Hereford, Ariz.

Don't overlook Kokomo

Hey, wait a minute! In your article about the Cambridge Declaration (May 11/18), one participant noted that marketing strategy was used in holding the conference in Cambridge rather than meeting, for instance, "at less cost in Kokomo, Indiana." Being pastor of the only Reformed church-and an a capella psalm singing one at that-in a town where carnivals (a new car was raffled off in one service), pet baptisms, and rock band performances are standard fare for Sunday morning services, I rather relish the thought of Sproul, Godfrey, Boice, Horton, and others coming to town. He said a "'Kokomo Declaration' does not have the same ring to it." But what about the "Kokomoan Kreed"? Or perhaps the "Kouncil of Kokomo"? Just let me know when. I'll make reservations for you at the Koko Motel! - Barry York, Kokomo, Ind.