Ask the Editor: Six questions

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Today is Friday, August 2nd. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Mary Reichard.

NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher. Well, it’s time again for Ask the Editor with WORLD Editor-in-Chief Marvin Olasky. 

Remember: these segments are an open invitation. If you have questions about why or how we do what we do at WORLD, let us know.

REICHARD: You can email your question to feedback@worldandeverything.com. You can either write out your question or—better yet—record your question and send us the audio file. 

Today, six questions answered.

MARVIN OLASKY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: This month I’d like to offer brief answers to half a dozen questions from readers. If listeners want me to go deeper on some of these, please write and ask. But here goes.

Question: Could you report more often what Christian athletes say about God after they’ve won a championship? 

My response: Maybe, but I’m more interested in what they say after they lose. That’s where faith in Christ of the cross, as opposed to Prosperity Gospel Jesus, really comes out. 

Question: With brokenness everywhere, how do we avoid being paralyzed? 

Answer: We start with low expectations. The tough question is not why bad things happen to good people but why good things happen to bad people—like us.  

Question: How can we get New Testament interpretation right when our culture is so different from Middle Eastern culture? 

Answer: That can be tough, and that’s why I recommend books such as those by Kenneth Bailey, author of Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes and Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes. For instance, in reading the prodigal son story it’s good to know that fathers were not supposed to run in robes and elder sons had a special role at community dinners.

Question: You sometimes criticize our national leaders, but hasn’t God put them there? Shouldn’t we trust the results of our democratic process? 

Answer: Yes, God has put them there, but we don’t know whether it’s to bless us or curse us. And, democracy is no guarantee of good results: as Winston Churchill and others have said, it’s the worst system except for all the others. 

Question: Given the religious differences in America, isn’t it better to have neutral newspapers and schools than for everyone to be taking sides? 

Answer: Since God exists, a reporter who refuses to acknowledge Him is not being neutral. Nor is teaching that does not acknowledge God. That’s taking the materialist, Darwinian side.  

Question: Don’t some who fight for biblical values dehumanize opponents? 

Answer: Yes, and please criticize WORLD if and when we do that. 

For WORLD Radio, I’m Marvin Olasky.

(Photo/WORLD News Group)

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