THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 25, 1995 TAG: 9503240070
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Issues of Faith
SOURCE: Betsy Mathews Wright
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
LAST WEEK'S column about the struggle to accept varying beliefs provoked all kinds of response. Most people, however, were still in the mood to chastise me for my previous column on mainstreaming homosexuals into the community of faith.
Almost all who wrote are still wondering where I came off saying that homosexuality is not a sin. Again, I will not get into that debate at this time. What I will get into next week, however, is the heart of all debates: How do humans interpret Scripture? That should evoke some interesting discussion.
Until then, here's this week's Reader Response.
From Jonathan Brown of Suffolk: ``I would certainly agree that Christians are not to be mean-spirited or to be vicious, but please don't miss the context. You are a religious (sic) writer, and ideas have consequences! Certainly as a Christian I struggle to know God's will in some areas; however, there are no struggles to find out what God says in many areas. He makes himself plain (regarding homosexuality). Who cares what mean-spirited Christians say! If the Scripture speaks, we should listen. I respect a person's right to disagree, yet it is a mistake to disregard any part of the Scripture! Was Jesus mean-spirited when he called the Pharisees blind guides, white-washed tombstones, blind fools, hypocrites or snakes? No, Jesus was sternly telling them that they misrepresented God.''
From Dawn Walker of Virginia Beach: ``You are the kind of Christian most people should be. Keep up the good work.''
From Charles Williams of Virginia Beach: ``Although I found (last week's) article to be quite thought-provoking, I'm compelled to call you on an expression you used having to do with God `despising your outbursts . . . '. I cringe every time I hear (it). . . . `Despise' is synonymous with `hate.' God is incapable of hate. God is love, pure love. . . . There's got to be another word in your vocabulary that better describes God's emotions.''
From Mary Enniss of Norfolk: ``If our Lord Jesus Christ gives you a message and you take a stand, I don't care if the whole world is against you, he will flood your heart with peace. However, if you are full of doubt and self-searching, you can be sure you did not hear from the Lord.''
From Judy Peregay of Portsmouth: ``When your column about including homosexuals in worship appeared several weeks ago, I wept for you and even asked God to forgive you. . . . From the tone of (last week's column), I can tell you are a seeker: that is, someone who is looking for salvation but still has a foot in this world. . . . When a person feels the need to go to the Bible and find passages to justify deeds or things of this world (homosexuality, abortion, drinking, etc.) he is not saved but trying to find peace. . . . Take it from me, peace will only come when you totally accept Jesus as your Saviour and the Bible as God's infallible Word.''
From Pat Addesso: ``Even though I don't agree with all your views, I do agree with your Saturday's column. I do believe that if more people were like you and tried to live their life according to God's teachings, we'd have a much better world. We don't always agree on everything, like you said, and it's OK to agree to disagree. Hang in there.''
From Tommy Steele of Virginia Beach: ``You ask all the questions, you give all the answers, you are the judge on what is right or wrong, and then you say your readers are mean-spirited because they don't agree with you?
``I quote you: `Whenever I tackle an extremely volatile issue in this column, I mentally prepare myself for the deluge of negative responses that I know will come.' That statement reminds me of someone who pours gasoline on a burning house and, as you say, then walks away from the fray.''
From Paul O. Kroon of Chesapeake: ``God's guidance is right there before you in plain words in the Scriptures. . . . May I make a suggestion? Lay aside your many commentaries and begin reading the plain language of your Bible and you will be surprised how God will give you the guidance that you need.''
From Linda Riggs of Virginia Beach: ``I am a reader who disagrees with most of your opinions on matters of faith . . . (but) when I read your column, I find myself exploring my opinions on the topic of the week, thereby cementing my foundation and helping me to grow.
``When these personal attacks come, remember that this is a paying job, not a church-sanctioned ministry. Your attackers would do well in remembering that as well. You must deal with issues of all faiths, and you won't win any popularity contests when you do.
``Remember this also: As long as you are receiving mail, your column is successful. . . . You are provoking people to thought. . . . We're reading and thinking. Isn't that what the newspaper is paying you for?'' by CNB