Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed w/address will be used. Letters also may be sent via email to: letters@FloridaBaptistWitness.com. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 250 words.

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Pastors

Just Do It

I appreciate and applaud your excellent presentation of the Sanctity of Human Life reports and ministries [Jan. 16]. The Witness has become a wonderful source of information and motivation for Florida Baptists!
I strongly recommend to Florida Baptist pastors that they invite Kathleen Hiers to their churches to speak in worship, Sunday School classes and youth meetings.
She was recently with us, and it was obviously God's hand is upon her and His heart is revealed through her! Our church was blessed and challenged. Our Children's Home ministers are doing great Gospel deeds of which our people need to learn more about. Men of God just do it. I did and will again!

Charles Harkala
Auburndale

Semantics

Life or Death?

Even the abortion providers and their advocates know that the word "abortion" is abhorrent to most Americans. As a result, these organizations mask their true identities behind euphemisms. Planned Parenthood is a prime example of this kind of semantic subterfuge. The destruction of the pre-born is referred to as a "woman's health issue." Developing human beings are spoken of as "fetal material."
The National Abortion Rights Action League has morphed into "NARAL: Pro-Choice America." The idea behind the name change is how could anyone feel threatened by having a "choice?" Those of us who consider themselves Pro-Life have meekly allowed the abortion industry to dictate the terms of the debate. These merchants of death label themselves as "Pro-Choice" and their opponents "Anti-Choice." This terminology is picked up and repeated uncritically by the media. In terms of what each side is all about, a more accurate description would be "Pro-Life" versus "Pro-Death."

Richard H. McCormick
Miami

Change

God's Standard

Thank you so much for your commentary [Jan. 16] reviewing our denomination's public stand on abortion. Sometimes we get so enamored with our present stand on fighting for the rights of the unborn that we forget our past lapses. We must keep those fresh in our minds, not to feel guilty but to be wary lest we slip again. I have always felt that God is much more concerned with where we are going than where we've been.
Let us all continue to look toward Christ and the Bible for direction and be less concerned about what may be politically correct at the moment. Feelings change, situations change, but God is constant. Let us remember to keep His standard, not our own.

Ron Hunt
Chicago, Ill.

Islam

Public Television

I read with great interest the guest editorial in the issue of Jan. 2, "Public Broadcasting System: Recruiting for Islam."
It concludes with the recommendation that a suit be brought against the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to address this travesty and to prevent repetition.
I recommend that if such a suit is brought, it contain a demand that any government funds used in the production of this film be replaced into the PBS treasury.

Marvin Green
Mayo

Race

Long way to go

I applaud LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention for designating a "Sanctity of Life Sunday" in its curriculum so as to enable us to confront the issues of abortion and related matters. However, I seriously question their motive for choosing the third Sunday for the year for this emphasis.
There is another "Sanctity of Life" issue which would be more appropriately considered on this particular Sunday. Are they trying to evade this other touchy issue? I believe that the evangelical church has not completed its soul-searching of this matter.
I write as a WASP when I say: in spite of all that Martin Luther King Jr., accomplished, we still have a long way to go, baby.

W.Ross Peterson
Lantana

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Editor's note: The Southern Baptist Convention designates the second Sunday in February as Racial Reconciliation Sunday. Feb. 9 marks this year's emphasis. The Florida Baptist Witness coverage of race relations begins with this issue. See pages 1, 6-7, and 10.