Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Letters are subject to editing. Please limit letters to 250 words.

THANKS

Relevant, uplifting

In the past months, I’ve been honored to serve in numerous places around the globe as a military chaplain, while also serving as senior pastor at Coral Ridge Baptist Church in Jacksonville. Whether away from home, or “back in JAX,” I truly thank the Lord Jesus for you and your paper. Every issue is filled with relevant news, uplifting articles, and every issue clearly presents the Gospel of Christ. Thank you for all that you do for Christ and country.

Jeff Burnsed Jacksonville

GREENSBORO HOPES

Mockery

I read with great interest what many of our SBC leaders had to say about the meeting in Greensboro. I found it out of place, however, to read the final comment by Steve McCoy of Illinois, concerning building his own network and hoping that the shofar won’t work. While it was a bit humorous, I know Steve just enough to realize he was being serious. While I commend Steve’s weblog for various insights into ministering to a postmodern culture, I question the Witness’s wisdom in publishing his comments on the SBC, for they could very well lead to greater division and differences between the older, established leaders and the young, up-and-comers. I am 30 years old and part of McCoy’s generation, but we must use wisdom and tactfulness so that we do not provide others in our own arena extra fuel for the fire. When so many leaders made a plea for unity, the Witness ended its article with mockery.

Joel Breidenbaugh Panama City Beach

Editors note: The Witness chose not to censor the remarks of any of the respondents, as noted in the article (“Compiled here, with only minor editing for style and grammar, are the 13 responses received”). If a mockery was made, it was by the person who uttered those words, not the Witness for accurately reporting those words.

COOPERATIVE PROGRAM

People over money

We may have received more dollars than we gave but more that 350 people prayed to receive Jesus as Lord in 2005 (June 22 editorial). That is in a church that runs less than 100 on Sunday with a budget of less than $100,000 per year. How did your church fare?

Wiley Drake Buena Park Calif

IMMIGRATION

Congress to defend

The devil is in the details of Dr. Land’s proposal on immigration reform (May 18). For instance, where is the line? Where is the end of the line? Who keeps track of the line and who is in it? If you have illegal aliens identified and in line, why not just enforce the present laws? How can anyone here illegally ever pass the background check for citizenship without suspending the laws, i.e., amnesty? I would suggest that there is already a way to legally enter this country. The Feds are just not enforcing those laws. What would make one think they will enforce the new laws, given the failure of the 1986 amnesty? There is an alternative. Congress, not the President, is empowered to provide for calling forth the militia to repel an invasion (Hello!), suppress an insurrection, and execute the laws of the land. This seems to me to fit reality. Congress should uphold their oath to support and defend the Constitution, not their political party. They should further cut off all civil government aid to illegal aliens and severely punish employers who hire illegal aliens. Charity work should be left to individuals and churches. Finally, those who are here illegally with forged or false documents should be jailed and deported. Check with the sheriff out in Arizona to find out how it is done. God’s law says to obey the laws of your country. America has a choice: God’s law, or chaos.

Lucius B. “Cap” Pooser Marianna