Letters

to the editor

Christian respect

To the editor:

We want to respond to Harry Bennett’s letter regarding “religious intolerance.”

Bennett addresses a community gathering back in 1991 at the time of the ‘‘Desert Storm” invasion. He reports that the pastor of our church at that time, who would have been Pastor Larry King, made an overly zealous, insensitive comment about Allah being a false God.

None of our current attendees were at that meeting, so we don’t know how that comment would have sounded to us. We too, may have been offended, not necessarily by the statement, but possibly by the method of delivery.

The statement itself singles out one of this world’s gods, but it is incomplete. Without being harsh, critical, or judgmental, as Christians we owe no allegiance to any of the gods of the earth.

David the psalmist writes in Psalm 96:4-5, “For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised; He is awesome above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.” He writes in Psalm 100:3 “Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.”

We at Good News, like many Christian believers, accept the truth that the true God is the Creator of all things, and of all people.

We must not be ashamed or afraid to say that, but must continually be on guard that we not speak thoughtlessly or arrogantly, but allow the love of Christ and the power of His Spirit to direct us. We believe it is our duty, and though often imperfectly, we make it our aim to respect all people, regardless of race, religion, or the lack of religion.

Throughout history, people have imagined and invented “gods” as they wanted them to be. Respecting people does not call on us to honor any of these gods who are but a weak imitation of the genuine One. For Good News Christian Fellowship,

Roger Hiebert
Marion