Different, Not Alone

In answer to the president's article, "Distinctly Different," I beg to disagree with his statement in the fourth paragraph: "... teachings not taught by any other spiritual voice in the world." Pride has its place, but there are other seventh-day keepers, among whom are the Seventh Day Baptists. We are not "alone in this belief."

Dawn Hubbard

Oakland, Calif.

Speaking Up

The attorney from Glendale who had a short and eventually complex answer to Alan Reinach's article of "Should Adventists Speak Up On Marriage?" appears to not seek an answer from the Creator of marriage…. When our Lord Jesus Christ was tempted face to face with the devil himself, He did not seek man's answers or positions or what man supports or suggests (civil arrangements, religious institution, constitutional grounds, religious/moral aspect, civil institution, obligations, rights, purposes of the law, committed, right to receive civil benefits, science, genes, hormones, early life experiences, existence). The word of God created this world and the word of God ("it is written") will counter every delusion of the devil…. There is sin in every human relationship. Pointing out a sin in one situation does not make sin in another situation right. The Church should speak up and add their voice based on the word of God to any debate on any subject to stop the worldly delusions of the devil. There are fellow human beings that will be eternally lost because they have reasoned among themselves without searching their Heavenly Father's words. What is our witness if we as Adventists do not speak up on marriage?

Mary V. Prout

Arcadia, Calif.

Armed Forces Outreach

Thank you for the excellent outreach emphasis in the August issue. I commend the Riverside Kansas Avenue church Senior Pastor Jesse Wilson and Lt. Col. Bill Howe of the Air Force for celebrating the bravery, sacrifice and loyalty of Adventist men and women in the armed forces.

Keith R. Mundt

Riverside, Calif.

Supporting Education

It was with great sadness that I read the report in the July Recorder [“NCC Holds Midterm Constituency Session”] stating that, “It was voted 245 to 133 not to require churches to join a school constituency.” This church has a legacy for Christian education when funds were very meager, but the leaders felt the future of the church depended upon well-trained Christian leaders. What better evangelism is there than that of training our own children? I have been a church school teacher for 38 years. I know the cost of schools to parents and churches, but there is no better investment.

Hedwig S. Wharton

Folsom, Calif.

Kill Him

I know Mark Carr meant well with his article [“Kill Him? Forgive Him? Or Both?” Feb. 2004]. However, there are people in this world I believe that are fully given over to satanic influences who will destroy just for the fun of it, and society must deal justice to those. There can be no compassion for a mad dog that kills for the sake of killing. For the slaughter and rapes of thousands and thousand of innocent people, Saddam Hussein deserves the death penalty. God may forgive, but for humanity, he must pay the price. Mercy and justice go hand in hand.

Roy Brasher

Thousand Oaks, Calif.