Texas Baptist Forum

Pray for both

Like most Christians, I am stunned to read about the Tempe, Ariz., Baptist pastor who prays for the death of our president.

I agree wholeheartedly with the letter from David Long (Sept. 21) about the biblical way to confront a brother or sister whom we find in error. The last part of that admonition, telling us to treat an unrepentant person “like a pagan and a tax collector,” is a brilliant idea!

Let’s see, how did Jesus treat pagans and tax collectors? Oh, that’s right. He loved them and died for them. And so we grieve for the poor misguided use of prayer and blatant attempt at manipulating God by this preacher and include him in our prayers as we continue to pray for the president of the United States of America.

Ragan Courtney

Austin

Meaning of words

A recent poll indicates less than 25 percent of high school students in Oklahoma could name the first president of the United States. I suspect other high school students in America would do no better. It is sad, but it is not surprising, given the culture in which we live.

Think about how we have perverted certain words such as “liberal,” “conservative,” “hero” and even “Christian.” All these terms are actually good, but we have misused them to such an extent they are unrecognizable.

Take the word “hero.”

In the Bible, we have accounts of many who risked their lives for their faith and went above and beyond the call of duty to stand for that which was right in the eyes of the Lord. Even in America, people have been persecuted because of their faith. Sixty years ago when I was in high school, we learned about some of our great presidents such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. We also knew about military heroes such as Alvin York and Audie Murphy.

Today, we sometimes see folks called a hero simply because they wear a military uniform, play football or shout from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, “You lie!” to the president when he is speaking to Congress.

How can we expect our children to have knowledge when they are exposed to this rhetoric?

Carl L. Hess

Ozark, Ala.

Homosexuality & gospel

I appreciate Ann Carson’s thoughts on homosexuality (Sept. 7). Jesus spoke clearly to the issue of homosexuality by speaking clearly on the issue of human sexuality.

Matthew 19:1-9 serves as Jesus’ manifesto on human sexuality. He cites the creation of two genders in Genesis 1:26-27 and reveals the purpose of those genders, citing Genesis 2:24: “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

By clearly limiting sexual intercourse to male and female union in marriage, Jesus excludes every other sexual option. Jesus’ statements in Matthew 19, Matthew 15:18-20 and John 8:1-11 point to a sexuality chaste and pure, comporting with what the Apostle Paul says about sexuality. Jesus and Paul do not contradict.

Carson fears we will lose souls unless we take a more accommodating stance on homosexuality. We will not lose them if we lovingly present the truth of the gospel: All men are dead in trespasses and sins, under the wrath of God, and bound for hell. But Jesus stood in our place. All who repent of their sins and trust Christ alone as Savior will be made new and have life everlasting.

Ben Mullen

The Colony