Getting vaccinated and love
Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 and its variants is a way one can show his or her love of the Creator of all humankind. It is also a way the vaccinated can show their love of neighbors worldwide. The all-important love of self is demonstrated by getting vaccinated.
For the sake of our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, get vaccinated now. America’s and the world’s future is at stake. We are being tested. Love is the great uniter and problem solver—love of God, neighbor and self.
Paul L. Whiteley Sr.
Louisville, Ky.
RE: Bible to replace Baylor Mace in formal ceremonies
When is this “feel good about ourselves” going to stop? Do people believe this is going to get them into heaven? It’s the past. There is nothing we can do to change it, even though some are trying. My great-great-great-grandfather owned slaves, and there is nothing I can do to change that, and from what I can tell from research, he was a Christian.
So, if we as Christians are going to start attempting to change history and erase the past we don’t like, we need to start with the Bible. First, we need to remove the Book of Philemon, since Paul sent a runaway slave back to his owner. Second, we need to remove all the references to slaves in Scripture, especially what Christ spoke of.
Instead of attempting to erase the past we don’t like, it should be a means to teach our children and grandchildren we can learn from our mistakes and look ahead to the future and not dwell on the past.
F.A. Taylor
Copperas Cove
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RE: Voices: Revisiting the New Testament and slavery
In and of itself, slavery was not a sin. It indeed could and did lead to sinful actions.
If it was a sin, then liberalism, conservatism, socialism and communism, as well as dictatorships, monarchies, labor unions employer-employee relationships, and priestcraft must be identified as sin, as well as many more systems worldwide that can lead to horrible sinful actions. All of these are systems that can be used to improve or used to the detriment of others.
There were many slave owners, and probably most used the servant system as an economic system to preserve and produce the culture of the times.
George Whitefield, while against slavery, found it the only way to find unemployable labor. My related families were benevolent masters for generations.
This country was created with this system in place. The war that ended the system did nothing to replace it. That is the horrible sin of America that still has lasting effects on the descendants of slavery.
Dennis Whitfield
Victoria
Baylor alum disturbed with alma mater
As a Baylor alum, I have become concerned about the focus on racism and increasing acceptance of LGBTQ thought.
Racism has become a tool of the far left to divide America. According to an article published in The Blaze, the founders of the Black Lives Matter organization identify as Marxists. Homosexuality is wrong and the sign of a declining culture, as posited by Edward Gibbon in History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Gibbon was certainly not a Christian, but he was a recognized historian.
I am deeply disturbed by Baylor’s association with both issues. I never have thought Baylor was racist, and it cannot be associated with sexual decadence. If Baylor does, it will lose credibility with people we are trying to lead to Christ.
Elizabeth Tebeaux, professor emerita, Texas A&M University
College Station
RE: March to Austin: ‘This is our Selma moment’
This article fails to be clear that there must be enough safeguards put into any voting rights bill. We know the original bill contains provisions to make sure only citizens vote. The present bill contains provisions that allow for less oversight. If I need identification to transact other less important matters in my life, it is reasonable to expect the same when voting.
Let’s be reasonable, respectful and thorough as we encourage voting rights.
Victor E. Shields
Slippery Rock, Penn.
We all should be clear about Texas’ proposed voting legislation. An explanation of Texas Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 3 is available here. The language of the bills can be found here and here.
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