No topic seems to evoke more discussion than one about God. Some people don’t like it and the writer of a letter to Voice 05-02-2008, is proof positive that speaking of God in the letters column is offensive to him. He didn’t say as much in specific words; however, he ended his letter with, “Let’s talk about something else.”  Before writing that he wrote, “A lot of us are passionate about God and how God fits into our lives.”  He is passionate about God and wants to talk about something else. If that isn’t an oxymoron, then such doesn’t exist. That is odd reasoning to say the least.

The world is awash with people who refuse to believe in God and who not only take every opportunity to speak evilly of our Creator, but also of those who are believers; and he wants to talk about something else. Are we who believe that when those who disparage God and believers, that we should go silently lest we offend the writer and others? He even wants to limit the God based letters so it will be easier for the workers at the paper to choose which letters to publish.

One of the most precious rights we have is freedom of speech and that includes the right to write letters to newspapers for publication; and included in that right is the freedom to speak of our religious belief. If that is offensive to the writer and others, so be it.  The words of Paul to Timothy address the matter of preaching the Word, (2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 2-4)  The letters to Voices are evidence that the words Paul spoke to Timothy are as true today as when he wrote them. They do not want to hear or read the truth of God and the gospel.

The words of Jesus in Mark 16:15-16 are very appropriate here. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  Since we have freedom of speech and the press, letters to the Voices column is one venue for preaching the gospel and yet, that writer wants us to discontinue the letters about God, which would be ignoring the teaching of Jesus and Paul.

It would be well for the writer to dwell on the words in Revelation 3:15-16, I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Those (Christians?) who think that God should be confined to a philosophy class, Sunday school, or other places of discussion, don’t understand the way of life in Christ that God has given to us. Paul wrote in II Corinthians5:17, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. How can anyone who is a new creature in Christ believe that God shouldn’t be spoken of in a public letter, and  then admonish them for doing so, urging to quit writing the letters?

Again, are we to stay silent and let those who speak evilly of God and believers go unchallenged?  It isn’t about who wins the debate about God; it is about speaking the truth against evil designed to lead people away from God.  Paul said, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16) The word of God will bring conversion to salvation for those who hear and read the Word. Letters to voices is one way of presenting the word of truth. It is odd reasoning indeed for one who is passionate about God to want to deny others the opportunity to the freedom to speak of God in the Voices column.

© 05-02-2008 DEC