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Letters to the Editor
These letters were received in response to two articles: "Condoleezza Rice's Secret Weapon" and "Opinion Roundup: Is Attacking Iraq Moral?"
APPRECIATIVE
I had the opportunity to meet casually with Dr. Rice after she gave her testimony. She is a committed Christian and has been for a very long time. In my opinion, she is doing a compelling job, very responsible to another Christian, our President.
Lewis M.
While I do not subscribe to Christian Reader, I happened to pick up the magazine at a local bookstore and read the feature article on Miss Rice. I was thrilled with the presentation of her in the magazine. I thank God there are real Christians within the Beltway and not those who just carry a Bible. I think most Christians would rather "live peaceful and quiet lives" than go to war. But there is a real hatred for the U.S.A. and a real threat of additional terrorist attack. We must do all that we can to stop additional attacks. I believe President Bush would rather not go to war, but this is not of his choosing. If you have more articles like the one on Miss Rice, I may become a subscriber.
Brad M. — San Antonio, TX
As Christians we are so thankful that the U.S., the strongest country in the world, takes a stand against regimes that suppress freedom of religion. Also, we heartily applaud President Bush's stand to promote moral measures in regard to pre-marital sex, abortion, etc. Rather than taking an apologetic stand in regard to the criticism you have received, why not do some research on how Christians through the ages have been the salt and leaven of our society, not the least in government, morality and law. We know from Scripture that sometimes war is the only righteous action to take (how about an article on "Righteous War?").
As for Condoleeza Rice and President Bush? What a wonderful testimony and Christian witness! Neither one is tainted with scandals, and they need our prayers because Satan sure would like to see them fail or fall.
Christians in our governments should know that we support their efforts and stand with them, especially in our prayers. Please continue to publish articles such as the one on Condoleeza Rice. Your article was great. Please let her know that you support her and all in government who have to make decisions that affect our world. Their responsibility is great, and one day they, like all of us, will have to give an account to God.
Please keep on supporting Christians who try to live up to their God-given responsibilities and have the right motives, even though they also make mistakes. We are all sinners in need of God's grace.
Frederika P.
Your question seems slanted toward calling the Bush administration "warmongers" just by the terminology you use. Saying, "attack Iraq" suggests we are the aggressors in this situation. Kind of like we attacked Japan after Pearl Harbor, huh? It's an unassailable fact that we're under attack by surrogates of the Iraqi administration. What we must do is defend the U.S.A. against aggression. I have yet to talk to a cleric who doesn't view self defense as moral.
We could probably solve our problems with this part of the world by giving up Israel to them. How moral would that be?
The people we are dealing with in Iraq, as Muslims, have a more Old Testament view of things. "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" is more their style. If we don't deal with them on that level, there will be much more innocent American blood on this land. I hate war, but I hate terrorist assaults on this country even more.
Mike L. — Spring Lake, MI
I realize we all want peace, and we are to live as peacefully with others as possible … but nowhere in God's Word does it show that peace doesn't sometimes come with a cost. For example, the book of Esther! God set a chain of circumstances up, and even though it looked like the Jews were doomed to an awful death, the tables were turned and the Jews were "allowed" to protect themselves.
No one knows the bigger picture God has in mind; we only get pieces of the puzzle. Instead of complaining, people need to pray that the President and the government would have wisdom, protection, and favor in all matters that affect our country. Although we may not always agree with some decisions that are being made in our government, it is we who can make a difference by constant prayer. Remember our government is made up of humans who make mistakes too, but God has the capability to change the outcome of all things.
Norma W.
God has set forth governments to deal with such things. Many readers (and I personally think some of your writers) have forgotten this or haven't bothered to read your Bibles. Evil must be confronted for the greater good of those in its path. In this case everyone is in the path of Saddam's evil.
I was outraged that some readers would lash out at those in public office to the point of questioning their salvation! This truly is wrong. Do I agree with everything our national leadership does? No. Does that give me a right to make rude comments? No.
Let us not forget that we are not fighting people, but rather spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore, is the war with Iraq moral? Most definitely! We should still try to end the conflict by way of diplomacy first. But if that doesn't work, then war must be waged.
Rev. D. L. Grady
The Bush Administration is not using "God" for political means. Bush is not going to war to avenge his father or take the oil reserves hostage. He's doing it because he sincerely believes, which I do as well, that Saddam Hussein is a menace to this world and he will not stop until our way of life, worshiping our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, is eliminated from the face of the earth.
If you look a little further in Romans, chapter 13, you will read that the government, which is made by God, has the authority, by God, to suppress that which is evil, verses 1-5.
I'm tired of hearing people say we should have the world's approval to do anything. Sometimes you have to confront evil, and it's not going to be nice or popular. That's called leadership and that's exactly what President Bush is exhibiting.
Darrell B. — Spring Hill, KS
Thanks for the fine article on Rice. I too have been surprised over the divided and intense feelings on a subject the world was much more united on ten years ago. We forget how much has changed during that time, both here as our mainstream U.S. culture has moved closer to intellectual/elite culture and also in Europe with nationalistic interests after the end of the cold war and the new demographics of immigrants, a third generation of post-Christianity, and the increasing political influence of socialism and environmentalism.
The Christian culture of Bush's and Rice's heritage is now viewed with suspicion at best and more frequently with hostility. Few outside conservative evangelicalism have the right context to comprehend their actions. It's easy to understand that postmoderns would view the White House's actions as warmongering, although that decidedly is not the motivation.
More important than the sentiment and sensibilities of bystanders, I wonder what tone our administration hits in the Islamic world? I suspect that Muslim clerics more correctly understand the White House, even if they're hostile as polls indicate. That's clearly true for even the secular Saddam Hussein.
Tim M.
Please be assured there are thoUSAnds of Americans who like President Bush as a person, but his conservative/hawkish views on Iraq have us concerned. I believe Bush is being persuaded by his cabinet to plan war. To be firm with Iraq is one thing, but to bomb innocent people, another. If he bombs Iraq, it will destroy his slight edge with the voting public.
Janice H. — Sanford, MI
I've just read that you had some negative replies to your article about Condoleeza Rice. I want to say that living in England makes one more aware of the odd European attitude towards the U.S.A. and especially the Iraqi situation.
For the most part Europeans don't seem to understand the American predicament. You're a nation that felt secure, and all of a sudden, all the security has disappeared.
Personally I think God is speaking to America. You've been safe in the past not primarily because of your resources and ability, but because of his protection. As a nation you're turning away from him, and he's trying to make you aware that the only place of security is living close to him. America will not be secure from threats unless she returns to the Rock that kept her safe in the past. It's time to repent, to revoke every law that hinders the knowledge of Christianity in any way. It's time to restore Christianity as a positive truth in all schools. Only when America turns back to God wholeheartedly will she be secure again. There's no other alternative. Please America, turn to the God of your fathers, turn to Jesus and his Word before it's too late!
With love for America,
Howard W.
CRITICAL
I believe that Condoleeza Rice and the rest of the Bush administration are playing on the emotions of the American people. The momentum of this impending war suggests that anyone who doesn't agree with the U.S. attacking Iraq is anti-American. I don't believe that all opportunities for peace have been exhausted. I also don't understand how the U.S. has somehow become the world's policeman, deciding who is O.K. and who isn't. Why is it O.K. for us to have weapons of mass destruction but other countries can't? That seems to be a bit hypocritical.
Rev. J.V. Ferrell
I have to admit that when I read Condoleeza Rice said she decides what she wants to do and then brings it to God and he always blesses it (that's probably not a precisely accurate paraphrase), I was alarmed. It may have "worked" somehow this way for her in the past, but unless she is totally immersed in the Spirit and the mind of Christ, it doesn't sound as though she's seeking his will or his face. She may just be a very smart woman who has learned what works. I don't know, obviously, what her mind is like, but I don't hear her submitting to his will, at least as the interview portrayed her. I suppose it's possible that she brings it to him and submits it to him at that point, and is in fact a lot more humble before him than it sounds. It's so hard to determine what someone is like from an article and even harder to get the mind of God on certain matters. National security is definitely one of them.
Jessica G. — Linwood, MA
Preemptive strikes should be allowed only when (1) the object of the strike poses an imminent threat to the national security and (2) every other alternative has been proven ineffective in dealing with the problem. Please pray that our government leaders would look beyond their political objectives to fully understand the ramifications of their acts! As a Christian, I say that such preemptive strikes are immoral, and as a past international lawyer, I also stand against the preemptive strikes.
Dr. Debby G., T.O'Carm., J.D. PhD.
I don't wish to challenge Condoleeza Rice's faith. Clearly this is a woman who's seeking to be an influence for good. However, I'm deeply worried by the approach that the United States administration has taken on Iraq. It seems to have forgotten that Saddam Hussein is in power partly because previous administrations supported him. I've heard no major political leader in the U.S.A. apologize for this grave error in judgment in the 1980s.
I'm also concerned that the U.S.A. feels it has the right to declare war on Iraq even if the rest of the UN considers that the time is not right. Terrorism is a world issue. It's my personal conviction that the U.S.A. could show more effective leadership by seeking a consensus while also looking at ways to reduce Third World debt — one of the reasons why poor countries have become fervent ground for Muslim extremists.
I'll pray for your president — as I pray for the president of Iraq. I'll pray for the love of Jesus Christ to reach into each of their hearts, reveal to them who he is, and lead them both to his paths. From what I have read of your president, I believe this is a prayer he earnestly desires to be living by. From what I read of Saddam Hussein, his heart could well be like Pharaoh's — hardened, seeking instead to destroy. But I know my duty: to love and to pray.
Anthony R.
The war against Iraq isn't a solution. The U.S. government is searching for a war that doesn't have to happen. It's true that the attack of the twin towers was an act of cruelty, but as Christians we must not respond to evil with evil; we must fight evil with good! The U.S. government and George Bush must not mix God and Christianity with state affairs. Iraq may have nuclear weapons, but the U.S.A. must learn to respect other countries and stop acting like the world police! The U.S. needs to rethink its attitude concerning other nations or else the American people may suffer another tragedy like the towers, and we don't want to pass through that again!
Frederico — Portugal
It's comforting to know I'm not the only Christian who's upset with President Bush's use of Christianity as a justification for political expediency.
Is there some way to communicate to the president the fact that his religious advisers have let him down? What's needed is a president who uses the Bible to exegete God's will for his people, not one who uses the Body of Christ and the Children of Abraham to advance his own political ambitions.
Tom — FL
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