Gwendolyn Haddad
Spring Valley, MN
This is a response to Greg Rendahl who wrote about conservative Christianity in crisis, published August 26, 2019.
Immigration: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America helped legal immigrants settle in communities. Christians are called to help the foreigners who obey the laws of the country they settle in. One law of any country is to enter that country through a legal process. God does not honor lawlessness, but order.
Socialism: Mr. Rendahl misuses the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12). We should treat everyone, not just foreigners, in the way we wish to be treated. Also, Jesus did not say the rich will not enter heaven, but that it is difficult for the rich to enter heaven because the rich trust in their works and not in God (Matthew 19:23). Jesus acknowledged that we will always have the poor with us (Matthew 26:11). Therefore, Christian organizations have served the needy in their communities by providing food distributions, clothing, hospitals, and emergency relief work.
Abortion: Any “so-called Christian” is against the murder of human babies. Organizations of faith in God provide prenatal care, adoption services, clothing and supplies for the newborn, plus emotional support for the mother. Aborting babies is not the solution for poverty, drug addictions and criminal activity as Mr. Rendahl suggested in his letter. These maladies, including abortion, are the result of a depraved world.
Evil: President Trump has not set evil loose in our country. Evil is a result of sin in humans. God’s Word exposes the darkness of evil.
To quote Mr. Rendahl, “Jesus’ attacks on the wealthy may have been the prime reason for His crucifixion.” Mr. Rendahl, Jesus Christ died on the cross of His own volition in obedience to God the Father so that anyone who confesses with his mouth the Lord Jesus and believes in his heart that God raised Him from the dead with be saved (Romans 10:9)..
Greg Rendahl says
Thanks for your counterpoint, Gwendolyn. I did not misuse the Golden Rule. Leviticus 19:34 says, “You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you.” Matthew 19:24 Jesus said, “it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven.” Do you think God does not honor the US because we were born in lawlessness? Do you think God thought it wrong for slaves to attempt to escape from their owners? Many of man’s laws are evil and many are made to enable the wealthy to gain even more wealth. While I’m glad Christian organizations help the needy, it is only a drop in the bucket for what is needed. A middle class child requires about $250,000 to reach adulthood in today’s world. Please don’t pretend that forced birthing for the poor is not a problem. You say Christ died of his “own volition,” I disagree. Christ did not commit suicide. Powerful forces of capitalists, money changers and powerful Rabbis were the cause. You distract from Christ’s socialistic message with your talk of his “own volition.”
Anonymous says
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