Response to complaint about church

The first thing I noticed when I read your unpleasant bashing of Maranatha Baptist church was that you compared your experience at a local restaurant to that of a church. First and foremost, the church is not a business. While Maranatha prides itself on hospitality and invites everyone to come share President Carter’s Sunday school service with its members, you did not purchase tickets to a show. And you certainly were not mistreated. I would know, because I go every Sunday, and was surely there the same weekend as you. You were welcomed into their house of worship and though you were made aware of rules, no one “threatened” anyone. Yes, they want you to be pleased and enjoy the service, but also, they need everyone to understand that when you have people such as the Carters involved, there are regulations that must be followed. These rules and regulations are not only for the sake of the church members and the former President, but also for the safety of everyone there. Did you think that the “Gestapo” made the rules up herself for fun, or that she waits to “throw out” anyone who may try to walk up to President Carter and thereby force the Secret Service to jump into action? The rules that were laid out by the church volunteer are ones that the Secret Service agents, whose jobs are very serious and which they do not take lightly, have established FOR SAFTEY. Mind you, the name you found so clever to describe an honest, loyal, member of Marantha Baptist was not only terribly offensive, but hurtful and flat out mean. Did you say the church was the “antithesis of Christian? I’m not seeing how laying down necessary rules in order for everyone to benefit from the service fits that description (unlike referring to someone as Getsapo). Know this, Maranatha will always welcome you into their home, as they have done countless others. And even if the rules seem a bit too strict to you, or the delivery isn’t soft enough in your opinion, many people continue to find comfort in the lessons that President Carter gives. Because after all, isn’t that the real reason you brought your tour group there … to witness his teaching? Oh, and I’m sure they forgive you for your tactless effort to shame the church and publicly attack a very wonderful woman who was just doing her job. However, if you ask me, next time you want to write a review about a church experience that wasn’t your favorite; avoid using Nazi references. And save entitled complaints for the service industry, not the house of God.

Erin Askerzada

Plains

Responds to letter writer’s response to letter writer

In response to Tom Johnson’s letter in response to Jacob Battle’s article of what the Bible says about homosexuals.

Why there are varying opinions on God’s word, I believe a close look at it shows what He thiks about this life style. IN Romans 1: 27 His word says and likewise also the men leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. In verse 18 He says His wraft is revealed from heaven against all ungodlyness and unrigheousness of men. I know it does not use the word homosexual but it gives a good discription don’t you think? I would like to add in these same scriptures it names other forms of sins and unjustices.

In 2 Peter 2: 6 Turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample into those that after should live ungodly. Also Jude 7, Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like maner, giving themselves over to strange flesh, and set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

You talked about the love of Jesus, which is so wonderful that it is beyond our understanding, because He is the light and life. In talking about His love you are saying you beleive in a greater morality greater than what man teaches. He said “love the Lord God and don’t sin against your neighbor.

Read God’s word for yourself. It is filled with adsolutes that bring life and life everlasting. Why wouldn’t you want to have this in your life.

Sam Curry

Plains