May 15 1995

ARTICLE TOOLS

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John Woodbridge's "Culture War Casualties" [Mar. 6] was a great article. Most of us Christians often forget who the enemy in this war is. It is Satan, not people.

Even when they attack us or our values, feminists, Muslims, Earth Firsts, atheists, the NEA, liberal Democrats, act-ups, pro-choicers, and even the demon-possessed, are not the enemy. They are the lost that Jesus died for and that we are supposed to reach out to. We will never reach people in these groups by name-calling. We will only reach them by showing love while maintaining godly principles.

- Pastor Bob Caldwell

Valley Gospel Chapel

Anza, Calif.

Woodbridge's assertion that we should be "widely known as Christ's servants, who demonstrate compassion and nonetheless speak out boldly and clearly regarding our Master's teachings" is right on target. This mixture of humble servanthood and bold clarity is a mix we frequently have difficulty achieving. If these things provide us with a tension, well, welcome to the Christian life, wherein the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and we serve the One who is both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God. It is no wonder we need the power of the Holy Spirit to live as Christ calls us to live.

- Pastor Mark Drinnenberg

Sheffield Chapel

Sheffield, Mass.

* I'm reminded that on occasion Jesus used extreme rhetoric (calling Herod a "fox," for example), and Paul was unequivocal when Elymas spread false ideas ("You are a son of the devil!"), and indeed, whenever there was any real challenge to the gospel.

On occasion, such words can remind us how much is at stake and shake up those who need shaking. Keeping in mind that the "sinner" must be treated apart from the "sin," we ought not to be timid as we "demolish arguments and every pretension ...