by Nate Luibrand, Corvallis
I have been pleased to see your willingness to print all viewpoints in the Bitterroot Star. I’m also thankful that some letters have included many Scriptures. I agree that we need to show love towards one another and to speak kindly with those who disagree with our viewpoint. Jesus said in Matthew 5, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Then He lived his teaching and eventually laid down his life for the sins of the world.
He said as he was dying on the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” It was the greatest demonstration of love the world has ever seen. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
But we must ”speak the truth in love,” because the end of the story needs to be clearly understood. Paul said to the people in Athens, “God has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He had given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead.” Jesus came the first time, “not to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.”
When he comes the second time we will all have to answer to Him. For Paul said to Timothy, “There is One God, and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” Acts 4:12 says, “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”
I’m with Him.