MY TURN

I applaud the efforts of white and black Christians who participated in the racial unity event in Springfield, Mo. (News, June). I agree that we should focus more on “appreciating each other and creating friendships” than working hard to get people to come to our churches. If we genuinely love and respect people of different races and share God’s love with them, they will come!

God created diversity when He made Adam and Eve and then told them to produce children who would be different from one another and their parents, yet alike in many ways. The same story continues to unfold today as an example to the church.

Racial disunity defeats the strength we share, and we cannot tear down enemy walls without the help of every believer. We spend a lot of time dancing around the race issue, but until we let the Holy Spirit change us, we will remain divided. I would love to see a move of God among all races under one roof. This kind of awesome power would be a challenge the enemy would be powerless to destroy!

I like the lyrics to a song we sing in the Church of God in Christ: “Lord, make us one / Lord, make us one / Lord, make us one everywhere / One in Jesus’ name / One in Jesus’ name / One in Jesus’ name ... everywhere.”

Elder Jerome Robinson
Glorious Temple Church of God in Christ
Brooklyn, New York

CAN ISRAEL SURVIVE?

Regarding your May article “Israel’s Most Dangerous Moment” by Robert Stearns, we must act locally, nationally and internationally for the state of Israel’s safety, and our own safety, as we resist the actions and belief systems of radical Islam. We are not infidels, and violent ideals to broaden the domain of imposed Sharia law should be exposed and resisted.

Radical Islam is not just Israel’s problem; it is also our problem because Christians call upon the name of the same God.

We do need to intercede against the anti-Semitism and for the salvation of Muslims. God is indeed greater than all the works of darkness, but He works through His people to accomplish His plans.

As a Christian, I have many friends who do not understand the conflict in the Middle East. I also have many Jewish friends who practice Jewish tradition. This article has given me language to use when sharing with others why I pray for Israel.

As a former U.S. Marine Corps sergeant, I found your May issue demonstrated the reality that unless we pray and take an active roll in preventing anti-Semitism, another Holocaust could be in the planning stages.

Some of the authors in the May issue seem more interested in helping political Israel keep its land than in helping the people come to Christ. What eternal good is it if we get more Jews to move to Israel but don’t lead them to their Messiah?

May embraces Israel to such an extent that one gets the impression this is the first order of business for Christians. Is it?

GOD HAS HIT ‘RESET’

Charisma contributed to the charismatic change J. Lee Grady is referring to in his colum “God Has Pushed a Great Big Reset Button” (Fire in My Bones online, May 5) when you went more actively after non-Spirit-filled subjects, especially the controversial ones, to promote more readership. You were a major Spirit-filled voice, but you watered it down for growth.

Formerly, Charisma blindly endorsed any charismatic ministry regardless of lifestyle, message or charismatic goofiness. Thankfully you no longer do this and now speak loudly on controversial subjects. If Charisma wants to continue to be a credible voice, then this policy must not be changed. Keep up the good work.

AWAKENING NEW ENGLAND

It is nice to know that the changing face of frozen New England congregations is being noticed (News; May). People come from four states to worship with us at Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts. God has also brought the world to our doorstep through the international students from MIT and Harvard. There are pockets of fire warming the frozen wasteland of the Northeast!

TODD BENTLEY

My heart breaks for Todd Bentley’s ex-wife and their children. I am all for restoration; but come on, the church is now on a mission to restore Bentley’s great name?

Much has been said about the healing and restoration of Todd Bentley, and his second wife and their future in ministry (“Revivalist Todd Bentley Remarries”; May). What is being done relative to healing the hurts of the first wife or the psychological and spiritual wounds experienced by the children, who for the first time may experience a sense of loss, rejection or even embarrassment? The process appears a little one-sided.

When a man leaves his wife and three children and marries another woman, our concern should not be to help him raise money and support to restart his ministry. If we don’t value our wives and children in our churches as much as the ministries we desire to see grow, we are not worthy of being called leaders in the body of Christ.

About women who are divorced and left behind, I was not a pastor’s wife but I raised four children after my husband married another woman. I received no support from the church.