MORAL LEGISLATION
The news commentary, "Grime Doesn't Pay" (Mar. 18, 2004), points up an issue we need to think about and discuss. The comment is made that Adventists walk a very fine line in endorsing legislation regarding morality.

Should one legislate morality? Of course! We do it all the time. It is something we must do; all legislation regulates morality in some way or the other.

Separation of church and state is not to separate morality from legislation. It is to separate freedom to worship from legislation.

Issues having to do with the last six of the Ten Commandments require legislation. This is an important function of the law. But issues relating to the first four of the Ten Commandments must be left to a person's conscience only.

Hubert F. Sturges
Woodland, California

CULTURAL SENSITIVITY, OR HERESY?
When I read "Dead Languages" by Ed Dickerson (Mar. 2004), I was amazed that anyone would still be promoting such an old and outdated idea. Mr. Dickerson's proposal that we can use any "living language" or music, no matter the style, as a vehicle for teaching the gospel has been tried throughout history, but always with the same abysmal results.

In Exodus 32 Aaron declared the worship of the golden calf "a feast to the Lord" (verse 5). They used a culturally relevant visual aid to help them worship the Lord with a "living language" the idolatrous mixed multitude could understand. Their enthusiastic worship service was complete with music (that Joshua mistook for the noise of war) and dancing for the "kinesthetic learners" (verses 17 and 19). This "challenge" to Moses' "comfort" prompted him to throw down the stone tablets. And one need only read to the end of the chapter to see that God was less accommodating than some would have us be today.

To reach unchurched pagans, the medieval church attempted to introduce the presence of Christ into the sun worship so popular in the culture of that era. Instead of winning the pagans to true Christianity, it had the opposite effect. The church was converted to the world.

When will we ever learn?

Ruth Qualls
Tulsa, Oklahoma

NECESSARY COVERAGE
I appreciated Ansel Oliver's write-up, "Florida Learning Center Extends Outreach to Jews" (Mar. 25, 2004), about the grand opening of the Shalom Learning Center. I commend the Adventist Review for giving prominence to a niche interest, which will probably not increase circulation. It was a great idea to interview a past Israel Field president, Teofilo Ferreira, thereby broadening the comment beyond those immediately involved with the project.

Paul Lippi, director
Shalom Learning Center

TIRED ALL THE TIME
I so identified with every aspect of the article, "An Invisible Illness" (Mar. 2004). What a wonderful presentation, from the choice and the script of the title to the perfect picture showing undescribable fatigue.

I have not worked for four years. I am/was an registered nurse, a wife, and mother. Our lives have become reduced to small slivers of wearing only a few "hats." I too have a wonderfully supportive husband and family. The facts in the article were concise and helpful. I have collected a host of material from the Internet, doctors, friends. I have also come full-circle in relying on the Lord, and I have great thankfulness for the simplest treasures in life. I am extremely grateful to Shirley Kromann for sharing her story.

Judy Silver
Stanley, Virginia

REAL ALLEGIANCE
When I read the following passage in the article, "The Allegiance That I Owe" (Feb. 26, 2004), I had to wonder about how this attitude compares to that of those "church leaders" who lived in Christ's day; or even in the days of the prophets:

"Allegiance to my church means that when I disagree with the church, I have the freedom to make my point of view known. It means that when I make my point of view known, I will do it in a way that reflects my fundamental allegiance to my church and will not bring harm to my church or to the members of the church. It means that if the church at large does not agree with my point of view, I do not maintain my point of view to bring discredit to the church. It means that I may have to put my point of view aside for the time being, or maybe forever. If in my conscience I cannot do that, and if my church does not agree with my point of view, I do not have the ethical right to disseminate my point of view, causing disharmony and dissension. To cause disharmony and dissension while insisting on my point of view after the church, through its legitimate representative process, has decided differently is an act that calls into serious question my allegiance to the church."

Ellen White wrote: "It is a solemn statement that I make to the church, that not one in twenty whose names are registered upon the church books are prepared to close their earthly history, and would be as verily without God and without hope in the world as the common sinner. They are professedly serving God, but they are more earnestly serving mammon" (Christian Service, p. 41).

Thus the paradox: if the majority is to set the standard for the minority, and the minority (one in 20) is preparing to meet the Lord, is it a safe religious practice to let the majority believe that they have a right to discredit the beliefs of that minority?

Henry Hills

STEWARDSHIP STORIES
I was intrigued by the article, "Should I Tell These Stories?" (Feb. 2004). The question in the mind of the author, Robert K. McIver, has also been in my mind on occasions. I believe in tithing, and the practice of it is a great blessing to us. It is more than a monetary blessing.

The article quoted Ellen G. White, "This tithing system, I saw, would develop character and manifest the true state of the heart" (Testimonies for the Church, vol 1. p. 237).

I've often felt that Habakkuk 3:17-19 should be included in a message about tithing and stewardship because it shows the character God desires us to have and tells the "state of the heart." These verses tell of complete financial collapse. Yet the survivor can say, "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights" (NIV). That's character development; the kind I would like under similar circumstances.

The article reminded me of a precious story my husband uses in messages about stewardship. After emphasizing that God is the owner of all, he tells of a farmer who expressed to his neighbors his conviction that God owned his farm, he was just the caretaker.

One day a devastating grasshopper plague destroyed his neighbors' crops. When the insects reached his farm they did not roll over and die, they swept across his fields, destroying them.

The neighbors could hardly wait to see him. When they came they said, "I'll bet this changes your mind about God owning your farm."

The farmer calmly replied, "No, not at all."

"How can you be so calm about it?" inquired his neighbors.

"God owns the farm, and He owns the grasshoppers," the farmer answered. "If God wants to pasture His grasshoppers on His farm, it's all right with me."

That's character development!

Velma Beavon
Dayton, Montana

DAY BY DAY BIBLE READING
The article by Merle Poirier, "Read the Bible in a Year?" (undated special issue), was very good.

H. M. S. Richards, Sr. wrote a wonderful book, Walking Through the Bible With H. M. S. Richards, that I have used many times when reading the Bible through in a year. It is available at Adventist Book Centers, and I highly recommend it.

Ruth E. Richards
Bryant, Alabama

APPROPRIATE COVER?
Amanda Sauder's article about eating disorders, "A Picture of Health" (Feb. 19, 2004), is well-written, timely, and important. Many people will benefit from it.

I am concerned about the cover picture, however. The picture downgrades the professional quality of Seventh-day Adventist publications that emphasize spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional issues.

William A. Moreno
Salem, Oregon

THE LORD'S ARMY
It was heart-warming to read Mark Kellner's report, "Salvation Army, Adventist Theologians Meet in Dialogue" (Feb. 2004).

When I served as director of ADRA-Trans Europe it was my pleasure to work with several prominent Salvationists who were very supportive of our work in Albania. Through musical programs and other activities, members of the Salvation Army throughout the United Kingdom contributed more than $40,000 for ADRA's humanitarian operations between 1992-97.

I am sure there will be mutual blessings and benefits as the dialogue continues.

John Arthur
Publishing Ministries Director
Trans European Division
St. Albans, England