Letter to the Editor – Oct. 21, 2005

Concerning The Western Front’s October 4 issue:

Shannon Proulx wrote an informative, clear opinion about a high school student expelled because of her parent’s sexual orientation.

I agree with some of Proulx’s points, but one sentence in her article needs to be addressed:

“Christians believe…humans deserve all the chances in life to be happy.”

These words do not line up with the Bible – God’s inspired Word and commandments – which is the foundation of what Christians believe.

According to the Bible, the only thing humanity deserves is justice. And that justice, the Bible says, is condemnation and judgment from God because of sin (Romans 1:18-23, 2:5-11, 3:10-12).

But, because of His grace and love, God grants forgiveness to people.

True happiness, the Bible says, is only found in doing what God says – obedience to the Bible.

“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:28). Also, in Psalms 106:3, “Blessed are those who keep justice, and he who does righteousness at all times!” The Hebrew word ‘blessed’ in Psalms 106 can be translated, how happy; the Greek word translated as ‘blessed’ in Luke can be defined as happy.

The Bible makes it clear that true happiness comes from obedience to God. But, as found throughout Scripture, obedience to God only comes after somebody has repented of their sins, delved into a personal relationship with Him, and turned heels on sin.

Christians, genuine in their love for Christ and disdain for sin, believe they can be happy even in the meekest of times: “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed (literally, ‘how happy you are’)” (1 Peter 3:14).

Just as one mistake in a math problem leads to further mistakes, misinterpretations of Scripture corrupt people’s knowledge of the entirety of the Bible. That is why this letter was written.

C. Jennings Breakey

Western junior