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Why I Still Vaccinate p. 32
Thank you for the thorough and well-researched cover story by Matthew Loftus. It is ironic and sad that, while vaccines have been so successful in reducing the threat of infectious diseases in developed nations, some parents now fear vaccinations are more deadly than the diseases they prevent. By contrast, in the global South, parents will go to great lengths to reach clinics providing vaccines to protect their children. Out of a desire to serve the vulnerable, Christian organizations carry these vaccines to remote areas, sometimes on foot (such as the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus). Recent outbreaks of diseases in the United States are a reminder why vaccinations became a standard component of preventive care years ago, should continue to be strongly encouraged, and should certainly not be taken for granted.
Garrett Grigsby, Executive Director Christian Connections for International Health
People often trust their own experiences and the experiences of their friends (or stories from friends of friends of friends) over research and data. I thought it was smart of CT to have the article written by someone who had had a bad personal experience with a vaccine reaction, but understands that the experience of a tiny minority does not outweigh the documented results of millions.
Brian Howell, Facebook
Out here in California, we are in a fight for our lives in opposing the elimination of personal/religious objections to mandatory vaccination via SB277. So your biased article, which lacked much integral information, was a grave disappointment and blow to our efforts.
I realize that most are ignorant of the other side of the story that the media, pharma, and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are desperately trying to keep under wraps. The apocalyptic fear being engendered by the media and CDC of the possibility of large-scale epidemics needs to stop. We don’t have vaccines for typhoid, scarlet fever, or tuberculosis, but we have no epidemics of these diseases. What we do have is an epidemic of CDC fraud and cover-up on many different levels. We parents are not antivaccine per se. We are proinformation, proaccountability, and proparental rights in the medical care of our children.
The short-term protection afforded by vaccines certainly has a place in public health, but their godlike status does nothing in the way of ensuring they are the absolute safest they can be (they are not), and we use them sparingly when appropriate (we do not). Nor does that status allow for discussion of other variables that contribute to public health, like quarantine, sanitation, eating well, antibiotics, immunoglobulin treatment (for measles and tetanus), all of which we have, at least here in the United States.
We need a new paradigm, not a one-sided lecture whose title implies moral judgment.
Jackie Horton Moorpark, California
News: Forgive Us Our Debts p. 18
As an attorney specializing in church law and bankruptcy, I read the article about Family Christian Stores (FCS) with keen interest. If I were counsel to the charities in receipt of the donations from FCS, I would advise them to think twice before cashing those checks.
The Bankruptcy Code grants the bankruptcy trustee the power to claw back certain donations for the benefit of the bankruptcy estate. No recipient is safe from such strong-arm powers, no matter how small or noble. Although the Code provides a “safe harbor” for some donations made to charities by individuals or “natural persons” who become debtors in bankruptcy, that protection does not apply to corporate debtors such as FCS.
Bankruptcy’s unmerited forgiveness of voluntarily incurred debt may echo the gospel. But the Code is far stingier than God in its apportionment of grace. For those unsuspecting and innocent recipients of a corporate debtor’s largesse, what may have once been thought a blessing may, in fact, turn out to be a curse.
David M. Hyams, Associate Lewis Roca Rothgerber LLP Denver
Where We Stand: If You See Something, Say Something p. 23
I tend to keep my mouth shut when it comes to church drama. And I usually feel really guilty about it.
Mary McCartney, Facebook
Wayfaring: The Best Christian Paradox p. 28
One of the most terrifying experiences of my vocation is to sit across the table from a person who suffers, who feels blown and tossed by the wind, and is not only wrestling with the question “Why?” but with the more penetrating question of “Who?” Who is this God who allows suffering, then bullies us into considering it “pure joy”?
Wesley Hill’s article on the God who suffers answers this question, not by tidying up the why, but by pointing to the paradoxical who. Jesus, God of God, as the creeds tell us, is dying on the cross. And as his body drips with blood, his last words drip with doubt: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? It’s the questions “Why?” and “Who?” coming from the one who was supposed to answer them.
Wes’s recounting of a deep friendship with his mentor—one who was able to point him to the suffering Christ—reminds many of us that Jesus often draws us to himself by drawing us to others.
Doug Melder, Pastor North Way Oakland Pittsburgh
Re-Word: When Jesus Wanted All My Money p. 46
A sobering yet inspiring essay by Craig Keener on what Jesus expects of his disciples in terms of their money and possessions. Being reminded that “half the global population lives on less than $2.50 a day and 400 million people lack access to safe drinking water” can’t help but force me to realize how remarkably wealthy I really am.
On the heels of reading this piece, I received an email invitation to donate to a compassion ministry Patti and I have given to in the past. She doesn’t know it yet, but we did so again . . . just now.
Gary Tyra Ministries, Facebook
Jon Acuff’s New Do-Over p. 52
If a magazine ever asks if you want @jeremycowart to take your photo for an article, the answer is “yes!”
Jon Acuff @JonAcuff
The writer and speaker takes a picture of photographer Jeremy Cowart during his shoot.
Behind the Scenes: Jeremy Cowart photographed Jon Acuff for the May issue of CT, as well as the women apologists for the April cover story. Cowart is one of the most accomplished portrait photographers today, having worked for celebrities such as Tim Tebow, Carrie Underwood, and Britney Spears. But Cowart’s passion lies with helping people through his art: the Christian has founded humanitarian projects like Hope-Portrait and recently launched See University, an online program to teach photography skills. “It’s cool to be able to give that to you and then for me to go back out there and find more interesting things to do,” says Cowart in his intro video. To learn more about his work, go to jeremycowart.com.
Net Gain
Responses to our blogs and online articles.
Illiberal Left today is actively opposing the hard-won free speech true Liberals fought for in ’60s. Ben Grizzle @bendgriz “Kirsten Powers: The Rise of the Intolerant Left,” interview by Katelyn Beaty.
I can’t believe that a person would be disqualified for such a reason. If anything, they need to be equipped with this gift to survive/thrive in the field. Unbelievable attitude. One would have thought more people should be encouraged to the field instead of less, instead of disqualifying someone based purely on their own tradition. Kit Leong, Facebook “International Mission Board Drops Ban on Speaking in Tongues,” by Bob Smietana.
Good thoughts. Ten years ago I anticipated this. The church needs to find a way to come across as loving and open. Gary S. Walter @gwalter “What to Expect after the Supreme Court’s Marriage Decision,” by John Inazu.
Seriously. Stop fishing for apocalyptic narratives in the @PewReligion data. Christianity isn’t dead. Chris Martin @ChrisMartin17 The Exchange: “Nominals to Nones: 3 Key Takeaways from Pew’s Religious Landscape Survey,” by Ed Stetzer.
