Editor, Manteca Bulletin,
Christians and conservatives should give thanks to Mr. Petersen for his “missing the boat” column. Now we should better understand that many of those who oppose what we stand for do not really understand our basic tenets. We need to be clearer in expressing our views by realizing that the left has difficulty with how we think.

First let us be clear we believe the Bible teaches us to love everyone, God is love as Johns 3:16 tells us “god so loved the world that he gave his only son” to die for everyone sins.

Christians need to always remember we love the person but oppose the wrong behaviors (sins) the opposition continues to say how we hate everyone or that we are racists. They tend to think that if you disagree with an action you must hate the person. The one thing we cannot do is condone an action that the Bible considers a sin. Just a note to Christians if you have trouble with this love commandment it is time for some soul-searching.

Secondly Mr. Petersen seems to be so willing to point out the hypocrisy of Republicans he forgets the Democrats have similar problems also. That’s typical of the double standard in current politics.yet he still does not deal with the real issue the sin which could lead to this nation’s downfall. By the way Mr. Petersen, I am not referring to the sin of pornography. I am referring to the sin of turning the nation’s back on God and His values.

Third we believe the whole Bible is God’s word so we should not pick and choose the parts that fit our lifestyle. Jesus may not have condemned homosexuality but he never said it was OK.  God and his word are the same yesterday, today and forever. He did say in Matthew 5:17 that he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it leaving all of God’s word intact. Any way Romans 1: 22- 27 pretty much covers the issue.

Now as for the quotes from our founding fathers regarding “doubts” about religion it still does not change the fact that in the Declaration of Independence they gave the legal reason to our separation from the king as, “laws of nature and nature’s God” being superior to those of the king. They further state “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...” they saw it important enough to keep them in the documents that founded this nation.
Finally Mr. Petersen it seems you have pointed out to us that many from the left seem to be in denial of the Democrat Party’s agenda towards socialism and spread the wealth “a laborer is worthy of his pay” would tend to lead most people to realize spread the wealth is not a biblical principle.

Thank you Mr. Petersen for your insight and for helping us makes ourselves more clear in the future.