Editor, Times-Union: Does Jesus Christ expect Christians, who truly love him, to love all people regardless of what sin they have committed?
Is it true that to love these people is to condone their sin?
Let's let Jesus answer for himself.
From John 13:34,35. "A new command I give you; love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
From Matthew 5:44-48. "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
From John 3:16-17. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
From Romans 13:8-10. "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery, or steal, or murder, or covet, and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
As we can see from God's word, Jesus loves all of us, and he commands us to do the same.
Does Jesus' love for us condone our sin?
When my son does something that is wrong, do I stop loving him?
If I love my son, even when he does something wrong, does that love condone his sin?
Jesus' love for us does not condone our sin, just as the love for my son does not condone his sin.
Now, if you are in a sinful lifestyle, in order to be forgiven, you must ask for Christ's forgiveness; however, his forgiveness is not an excuse to continue sinning.
At this point, let me make something very clear. If Jesus Christ is not the Lord of your life you will spend eternity in hell, why? Acts 4:12 tells us, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." In other words, good deeds don't save, denominations don't save, living a "good" life won't save you from Hell either. Read John 3:16 again.
From I Timothy 2:4-6a. "Who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men."
Mark Jones Warsaw
Animal Welfare
Editor, Times-Union: With millions of unwanted dogs and cats euthanized every year in America, most people think the problem of pet overpopulation is too overwhelming to solve or even control. In our community alone, more than 2,717 animals had to be killed in 1997 simply because there were not enough good homes for them.
Fortunately, there is a unique program that is making real progress in overcoming this tragedy. Feb. 24 will mark the fourth annual Spay Day USA, a national campaign created by the Washington, D.C.-based Doris Day Animal League to encourage every humane American to take action against companion animal overpopulation by having at least one animal spayed or neutered. The cat or dog can be your own, a friend's or relative's, or even a shelter animal awaiting adoption.
Spaying or neutering just one animal can make a world of difference. Did you know that one cat and her unaltered offspring can produce 420,000 cats in seven years? Or that one dog and her unaltered offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in six years? Those numbers add up exponentially and the end result is that homeless animals have to be euthanized.
In its first three years, Spay Day USA has proven to be a phenomenal success as over 150,000 animals have been altered, including over 78,000 in 1997. These spay and neuter surgeries have already prevented literally millions of unwanted puppies and kittens from being born.
Many area veterinarians, legislators, humane organizations and individuals have already agreed to participate in Spay Day USA 1998. Everyone can be proud that Warsaw recognizes its responsibility to solve the problem of companion animal overpopulation with a simple and humane solution - spaying and neutering.
More participants are always needed, so anyone interested in getting involved may contact: Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County, P.O. Box 1906, Warsaw, IN 46581, 267-8566; or Sasso Veterinary Hospital, 1275 W. Lake St., Warsaw, IN 46580, 267-5393.
We all hope that someday the routine killing of millions of dogs and cats each year will be a distant memory. Thank you, Warsaw, for your efforts to help achieve this goal.
