© Copyright 2002 by the Pittsburgh Standard

Cherishing the sanctity of life should always be a beautiful choice for women!

 I have been meaning to write for a few weeks in regard to your pro-life articles in the Pittsburgh Standard for February.  At first upon looking at the front page, I saw a caption that stated every child should be a wanted child.  I immediately thought within the pages were going to be articles supporting abortion, as a common pro-choice argument is that allowing abortion results in only wanted children given the opportunity to live.

 I literally was rejoicing to see such beautifully well-written pro-life articles!!!  Your articles were not attacking those who are pro-choice, but rather explained the beauty of life.  I myself am strongly pro-life and have been very frustrated with the apathy on this campus for so called "women's rights" regarding abortion. 

Instead of attacking those views, you focused on what the heart of being pro-life is.  It is protecting the sanctity of life, for both women and their children.  Often people may close their eyes.

 Sincerely,

Lindsay Woods

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No debate occurs regarding the sin of homosexuality according to the Bible

In response to the March letter to the editor titled, “The sinfulness of homosexuality is up for debate!” by Ken Tew, I believe Dave Auger was quite justified when he used the verse Romans 1:32 to represent the Bible's view on homosexuality. If one reads the entire chapter, he or she would understand that Romans 1:32 is also referring to homosexuality.

Starting with Romans 1:26, the Bible is quite explicit about homosexuality being a sin.

"Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them (Romans 1:26-32 NIV).

In Leviticus 18:22, homosexuality is also strictly forbidden. So, in general, the Bible's stance on gays is extremely clear.

God is willing to receive anyone no matter what their background is and Christians should love and accept others no matter what their background, however, homosexuality is still a sin. Although many people today including some churches deem homosexuality an acceptable lifestyle, society doesn't set the standard for God's law. Many homosexuals believe that their desires are normal and that they have a right to express them, but God doesn't want us to fulfill desires that violate his laws. That can only lead to spiritual death.

Homosexuality is referred to as unnatural for humans in that it does not lead to reproduction. When it does occur in other species, it usually leads to reproduction and that is why it would be considered natural for those species.

God does forgive sexual sins just as He forgives other sins. All you need to do is surrender yourself to His grace and mercy. Prayer, Bible study, and strong support in a Christian church can help you gain the strength you need to resist those powerful temptations. You can also get help from a trustworthy, professional, pastoral counselor.

 Courage O

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Pittsburgh Standard needs to show a little bit more wisdom!

I CANNOT believe you would allow Ken Tew's letter to the editor, 'The sinfulness of homosexuality is up for debate!' to be printed in response to mine. I am disgusted that you would print an article that treats God's Holy Word (Psalm 138:2) with such a lack of faithfulness and care (2 Tim 2:15)

There is enough published literature that seeks to undermine what God's Word teaches, and I'm greatly saddened to see that the Pittsburgh Standard has followed that abhorrent pattern.

My earnest prayer is that you would take greater care and exercise some wisdom in the future, when it comes to publishing articles containing elements of God's Word. Please understand...I have a great love for the Word and HATE to see people abuse what the scriptures are plainly teaching. Do you really think people will go consult Romans 1 and see who interpreted the passage correctly?

No, they will rely solely upon what that person said, because that is what their "itching ears want to hear". You played right into it. Shame, shame!

Dave Auger

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