My friend the piano?
I believe that all people are made in the image of God and are not an object (‘Help! My friend Charlie identifies as a grand piano’, Aug/Sept).
A person cannot change the sex they were born, even if they do feel that they are born in the wrong body. God never makes mistakes. The x and y chromosomes, which determine the sex of a person, cannot be changed. A person is either male or female and nothing in between.
When will the Church wake up and preach the truth of the Word of God instead of agreeing with the sinful ways of our society?
Geoff Dalley
Felpham, West Sussex
Constant chatter
I appreciated the letter by Bill Livingstone (‘Frightened of silence?’, Aug/Sept). How we need such times of waiting on God.
The old chorus sums it up well: “Speak, Lord, in the stillness as we wait on thee.” There is also the need for reverence in our places of worship, rather than constant chatter before a service. By spending more time in prayer and quiet meditation, I believe the Lord will abundantly bless our times together (Psalm 122, Proverbs 1:33, James 4:8).
Eric Stead
Lymm, Cheshire
Food shortages
Could the world’s present serious problems of food, water and power shortages be because God has finally run out of patience with the way humans are behaving?
For instance, Jesus’s name is often used as a swear word, and sometimes people are banned from saying the name of Jesus out loud in public. There are also many non-Christian practices going on which are forbidden in the Bible.
Contrast this with our mainly law-abiding population not so long ago, when children were taught about the Christian faith in schools and Sunday schools.
A Wills
Greater London
Who closed the churches?
While acknowledging that God allowed the godless churches to be closed (‘Who closed the churches?’, June/July and follow-up letter, Aug/Sept), this is perhaps a double-edged sword. According to a friend, “The closure was also an attack of the enemy on the very few that served the Lord.”
Ashley Dickenson
Carshalton Beeches, Surrey
Renewables: a no-brainer
Having heard such convincing arguments at the COP26 Climate Summit last November, I was appalled to hear of government plans to drill for more oil and gas in the North Sea and more coal in Cumbria, as well as to build more nuclear power stations.
I am part of a Caring for God’s Creation group in Lindfield, West Sussex and have initiated a petition calling the government to invest in more renewables: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/617729
Renewables are a no-brainer. They are the cheapest, quickest, safest, most environmentally friendly and most job-creative means of addressing all three crises of energy, climate and environment.
I believe that by signing and sharing this petition, we exercise God’s first mandate to be stewards of his Creation (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:15), and obey his command to love our already suffering global neighbours as ourselves. We thus commend to others our faith in Christ: his saving love and power to draw people into his kingdom, and to usher in the “new heaven and new earth” of Revelation 21:1.
Our neighbours in many poorer countries are already suffering devastating consequences from climate change and the degradation of the environment. While we await Christ’s return, surely God would have his people play their part in democratically persuading our government to adopt policies that demonstrate his love for the poor, and contribute to restoring the earth to the habitable and magnificent place he created.
I believe we are probably beginning to experience a warning judgement similar to the kind in Revelation 6:1-8. Our loving God uses such judgements to call sinful mankind back to himself through Jesus Christ.
Guy Rowland
Lindfield, West Sussex
Distributing HEART papers
While distributing HEART newspapers to all the Sussex local distributors, I sensed that I am involved in an anointed ministry.
Each time I loaded up my 4×4 with over 55 bundles of papers, I experienced a very strong presence of Jesus in my car. It was as if the papers themselves pulsated with a power clearly not of this world. Time seemed to stand still, and I floated with such ease to each drop. Before I knew it, the last bundle was delivered and the presence faded.
Surely our Father’s hand of blessing rests upon the distribution of the truth to the hungry hearts waiting.
Graham Turner
Pulborough, West Sussex
Abide with me
The hymn ‘Abide with me’ seems so appropriate for these days. It is no. 27 in ‘Hymns: Ancient and Modern’, as found in ‘The Book of Common Prayer’.
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see—
O thou who changest not, abide with me.I need thy presence every passing hour;
What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.Hold thou thy Cross, before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Valerie Vince
Havant, Hampshire