Open Letter to Lydia Anderson

Your open letter to Billy Bradford (Oct 27, 2021 CV Forum) ends by saying “When it comes to moral principles, you don’t change with modern times.” Of course, one might ask, “Why not? Or, “Have the principles changed?”

With all due respect to you and your beliefs, I don’t believe Mr. Bradford was suggesting that your church conduct gay marriage ceremonies. I think he was pointing out the hypocrisy of claiming to welcome all people, including the ceremonies offered to all, except to gay people. Welcoming all, but not really, is like the Declaration of Independence that states “...all men are created equal…” which did not apply to people of color or to women, but only to white men. Our moral principles are morally better thanks to change with modern times.

The Bible states that a hypocrite is someone who pretends to be something he/she is not. Hypocrisy is to claim to know and to follow certain beliefs but to behave in a way that contradicts those beliefs. If you don’t truly believe all are welcome, then why say so?

The Bible makes numerous references to the acceptance and endorsement of slavery, to stoning people to death, the murder of consenting adults. Thank goodness that moral principles have changed with modern times.

–Perry Chattler, Castro Valley