Response to Perry Chattler’s ‘Open Letter to Lydia’

I found your (Perry’s) open letter faulty and almost insulting. Churches (and any place of worship) can welcome all people, but not agree with their lifestyle. My church will welcome a kleptomaniac, but also encourage that person to stop stealing.

Allowing wedding ceremonies in its facility is a church saying, “We agree and celebrate with you.” It would then be hypocritical of a church to welcome all ceremonies if they do not agree with a given marriage (whether gay, or polygamous, or whatever).

The Bible does not condone slavery, but had made reference to it’s existence. God even gave Moses laws regarding slaves to make sure they had certain rights (like freedom after 7 yrs), because bond service or slavery were a way to pay off a debt.

You may feel the Bible is full of hateful things, which it does record, but the message is one of redemption and salvation. God is constant and doesn’t change. The standard He sets (like morality) remains unchanged as well.

–Josie Warneke, Castro Valley