A commentary on 'A Call to Repentance,' Lakeland Ledger article

12-14-2005

When given the opportunity to respond to a bishop's words, it is always undertaken with fear and trembling. Every pastor in this conference answers to the bishop. I am sure that is why there are not more critical responses. Thus, the lack of criticism breeds a notion that the bishop is right. When, in fact, manny people are just afraid to speak up. ... My biggest problem with these controversial positions in a politically charged nation is that it turns so many people off to the United Methodist Church. [more...]

Do you people ever stop to think that you are actually putting people in danger? If evil is not confronted, and believe me this is evil, innocents will lose their life. Your actions undercut our troops, expose your lack of an answer to a deadly question and endanger our people all for which you take or will take no responsibility. The moment my local pastor agrees with you from the pulpit, you can color me gone both physically and monetarily.

Anonymous

Of course all Christians should desire and work for peace. Peace, however, isn't simply the absence of conflict, and just because we didn't find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq doesn't delegitimize the U.S. military presence in Iraq. [more...]

I am glad to be part of a denomination whose leadership is not afraid to speak out against this unjust war. This war has been waged as a means for the war profiteers to drain the treasury. The surplus left by former President Clinton has been reduced to one of the worst deficits in history, and the money has gone to no-bid contracts. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.

Bill Bailey
Sellers Memorial/Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church

I am proud to be a member of the Florida Conference with a bishop who is not afraid to say it like he sees it. Thank you for being such a servant of the Lord Jesus.

Bonnie Russell
Rainbow Lakes United Methodist Church

Bishop Whitaker grounds our thinking about Iraq, the war and our nation's dialogue about that war upon a solid Christological foundation. It's refreshing and revealing to begin our reflection on Iraq by beginning with Jesus. Bishop Whitaker's insight into the language of "the war on terror" cuts through the language fog to properly distinguish between the larger context of confronting terrorism and the specific issue of how we are to deal with the situation in Iraq. This is a solid theological reflection helpful to the church.

Tim Smiley
Plantation United Methodist Church

In responding to the bishop's invitation to discuss his commentary I want to offer a different perspective. He states "...war may be necessary as the only way to restrain evil, enact justice and establish conditions that make for peace." I submit, as a concerned Christian and citizen, that the Iraq war meets all these requirements. [more...]

First, I am somewhat surprised that bishops are criticizing the war, as pertaining to the arguments used. You could say that war was not the last resort. When is the last resort? After we are again attacked? Or are we not allowed to use the power (given to us by God) to prevent an attack. Every key politician has proclaimed that (Saddam) Hussein had WMDs. Only after our invasion has that doubt occurred. And that is still questionable. The inspectors were never totally free to go anywhere at anytime. There mission was constantly hampered by Hussein. They eventually were kicked out by Hussein. Is anyone really surprised that WMDs were not found? Hussein himself even said that he had them. If he did not have them, why would he not give free reign to the inspectors? [more...]

Bishop Whitaker's article made me proud to be an American and glad to be a United Methodist. His reasoning, based on basic Christian tenets and awareness of events before and after the war began, deserve careful reading by both advocates and critics of the war in Iraq.

Morrell Robinson
Community United Methodist Church

Bishop Whitaker's article is splendid. I fully agree.

J. Lloyd Knox
First United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg

Being faithful to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the one thing we are called to do. When we see his words calling into question the direction of our nation and do not point it out we are failing Him. We are guilty of being watchmen who see the danger and fail to sound the warning. We are blessed to have a bishop who points out the word of our Lord, especially when it calls us to repent, and warns us of the danger to those who "take up the sword." Our military men and women deserve our prayers and love; we do not oppose them, only the war they have been ordered into. "God bless the troops, and God damn the war."

Walter Edwards
Altoona United Methodist Church

Excellent commentary — an excellent articulation of the situation that we find ourselves in and our Christian response. Congratulations!

Edgar G. Nesman
Temple Terrace United Methodist Church, Tampa

To me, it sounds like our bishop might be a "troublemaker" ... in the tradition of Elijah (beginning at 1 Kings 18:16).

Anonymous

While we are not experts in strategy, we are obliged to offer our own little word in a time when there needs to be a reassessment of a dangerous war that continues to bring misery and death to many. Well stated. This is my prayer. May God continue to grant our leaders with the spirit of wisdom and revelation knowledge.

Anonymous

The bishop, or his writer, needs to learn the value of brevity. No souls are saved after the first 15 minutes of a sermon or after 10 paragraphs. In this case, he could have stated the Christian perspective and then referred to democratic speeches in the Congressional record.

Robert Stephens
First United Methodist Church, St. Augustine

I believe that Bishop Whitaker's commentary on the Call To Repentence article which appeared in the Lakeland paper is the most articulate, concise and accurate analysis of the situation in Iraq, both how we got into it and why we need to find a new strategy for dealing with it, that I have read. To me the logic as seen from a Christian perspective is obvious. The logic to the non-Christian should be equally compelling.

Carl Bergeson
First United Methodist Church, Ocala

I totally agree with Bishop Whitaker's comments and opposed the war at the outset for the reasons he identified.

Anonymous