Christopher Takis, in his letter "Christians shouldn't scare nonbelievers" (SN 10/13), rightly says that one's intent and how people perceive one's evangelism are two different things.

However, it is not sensible to therefore think a Christian must alter the Gospel message in order for it to be more palatable.

The doctor might have a kind demeanor, but his message, "You have chicken pox," still stands. The patient might be frightened, but the doctor will stand by his diagnosis and will offer a prescription. At this point, one can see how it would be ridiculous for the patient to say, "Don't try to control me with fear!" The patient has heard the diagnosis and now must decide what to do.

Similarly, in response to John Enyon's letter, "'Good' Christians don't listen to others, judge" (SN 10/13), one must realize that saying someone is going to hell is not a value judgment, although if presented with an unkind or vicious demeanor (of which Christians are often guilty), it can certainly be construed as one.

Instead, if the Christian worldview is true, it is simply giving a real state of affairs. In fact, what might surprise most people (and many Christians) is that people don't end up in hell because of what they believe! Any good non-Christian can enter heaven — the only problem is that no one is truly good.

We're all liars, thieves and cheats. Only by truly trusting in Christ as the one who paid for our sins can we enter heaven.

Brian Sterling
2004 graduate