I am writing in response to the letter from Ted Ottinger in the July 11 Highline Times.

By his suggestion that "supposed Christians" should restrict their reading to the New Testament, thus ignoring the Old Testament, indicates his distain for anyone who is truly Christian. It also indicates his lack of understanding of God's word-the Bible.

The entire Bible (not just those parts he decides he likes) is inspired by God. It is God-breathed. It is inerrant. Men spoke and wrote as given by the Holy Spirit.

The Old Testament contains the prophecies foretelling the coming of the Messiah. If it were not for these we would not know that Jesus was who he said he was-The Christ. It is through the Old Testament that we learn to know who God is.

Jesus alone is not God. He is part of the Trinity of God-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Since Mr. Ottinger purposes to know Jesus, he should also know that Jesus refers to the Old Testament frequently in his teachings and also to his father, God.

Taking text out of context is pretext, which is what Mr. Ottinger does in his letter.

By picking and choosing what he likes or doesn't like from the Bible, he is simply creating his own religion making himself God as the center.

But God is the creator of the universe. Mr. Ottinger did not create himself.

Christians do not hate homosexuals. They are just obeying the laws of God by not condoning and rewarding sin, no more than they would condone and reward lying, stealing, gossip, adultery, etc. And God's word tells us homosexuality (and heterosexual immorality as well) is a sin-whether it fits into Mr. Ottinger's personal world view or not.

This is why we are opposed to the likes of domestic partnerships, civil unions, and same-sex marriage.

By blaming much bigotry and hatred in this country on Christians who uphold the entire Bible, Mr. Ottinger reveals his own self-righteousness and judgmentalism, and his own bigotry and hatred-for Christians

Paula James

Boulevard Park