OPINION:
My purpose in writing is neither to be political nor to condemn a church (“Pastor says he ’hurt’ congregation by praying for Trump during unscheduled visit,” Web, June 3). I have read both The Times article and the letter written by David Platt, the pastor at McLean Bible Church who prayed for President Trump in front of his congregation. I do not personally know David Platt, but I am familiar with McLean Bible Church and have long held it in high regard for its history of unapologetically adhering to preaching the word of God in the midst of Northern Virginia, in the shadow of Washington. This is no small feat.
But for a pastor to succumb to the pressures of a congregation and feel compelled to write a letter to placate and “explain” why he behaved in a manner consistent with the commandments and teachings of Christ does more to damage and divide the universal church than it does to retain the unity of an apparently “fragile” congregation. That Pastor Platt felt as though he needed to apologize should serve as a disturbing wake-up call to any church body committed to teaching the truths of Scripture, preaching the gospel, and being the salt and light in a broken world.
LAURIE RUSSELL
Fairfax, Va.
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