I am an alumnus of Iowa State, and occasionally I log on to the Iowa State Daily’s Web site to see what the issues of the time are.

After reading the responses to Mr. Jerrett’s column on Oct. 23, I was disappointed by the language and defensive views that were expressed by the Christian respondents.

I am a Christian and also do not agree with the point of view that Mr. Jerrett poses.

However, according to the United States Constitution, he does have the right to say it.

My goal in this letter is not to argue issues but to attempt to explain my mission as a Christian in as simple a way as possible so that some of those who do not share my beliefs may at least be able to understand them.

I ask those reading this letter to please not make any judgments about me or other Christians until after reading my entire letter.

First, I am a sinner; we are all sinners. Sin is what separates us from God.

There is nothing we can do to repair this separation from God. However, God still loves us and offers us a way to be made perfect in His eyes.

That is by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. “For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

As a Christian, the two greatest commandments that I have to follow were given to me by Jesus Christ in the book of Matthew.

The first is to “… Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind.”

The second greatest commandment is: “Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

When you love God and you love yourself, you cannot help but love your neighbor.

Finally, as an explanation as to why Christians are always trying to witness to the world, the answer is simple: Jesus commanded it in The Great Commission at the end of the book of Matthew. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This is what and who I am. There are obviously more passages in the Bible that describe a Christian, but these few, I hope, will give you a basic understanding of our beliefs.

I know by what God says in the Scripture that not everyone will be saved, and I accept that.

To those of you who do not wish to listen to me, I apologize for taking your time.

I also thank you for letting me express my opinion.

For my fellow believers out there, I hope you will take the advice of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:29 and let it guide the words that come out of your mouths.

If anyone would like to discuss my beliefs with me via e-mail, my address is [email protected]

God bless you.

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Craig Petersen

Alumnus

Columbus, Ohio