Your views: Readers' letters

Why is there no charge for large print books at the Davis Library?

Books and paths

In letters to the Chronicle (November 27 and December 18), P Smith asked why the Whanganui District library does not charge users to borrow large print books.

The main rationale for not imposing a charge on adult large print books is that members with good vision have the whole collection to choose from, whereas visually-impaired members are restricted to the audiobook, ebook and large print collections, which are all free to borrow but far fewer in number.

P Smith also raised an issue with the condition of the Victoria Ave footpath between London St and Plymouth St.

There is a long-term plan for the Victoria Ave area outside the central business district. The condition of the footpath is affected by protected trees, so works are being managed in line with required renewals to the kerbing.

This has not been accelerated as a special project, however, so it may take a decade to complete these footpath and kerbing renewals.

In 2018, the council will set its long-term plan for the next 10 years. I invite P Smith to participate in the public process of developing this plan by making a submission during the consultation period.

In addition, any member of the public can request an opportunity to address the council in our public forum, held prior to each council meeting.

BRYAN NICHOLSON
Chief Operating Officer, Whanganui District Council

Godly killings

Regarding the reference in your December 11 column by Paul Evans to Jesus being a terrorist and of His Father, God, being responsible for the slaughter of thousands in the Old Testament:

At the end of World War II, the allied forces killed by hanging and firing squad many Nazis who had subjected men, women and children to terrible acts of cruelty, sadism and violence. But very few, if any, would have regarded those who executed them as murderers committing slaughter. Sometimes a distinction has to be made between killing and murdering.

The Canaanites and others in the Old Testament put to death at God's command were likewise low-life and would have committed similar atrocities to the Nazis had they not been killed.

Many examples in history could be given of human governments exercising the power and authority to kill but not allowing their citizens the right to go about killing one another, and issuing laws forbidding it, but this does not make them hypocrites with double standards. God likewise, being the supreme authority, has the right to command death by killing, and also has the right to command His citizens not to go about killing one another, and it would be quite unreasonable to accuse Him of hypocrisy for this.

BARRY HODSON
Whanganui

Christmas spirit

Okay, thought I would get right into the spirit of Christmas this year and snail-mail some Christmas cards.

Yes, good price to buy a pack of 25, $1.65. After handwriting little personal messages, off to post them.

How much are stamps for Christmas postage, I ask? $1! Reluctantly paid $20.
You know, in the past, Christmas postage was made cheaper so we could share the spirit of Christmas.

You can tell it's a long time since I have done this.

I can't help but wonder why — why is postage now so expensive?

The alternative for me would have been to drive and personally drop into letterboxes.

With petrol at $2 ... I say no more.

MARION HAAR
Whanganui

Early church

I write in reply to SH Funnell and John Archer, (letters, December 4). Few people have any idea of how the early church developed.

The early church of Jesus was Jewish. They were called Nazorees (Greek, Nazoraioi), followers of Jesus the Nazoree (Greek, Iesous 'o Nazoraios). The gospel then was, "Repent and be baptised so that your sins may be forgiven and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38.

Being Jewish they continued to go to the temple in Jerusalem. Acts 2:42, 46f. Their communion was "the breaking of bread" which was about fellowship. Luke 24:35, Acts 2:42,46. The cup was first. See Luke 22:17-19. There is an early book called the Didache that gives the details. And Paul knew of that tradition. I Corinthians 10:16f.

But then Paul, in the 50s AD, linked forgiveness with the death of Jesus, making Jesus the Passover lamb that gets eaten. I Corinthians 5:7, 11:23-26.

Then later again, in the 90s AD, John wrote an "explanation of Jesus" detailing what Jesus meant (so William Barclay DD of Glasgow). In John, Jesus is the divine Word of God who "became flesh" — John 1:1, 14. Thus the idea of incarnation arose.

So S H Funnell wants us to be loyal to the Ten Commandments like the earliest church and ditch Christmas. And John Archer urges us to be "nourished by each other" but not physically so.

TOM PITTAMS
Whanganui