Voice of our Readers July 6, 2023

Altena: '...you and I are called to expose the deeds of darkness'
To the Editor:
If you drove past my house and saw me trying to mow my lawn with my snowblower, at best you would assume I was not fulfilling the intended purpose for my snowblower, right?
And yet I believe that scenario represents the mindset of Gov. Walz and every Democratic representative and senator in Minnesota.  
I’m guessing most of you have heard the story from a few weeks ago of Gov. Walz signing a bill that requires school districts and charter schools in Minnesota to stock “period products” in boys’ bathrooms.
Common sense would say, “How foolish; God did not create males with a need for feminine products.”
However, in her infinite wisdom, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Sandra Feist, DFL-New Brighton, argued, “Not all students who menstruate are female … We need to make sure all students have access to these products … Non-female menstruators face a greater stigma and barrier to asking these questions.”
 The $2 per pupil in the education finance bill will go toward supplying free menstrual products for both male and female students.
There are 821,000 pupils in Minnesota. (Check out https://alphanews.org/walz-signs-bill-requiring-schools-to-stock-period…)
In addition to the absurdity of this bill, Gov. Walz also signed a bill that makes Minnesota a “trans refuge state” where minor children, regardless of their state of legal residency, can obtain on-demand puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and irreversible surgeries — with or without the knowledge or consent of their parents.
House File 146 is also a threat to parental rights nationally, since Minnesota courts now have the legal right to unilaterally strip custody from a fit parent who objects to experimental, harmful treatments in response to gender identity confusion that is possibly, or even likely, temporary.
That's right, Minnesota could take away your child if you refuse to subject him or her to harmful, experimental “gender affirming care.”
Friends, regardless of what political party you may identify with, these new laws are the result of those who have been deceived and handed over to a depraved mind.
Regardless of whatever religious beliefs you might hold, putting feminine products in boys’ bathrooms, murdering unborn babies, and potentially removing minor children from parents for protecting their children is evil and is in opposition of God’s intent for his created order.
The Bible, which in part serves as an owner’s manual for God’s created order, includes instruction how God establishes governing authorities to “punish those who do wrong and commend those who do right.” 
Many of our governing authorities have that backward and are commending those who do wrong and punishing those who do good.
Followers of Jesus, you and I are called to expose the deeds of darkness.
In the meantime, with the Apostle Paul, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” I Timothy 2:1-2
Pastor Mike Altena,
Luverne