This is in response to Michael Gibson’s rather sophomoric, but perhaps sincere, letter to the editor (Oct. 30), in which he insulted the laid-down lives of the military. Gibson also mishandled the character, purpose and name of Jesus Christ in order to bolster his rhetoric against war and the armed services.

Isaiah prophesied that Jesus’ “name will be called wonderful, counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace.” Notice that “prince of peace” is last on the list and, even so, this isn’t about Christ coming to Earth as a peace activist. He is “mighty God,” as the verse calls him, who humbled himself to become a sinless man who died for our sins. He satisfied justice in a way that the best of human goodness could never accomplish, but that applies only to those who believe (John 3:16).

Gibson asked, “Do we honestly think that Jesus the Christ would descend from heaven and bless a warship?” No, but he won’t be returning as the meek “lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” either (John 1:29). He’ll come as a warrior to clean house, and it won’t be pretty. It is not until then that the kingdom of God will be established (Revelation 6:2, 19:11-15, 12:10).

Gibson wrote “heroes” in quotation marks to imply that they’re anything but. Since Russia, Iran and many other countries simply can’t be trusted to end their aggression, I will always thank veterans as heroes, and I gladly welcome Gibson to participate.

David Theriault, Rumford