Thank you for printing George Will’s column “Israel’s best defense,” (Opinion, Aug. 19). I cannot help but wonder: why aren’t more pastors speaking up in defense of Israel on your “Religion” page?

Can any of you silent pastors spell S-A-R-D-I-S (Rev. 3:1-6)? The past 2,000 years have been hard service for the Jews: the events of 70 A.D. and the destruction of the Temple; the events of 135 A.D. with the Bar Kokhba Rebellion; the Crusades; the Inquisition; the expulsion from Spain; the Russian pogroms; the German Holocaust; and now, affliction and persecution on every side from the radicals of Islam.

Jesus will soon call upon His Gentile church to comfort His people and tell them that their long, hard service has ended (Isaiah 40:1-2). So how is it a secular columnist is speaking up on behalf of the Jewish nation — and even mentions the past two “perilous millennia” — while the pastors of our local churches are, for the most part, remaining silent? There is absolutely no excuse for this.

Folks, it is only by our fruit that we are recognized (Matthew 7:15-23). Not by church attendance; not by participation in endless busy-bee church activities; not by well-prepared sermons or well-studied Sunday School lessons; by our fruit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Therefore, both pastors and their congregants should take heed to themselves. Because if you are not mourning Israel’s sad plight (Isaiah 66:10), this is not good fruit towards the Jews.

— Janet M. Cromer, Odenville