Words, Images, and the Word

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The Middle Ages in Europe were the "Dark Ages," largely because of widespread illiteracy and the dominance of paganism which emphasizes images rather than intelligent communication. That period was spiritually dark because hardly anyone had access to a Bible besides royalty and religious leaders. Gutenberg's invention of a printing press with movable type led to affordable books and Bibles, and triggered both the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation. That later led to a migration of Bible-believing people to America to escape persecution. Belief in the Bible had a strong influence on the wording of the U.S. Constitution plus it was a foundation for America's amazing freedom, growth and prosperity. Tragically, during the last 150 years there has been growing disinterest and disbelief in the Bible, God's complete spiritual revelation to humanity. Increasingly our society emphasizes images of all types rather than literacy, reading, and deep understanding of absolute truths. That means that our "modern" societies are plunging into another dark age of paganism. But we in God's Church must resist the countless distractions of "images" and stay focused on God's oft-repeated command to read, study and live by God's Book.
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Donald Hooser

Don Hooser is a minister for the United Church of God. He lives in McKinney, Texas, a suburb of Dallas.  He and his wife Elsie had three children, and she died in August 2020.  Don married Judy in January 2022.  Mr. Hooser graduated in 1963 from Southern Methodist University with a degree in mechanical engineering, and graduated in 1966 from Ambassador College, Big Sandy, Texas.  For most of the time since then, he served as the pastor of churches in Ohio, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington. From 2011 until his retirement in 2021, his primary responsibility was answering the many letters written to the Church.