Thank you to James E. Brenneman for describing why it is better to think of ourselves as Jesus-centered than Christ-centered (“There’s just something about that name,” Feb. 11). These days, for many people, the “God question” has died, is dormant or has been killed by forms of Christianity that claim to have all the answers to our needs. An intimate focus on Jesus of Nazareth, located among us in the 21st century, in all of his human compassion, can resurrect the God question for many people. For me, this is what resurrection is all about: representing God’s essence of love as we reach out to all marginalized people with healing, saving love.

Brad Yoder, Noblesville, Ind.

Brenneman’s article reminded me of Peter’s attempt to lecture Jesus on his messianic identity (Mark 8:31-33). Peter wanted a messianic identity of political, ­religious, national control, with the disciples in charge. Jesus had to tell Peter that this messianic understanding was of Satan and had no place in the ministry of Jesus. As Brenneman identifies so clearly, ­Peter’s messianic understanding dominates our religious culture. Popular Prot­estant Christianity preaches a messiah who uses power, control, exclusion and even war to achieve un-Jesus-like ends. He correctly identifies the importance of the teachings of Jesus for Anabaptists and numerous other religious groups. We have replaced Jesus’ message of feeding the hungry, caring for the poor, including the outcast and loving our neighbor (Matthew 25) with a false message that divides people and even advocates killing those who are not like us. Is it any wonder this message is being rejected in many religious circles, even within our own faith communities? Brenneman presents a Jesus-message of salvation that needs to be told again and again. Don Blosser, Goshen, Ind.

I appreciated Brenneman’s article, although I believe he did not go far enough. While the Trinity is a deeply resonant theological image, it is finally not biblical. To base one’s faith on a theological dogma can cause trouble, as Brenneman shows. We are far better off sticking to biblical titles, such as Son or Messiah, rather than the theological idea that Jesus “is” God. Mitchell Brown, Evanston Ill.

I do not see the problems Brenneman sees with the concept of the cosmic Christ, which has been around since the Cappadocian Fathers in the fourth century. In the Eastern Church there was no need to emphasize Jesus’ cultural distinctives, as these were well known to followers of ­Jesus in the East. Sadly, Western Christianity has forgotten about the Eastern Church and pays no mind to its history. For the Eastern Church, historically and presently, there is little difference between Jesus and the Christ. The emphasis is both on following the example of Jesus and on worshiping Jesus as the Christ. The Anabaptist tradition has the same errors of omission as all Western churches. Its understanding is Eurocentric and discounts Christianity in its varied forms around the world. Micheal McEvoy, Nashwauk, Minn.

Thank you for Brenneman’s radical call to follow Jesus, the dark-hued Palestinian refugee. Noting AW’s “Christ-centered” values statement [cited in Danielle Klotz’s executive director’s column], I sug­­gest the editors and board reread the Brenneman article and revise the values statement. Lynn Jost, Fresno, Calif.

To Brenneman’s article I would add that in the Gospels there is no reference to what Jesus looked like. Daniel Hertzler, Scottdale, Pa.