Category Archives: Abortion

More on Abortion

Abortion

Recent legislative actions have left Christians aghast at the possibility that a child, delivered alive, could be killed without legal punishment. At the same time, some state legislatures are resisting federal courts and asserting their right to govern their states without interference from those courts. They are crafting very restrictive laws which would limit or abolish abortion for all but the most narrowly defined cases. They hope to force the U.S. Supreme Court to review their laws and dismantle abortion-on-demand laws that are common in our country. The outcome of such a ruling is uncertain. Still, abortion has regained its spot as the hot topic moral issue of our day.

Christians do not need to be confused about their role in this debate.

Jesus told his disciples that they were both salt and light (Matthew 5:13, 14). The undeniable application of these verses is that Christians must assert Godly principles where possible. In homes, in schools, in communities, and in the public square, the followers of Christ must affect their world.

Jesus was a Jewish man who lived under the occupation of the Roman empire. He had no input into the political affairs of the day. Even Paul, a Roman citizen by birth, had little input into the affairs of state (c.f. Acts 22:22-29). Today, our world is different.

A person born in the United States gains the right to vote at 18.  Even before that, he enjoys a “right of redress” provided in the 1st Amendment which recognizes the citizen’s undeniable right to petition the government to correct wrongs. It is this right, and the Biblical admonition to influence the world, that should drive Christians to petition on behalf of the most vulnerable among us: the unborn.

Life is the unique province of the Lord. He spoke humanity into existence. He began with plant life (Genesis 1:11, Day Three), then animal life (Genesis 1: 20, Day Five) and finally, humanity (Genesis 1:27, Day Six). But notice verse 26. “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Man was fundamentally different from every other living creature God had created. The text shows that this newly created species was to have dominion over the rest of the creation. Man was different. He was special. Genesis 2:7 has God breathing life into mankind. He never did that with any other creature.

God controls the taking of life. Divinely ordained capital punishment is biblical. Paul writes that government, ordained by God, does not carry the sword in vain. He argues that evildoers should, therefore, be afraid of government (Romans 13:1-7). God even regulates combat and the taking of life in warfare. When nations warred without divine approval and leadership, failure followed (c.f. 1 Samuel 4, 5).

Let the reader see that life is precious to God. Humanity does not determine who lives and dies. Only God does. Therefore, we conclude that abortion is wrong for it encroaches on that which God has reserved for himself. We conclude that apart from the actual life of the mother, there is no acceptable rationale for abortion.

Let us fervently pray that abortion will end up on the garbage heap of social injustice like slavery. It is a stain upon our national character. Christians should use their influence with elected officials to bring an end to this despicable act.

 

Abortion…Again

Abortion, Church Bulletin, Culture, Daily living, ,

Recent legislative actions leave Christians aghast at the possibility that a child, delivered alive, could be killed without legal punishment. At the same time, some state legislatures are resisting federal courts and asserting their right to govern their states without interference from those courts. They are crafting very restrictive laws which would limit or abolish abortion for all but the most narrowly defined cases. They hope to force the U.S. Supreme Court to review their laws and dismantle abortion-on-demand laws that are common in our country. The outcome of such a ruling is uncertain. Still, abortion has regained its spot as the hot topic moral issue of our day.

Christians do not need to be confused about their role in this debate.

Jesus told his disciples that they were both salt and light (Matthew 5:13, 14). The undeniable application of these verses is that Christians must assert Godly principles where possible. In homes, in schools, in communities, and in the public square, the followers of Christ must affect their world.

Jesus was a Jewish man who lived under the occupation of the Roman empire. He had no input into the political affairs of the day. Even Paul, a Roman citizen by birth, had little input into the affairs of state (c.f. Acts 22:22-29). Today, our world is different.

A person born in the United States gains the right to vote at 18.  Even before that, he enjoys a “right of redress” provided in the 1st Amendment which recognizes the citizen’s undeniable right to petition the government to correct wrongs. It is this right, and the Biblical admonition to influence the world, that should drive Christians to petition on behalf of the most vulnerable among us: the unborn.

Life is the unique province of the Lord. He spoke humanity into existence. He began with plant life (Genesis 1:11, Day Three), then animal life (Genesis 1: 20, Day Five) and finally, humanity (Genesis 1:27, Day Six). But notice verse 26. “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Man was fundamentally different from every other living creature God had created. The text shows that this newly created species was to have dominion over the rest of the creation. Man was different. He was special. Genesis 2:7 has God breathing life into mankind. He never did that with any other creature.

God controls the taking of life. Divinely ordained capital punishment is biblical. Paul writes that government, ordained by God, does not carry the sword in vain. He argues that evildoers should, therefore, be afraid of government (Romans 13:1-7). God even regulates combat and the taking of life in warfare. When nations warred without divine approval and leadership, failure followed (c.f. 1 Samuel 4, 5).

Let the reader see that life is precious to God. Humanity does not determine who lives and dies. Only God does. Therefore, we conclude that abortion is wrong for it encroaches on that which God has reserved for himself. We conclude that apart from the actual life of the mother, there is no acceptable rationale for abortion.

Let us fervently pray that abortion will end up on the garbage heap of social injustice like slavery. It is a stain upon our national character. Christians should use their influence with elected officials to bring an end to this despicable act.

Abortion’s Hard Lies

Abortion, Web sites

abortion questionsAbortion is not a pleasant topic for anyone, especially for the women who think it solves their problems. Of course, it doesn’t and it often adds to their anxiety and grief. No one should suggest that abortion is an easy decision. I’m sure it is not. Nevertheless, abortion is a wrong decision that penalizes the most vulnerable among us for bad decisions we make.

Tom Trinko at American Thinker has a powerful, clear-headed post about abortion in light of the Irish abortion vote. I highly suggest you read it from top to bottom. Let me whet your appetite with a three of his quotes.

“Hence, when you hear all the rejoicing on the left that Ireland has decided to legalize abortion, you need to understand that leftists are cheering for the legalized killing of the most defenseless human beings in the world.” 

Another:

“…leftists believe that if it takes the killing of the innocent unborn human being to enable their sexually hedonistic lifestyles, then so be it.”

And one more to get you going:

“The left wasn’t able to convince many Americans to believe in its lies about abortion, which is why it had to be legalized by judicial fiat and propped up by a massive propaganda effort that ignores science and depends on lies and distortions.”

The Big Abortion Lie is well worth your time.

I fully expect I will be trolled for promoting his post. That’s fine. I’ll stand with life and you stand with death.

 

Two Abortion Questions

Abortion

abortion questionsThe abortion debate polarizes culture. It is a sharp litmus test for many. Abortion is the banner issue of women’s right’s groups and feminist causes. The debate is loud but generally a useless exchange. There are a few very basic questions that should govern our discussion.

When Does Life Begin?

Is there an objective, testable point at which life begins? Philosophers struggle with this question. Scientists struggle with this question too.

Many in the pro-abortion camp argue that life begins late in gestation, perhaps as late as birth. Some argue for late-term or even partial-birth abortions. These procedures are done well beyond the accepted dates of viability. Supporters of these procedures must affirm that life begins at birth and not before.

Science seems unable to answer the question with any precision. Some say life begins at conception for that is the moment a new, unique being begins to exist. Others say life begins with spontaneous breathing but that requires actual birth. Others argue for a beating heart and still more suggest the presence of brain waves. There is no conclusive scientific evidence.

Philosophically, we find little agreement either. Again, conception is suggested as the most reasonable point for the origin of life, but other thinkers have offered contrasting views.

Biblically, God speaks of knowing a child while it is yet unborn (Jeremiah 1:5). The unborn child responds positively to the presence of the Lord nearby (Luke 1:41, 44 ). Life begins with God (Genesis 1:26, 27) and its coming and passing lies with Him.

If we could all agree as to the moment life begins, the larger question of abortion might be easier to deduce. But for now, we are left with uncertainty. It would seem, that since we do not know, we ought to err on the side of the unborn.

Is One Life Superior to Another?

Shall a pregnancy be terminated for the convenience of the mother? “I’m just not ready to be a parent” or “I can’t afford to have a child” are reasons often heard. This suggests the child must give way to the mother. Her convenience is more important than the child’s life. It is a harsh but accurate description.

In the United States, we have had profound discussions of equality that persist until today. In the mid-20th century we faced questions of racial equality. Laws were enacted that began to correct the horrible mistreatment of people of color. Almost everyone today will affirm that “all men are created equal.”

There are also discussions over the place of women. Most recently, many women have challenged the status quo by publicly challenging powerful men who view women as objects to be treated with contempt. Despite their piggish behavior, I suspect they would still say that a woman’s life is not inferior to theirs.

Among the horrors of the Nazi’s were the ideas that some people were inferior. Those ideas were not unique to Germany but found fertile ground among many Americans including U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and famed activist Margaret Sanger. Fortunately, such radical ideas were rejected by the populace.

This country holds that all are equal, and none are superior to others. We have enshrined this thought in our Constitution, we have fought horrible wars to settle the question, and we have rescued those deemed unworthy of life by other nations. I doubt many would dare to argue that one person is superior to another.

Reasonable people can disagree on the moment life begins. However, we should accept the uncertainty inherent in our positions. So given that uncertainty, why can we not agree that we should protect all life?

Thank you for reading my thoughts. Please join the discussion below.

Church and Government

Abortion, Church Bulletin, Culture, Daily living, Government, , ,

3D_Judges_Gavel (1)It’s time to talk about the church and government. It seems we are confusing the two. As a result, many Christians are wringing their hands over a federal judge who decided to mandate same-sex marriage in Alabama. There are some facts we should keep in mind.

The Church and Government Are Not the Same

While both are from God and even though Christians are subject to both, the church and government are not identical. Each has responsibilities which complement each other but are unique. For example, government has no responsibility for evangelism and the church has no responsibility for policing citizens.

Neither Sin nor Righteousness Can Be Legislated.

One of our greatest failures is the idea that we can make people holy through legislation. We cannot. [bctt tweet=”We might be able to make people conform, but we cannot save them through the legislative process.”] We have argued elsewhere that morality must be based in God. We may extend that to argue that such God-based morality is the foundation of many of laws in the past.

Today, government is populated by throngs of godless men and women who no longer stand on Biblical morality. To them, there is no moral anchor for their actions. The single determining factor is personal desire. Whatever most people want is what they will get. The danger of this populist approach to right and wrong is that anything becomes legally possible.

It is the populist approach that gave us abortion on demand and now homosexual marriage. One can only speculate at what future wickedness will be condoned and even supported by our government. We should not be surprised that evil is slowly consuming both our culture and government.

Christians must be the Conscience of Culture

What then is the role of the Christian in our country? Christians desire that all live righteously. That is the will of Christ and is appropriately the will of his followers. Jesus said that his followers should be both salt and light (Matthew 5:14-16). Jesus did not say that his people were to be politicians. It may be that Christians can affect the world through political activism and participation, but they must never confuse their Christianity with their politics.

Philip Yancey, in Vanishing Grace wrote, “The church works best as a separate force, a conscience to society that keeps itself at arm’s length from the state.” I think he has a fine point. Our task is not to run the state but to prod the state into Godly conduct. Sometimes our saltiness is successful. Sometimes our light is seen. Sadly, it doesn’t always work that way.

Our true battle is not in the smoke-filled back rooms of government. Our battle is in the hearts and minds of individuals.

Christians Live and Thrive Despite Government

I wonder if we think we are saved by government. Do we think the church needs government? The church does not need government. Every time the church gets close with the state the church loses. The one time the church actually merged with government we ended up with the Crusades.

But consider the original Christians. The church began with opposition from both the Jewish and Roman governments. Jesus, as Lord of the church and its founder, was crucified by the Romans at the insistence of the Jews. The Jewish persecution of the church began immediately with, at a minimum, the permission of Rome. Later, as Christianity spread far beyond Judea and Galilee, Rome took up the persecution under such infamous leaders as Nero and Domitian.

It was in the pressure cooker of governmental assault that Christianity grew rapidly.[bctt tweet=”It was in the pressure cooker of governmental assault that Christianity grew rapidly.”] It was also in this environment that Paul wrote, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1). Earlier, Jesus noted the separation between the church and government when he answered his critics by saying, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). The Christian walks two paths, that of the heavenly way and that of state citizen. For almost all Americans, these current rulings approving sinful acts have no direct impact on how they live or worship. It may anger us, sadden us, disappoint us or sicken us, but these laws do not require us to sin or violate our faith.

But It’s an Abomination!

True enough, homosexuality is an abomination. The Bible is clear in Leviticus 18:22; 20:13. But other sins are also abominations, i.e. dishonesty in business (Leviticus 25:16), idolatry (Deuteronomy 27:15, 32:16), a devious person (Proverbs 3:32), haughtiness, a lying tongue, shedding innocent blood, devising wicked plans, those that practice evil generally, a false witness and one who causes discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19).

There are many sins that are not illegal. In fact, among the 10 Commandments, only two are actually illegal (killing and stealing). The point is simple: any sin offends God and is an abomination to him. But government is not the church and has never made most sins illegal. In our country today it is perfectly legal to engage in adultery or fornication. It is allowed to lie or shade the truth. It is legal to covet anything and everything your neighbor has. One may worship idols and even offer animal sacrifices to those idols and not be guilty of a crime.

Brethren, we live in a broken, corrupt world where Satan, our adversary, rules (1 John 5:19, Ephesians 2:2).

It Will Get Worse

It is not a happy thought, but our world will continue to grow darker (2 Timothy 3:2, 13). Most will be lost (Matthew 7:13, 14).

In my lifetime, these teachings have been proving again and again. Abortion on demand takes millions of innocent lives annually, fornication and adultery are commonplace. Honesty is almost unheard of, homosexuality is accepted and glorified, morality has fled from the public square. I do not like where our world has gone, yet I live here and will glorify God as long as I can.

Being Salty

Jesus told us to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). But where do we sprinkle that salt? If I buy a hamburger and fries I might sprinkle salt on the fries but not in my Mountain Dew. Likewise, let us sprinkle our salt where it is most needed and most effective.

You are most effective when touching the hearts of someone you know. A one-on-one relationship makes all the difference. Writing letters to Congressmen and Senators is easy and requires no investment, but impacting the life of a living being person you know is hard.[bctt tweet=”You are most effective when touching the hearts of someone you know”]

If tomorrow we awoke to find that Congress had passed, and the President had signed, a bill to make all sin illegal, would it change anything? Would sin decrease? Would all 320 million Americans suddenly be saved? No!

Reforming government is a distraction. You cannot bring America to Christ. You bring individuals to Christ. You bring your spouse, your children, your brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, co-workers, neighbors and fellow students to Christ. We are not saved as a nation but as individual souls in need of a savior.

When I look at Jesus and his apostles I never once see them arguing for some candidate or petitioning for a law to end some sin. But I do see Jesus interacting with a Sanhedrin leader (John 3:1ff). I see Paul one-on-one with a Centurion (Acts 10:1ff), a Roman proconsul (Acts 13:12) and I see him before a King (Acts 26:1). The gospel is shared with individuals, not governments.

I, like you, am saddened when I see those who glorify sin win any battle. But I know that my task is to evangelize, not to govern. My Lord is enthroned in glory (Acts 7:55; Revelation 1:12-16) and is victorious. Do not be discouraged by battles lost in Satan’s world. Know that there is ultimate victory in Christ!

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

 

 

The Error of Abortion

Abortion

Texas has become ground zero for the abortion fight. Governor Rick Perry and the legislature there are poised to force abortion doctors to a higher standard of care than any other state. The upshot will likely be the closing of most of the abortion shops still open in in Texas. The Texas debate has reignited a discussion of abortion. I am opposed to abortion.

We have written often about abortion, but we offer a few more points for your consideration.

The Unborn Child is Unique.

The union of sperm and egg produce a being that is genetically different from that of either the father or the mother. We are not discussing some anomalous tissue akin to a tumor or growth. The growing cells with the mother are clearly distinct from her body. An analysis would show gentic contributions from both mother and father but the DNA is absolutely and always unique.

Abortion destroys a unique being.

Mother’s Rights

Parents are given wide latitude in how they raise their children. You may do some things in child rearing that I would not but except for extreme cases, I am powerless to challenge your rights. But one thing you do not have, nor should ever have, is the right to end the life of your child.

We often hear the pro-abortionists chanting that “A woman has a right to her own body!” We agree. She does not, however, have the right to another human beings body. We can and should allow women great freedom in what they choose to do. As with all actions, they will suffer the consequences of their decisions. But the rights of an individual stop when they encroach upon another life.

Abortion is the greatest human rights violation the world has known.

Abortion is Self Centered

I am well aware of all the reasons people give for abortion. But at the root of them all is a desire to preserve a way of life enjoyed prior to the pregnancy. The preservation of a lifestyle, preservation of income or career, preservation of wealth, preservation of personal freedom are all reasons people give to end the life of an unborn child

Sadly, many have deluded themselves into thinking that abortion was somehow good for the child. Really? Such an argument cannot be sustained and leads surely to infanticide.

I could go on, but I make my point. Abortion is just wrong.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

Abortion

Abortion

This page contains a listing of various posts we have written on the subject of abortion. As a disclaimer, I am adopted. Had pro-abortion laws been available in 1961 I might not have been here to post these articles. Please comment here or on the individual pages.

Praying for Abortion – Planned Parenthood and Prayer

Obama and Abortion – A move toward helping women could cause a slight decrease in abortions.

Teen Pregnancy – Troubling news about teen pregnancy and the lack of home morality training.

What Pro-Lifer’s Really Want – Hollywood and the news media on abortion.

Forced to Assist in Abortion – Toleration is defined by the abortionist agenda.

What If Abortion Was Legal When You Were Born? – Pretty self explanatory with a call to action.

Abortion and Pro-Life – After the murder of an abortion doctor pro-life people were roundly assaulted unfairly.

Abortionist Murder is Unacceptable – The murder of an abortion doctor is not acceptable to people of faith nor to the wider pro-life community.

Abortion – One of our earliest posts on the subject from 2009.

Should We Change?

Abortion, Church Bulletin, Culture, Government, Homosexuality, , , , ,

People vote for a candidate for one or many possible reasons. One very large set of issues are those that deal with social issues or moral issues. Things like abortion, gambling, gay marriage and work ethic issues define many American voters. For many years, politicos have been telling us that these issues are unimportant to many and downright offensive to others. In the aftermath of last week’s election those who seek an amoral approach to politics are even louder and point to our belief in certain foundational social issues as one major reason that a conservative candidate was not elected. One commentator was bold enough to say that it was time to leave abortion behind. Are they right? Should we become silent and even indifferent to moral issues? Of course not.

Moral Issues Are God’s Issues

Our support of moral issues is predicated on Biblical teaching. We support what God has taught and dare not support what he condemns. Paul says God has spoken to us through his Spirit and  that the Spirit has searched and knows “the depths of God”  (1 Corinthians 2:6-13). It is this same Spirit that guides men into truth (John 16:13) and moved holy men to compose the books of the Bible we have today (2 Peter 1:21). We can no more jettison clear Bible teaching than we can reject the sonship of Jesus Christ.

Moral Issues Are “Salt” Issues

Jesus expects his people to be men and women of influence. He uses common salt as an example of the Christian in Matthew 5:13. The idea is unmistakable. Christians must come into contact with the world so that we can influence the world. Peter, James and John could not live upon the Transfiguration Mountain; the apostles could not remain in the upper room after the crucifixion. The work was among men. Likewise, our work is among the people of our day. We must add influence where we can.

Moral Issues Elevate a People

When a nation pursues God and seeks righteousness and goodness, that nation is blessed. Solomon said, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” The founders of this nation understood that principle and sought divine blessings. Only succeeding, corrupt, generations have twisted their desires and intents to exclude righteousness from the public square. God blesses those who draw near to him (James 4:8) while opposing those who do not (Psalm 34:16).

Moral Issues Are Not Decided by the Majority

In Genesis 6, Noah did not take a poll before beginning the ark. Joshua did not seek military advice before encircling Jericho (Joshua 6). As Noah’s story makes clear, the majority is a horrible indicator of righteousness. The Lord himself tells us that most will be lost (Matthew 7:13). Pollsters and politicos would have use determine the important issues based upon focus groups and polling data. Sadly, some religious groups today survey their communities to decide what to preach on. Opinion driven preaching is driving millions into Satan’s arms every day. We must stand for truth even if we are the last man standing.

Christians must stand for goodness and influence others for righteousness whenever and wherever they can. We cannot be deluded into thinking that political victories are important enough to ignore what God has said. Let us stand until the Lord calls us home.

 

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter  @jbevans.

Tolerance

Abortion, Church Bulletin, Culture, Daily living, Homosexuality, , , ,

Tolerance is an important buzz-word in American culture. We are taught, encouraged and cajoled into being tolerant of every odd idea that appears. There is no greater complement among some than to be thought a tolerant person. Tolerance has become the holy grail of our godless society.

The idea of “live and let live” has been corrupted into a an unholy mantra which demands acceptance and even support of immorality and unrighteousness. We must be tolerant of those who choose to take the lives of unborn children; we must tolerate and support the alternate lifestyles of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender groups; we must happily accept the those who practice serial marriages and even those who engage in open cheating on their spouses. In some quarters, voices were raised to tell us we must understand the anger of those who attacked innocents on 9/11.

As with so many discussions, proponents of various kinds of sin gently and quietly change the meanings of the words they use. Tolerance is an excellent example. The meaning of tolerance has shifted. To many, it now means “acceptance.” Trends within our own locale suggest that soon tolerance will mean “support.”

An example will help. If my neighbor practices witchcraft I will not burn his house down. I will not attack him as he works in his yard. I will not stand on the property line and shout insults at him. I will tolerate his presence. However I will never encourage him in his sin. When confronted by his own comments and practices I will oppose him. I will teach my children against his ways and will give air to my thoughts freely. It’s not an acceptable lifestyle.  While I may tolerate it I will not accept or support it.

Tolerance has gone too far.

I need to pause for a moment and make something clear. I do not advocate, nor have I ever, assaults upon anyone who practices unrighteousness. I have both spoken and written about the sin of hatred. That is wrong. Nevertheless, I must not stand by sheepishly while every sin is cast into the Christian’s face while a chorus of the wicked tells us we must not complain. I am told that I must be tolerant of their views while they remain intolerant of mine.

Would Jesus tolerate sin?

Jesus was not tolerant of those who perverted the sanctity of the Temple grounds and sought to profit God’s worship. (Matthew 21:12; John 2:14-15). Other wickedness was not dealt with physically but this assault upon the dwelling place of the Father was too much.

Jesus was not tolerant of ignorant religious leadership. He rebuked Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, because he did not understand basic teachings about the Christ (John 3:1-15). He was hard, even harsh, on the Pharisees and scribes who were leading Israel astray (Matthew 23).

   Jesus was not tolerant of sexual immorality. When was woman was used to try and trap Jesus into a clash between his ways and the Law of Moses he did not tolerate or accept her sin. He told her to “go and sin no more” (John 8:1-11).

Jesus’ inspired apostles were likewise solidly in opposition to sin. Peter was neither tolerant nor understanding of those who watched as Jesus was crucified. He spoke plainly and demanded their repentance (Acts 2:36-38). Paul was not silent concerning homosexuality. He uses some of his strongest language anywhere to condemn that immoral lifestyle (Romans 1:18-32).

We are blessed to live in a place where free speech still reigns. Despite ongoing attempts to label opposition to some sins as “hate speech,” and thus make it illegal, the pulpit remains free as are those who serve the risen King. Let us raise our voice loudly and push back against those who serve the god of their own lusts. Stand for what is right. Speak a word loudly for the Lord!