The Foray

Abortion and My Personal Political Views

As you know, throughout my five-plus years as pastor at MVB, I have steadfastly refused to "go political" from the pulpit. I'm aware that some in the church wish that I would, while others are glad that I don't. But why my refusal? Is it because I think politics unimportant? No, but because I simply think the gospel more important. I'm just not interested in prejudicing my hearers against the gospel by airing from the pulpit what I personally think of various politicians and/or the Republican or Democrat parties (which frankly, isn't much).

However, if you've been paying attention to my preaching over the years, you've heard me articulate biblical principles and teachings time and again that make clear when one of the two parties is wrong about an issue, (or whether both are!). 

Here at The Foray, however, I'm more willing to speak politically (an indication that I do regard politics as of some importance after all). Having said this, when it comes to the issue of abortion, I personally subscribe to the views articulated by Libertarians for Life (here):

1. Human offspring are human beings, persons from conception, whether that takes place as natural or artificial fertilization, by cloning, or by any other means.

2. Abortion is homicide -- the killing of one person by another.

3. One's right to control one's own body does not allow violating the obligation not to aggress. There is never a right to kill an innocent person. Prenatally, we are all innocent persons.

4. A prenatal child has the right to be in the mother's body. Parents have no right to evict their children from the crib or from the womb and let them die. Instead both parents, the father as well as the mother, owe them support and protection from harm.

5. No government, nor any individual, has a just power to legally "de-person" any one of us, born or preborn.

6. The proper purpose of the law is to side with the innocent, not against them.

Does this mean, then, that politically I'm a Libertarian? Truth be told, I don't know what I am anymore -- except disgusted with the way things are in Washington. This much I DO know: My hope isn't in elected officials, but in Christ my King!

Greg

The President's Mixed Messages on Abortion

What do they mirror?

Melissa Clouthier over at Pajamas Media explains in a good article (here) that only takes about 5 minutes to read.  

By the way, the "mixed messages" involve the old "abortion-should-be-legal-but-rare" argument. (Sorry, but that's just intellectually dishonest.)

Keep speaking out for the innocent! (Proverbs 31:8)  

Greg

Incredibly Moving Personal Experiences

I came across a website a few days ago that I simply haven't been able to get off my mind. I share it with you, in the hope that someone might find it helpful.

Read some of the personal stories on this site and you'll see why it's called "abortionchangesyou.com". These firsthand accounts expose the lie of the "abortion-is-the-solution" argument as powerfully as anything can. See what I mean at http://www.abortionchangesyou.com/explore

This site doesn't appear to be a distinctly "Christian" per se, but the personal experiences are nonetheless incredibly moving.

I just wish the individuals behind these stories could hear the good news of Jesus Christ (if they haven't), and know his eagerness to forgive sin, all sin --including abortion.

There's biblical warrant for singing about "grace that is greater than ALL our sin!"

Greg

Of Turtle Eggs and Humans: Moral Schizophrenia

When we lived in Florida, I remember going to the beach on one occasion and finding a section deemed "off limits," complete with warning signs. The reason?

Sea turtle nests.

Passers-by were strictly warned not to tamper with the eggs, upon serious penalty.

Well, just this afternoon I did a little investigating and discovered this FL state law: "No person may take, harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, trap, kill, capture, or attempt to engage in any such conduct to marine turtles, turtle nests, and/or turtle eggs" (Florida Statutes, Chapter 370). http://www.broward.org/bio/seaturtle.htm

Now, why be concerned about disturbing marine turtle nests and eggs? Obvious answer: To protect the turtle population!

Well, and good. Destroy enough turtle eggs and, eventually, there won't be any more turtles. That makes sense.

But what about human beings? Why can't we, as a society, see our way clear to protect human beings as well? Is it that there are "enough" of them already?

Consider the following "open letter" to one of the current presidential candidates:

"Senator _______, You have asked me to vote for you. In turn, may I ask you three simple questions? They are straightforward questions of fact about abortion. They are at the heart of the debate. In fairness, I believe that you owe the people you would lead a 'good faith' answer to each:

1. The heart whose stilled in every abortion -- is it a human heart?
2. The tiny limbs torn by the abortionist's scalpel -- are they human limbs?
3. The blood that flows from the fetus's veins -- is it human blood?

If the stopped heart is a human heart, if the torn limbs are human limbs, if the spilled blood is human blood, can there be any denying that what is killed is a human being?"

How is it that we as a nation can see our way clear to afford legal protection to turtle eggs, but not to human beings in the womb?

What can this be but moral schizophrenia?

Christians, speak out for the sanctity of human life. And go further! Rise up and offer your help where it's needed in regard to the various issues of life. You CAN make a difference for good! Local Christians are working hard to do just that. Join them! http://www.aaawomen.org/

"Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute." Prov 31:8

Greg

Beware Fetus Fatigue

Christian philosopher Douglas Groothuis sounds a timely warning:

http://theconstructivecurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2008/03/recoving-from-fetus-fatigue.html

By the way, has anybody read the book to which Groothuis refers in his article? The book is called, Embryo: A Defense of Human Life, by Robert George and Christopher Tollefson.

I haven't read it yet, but would like to get a copy. Amazon has it for just over $16.

From what I've read, George and Tollefson advocate "embryo adoption" to address the dilemma of "spare embryos resulting from in-vitro fertilization."

Bethany Christian Services, an adoption agency used by a number of families in our church, is now engaging in such adoptions. Check it out here:

http://www.bethany.org/A55798/bethanyWWW.nsf/0/1CA188422535A9E8852572750070B241

Of course, not everyone is pleased with Embryo. Follow the logic (if you can) of this criticism from one Amazon customer:

This book is one more tool in the armory of the anti-contraception anti-feminism movement, and this is its main flaw. It is a fallacy to represent the pro-choice position as one that is unconcerned with the potential person that an embryo represents. The question is HOW best to protect unwanted "pre-persons."

I'm sorry ... say that again?!

Greg