In our Word of the Week, Pastor Neal Radichel explains the Biblical word Reconciliation. This word describes a change in a relationship. We have been separated from God because of our sin. Christ reconciles sinners to God by His sacrifice of sin. See Daniel 9:24; Ephesians 2:14-16; Colossians 2:19-21; Romans 5:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21. Because of Christ’s live and death for sinners, our debt has been paid and we are at peace with God. Thanks be to our Savior. Listen and grow in your knowledge of this important Biblical word.
One of the most surprising things of this election year is Donald Trump’s claim that he will build a wall on the border between the U.S. and Mexico. Now, accomplishing that feat on its own would be interesting enough, but Trump is going even further. Not only will he build the wall, he will have Mexico pay for it. The thing is, Mr. Trump really hasn’t explained how he’s going to do this. What makes this claim even more outstanding is that the President of Mexico has publicly stated that they will not pay for it. Will Trump succeed? I suppose it’s possible but it seems highly unlikely. Trump’s wall claim seems like most things in politics, big promises made to make headlines but excuses for failure almost always follow.
I’m not here to speak for or against the wall or to delve into the politics of it all. You’ve heard enough of that already. But, Trump’s promise brings to mind an interesting account from God’s Word. There was a time when God built a wall, and had a foreign kingdom pay for it. That time comes from late in the Old Testament history of Israel, from the book of Nehemiah. To understand the miracle that this was you need to know who Nehemiah was. Nehemiah was a Jewish captive in Babylon during the time that God’s people were exiled. Like other prominent Jewish people who arose to high standing in foreign lands (Joseph, Daniel) Nehemiah had ascended to the position of cup-bearer for the king. While in this position, Nehemiah heard about the great disrepair of the city of Jerusalem. With boldness, he petitioned king Artaxerxes he be allowed to return to Israel and help in the re-building process of the city’s wall. Artaxerxes not only granted the request, he decided to pay for the entire venture. Nehemiah recorded his request in chapter 2 verse 8,
… and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy. And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.
There you have it. Not only did Artaxerxes give Nehemiah time off, he covered the expenses for the materials. God, in His power and wisdom, was able to use a foreign king to accomplish His will. And this wasn’t the only time, either. In the book before Nehemiah’s, his contemporary, Ezra, encountered a similar circumstance. Once Cyrus, king of Persia, conquered the Babylonians he gave the order for the Jews to return to their land and re-build their temple. Ezra was tasked with this responsibility, but God was also working behind the scenes. We’re told,
In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were offered, and let its foundations be retained. Its height shall be sixty cubits and its breadth sixty cubits, 4 with three layers of great stones and one layer of timber. Let the cost be paid from the royal treasury (Ezra 6:3-4).
Much like Nehemiah’s re-building of the wall, Ezra’s expenses would be paid by a foreign king. But, this didn’t make either task easy. Ezra was plagued by the native peoples living Judea. They wanted a share in this great endeavor, but they were also idol worshipers. The entire reason Ezra’s people had been sent to captivity was because they intermingled with false gods. He wasn’t about to let that happen all over again, so he refused to join with the other nations in the temple reconstruction. This decision, although correct, would prove to be the source of headaches and difficulties in the project. We’re told,
Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia (Ezra 4:4-5).
The native people tried to turn Darius, Cyrus’ successor, against Ezra and the Israelites. But, once Darius realized the truth of the matter, he issued his very own decree; once again, fulfilling God’s will by paying the way for the project,
Let the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site. 8 Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River (Ezra 6:7-8).
Nehemiah, likewise, faced his own share of hardships as he tried to rally his people to rebuild the city walls. We’re told that the workers had to hold a weapon in one hand and their tool in the other. Half of the man-power needed to be directed at protection. In the end, though, the wall was completed in just 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15). No plan of man can thwart the will of God. In the short accounts of Ezra and Nehemiah’s work, God used three separate foreign rulers to not only accomplish His will, but pay for all of the expenses.
The lessons of Ezra and Nehemiah remind us of many things. We see the importance of perseverance and faithfulness to God’s plan. We see tremendous examples of leadership in both Ezra and Nehemiah. We see the utter folly of trying to resist the true God. We see how God values both the physical (wall) and spiritual (temple) protection of His people. But perhaps greatest of all, we see God’s plan of grace. Long before Ezra and Nehemiah’s triumphs, the Israelites were humiliated by captivity under the Babylonians. Not only were they carried into slavery, away from their homeland, but God’s holy temple was sacked and looted. What a disgrace for both God and His people. But, throughout it all, God had a perfect plan. He used the oppression of Babylon to bring His children back to repentance; so that future followers like Ezra would learn to resist idol-worshipers, and future believers like you and I would have confidence in the work of Christ. But, at the same time He also provided the mechanism for their re-building process. He moved Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes to kindness and favor with His people, so much so, that they funded the re-building of Jerusalem. Never before had foreign rulers so willingly submitted to a nation in such a lowly status.
If God was able to accomplish so much in that setting, what can He do for your life? Well, He can certainly help with with those lingering financial issues, or that friendship that seems to be on the rocks. He reassures you with love when you’re in the thick of an unfriendly world. He listens at all times when you’re distressed or in need. Just like the Israelites, God’s got you covered at all times. You have a Friend who can use His own enemies to accomplish His will. What is too great for Him? But, the matter that God places as highest priority for you is your salvation. He wants you to know and believe that you are forgiven and redeemed. Examples of His eternal power like those in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah are more than just things to wish for, or “ooh” and “aah” at in amazement. God is showing you the power of His grace in your life; powerful enough to save you from sin and all of it’s effects. So, when you hear a politician’s outrageous claims, remember Who is really in control, what He has done for you, and what He wants for your life.
We’re here to uplift your Christian faith, to build you up in the knowledge of Christ, you Savior. It would seem appropriate, then, to explain the name of this blog. How uplifting can we really be if our title starts with “burden”? For those enlightened by Jesus, the idea of a burden seems far and distant. To look at our faith as a burden, in fact, seems downright inappropriate. What’s the point of this thing called Christianity if it’s just another hardship in life?
While not the lasting impression we want to leave on our readers and hearers, the idea of a burden is an entirely accurate description of the Christian faith. Twice in his prophecy, Zechariah started his message by saying, “The burden of the word of the LORD…” You may notice in your Bible translation that Hebrew word for “burden” can also mean “oracle” or “revelation”, and that’s true. But, the most basic meaning of this word is “burden”. It’s used for something difficult that must be carried. Was it right for Zechariah to speak about the LORD’s word like this? The fact that the Holy Spirit was working through Zechariah is answer enough. Zechariah wasn’t the only one, either. God’s final Old Testament Scripture, written through the prophet, Malachi, used the same phrase for his message.
Furthermore, every other prophet of God bore the same burden as Zechariah and Malachi even if they didn’t use the same phrase to describe it. For God’s prophets, and to the Hebrew mind, having an oracle or revelation from the LORD was synonymous to carrying a burden. We can relate to that. The most important pieces of information in life are often difficult to carry. To have something important, valuable, and precious is an awesome responsibility and not to be taken lightly. How much more so with the inspired words of our eternal and almighty God?
But, perhaps the most compelling evidence comes from Jesus. He would tell His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23).” According to God’s own Son, following by faith was not only a burden, it was like carrying a cross. His own example shows us how difficult that is. Jesus would set the tone to these words near the end of His life. One cannot be a Christian and avoid this burden. Therefore, burden-bearing is not only appropriate to faith, it’s absolutely necessary. If we are looking to give up the word of God or to deny it because of pressure from the world, then we cannot be Christ’s. To be the Lord’s is to live under the burden of His word. It means we feel the compulsion to follow that word and to proclaim it. It means we embrace it and use it. How heavy a burden this is at times!
God’s law speaks to all and its message isn’t very fun. But, this is where the other part of our name is meant to come into focus – Blessing. The end of the Christian faith gives us hope. There is a blessing to come from this burden. And because of Jesus, it is a blessing that is free. We do not bear the burden of the word to earn blessings for ourselves. We bear it to reflect the Lord and Savior who bore the eternal weight of the world’s sin, shame, and guilt on the cross. We have blessings upon blessings because of Jesus. Our “cup runs over” day after day.
Jesus does not promise earthly prosperity. He is not a ‘seven-steps to success’ teacher. He does not help those who help themselves. He did not come to earth so that we could sit back and be comfortable. We carry His burden.
Matthew 11:28-29 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
We’re not here to fulfill our debt, but to revel in Christ’s glory. Our sufferings for His name are a testament that we are redeemed from sin. Let us not shy away from this burden but bear it with pride and gratitude for our Lord and Savior. God uses this burden, the name of His Son in His word, to drive us back, again and again, to the blessings of forgiveness.
Target’s bathroom policy: You already know about it. You probably have formed an opinion about it. And you’re most likely sick of hearing about it.
But, I ask to consider one more point on the matter; the Biblical position, which seems to be largely absent from the public forum. As a Christian, how should you react to it? Does it affect your faith? Does God say anything about it in the Bible? It might seem like we’re parsing the words of the Bible a bit too thin to say that God cares about department store bathroom policies. But as it is with any situation, you have to get down to the root cause in order to fully understand it. Target’s policy didn’t just poof out of thin air. It was the result of years of subjective conflict against the core principles of God’s Word; a conflict which rages stronger today than ever.
We’ve heard the arguments for and against Target’s change, and that’s part of the problem. After a while, people begin to think that’s all there is to talk about. Some say there’s nothing to be concerned with; that it’s a policy designed to be more inclusive which, from their perspective, is always better. They may also say that no one is being hurt by it. The other side, where most Christians seem to stand, asks what’s to stop a sexual predator from entering the women’s restroom or a pedophile from being alone with a child? They say it creates a dangerous scenario, and it’s hard to argue to the contrary. But sadly, often the discussion ends at one of those two conclusions.
The biggest problem with Target’s policy, and the overall LGBQT platform, is precisely the very thing so many people are overlooking. It’s a moral problem. We’re not just talking about peoples’ civic rights in these issues. Ultimately, it becomes a matter of what we consider to be right and good. From a Biblical perspective transgender ideology is defiance to God and specifically His act of creation. If we open the door to subjective determination of gender, what’s to stop us from allowing any self-made determination that an individual has? The entire transgender movement is built around individual choice. When that reigns, truth is thrown out the window. Eventually, all people must draw a moral line. For the Christian, finding that line is easy because God has already determined it for us.
In the Bible, disobedience to God’s ordered creation is seen as idolatry (see Romans 1). How does this become idolatry? Well, remember, subjective determination reigns in transgender ideology, and other such belief systems that would do away with God’s created standards. The individual becomes the source of truth, not God. Therefore, it becomes self-worship. It is precisely this type of disobedience to God that is the hallmark of the LGBQT movement.
But, hang on a second, isn’t it unloving to judge someone else’s lifestyle? That depends on what you mean by love. Again, for the Christian, God reigns, not subjective desires or opinions. Therefore, God gets to define love. This is actually true for all people, since God is the Creator and therefore the author of truth, reason, and love. But, only Christians who listen to the Bible actually believe it.
God, and specifically Jesus, said this about love:
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me (John 14:23-24).”
It doesn’t get any simpler than that. Love flows from God and from God’s Word. You can’t claim to have love if you disassociate yourself from God’s commands.
But does the Bible leave the question of gender identification open? Surely, Jesus never said anything about this… or did He? Again, the answer is simple:
“Have you not read, He who made them in the beginning made them male and female (Matthew 19:4).”
For Jesus, God’s own Son, this was the standard from creation, a rule that God set. Male and female. From the beginning. From the Creator. No extra genders. No self-image confusion. No sex transformations. No need for crazy bathroom policies. That alone, outside of tons of other clear passages, not only simplifies the matter, but settles it.
What Christians today seem to be forgetting, or blatantly ignoring, is that the people promoting transgender belief often don’t believe in God, that God created the world, or that God’s Word is the authority for life. If we Christians aren’t willing to compromise on the existence of God (and what Christian is?) why are we compromising on positions that destroy the need for Him in our lives? To dismantle God’s created order is to attempt to dismantle God. And, furthermore, why are Christians allowing atheists to define morality and love? We are not held hostage by man’s opinions, we have life-giving truth! A bathroom policy may not seem like much, but it absolutely deals with these bigger issues.
It’s almost as if Christians in America have come to the conclusion that the fight against the spiritual dangers of the transgender movement is not worth the time anymore. It feels logical to conclude that our country is too far down this path of subjective decision making that no amount of evidence will turn them back. So, the Christian retreats to a more logically neutral place, in the hope of saving some face with society, and the transgender issue shifts from a moral argument of God’s creations to an argument about the safety of our women and children in public restrooms. This picture summarizes the main objection to Target’s policy and transgender incorporation into public restrooms. The point made could be a legitimate concern, but when it dominates the argument it drowns the more serious Biblical concern of defiance to God’s moral standard.
As a father and a husband, I share this concern, but I can’t allow it to dominate the discussion. Common sense eliminates many of the potential dangers. My wife is an adult. If she enters the bathroom and a man is inside, she can calmly exit. As a parent, I can accompany my children into the restroom and make sure they are safe. I’m not saying the concern for safety isn’t legitimate, but it’s also not nearly as serious as a person’s relationship with God.
In the end, we don’t get to pick the battle lines. The Lord has already done that through His Word. We have the task of holding that line no matter how much the world is falling apart around us. Think of other Biblical heroes who were faced with difficult circumstances or impossible odds. Just skip ahead and read Hebrews 11 for a summary. When you’re done reading, ask yourself if the Lord wants you to retreat. But, who will listen!? How will we survive!? What if I’m disliked!? It doesn’t matter!!! God never tells you to worry about these things. In fact, He promises you that if you are indeed following Him, you can be guaranteed that you will suffer for it (2 Timothy 3:12), so be ready! I wonder, what would Christians today have if the early Church gave in, if they retreating from God’s created standard of truth? Remember, they faced many of the same moral pressures that we do today! They held the line, like all God-fearing people do, no matter the circumstances or the reaction from the world. Many of them paid the ultimate price to do so, but it was also the ultimate act of honor to God.
Like most of you, I’m tired of hearing about transgender ideology in the media. But, I also realize it’s only going to increase. We are in the midst of a battle for the truth of God’s Word and the sanctity of His created order, whether we like it or not. Since God has spoken, my task as His follower is to hold that line in the midst of the battle, both in my heart and in my witness to society.
If you are weary, and we are all at some point, don’t fret, you have help. Help to use for personal strength but also the same help to use in the fight.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).”
We all have been redeemed from sin and the many twisted forms that sin takes. We are more than a conquerors through Jesus Christ who loved us (Romans 8:37). Our escape plan from this wicked and sinful world is already in place. Therefore, we don’t retreat. We don’t shy away from the true battle which rages beneath the petty arguments trying to save face with the opposing side. We don’t seek for a neutral position. We seek the truth, and when we find it we don’t let go of it. If we do, we only lose more. No one has ever gained intrinsic purpose, meaning, or value by forsaking the truth. We’d be fools to start trying now. Instead, hold the line. Your Lord and Savior is beside you, ahead of you, and behind you in the fight.
Whenever I got something new as a kid, my dad would make me read through the instructional manual before using it. This was especially important for things that could either be broken or that could break something else. Dad expected me to know how to use whatever it was properly, even if it was a toy. One memory of this practice stands out clearly in my mind. Upon being paid as a young child to help work on the remodel of my sister and brother-in-law’s house, I decided (with quite a bit of encouragement from my dad) to reinvest my earnings by purchasing a cordless drill. This was a great thing for me as a young lad who was just learning how to build and fix things with power tools. As you can imagine, as soon as I got home, I wanted to unpack the drill and try it out. Not so fast!
According to my dad’s rules, I had to first read through the entire instruction manual. He then proceeded to quiz me on certain parts of the manual, just to make sure I had read it. I chuckle and tease my dad about it to this day, but in reality it was good for me to study and learn. It taught me to appreciate using a power tool and how it really wasn’t a toy, even though I kind of thought about it like that. And I still think about this every time I buy a tool, electronic device, or item that needs to be assembled. I always have the impulse to bypass the instructions and figure it out on my own. But, when I take the time to read and learn, it usually saves me some headaches down the line.
I also think of that lesson when it comes to the instruction manual of God’s Word. Now, the Bible is much more than an instruction book. Most importantly, it is the message of free salvation in Christ. But it’s also instructional in that it teaches and that’s important for us when it comes to defining and describing our Christian faith. It’s so easy to fall prey to the temptation to be the type of Christian that others want us to be, rather than actually learn about what God has to say. In our day people pick and choose whatever they feel like believing, while retaining that all important title of “Christian.” I read an example of this kind of thinking this past week. As I perused the newspaper the title “Why Hillary Clinton Needs Jesus” certainly caught my attention. I thought to myself, “Hey, that’s sounds pretty good, I think she needs Jesus too!” But, clearly the author has a different understanding of what it means to “need Jesus.” (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The author writes as someone who claims to know a lot about being a Christian, but it’s as if he hasn’t read the instruction manual. The way in which he talks about using the Christian faith is not only misleading but dangerous, like using a power tool as a toy. “Christian” to this author is about a political affiliation,”passion for social and economic justice,” and using Jesus as a means to acquire someone’s vote. I wouldn’t mind so much about an opinion expressed if it wasn’t so false and didn’t have such a weighty influence in our culture. The problem is that there are a lot of people, Christians included, who allow others, like this author, to define the Christian faith for them rather than taking it directly from God’s Word. The truth is that Hillary Clinton does need Jesus.
She needs Him for forgiveness of her sins.
She needs Him to know truth, and therefore to know right from wrong.
She needs Him for salvation; for a life of eternal value.
And before you think I’m judging from my high horse, I need Jesus for the very same reasons, and so do you.
Because so many are defining faith in Jesus as a solely worldly thing, I find myself thinking about passages like Matthew 9:35 more and more: “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” Such a simple passage; one we might readily gloss over as just scenery and many have. But it’s also a passage with profound implications and direction for our lives. Jesus was busy preaching the gospel and healing sicknesses and diseases. Two parts to His ministry: one spiritual, one physical; and the precise model for us to follow.
Modern scholars and experts, like the one who wrote the newspaper article, want to strip Christianity of its spirituality. They want to turn the gospel message of sins forgiven into a “social gospel.” They want to do away with sin and its implication for our lives, namely that we are lost without a Savior, no matter how much we stand up for: women’s rights, poverty, and immigrants. It’s true that it’s wrong for Christians to “talk the talk” and refuse to act when it comes to helping others. But if people want to call out Christians on that, they have to be ready to do the same in the opposite direction. It also makes no sense for people to claim faith in Christ and say they’re doing good works, yet ignore what the rest of God’s Word says; especially on the most important matters of our lives (yes, there are more important things in life than social reform, personal rights, and immigration). We become hypocrites, in both directions, when we don’t read the instruction manual.
We all need Jesus just as much as Hillary Clinton does. But let’s not reduce Jesus to a ‘social Savior’. Helping the poor, defending the weak, and calling out the greedy are all important things (pay attention here, too, Bernie Sanders). But, Jesus is not some resource to be used to achieve our own personal vision of how to accomplish these tasks. He defines the basis of both spiritual and social justice in His Word, just as He practiced both in His life. It was Jesus who said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…”, and “My kingdom is not of this world…” Likewise, you can’t pick one area of the Christian faith to accept and promote while denying another. The true gospel does not exalt one person’s choice over another person’s life. It was also Jesus who said, “Let the little children come to Me, for of such is the kingdom of God,” and “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.”
It’s horrific to see political leaders ascend church pulpits to promote their political ideologies and cater for votes. If ever there was a modern version of merchants in the temple that would have to be it. But it’s even sadder to see Christians redefining the rich heritage of their faith, which is rooted in the holy Word of God. They should know better. You don’t re-write the instruction manual because so many people are misusing the tool. You correct the misuse.
May God continue to use His effective Word to change hearts, by relaying the instructions of truth and by promoting the good news of salvation!
Yesterday was the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion in the United States. It saddens and amazes me that something like abortion could continue for so long in what we call a civilized society. Diversity of faiths is as high as ever in America yet almost all people still claim to be moral in their natures. You don’t need to be a Christian to see that abortion is just plain wrong. How can we claim morality and still turn a blind eye to such bloodshed? How can so many still defend it? These things have been on my mind this week and so I feel compelled to share some thoughts with those on both sides of the issue. First of all, some bare facts about unborn children and abortion:
At 12 weeks, all the major organs have begun to develop in the baby.
At 8 weeks, brain activity can be detected in the baby.
At 3.5 weeks, the heart begins to beat.
At 2 months, a child can hear, move, and feel pain. Most abortions are performed in the first 3 months.
The original wording of the Hippocratic Oath (400 BC) condemned abortions: “I will give no deadly drug to any, though it be asked of me, nor will I counsel such, and especially I will not aid a woman to procure abortions.” The part about abortion was changed in 1964.
Less than 1% of abortions are performed to save a mother’s life.
Before you condemn these stats as “pro-life talk” seriously consider what these things mean when it comes to defining the beginning of life. If a senior citizen had brain function, a heartbeat, the ability to hear, move, and feel would we call it life? Would they no longer be alive because they needed help to live or because others made the choice that they shouldn’t get the right to live?
A plea to abortion supporters:
To all who continue to fight for abortion: Death is never the solution to a problem. Death is a foreign disease in the world. Arguing that destroying something life, or even the potential for life, is something beneficial is complete foolishness, inherently selfish, and unbelievably wicked. Don’t believe otherwise just because so many consciences in our land are seared. To those who argue for the liberty of choice: You don’t have to right to murder, plain and simple. It’s true that not everyone agrees on when life begins. But, if there is any possibility of life, even if you don’t consider it life yet, it is still worth defending. If there is the slightest bit of evidence that life begins at conception, and there definitely is, destroying it should be a last resort; and only to protect someone else’s life. This is simple, common sense. Any argument to the contrary degrades the value of human life. To those who argue for women’s rights: Women have the awesome responsibility of bringing new life into the world. That ability is given to them alone. Part of that responsibility is to protect life. Encouraging women to choose death over life does not empower them or protect their rights. That is not freedom or liberty, but rather slavery to one’s own desires. The only time abortion should ever be considered is when the mother’s health is at risk. Not her goals, not her hobbies, not her desires, but her actual health. Life presents all of us with difficult situations; harming others, especially the innocent, is never a solution to our problems. We need to encourage women to stop looking at childbirth as a burden but rather see it as a blessing. We need to give them options to help them succeed, not immoral ways out of difficult situations. The true measure of maturity is being able to face a problem and get through it, not to ignore it, especially when another’s life is at stake. Part of being a woman is carrying this awesome responsibility in a mature way. It is the same for anyone who has control or power over someone else’s life and well-being.
Even if abortion is an option, it should always be the last option. That’s the only moral path. There are plenty of resources available to help women faced with an unexpected pregnancy. There are plenty of other options. We owe it both to women and to the unborn to exhaust these options before considering abortion. To those who say that the government should not intrude on this issue: Wake up to reality. It was the government who legalized abortion. Therefore, the government is already involved and has been for some time. Those who say the government shouldn’t get involved only do so because the government has already ruled in their favor. Furthermore, the government also has the obligation to protect the innocent and to punish the wicked. A person’s choice does not determine whether the taking of life is right or wrong. Only the truth of the matter should determine that and the government exists to defend the truth. It’s time to step up and protect life in the womb. Consider our own President who tweeted this in response to gun violence: “If there’s even one thing we can do, if there’s just one life we can save—we’ve got an obligation to try.” I completely agree and I know many abortion supporters do too, when it comes to gun control. Why isn’t it true for unborn babies, too? Why aren’t we trying harder? To the Christian who supports abortion: In case you don’t think this is relevant, consider this stat:37% of women obtaining abortions identify themselves as Protestant, and 28% identify themselves as Catholic. 25% of women who obtained an abortion attended a religious service at least once a month (Guttmacher institute).
The Christian who supports abortion needs to seriously reconsider their morals and values in life. And they need to return to God’s Word for guidance and direction. The Bible absolutely condemns the practice of abortion. Christians from the very beginning have spoken against abortion. Yes, there can be extreme cases when abortion must be considered. But that is a far cry from what has been going on in the United States for 43 years. There is absolutely no place for abortion in Christianity but even more importantly, there is always hope for a better path. God values every life, whether the unborn or the morally lost. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).” Christians must stand for this, not for abortion.
A plea to abortion opponents:
To those who feel weakened by the struggle: Keep fighting. Remember Elijah when he felt that he was the only believer left. He was alone, he was on the run, and he felt helpless. But God was always with him. God had a plan. God had others who had not given in. Life can feel very dark but it’s never as bad as we imagine in our despondency. God is still in control. Keep fighting for the truth. Keep fighting for life. Keep sharing the gospel. To those who are frustrated: Pray. The urgent prayer of the righteous is very powerful in its effect (James 5:16). You are able to accomplish more through a simple prayer of faith than worrying and fretting about life’s problems. But don’t forget to act either. Faith is never void of action. If Christians don’t defend God’s Word and take the difficult positions, who will?
Exercise love and wisdom in your stance. Don’t sink to the level of the radical pro-choice crowd. Understand that abortion destroys the emotions of the women who employ it as well. Be ready to comfort with the Lord’s forgiveness just as much as you are ready with reasons why abortion is wrong. God put His Law in everyone’s heart and it is at work when women feel the guilt and pain of abortion. Let us be ready to help them toward recovery through the gospel. To those who ask, “What can I do?”: Start small and work your way up. Don’t ever feel that you are wasting your time by standing firm in your faith or speaking out against wickedness. No matter how insignificant it may feel or how little an impact it makes, it is time well spent. Do what you can in the situations that God has placed you. Speak when the time arises. Encourage those who are with you. Love those who are against you. Work at it everyday and after a while you might be surprised by how far you’ve come.
And especially around this time, think about your right to vote. Don’t allow abortion to slink to the background of your political stance. Don’t be silent because your friends might disagree with you. Some things are worth the shame, especially when they defend the cross of Christ and the life He has freely won for all people. At the end of the day, no political issue should be more pressing to Christians than abortion.
tremendous examples of leadership in both Ezra and Nehemiah. We see the utter folly of trying to resist the true God. We see how God values both the physical (wall) and spiritual (temple) protection of His people. But perhaps greatest of all, we see God’s plan of grace. Long before Ezra and Nehemiah’s triumphs, the Israelites were humiliated by captivity under the Babylonians. Not only were they carried into slavery, away from their homeland, but God’s holy temple was sacked and looted. What a disgrace for both God and His people. But, throughout it all, God had a perfect plan. He used the oppression of Babylon to bring His children back to repentance; so that future followers like Ezra would learn to resist idol-worshipers, and future believers like you and I would have confidence in the work of Christ. But, at the same time He also provided the mechanism for their re-building process. He moved Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes to kindness and favor with His people, so much so, that they funded the re-building of Jerusalem. Never before had foreign rulers so willingly submitted to a nation in such a lowly status.
God cares about department store bathroom policies. But as it is with any situation, you have to get down to the root cause in order to fully understand it. Target’s policy didn’t just poof out of thin air. It was the result of years of subjective conflict against the core principles of God’s Word; a conflict which rages stronger today than ever.
