Why Can't Christians Just "Get Over" the Abortion Issue?

Why is abortion such a big deal? Why can't Christians just move on and deal with other important issues related to justice? 

Here is the brief version:

• It is a serious injustice (killing an innocent person)
• It is happening on a massive scale (862,327 a year. Over 60 million since 1973 in the US)
• It is done legally and therefore with the permission of the government which is supposed to protect its citizens.

The points below elaborate on this:

1. Abortion is the intentional killing of a human life. (all 46 human chromosomes are combined at the moment of fertilization so it is human life. The intention of abortion is the destruction of this human life).

2. There is no philosophical reason for distinguishing between a toddler and an unborn person when it comes to his or her dignity and right to life as a human being (i.e. size, level of development, degree of dependency, or location do not change a person’s value or inherent right to life).

3. Based on points 1 and 2, there is no philosophical or scientific reason to treat the unborn differently than a toddler when it comes to the right to life.

4. Abortion is widespread. There were 862,327 abortions in 2017 (per planned parenthood’s research wing).

5. The unborn are the most vulnerable in society because they cannot speak in defense of themselves. In addition, they are the most innocent people on the planet.

6. These people are being killed legally. As Ramesh Ponnuru and Robert George wrote, “For government to permit abortion . . . is for government itself to commit an injustice against its victims — denying a disfavored class, the unborn, protection it affords to all others. To be responsible, or partially responsible, for the injustice of the law in exposing unborn children to legally authorized lethal violence is to be complicit in grave injustice” (https://www.nationalreview.com/.../10/19/voting-for-life/)"

7. As Christians, we believe all these children are made in God’s image and that is the fundamental basis for their dignity and right to life.

Therefore, we must not give up on fighting to end abortion. 

We find a good exhortation from William Wilberforce, who fought to end the slave trade in England. He wrote, 

“Never, never will we desist till we . . . [extinguish] every trace of this bloody traffic, of which our posterity, looking back to the history of these enlightened times, will scarce believe that it has been suffered to exist so long a disgrace and dishonor to this country.”[1] 

Let us have the same resolve. 

---

[1] William Wilberforce, speaking for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, on April 18, 1791, in the House of Parliament, The Parliamentary History of England from The Earliest Period to the Year 1803 (London: T.C. Hansard, 1817), 24:278.

Fighting Distractions When Practicing Spiritual Disciplines

 After my last post, "Are We Too Busy for The Spiritual Disciplines?" I received a good question. 

How do we fight off distractions while practicing spiritual disciplines? There are times when we sit with our Bible's open and find that our minds are distracted. This can result from our own wandering thoughts, a tired mind, or things in our environment (a roommate, phone, etc.). 

Below are five suggestions on fighting distractions: 

1. Make no provision for distractions

We don't have control over every possible distraction. A roommate or spouse might enter the room, coffee might be spilled, a dog might be barking. However, we can attempt to remove distractions such as our phone. Some people, I am told, are distracted by a messy environment. If this is you, try to sit in a place where you can't see all the mess (so you don't start thinking about a "to-do" list). If you have a roommate or spouse, you might need to try and find a quiet room or closet to sit in so they won't accidentally distract you as they slam the cupboards. 

2. Use Background Music if other noises are distracting you.

This one is not for everyone. It will likely require your phone and headphones (so if your phone is tempting, this won't work). Also, some people are more distracted by music. But, maybe you can find some sort of music without words (classical or something like that) which you can listen to while you read or pray. 

A word of caution: Do not use music to avoid silence. I only recommend this when you have a noisy environment that you can't get away from (like a barking dog or a barking roommate). If this is your situation most mornings, you might need to try to find a quiet room or outdoor space (or move the time you do your devotionals). In other words, this is likely not a long-term solution. One of our problems in America is that we never have silence. And that often leads to a lack of deep thinking. 

3. Pray or Read the Bible Out Loud

For some of us, we get most distracted by our own thoughts. Our minds can easily wander to our to-do-list or random things. I have found that praying aloud helps my mind stay focused on talking to God. Sometimes reading the Bible aloud helps too. 

You might also consider using Dwell. It is an app that lets you pick "playlists" of Scripture on a certain topic (like the Love of God). It reads a few verses, and then you can insert a time for silent reflection. This is a way to hear a short verse, then pray in response. Then it advances you to another verse. I use this app when I go on a prayer walk (it is a way to hear God's word and respond while enjoying his creation). 

4. Journal

Like praying and reading aloud, this helps keep your mind and heart engaged. It is great for when you can't pray out loud (like when you have others near you). You can write out your prayer. It will be shorter, but your heart and mind can stay engaged. You can also write out a list of 5-10 observations or applications as you read the Bible. Just get an inexpensive notebook. I suggest this because many of us are apprehensive about writing in "nice" notebooks. Sometimes we feel like we must write well for posterity. Just write in a cheap notebook, and you can keep it or toss it once you have filled it up. It is just a tool to help your heart stay focused on communicating with your Father. 

5. Get Enough Sleep

This is hard for some people (especially if you have physical issues that prevent good sleep or have a baby in the home). However, as much as you can, get good sleep. Cut back on the caffeine during the afternoon/evening. Don't stay up late vegging on TV. That is likely to make you not sleep as well and keep you up too late. A tired mind is hard to discipline and focus. 

These are just a few ideas. I'd love to hear practical suggestions you have found useful too. 

Are We Too Busy for The Spiritual Disciplines?

It is a common excuse - I've used it myself many times: "I'm just too busy right now to spend time reading the Bible, meditating on the Bible, or praying." While we are busy, and some weeks are busier than others, we know that excuse is weak. 

We know it is an excuse because people eventually make time for what they see as a priority. You might be busy for a season while rearranging priorities, but, eventually, you make time for what you see as a priority. Eating might not be at the top of the list today, but it will be soon . . . because you can't live without food. We know this, so we know that our excuses about a lack of time are mostly empty. 

I say "mostly" because we do encounter times of greater busyness, and faithfulness to God might require less time devoted to the Word or prayer for a brief period of time. However, if we really see God's Word as spiritual food and prayer as access to our Heavenly Father's ear, then we will find a way to engage in the spiritual disciplines in some capacity and begin making adjustments to allow for more time for them soon. 

So, if busyness is a real problem, but it's not a good excuse, where can I trim time so that I can add time for the spiritual disciplines? Here is a paraphrased quote from William Bridge that points us in the right direction.

"Oh," you say, "I would spend time thinking about God with all my heart, but that is a work that takes time, it will cost time, and I have no time; my hands are so full of business . . . I have no time for this work." If that is you, mark what [the psalmist] says in Psalm 119, "Lord incline my heart unto Thy testimonies," how so? "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity." The way to have one's heart inclined to the testimonies of God, is to turn away one's eyes from vanities.1 

"Vanities" refers to empty things or things that are short-lived. So sinful wastes of time would be the first place to cut in order to free up time for meditating. But, what if that doesn't free up enough time? Then, you might also look to other things that are not wrong in and of themselves, but that are short-lived pleasures and escapes. Television, social media, and other media would be a good place to start. But maybe you have done that, and you are still "too busy." If that is you, I suggest talking to a mature Christian brother or sister who can help you evaluate things. This is a great way to have others build you up in the faith. Don't be too busy for that. 

1 Found in Don Whitney's book  Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (page 61-62). I paraphrased it into modern English.

Materialism Can't Plausibly Explain The Existence Rational Thought

Materialism, the worldview that claims that only material things exist [i.e., atoms and the physical things they compose], is common in our Western culture. However, we should be ready to point out that it does not offer as plausible an explanation for human consciousness and rational thought as the Christian worldview. 

Below are two quotes from CS Lewis from a book entitled  C. S. Lewis and the Christian Worldview by Michael Petereson:

If minds are wholly dependent on brains and brains on biochemistry, and biochemistry (in the long run) on the meaningless flux of the atoms, I cannot understand how the thought of those minds should have any more significance than the sound of the wind in the trees. 

Thus, a strict materialism refutes itself for the reason given long ago by Professor Haldane: 'If my mental processes are determined wholly by the motions of atoms in my brain, I have no reason to suppose that my beliefs are true . . . and hence I have no reason for supposing my brain to be composed of atoms" (Possible Worlds, p. 209). . . . [Naturalism] discredits our processes of reasoning or at least reduces their credit to such a humble level that it can no longer support Naturalism itself."

A Helpful Article on the Choices of the 2020 Election by Dr. Mohler

 Albert Mohler wrote a long article on the issues at stake in the upcoming election ("Christians, Conscience, and the Looming 2020 Election"). In the article, Dr. Mohler explains how he went from opposing Donald Trump's 2016 bid to voting for President Trump this year. This is not because he is now "pro-Trump" or is ignoring the significant moral issues in President Trump's life.  The whole article is worth reading, but below are some excerpts: 

I agree that there are many other issues that press on the Christian conscience—questions of economic policy and foreign affairs and energy and the stewardship of the earth. The searing pain of racial injustice and the unraveling of our social fabric demand Christian response and urgency. Christians must be concerned about questions of immigration policy and refugees—and these issues defy the simplifications of the sound-bite and tweet culture.

But human dignity and the sanctity of human life are even more basic truths, and I believe there is no hope for defending human dignity for all if it is denied in the womb. To be intellectually responsible is to recognize the array of issues confronting us, but the same intellectual responsibility demands that we know which questions are prior to others and on which truths the entire superstructure of human dignity and human rights depend.

...

I cannot accept the argument that a calm man who affirms the dismembering of babies in the womb has a superior character to a man who rants like Genghis Khan but acts to preserve that life. In my ideal world, I would vote for a candidate in whom the personal, the principled, and the practical earn my admiration. I do not live in that world. I live in this world, and I must act accordingly.

...

In the protection of liberty, religious liberty is fundamental. President Trump has corrected many of the infringements on religious liberty caused by the policy mandates of previous administrations. He has made religious liberty an American priority at home and abroad.

...

On issues such as the transgender revolution, which will reshape the entire society, Biden went so far in a recent town hall appearance that he said he would support transgender demands all the way to supporting gender transition among 8 and 10 year old children. "There should be zero discrimination," Biden said. 

Dr. Mohler ends his article by acknowledging that some Christians will make different decisions as to what to do with their votes. Each of us is responsible to God for how we steward our vote. What is clear is that each of us must not compromise on the biblical teaching of the sanctity of life, the need to rescue those being led to slaughter, God's design for marriage, religious liberty, and the fact that humans cannot actually make themselves a different sex than they were created to be. We will not all be convinced that this means we should vote for President Trump, but let's not allow these issues which the Bible speaks clearly about to remain separate from our act of voting. 

Why You Shouldn't Vote for Biden

Ramesh Pannuru and Robert P. George published a helpful article at National Review explaining why the issue of abortion is enough to scuttle any desire to vote for Biden (see this video to hear Biden's whole-hearted commitment to abortion being the "law of the land."). 

Below are some quotes from Pannuru and George's piece, but the whole thing is really worth reading (or listening to). 

What the Church teaches is that every member of the human family — irrespective of race, sex, or creed, but also, and equally, irrespective of age, size, stage of development, location, or condition of dependence — is the bearer of inherent and equal dignity and, as such, is entitled to legal protection against violent assault.

For government to permit abortion, the Church teaches, is for government itself to commit an injustice against its victims—denying a disfavored class, the unborn, protection it affords to all others. To be responsible, or partially responsible, for the injustice of the law in exposing unborn children to legally authorized lethal violence is to be complicit in grave injustice.

though abortion and slavery differ in many respects, they are alike in not admitting of the option of the “personally opposed, but . . .” position. The reason to be against slavery — its radical denial of the equal dignity of the victim and thus its grave injustice — is the reason for prohibiting it. It is precisely the same with abortion.

while citizens have other responsibilities, too, the injustice of abortion has a gravity that means it must be weighed more heavily than ordinary political issues, even important ones

Biden has expressly pledged to deny appointment to the Court for anyone who does not support what amounts to an unlimited right to abortion.

If one acknowledges the gravity, scale, and scope of the injustice of abortion, and of a legal regime that denies to an entire class of human beings the most basic of human rights, thus exposing them to lethal violence, then it is hard to imagine what proportionate reasons there could be for joining one’s will to the desire of a supporter of it

They do not argue that a Christian (or person concerned with ethics) must vote for Trump. That is more of a prudential issue.  

You might also find this article from John Piper on why we are all "one issue" voters helpful (written 25 years ago).

Facing Fear Biblically Part 2- Trusting God’s Faithful Care

Click here to see the last post in this series, “Facing Fear Biblically Part 1 – Our best life isn’t now”

Click here to see the post prior to that: “Returning to Church During COVID – Understanding Fear”

While walking with my boys yesterday, I heard the birds singing in a grand chorus. Their unrehearsed song testified to the caring provision of God. Though I could not listen to their testimony undisturbed (my four boys were with me, and rarely did a second go by in which no one was talking), I couldn’t help but remember God’s faithful care. This is exactly what Jesus wants us to reflect on when we listen to the birds, but we must have ears to hear it.

My goal in this post is to help us develop such ears – the ears of faith. I want to encourage us to trust God because he cares for us. We need to see God’s loving and sovereign care and deal with our own weak faith if we would face fear biblically. To help us with this, I’ll look at the principles found in Matthew 6:19-34.

In verse 25, Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life.” He tells them not to be anxious about things that are central to sustaining their lives – food, drink, and clothing. We might think that isn’t a big deal because the grocery store is usually stocked (except for toilet paper and handsanitizer). But we must recognize we are dependent when it comes to our basic needs too. Furthermore, the principle applies to our modern concerns like the Corona Virus. “Do not be anxious about your life, how you will avoid getting sick.”

God’s Sovereign Love and Wisdom

We trust a person because of his or her character and our knowledge of that character. If my neighbor is a thief, I won’t trust him in my house. If the person I pass in a grocery store aisle is honest, but I don’t know her, I won’t ask her to house sit for me. A person’s character and our knowledge of that person is the foundation for trust.

God is trustworthy because of who he is. Is he in control of all that we face? Does he love us as his children? Is he wise, not wasting one ounce of suffering in training us? The answer is yes to all! Therefore, when we find ourselves anxious, we must refocus our attention on the reality of who God is. We must set ourselves to the task of knowing who he is. Jesus provides two object lessons about God’s faithful and sovereign care to help us do just that.

God Feeds the Birds

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (v. 26).

We have a bird feeder, and there are bird traffic jams when it is full of seed. When it is empty (due to a pesky squirrel), we don’t see as many birds swing by the fly-thru. But, I still hear the birds chirping in the trees. God continues to provide for them, and compared to a person, made in his image, a bird is not valuable. If God shows such care to the insignificant bird, how much more will he show care towards you? If God sovereignly provides for birds (they don’t even plan ahead much), won’t he provide for you?

God Clothes the Lilies

And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you (vv. 28-30).

When you look at a field of wildflowers, you are seeing God’s kindness. He didn’t have to make creation beautiful (seeds could have been designed to come by other means). Yet, he clothes the grass with beautiful lilies – which are more wonderful than a garment fit for a king. Furthermore, this elaborate goodness pops up in fields where lawnmowers will run the next day. If God has that attention to detail regarding short-lived flowers, surely he controls the details of your life and will cloth you with what you need.  

Jesus’s point is not that we don’t have real physical needs or that we won’t experience hardship or death. He says that our Father knows we need food and drink and breath (v. 32). The point is that God is sovereign, good, and wise. Therefore, he is trustworthy.

Why We Are Anxious: Little Faith

Our problem is that we have “little faith” (v. 30). We get so focused on situations that we forget who God is and that he cares for us. One cause of this is a failure to think rightly about who God is (hopefully the above section helps with that).  But another reason exists – our misplaced priorities. Jesus’s command to not be anxious is based on him calling us to value God above all else.

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious (vv. 24-25 italics added).

Money is a major contender for our attention because of what it can provide – comfort, protection, and enjoyment. Money isn’t a bad thing, but it isn’t our ultimate priority. God does not share the throne with money or any other good gift that he gives.

This is true even of our physical lives. “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (v. 25b). Food and clothing are essentials in life, but our life is about more than even that. It is about knowing God.

If we lose sight of that priority, we will have a lot to be anxious about because everything else will eventually fade. Money can disappear in a stock market crash, and the illusion of health can vanish with a diagnosis or car crash. One day, everything except for God will leave us because death removes any hope of continuing in this fallen world forever.

Therefore, if I serve good health or money as if it is my ultimate source of happiness and life, I will not serve God, and I will be anxious. On the other hand, if I value God more than even my own physical life, I can enjoy his gifts and still be content when he chooses not to give me those gifts. To battle anxiety and trust God, we must “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (v. 33).

Growth Assignment

God’s trustworthiness and our increased trust in him result in lives that glorify God and which have less anxiety. However, we are in the habit of forgetting God’s character and valuing (trusting in) other things more than him.

Here are a few things you can do over the next week to cultivate a growing faith in God.

1. Read Matthew 6:19-34 each day for five days and note five things that stand out to you each time. You might also try to think of other passages that reinforce or illustrate the principles you see in Matthew 6.  
2. Go for a walk once a day and look at the birds and plants. Pray to thank God that if he cares for the birds, he will certainly care for you. Such a mindset helps us “not be anxious about tomorrow” (v. 34).
3. Begin a “God’s care for me” list. Write out a couple of things from your past when God showed his care in clear ways (for you or others). Don’t forget the spiritual provision. Sometimes we focus only on physical needs and forget that our greatest needs are spiritual.
4. Write out and think over Matthew 6:27 - “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” Try to call that to mind when you are anxious and then direct your mind to God’s care.