Five to Live By

Linking you to the top 5 Christian blog posts of the week—posts that provide robust, rich, and relevant insights for living. 

President Obama’s War on Religion, Part 1 

Don’t miss Denny Burk’s passionate commentary against Obama’s war on religion. Here’s an excerpt.

The President rolled out a regulation that will force religious organizations to pay for abortions. The regulation is all a part of Obamacare, and it requires faith-based hospitals and universities to provide birth-control without a co-pay. Many Christian groups (especially Roman Catholics) have religious objections to birth control, but those groups will now have to pay for it. What is worse is that some of the birth control methods that will be covered are abortifacients. Nearly all conservative Christian groups (both Protestant and Catholic) oppose abortifacients because they are medicines that cause abortions. In effect, Obamacare now requires these Christian groups to pay for the killing of unborn human life.

Read the rest, and pray, and vote: President Obama’s War on Religion. 

President Obama’s War on Religion, Part 2

Nor should you miss Al Mohler’s equally scathing rebuke of the new law in The President, the Pill, and Religious Liberty in Peril.

Here’s an excerpt. 

In 1808, President Thomas Jefferson stated the matter bluntly: “I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises.” Fast forward 204 years and President Barack Obama has reversed that logic, ordering religious institutions to provide insurance coverage for employees that must include contraceptives, including those that may induce an abortion.

5 Reviews of The Biblical Counseling Movement After Adams 

Heath Lambert’s new book The Biblical Counseling Movement After Adams is attracting some well-deserved attention. Here are 5 recent reviews.

• Biblical Counseling Coalition/Jeff Forrey

• The Gospel Coalition/Bob Kellemen

• Thirsty Ones/Greg Wilson

• The Association of Biblical Counselors/Jay Younts

• The Institute for Nouthetic Studies/Donn Arms 

6 De-Churching Trends 

Pastor Paul Tautges nails it and challenges consumer “churchianity” in his summary of 6 De-Churching Trends. 

Intelligent Design 

Justin Taylor posts videos of An Interview with Stephen Meyer on Intelligent Design. In the videos, R.C. Sproul interviews Stephen Meyer, author of Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design, on philosophy, evolution, education, Intelligent Design, and more.

Join the Conversation 

Which post impacted you the most? Why? What blog posts have you enjoyed this week that you want to share with others?

RPM Ministries: Equipping You to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth

Tags: 5 to Live By, Abortion, Al Mohler, Culture War, Ingelligent Design, Obama, Pro Life

Pro-Civil Rights and Pro-Unborn Rights

I find it fascinating that the same week we celebrate Martin Luther King’s birthday, we also observe Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. I find it sad that it seems that few people are in favor of both events. It seems that all too few people are pro-Civil Rights and pro-Unborn Rights.

Why are so many either/or on these two issues? Why aren’t we all both/and on these two issues.

Pro-Civil Rights

I am pro-Civil Rights. I am very thankful that in 1963 and 1964 our nation passed the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Acts. Yes, I understand that legislation alone does not change hearts. However, as a nation, we have a moral responsibility to enact laws that protect all people. It is the bedrock of our national beliefs:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men . . .

So, although I recognize that passing the Civil Rights Act did not change a single heart, and though I recognize that ultimately it is through Christ and His Church that true reconciliation will occur, I still believe it was the right, moral, political, national action to take to enact the Civil Rights Act. Therefore, I celebrate Martin Luther King Day as a reminder of his role in the crusade for Civil Rights.

Pro-Unborn Rights

Likewise, I am pro-Unborn Rights. I am horrified that in 1973 our Supreme Court legalized abortion. My prayer is that just as the Dred Scott ruling was overturned by a later Supreme Court, so Roe v. Wade will also be overturned.

The same arguments that were used first to enslave blacks and then to victimize blacks are now being used to kill unborn children. For slavery it was states’ rights and the rights of white land owners to do as they pleased with their “property.” How wicked. And it is just as wicked that anyone’s “rights” could be put above the right to life of any unborn human being.

Some argue that Pro Life legislation will not change hearts, therefore, forget legislation and focus on Christ and His Church. Again, why not both/and? Just as the Civil Rights Act was the right, moral, political, and national action to take, regardless of whether it changed one heart, so an Unborn Rights Act would be the right action to take morally, politically, and nationally regardless of whether or not it changed one heart.

Pro-Civil Rights and Pro-Life

Based upon biblical principles, every human being is entitled to equal civil rights. Based upon biblical principles, every human being is entitled to the right to life (unborn rights).

Based upon the Declaration of Independence, every human being is entitled to civil rights (the right to liberty). Based upon the Declaration of Independence, every human being is entitled to unborn rights (the right to life).

I don’t expect to make many people “happy” with this post. Frankly, I don’t care. Likely, many will be “unhappy” with me on each side of these two issues. Fine.

Happiness, at least how we define it today, is unimportant. Interestingly, when the writers of the Declaration of Independence spoke of the right to the “pursuit of happiness,” they had in mind the Greco-Roman idea of happiness. To them it meant the right to freely pursue a purposeful life of meaningful contribution to society.

If we supported Civil Rights and Unborn Rights, then every human being would have the right and the opportunity to freely pursue a purposeful life of meaningful contribution to society.

Because of my commitment to the Bible and because of my interpretation of the Declaration of Independence, I am pro-Civil Rights and pro-Unborn Rights.

Because of my commitment to the Bible and because of my interpretation of the Declaration of Independence, I believe Civil Rights and Unborn Rights are both legislative matters and church matters. That is, we need national legislation that declares it is politically right to protect every human being’s Civil Rights and every human being’s Unborn Rights. And, we need the Church of Christ to fulfill Her calling to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth so that law or not, by grace we choose to grant every person their civil rights (right to liberty) and their unborn rights (right to life), so every person can enjoy the pursuit of happiness (the right to freely pursue a purposeful life of meaningful contribution to society).

Note: I understand that my respected colleague in ministry, Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile, cautions Caucasian to be very careful when using the comparison between Pro-Life and Pro-Civil Right (between abortion and slavery). You can read his helpful thoughts at Yes, How Dare You Compare Abortion to Slavery. Notwithstanding, I believe, as Pastor Anyabwile does, that the comparisons themselves have value and are valid.

Join the Conversation

What are your thoughts about linking pro-unborn rights and pro-civil rights?

Tags: Abortion, Civil Rights, Pro Life, Right to Life, Sanctity of Human Rights Sunday

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

January 23, 2011 is designated as Right to Life Sunday or Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Would that every day would be so designated.

I have previously argued that those who are Pro-Civil Rights Ought to Be Pro-Unborn Rights. This week I found a similar argument, in comparison/chart form from the Illinois Right to Life Committee: Slavery Compared to Abortion.

Illinois Right to Life Committee

The court decisions on slavery versus abortion demonstrate an equivalent denial of personhood for two different categories of human beings, slaves and unborn children.

Slavery

1. Dred Scott Decision 1857: 7-2 Decision

2. Blacks Are Non-Persons

3. Blacks Are Property of Owner

4. Owner Has a Right to Buy, Sell, Kill

5. Abolitionists Should Not Impose Their Morality on Slave Owners

6. Slavery Is Legal

Abortion

1. Roe v. Wade 1973: 7-2 Decision

2. Unborn Are Non-Persons

3. Unborn Are Property of Owner (Mother)

4. Mother Has a Right to Keep or Kill

5. Pro-Life Advocates Should Not Impost Their Morality on Mothers

6. Abortion is Legal

Slavery and Abortion

The Illinois Right to Life Committee offers another set of comparisons.

Comparison One:

Slavery: Although he may have a heart and a brain, and he may be human biologically, a slave is not a legal person. The Dred Scott decision by the U.S Supreme Court has made that clear.

Abortion: Although he may have a heart and a brain, and he may be a human life biologically, an unborn baby is not a legal person. The Roe v. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court has made that clear.

Comparison Two:

Slavery: A black woman only becomes a legal person when she is set free. Before that time, we should not concern ourselves about her. She has no legal rights.

Abortion: A baby only becomes a legal person when she is born. Before that time, we should not concern ourselves about her. She has no legal rights.

Comparison Three:

Slavery: If you think slavery is wrong, then nobody is forcing you to be a slave-owner. Don’t impose your morality on somebody else.

Abortion: If you think abortion is wrong, then nobody is forcing you to have one. But don’t impose your morality on somebody else.

Comparison Four:

Slavery: A man has a right to do what he wants with his property.

Abortion: A woman has a right to do what she wants with her own body.

Comparison Five:

Slavery: Isn’t slavery really something merciful? After all, every black has the right to be protected. Isn’t it better never to be set free than to be sent unprepared, and ill-equipped into a cruel world?

Abortion: Isn’t abortion really something merciful? After all, every baby has a right to be wanted. Isn’t it better never to be born than to be sent alone and unloved into a cruel world?

Note: I understand that my respected colleague in ministry, Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile, cautions Caucasian to be very careful when using the comparison between abortion and slavery. You can read his helpful thoughts at Yes How Dare You Compare Abortion to Slavery. Notwithstanding, I believe, as Pastor Anyabwile does, that the comparisons themselves have value and are valid.

Join the Conversation

What do you think of the preceding comparisons between pro-slavery arguments and pro-abortion arguments?

Tags: Abortion, Pro Life, Right to Life, Sanctity of Human Rights Sunday, Slavery

Pro Civil Rights and Pro Unborn Rights

I find it fascinating that the same week we celebrate Martin Luther King’s birthday, we also observe Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.

I find it sad that it seems that few people are in favor of both events. That is, it seems that all too few people are pro Civil Rights and pro Unborn Rights.

Why? Why are so many either/or on these two issues?

Why aren’t we all both/and on these two issues.

Pro Civil Rights

I am pro Civil Rights. I am very thankful that in 1963 and 1964 our nation passed the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Acts. Yes, I understand that legislation alone does not change hearts. However, as a nation, we have a moral responsibility to enact laws that protect all people. It is the bedrock of our national beliefs:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men . . .

So, although I recognize that passing the Civil Rights Act did not change a single heart, and though I recognize that ultimately it is through Christ and His Church that true reconciliation will occur, I still believe it was the right, moral, political, national thing to do to enact the Civil Rights Act. Therefore, I celebrate Martin Luther King Day as a reminder to me of his leadership in the crusade for Civil Rights.

Pro Unborn Rights

Likewise, I am pro Unborn Rights. I am horrified that in 1973 our Supreme Court legalized abortion. My prayer is that just as the Dred Scott ruling was overturned by a later Supreme Court, so Roe V. Wade will also be overturned.

The same arguments that were used first to enslave blacks and then to victimize blacks are now being used to kill unborn children. For slavery it was states’ rights and the rights of white land owners to do as they pleased with their “property.” How wicked.

And it is just as wicked that anyone’s “rights” could be put above the right to life of any unborn human being.

Some argue that Pro Life legislation will not change hearts, therefore, forget legislation and focus on Christ and His Church. Again, why not both/and? Just as the Civil Rights Act was the right, moral, political, and national thing to do, regardless of whether it changed one heart, so an Unborn Rights Act would be the right thing to do morally, politically, and nationally regardless of whether or not it changed one heart.

Pro Civil Rights and Pro Life

Based upon biblical principles, every human being is entitled to equal civil rights. Based upon biblical principles, every human being is entitled to the right to life (unborn rights).

Based upon the Declaration of Independence, every human being is entitled to civil rights (the right to liberty). Based upon the Declaration of Independence, every human being is entitled to unborn rights (the right to life).

I don’t expect to make many people “happy” with this post. Frankly, I don’t care. Likely, many will be “unhappy” with me on each side of these two issues. Fine.

Happiness, at least how we define it today, is unimportant. Interestingly, when the writers of the Declaration of Independence spoke of the right to the “pursuit of happiness,” they had in mind the Greco-Roman idea of happiness. To them it meant the right to freely pursue a purposeful life of meaningful contribution to society.

If we supported Civil Rights and Unborn Rights, then every human being would have the right and the opportunity to freely pursue a purposeful life of meaningful contribution to society.

Because of my interpretation of the Bible and because of my interpretation of the Declaration of Independence, I am pro Civil Rights and pro Unborn Rights.

Because of my interpretation of the Bible and because of my interpretation of the Declaration of Independence, I believe Civil Rights and Unborn Rights are both legislative matters and church matters. That is, we need national legislation that declares it is politically right to protect every human being’s Civil Rights and every human being’s Unborn Rights. And, we need the Church of Christ to fulfill her calling to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth so that law or not, by grace we choose to grant every person their civil rights (right to liberty) and their unborn rights (right to life), so every person can enjoy the pursuit of happiness (the right to freely pursue a purposeful life of meaningful contribution to society).

Join the Conversation

What are your thoughts about linking pro unborn rights and pro civil rights?

Tags: Civil Rights, Pro Civil Rights, Pro Life, Pro Unborn Rights, Right to Life

Join the new Black Pro-Life Movement group on Facebook: http://bit.ly/Se4zv

View the amazing video by by Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on the horrors of abortion. http://bit.ly/12TZdg

Here’s the introduction to the new group by one of its founder, Kimberly Cash Tate.

Did you know that abortion is the #1 killer in the black community? Fifty-percent of black offspring are aborted each year. That’s more than 1,500 black children each day. Since Roe v. Wade, more than 50 million babies have been killed in the womb. More than 14 million of these were black babies. For too long, New York advertising agencies and the media have sown the lie that “pro-life” is a white issue for “right-wing extremists.” The facts tell the truth. This isn’t an issue for one group of people or one political party. This is a human issue of epic proportion. It is an issue—like slavery in its day—that requires us to stand boldly for life, truth, and justice.

We are taking a stand. We are standing in the gap for the innocent who are being led away to slaughter. We are standing in the gap for the mothers who have been deceived into thinking it’s their body—only to be left with the pain and shame of knowing they’ve killed their own child. We are exposing the lies and plans of those who seek to advance this lucrative business of abortion. We are aligning ourselves with Jesus Christ and the Word of God, not bowing to a political party or political agenda.

This group exists to do the following:

EDUCATE and INFORM about abortion in our nation and in the black community in particular;

IMPART TRUTH from the Word of God, so that we can possess the mind of God on this important issue;

PRAY for a move of God in our land to abolish the evil of abortion; and

SPUR YOU to spread the word so that others will join this movement and learn the truth.

This group is open to all. Join us!

“Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, O hold them back.If you say, ‘See, we did not know this,’Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts?And does He not know it who keeps your soul?And will He not render to man according to his work?”~~ Proverbs 24:11-12 NASB

*Note: I “interrupt my 41 consecutive posts on “The Journey” to add a second post today–one that is timely, as I hope you will see when you read the following . . .

I find it fascinating that the same week we celebrate Martin Luther King’s birthday, we also observe Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.

I find it sad that it seems that few people are in favor of both events. That is, it seems that all too few people are pro Civil Rights and pro Unborn Rights.

Why? Why are so many either/or on these two issues?

Why aren’t we all both/and on these two issues.

Pro Civil Rights

I am pro Civil Rights. I am so very thankful that in 1963 and 1964 our nation passed the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Acts. Yes, I understand that legislation alone does not change hearts. However, as a nation, we have a moral responsibility to enact laws that protect all people. It is the bedrock of our national beliefs:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men . . .

So, although I recognize that passing the Civil Rights Act did not change a single heart, and though I recognize that ultimately it is through Christ and His Church that true reconciliation will occur, I still believe it was the right, moral, political, national thing to do to enact the Civil Rights Act. Therefore, I celebrate Martin Luther King Day as a reminder to me of his leadership in the crusade for Civil Rights.

Pro Unborn Rights

Likewise, I am pro Unborn Rights. I am horrified that in 1973 our Supreme Court legalized abortion. My prayer is that just as the Dred Scott ruling was overturned by a later Supreme Court, so Roe V. Wade will also be overturned.

The same arguments that were used first to enslave blacks and then to victimize blacks are now being used to kill unborn children. For slavery it was states’ rights and the rights of white land owners to do as they pleased with their “property.” How wicked.

And it is just as wicked that anyone’s “rights” could be put above the right to life of any unborn human being.

Some argue that Pro Life legislation will not change hearts, therefore, forget legislation and focus on Christ and His Church. Again, why not both/and? Just as the Civil Rights Act was the right, moral, political, and national thing to do, regardless of whether it changed one heart, so an Unborn Rights Act would be the right thing to do morally, politically, and nationally regardless of whether or not it changed one heart.

Pro Civil Rights and Pro Life

Based upon biblical principles, every human being is entitled to equal civil rights. Based upon biblical principles, every human being is entitled to the right to life (unborn rights).

Based upon the Declaration of Independence, every human being is entitled to civil rights (the right to liberty). Based upon the Declaration of Independence, every human being is entitled to unborn rights (the right to life).

I don’t expect to make many people “happy” with this post. Frankly, I don’t care. Likely, many will be “unhappy” with me on each side of these two issues. Fine.

Happiness, at least how we define it today, is unimportant. Interestingly, when the writers of the Declaration of Independence spoke of the right to the “pursuit of happiness,” they had in mind the Greco-Roman idea of happiness. To them it meant the right to freely pursue a purposeful life of meaningful contribution to society.

If we supported Civil Rights and Unborn Rights, then every human being would have the right and the opportunity to freely pursue a purposeful life of meaningful contribution to society.

Because of my interpretation of the Bible and because of my interpretation of the Declaration of Independence, I am pro Civil Rights and pro Unborn Rights.

Because of my interpretation of the Bible and because of my interpretation of the Declaration of Independence, I believe Civil Rights and Unborn Rights are both legislative matters and church matters. That is, we need national legislation that declares it is politically right to protect every human being’s Civil Rights and every human being’s Unborn Rights. And, we need the Church of Christ to fulfill her calling to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth so that law or not, by grace we choose to grant every person their civil rights (right to liberty) and their unborn rights (right to life), so every person can enjoy the pursuit of happiness (the right to freely pursue a purposeful life of meaningful contribution to society).