A Few Quick Thoughts

In its Thursday editorial, the New York Times laid out a case for a universal health care plan to pay for abortions, regardless of whether the abortion would save the pregnant woman’s life.

The Times, often criticized by the Right for having a Liberal bias, said that, “Democrats who support the compromise must find a way to prevent it from being used later to go after other tax subsidies and thus further deny Americans’ rights to make their own health-care decisions.”

This editorial is interesting in two ways.  First, abortion most of the time is not a medical procedure per quo. Pregnancy is not a disease or an injury or something necessitating an operation, such as a facial reconstructive operation for a burn victim. It is a choice the woman makes to end a pregnancy than in most cases is not life-threatening or a “condition.” It’s the creation of life.

The diction the Times uses in calling it a health-care decision makes it seem like going in to a doctor to treat a problem with your health.

Second, in a roundabout way, this column is a little bit conservative. While government-funded health care expands the role of the feds, government denying abortion is too liberal for Liberals. It’s a private decision that government should not intervene in.

But if they expect the public to fund health care, for the government to ensure that people get health care, than that same government has the right to affirm or to deny what its nation-wide insurance plan covers. Abortion is not health care and government is not obligated to kill babies for the sake of convenience.

The purpose of medicine is to save lives, not terminate them.

NASA recently released images from the newly repaired Hubble Space Telescope, and the Christian world is in awe.

John Piper, Between Two Worlds and Al Mohler all linked to the page or offered commentary on the telescope’s stunning images of deep space this week, telling their readers to look at their Creator rather than just marveling at the beauty of the Creation itself.

“The cosmos does reveal the glory of the Creator — indeed it is inevitably so,” Mohler said.  ” The heavens — and Hubble — are telling the glory of God.  He who has eyes to see, let him see.”

While it does not surprise me that the images are capturing evangelical hearts, I think it surprises me just a little that more Christians are not inspired to look at Creation a little closer.  Romans 1:20 says, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made.”  We need more Christian scientists, and not merely ones out to prove a young-earth creationist view, but Christian scientists who worship God by studying the things that have been made.

Biology, astronomy, geology, physics–all of these are ways that, according to Scripture, God has revealed Himself.  Should we not take a closer view at what God has shown us?  Let us lay aside our presuppositions and let the stars do the talking.  After all, they are groaning to be free like us.

All last week, every media outlet has been giving extensive coverage of Sen. Ted Kennedy’s death and funeral.  After a long battle with terminal cancer, Kennedy died on August 25 in Massachusetts.

Though some bloggers have described the Democratic party as being “atheist,” Kennedy was a devout Catholic.  His funeral was at a Catholic Church and conducted in a traditional liturgical fashion.

Because of this, the Catholic News Service wrote an obituary for the late senator on August 26. Jesuit Father William J. Bryon titled the article, “Nobody’s perfect–Remembering Ted Kennedy.” Of Kennedy, Bryon wrote,

“Upon hearing the news of the senator’s death, a priest I know asked whether or not he would be buried in the church. Of course he will, I said; he was a Catholic in good standing. True, he was divorced and remarried. But there was an annulment and he had the benefit of the sacraments.”

It is not surprising but still disappointing that at the end of this senator’s life, what the Church chose to focus on was not the gospel but the sacraments.  While marriage, confession, baptism, communion and all the others have their benefits, this would not be enough for a standing before God.  True, Kennedy was divorced and remarried.  But Kennedy had the imputed righteousness of Christ. And that clears the guilt of past sin where no annulment can.

Perhaps Bryon could learn from the wisdom of Kennedy’s mother, whom he quotes in the last part of his obituary:

“The most important element in human life is faith. If God were to take away all his blessings, health, physical fitness, wealth, intelligence and leave me with but one gift, I would ask for faith, for with faith in him and his goodness, mercy and love for me, and belief in everlasting life, I believe I could suffer the loss of my other gifts and be happy.”

“Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways.  In these last days, He has spoken to us through His Son, whom He has appointed her of all things and through whom He made the universe.”  –Hebrews 1:1-2

Rarely will you pour your heart out to a stranger.  When I was assigned to my Next ‘09 small group, I was in a circle of strangers.  There were a few groups with other members of my church, but in my group, I was probably the only person there outside the Virginia/Maryland area.  And yet, when we began discussing Christ–His preeminence, His humility and His sufficiency–I found it rather easy to speak up in the group.  When you have Christ in common, geography and familiarity do not matter.  God showed me in those sessions the truth of those two verses above.  In these last days, He has spoken to us through His Son.  We all know the same Jesus.

Small groups benefit Christians where the messages cannot.  Preachers can teach the principle of Scripture and offer some application from the pulpit.  But daily application of the gospel is personal.  Not everyone is in the same season of life as the minister on stage.  Some may hear his words for the first time while others think about his words with a new perspective.  And some, who know the Scriptures and have sat under sound teaching for many years, may have wisdom even the speaker needs to learn.  To keep the application personal but true to the words, you need fellowship.  You need small groups. Read the rest of this entry »

There is a type of depression that no doctor can reccomend a prescription for.  Spiritual depression plagues the Christian in places no earthly doctor can treat.  When facing spiritual depression, we need to be treated spiritually.

First, let’s start with the definition of spiritual depression.   It is a state lasting for an extended period of time when the heart is not joyful when thinking about God.  The heart, therefore, loses the desire to think about God because He is not bringing joy.  It is not as if you are angry at God during this time.  You are simply unphased by the transforming work of Christ in your life.

So why does this happen?  In my case, it is a lack of faith and a me-centered mindset.  It is a lack of faith because I am not trusting in the promises of the Bible, such as in Psalm 117:2, which says, “For great is his steadfast love toward us,and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!”

God is faithful to those who seek Him.  We cannot worsen spiritual depression by accepting it.  Pray and read scripture and trust that God will reveal His love to you. Remember Romans 1:16-17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

It is easy for a Christian to have joy when she feels joyful.  However, seasons of suffering or “dryness” are no excuse to lack joy.  To react half-heartedly to the good news of the gospel is how a non-Christian would react and as Christians we are to be seperated from the world.  Spiritual depression is not just a state of being. It is a sin.

Ladies and gentlemen (are those politically correct words to use?)!

Welcome to the final and most awesome rap battle to ever grace this sweet planet we call Earth!  In one corner we have the Son of Man Himself, the Bread of Life, the Rose of Sharon, Advocate, and Lamb of God; itsssss Jesussss!

In the other corner we have the most power angel to ever leave heaven, the father of lies, and prince of darnkess; itssss Satannnn!

Okay, so that’s just a sweet little metaphor I created; sorry to get your hopes up.  We’d all love to hear Jesus spit some rhymes on the mic and show everyone what Godly flows sound like.  The next best thing to Christ rapping would have to be someone rapping about Christ.  Am I right?

Read the rest of this entry »

Fellowship with other believers is a gift from God and it should be a joyful activity.  However, if you are like me you have been in a situation where fellowship seems forced, tedious and legalistic. 

It should be a joy to know God is drawing your friends closer to Him.  However, I want to address possible reasons why fellowship can be tough at times, and ways to make it more joyful.

The first reason fellowship is struggle is during times when we are not active in prayer and in God’s Word.  It is tough to get excited by about anything you are not actively involved in.  For example, you walk into a conversation where two people are talking about an amazing game or play they saw from the night before.  However, you have been too busy to even think about sports for about the past week.  Therefore it will be tough to generate excitement about something you have not thought about in a long time.

The same thing is true with conversation about Christ.  If you have not been meditating on God and the grace he has poured on out you, despite being saved, it is easy to feel lukewarm, or even downright apathetic about the gospel. Read the rest of this entry »

Part of the bridge from Chris Tomlin’s song “Made to Worship” has been ringing in my head for the past few days. The bridge goes: “Even the rocks cry out/ Even the heavens shout/ At the sound of His Holy name.” This verse was probably in part based on Luke 19:40. The disciples were shouting praise to the Lord and the Pharisees wanted Jesus to rebuke his disciples. Yet Jesus says: “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

I live in a scientific world. Biology is my major and biology is almost all I learn. Theories and lab procedures and exciting new advances in research, etc. get filtered through my brain everyday. I’m definitely not your average science student who is über passionate about science, but more than ever I am amazed at God’s creation through science. You just read that Jesus said that even if there was no one to praise God’s holy name the stones will cry out. That’s how I feel lately; creation is yelling, screaming, hollering to those who are silent, especially to my peers who don’t believe and are sitting there studying their advanced cell biology books.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you have not already done so, I would encourage you to read James’ post below, as this is an official follow-up post to his.

Bound To Christ (B2C) evolved from discussion in order to encourage and stimulate discussion among other Christians.  Our three main goals are to: 

1. Stimulate discussion about theology and culture.
2. Spark serious studying of scripture among Christians.
3. Provide resources that encourage Christians to build a biblical worldview.

Read the rest of this entry »

“A civilization in which there is not a continuous controversy about important issues is on the way to totalitarianism and death.”

–Robert Maynard Hutchins

It has come to my attention, which is nothing short of old news for my life, that my articles may be sparking up controversy among readers.  I’d like to take a few words and write my true thoughts on this matter as to make my agenda clear while I write for B2C.  I am not here to hand out gold stars or to make people feel good about themselves.  I am not here to maintain the status quo and forge myself a gong to be struck repeatedly, only to give off a bland resounding sound.  I am here to write music with words that will spark imagination, inspire adventure and make you think. Read the rest of this entry »