I read an interesting position paper against abortion tonight that prompted this post. The full article is here and from the magazine, "Salvo".
The article is a compare/contrast discussion between the Dred Scott case in the 1800's and Roe v. Wade in the 1900's. Dred Scott was a slave who left the pro-slavery South and while living in the North sued for his freedom. His case went to the Supreme Court where they found that he was property and not able to sue for his freedom...chattel have no rights. From a modern standpoint we find that offensive and archaic logic, absurd to the nth degree. Especially in the Obama saviouresque culture we currently reside in.
But stand the same Court's ruling on Roe v. Wade next to it now. A fetus is just property, not a life. Sad when comparing these cases that this is THE highest court in our land. I hope you read the full article, it's worth the time.
Here is an excerpt:
Injudicious Decisions?
The parallels between Dred Scott and Roe v. Wade go much deeper than the judgments themselves. From start to finish, the decisions share a similar logic, rationale, and verbiage, perhaps best observed through direct comparison. Following are some brief selections from both rulings. Decide for yourself whether these two Supreme Court cases are a package deal.
On Personhood:
Dred Scott
"A negro, whose ancestors were imported into this country, and sold as slaves . . . were not intended to be included under the word «citizens' in the Constitution, and can, therefore, claim none of the rights and privileges which that instrument provides for and secures to citizens of the United States.”
Roe v. Wade
" The word «person,' as used in the Fourteenth Amendment, does not include the unborn. . . .The unborn have never been recognized in the law as persons in the whole sense.”
On the Right to Privacy:
Dred Scott
A slave is the property of the master, and the Constitution has "provided for the protection of private property against the encroachments of the Government.”
Roe v. Wade
"This right or privacy . . . is broad enough to encompass a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy.”
On Historical Precedent:
Dred Scott
" That unfortunate race . . . had for more than a century before been regarded as beings of an inferior order [and] they had no right which the white man was bound to respect.”
Roe v. Wade
" Abortion was practiced in Greek times as well as in the Roman Era. . . . Greek and Roman law afforded little protection to the unborn.”
On the Benefits to the Victim:
Dred Scott
"The negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit.”
Roe v. Wade
"There is also the distress for all concerned, associated with the unwanted child, and there is the problem of bringing a child into a family unable, psychologically, and otherwise to care for it.”
Showing posts with label zoweh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label zoweh. Show all posts
4.08.2009
1.08.2009
suffering
Over the past few months I've gone through my own trial of suffering; one that I won't go into detail on now. Nevertheless, my trial had no clear reason to occur that I could see and sent my family through difficult waters which, hopefully, we are starting to sail out of. During this time a good Brother emailed me and advised me to read the November 5th entry of My Utmost for His Highest. I'd like to share the entry along with a video of a related sermon by Mark Driscoll from his "Rebel's Guide" sermons series on Suffering. Both are highly recommended.
-My Utmost for His Highest:
Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings." 1 Peter 4:13
If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a multitude of experiences that are not meant for you at all, they are meant to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what transpires in other souls so that you will never be surprised at what you come across. Oh, I can't deal with that person. Why not? God gave you ample opportunity to soak before Him on that line, and you barged off because it seemed stupid to spend time in that way.
The sufferings of Christ are not those of ordinary men. He suffered "according to the will of God," not from the point of view we suffer from as individuals. It is only when we are related to Jesus Christ that we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. It is part of Christian culture to know what God's aim is. In the history of the Christian Church the tendency has been to evade being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ; men have sought to procure the carrying out of God's order by a short cut of their own. God's way is always the way of suffering, the way of the "long, long trail."
Are we partakers of Christ's sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp our personal ambitions right out? Are we prepared for God to destroy by transfiguration our individual determinations? It will not mean that we know exactly why God is taking us that way, that would make us spiritual prigs. We never realize at the time what God is putting us through; we go through it more or less misunderstandingly; then we come to a luminous place, and say - ' 'Why, God has girded me, though I did not know it!"
-The Rebels Guide To Joy in Suffering:
-My Utmost for His Highest:
Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings." 1 Peter 4:13
If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a multitude of experiences that are not meant for you at all, they are meant to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what transpires in other souls so that you will never be surprised at what you come across. Oh, I can't deal with that person. Why not? God gave you ample opportunity to soak before Him on that line, and you barged off because it seemed stupid to spend time in that way.
The sufferings of Christ are not those of ordinary men. He suffered "according to the will of God," not from the point of view we suffer from as individuals. It is only when we are related to Jesus Christ that we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. It is part of Christian culture to know what God's aim is. In the history of the Christian Church the tendency has been to evade being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ; men have sought to procure the carrying out of God's order by a short cut of their own. God's way is always the way of suffering, the way of the "long, long trail."
Are we partakers of Christ's sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp our personal ambitions right out? Are we prepared for God to destroy by transfiguration our individual determinations? It will not mean that we know exactly why God is taking us that way, that would make us spiritual prigs. We never realize at the time what God is putting us through; we go through it more or less misunderstandingly; then we come to a luminous place, and say - ' 'Why, God has girded me, though I did not know it!"
-The Rebels Guide To Joy in Suffering:
1.01.2009
triple door
I just ran across this video on Josh Garrel's blog. The video is of Josh and Trace Bundy playing "O Come O Come Emmanuel" at The Triple Door in Seattle, WA. Spend 5 minutes and watch them play this amazing song.
12.14.2008
zoweh
Some of you may have noticed a new list of links on the far right hand side of the blog and a new blog label both titled, "zoweh". This is a new term I have came across in reading which speaks about a new life in Christ. I've decided to label most of my Christian themed past/future post's this and please check out the links under "Zoweh" for some great Christ-centered Churches. I highly recommend the online sermons from all the churches in the list. I'll let C.S. Lewis go into more detail about Zoweh now:
"In reality, the difference between Biological life and Spiritual life is so important that I am going to give them two distinct names. The Biological sort which comes to us through nature, and which (like everything else in nature) is always tending to run down and decay so that it can only be dept up by incessant subsidies from nature in the form of air, water, food, etc., is Bios. The Spiritual life which is in God from all eternity, and which made the whole natural universe, is Zoweh. Bios has, to be sure, a certain shadowy or symbolic resemblance to Zoweh; but only the sort of resemblance there is between a photo and a place, or a statue and a man. A man who changed from having Bios to having Zoweh would have gone through as big a change as a statue which changed from being carved stone to being a real man. And that is precisely what Christianity is about. The world is a great sculptor's shop. We are the statues and there is a rumor going round the shop that some of us are some day going to come to LIFE (Zoweh)". -C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
"In reality, the difference between Biological life and Spiritual life is so important that I am going to give them two distinct names. The Biological sort which comes to us through nature, and which (like everything else in nature) is always tending to run down and decay so that it can only be dept up by incessant subsidies from nature in the form of air, water, food, etc., is Bios. The Spiritual life which is in God from all eternity, and which made the whole natural universe, is Zoweh. Bios has, to be sure, a certain shadowy or symbolic resemblance to Zoweh; but only the sort of resemblance there is between a photo and a place, or a statue and a man. A man who changed from having Bios to having Zoweh would have gone through as big a change as a statue which changed from being carved stone to being a real man. And that is precisely what Christianity is about. The world is a great sculptor's shop. We are the statues and there is a rumor going round the shop that some of us are some day going to come to LIFE (Zoweh)". -C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
12.09.2008
advent conspiracy
Watch:
I ask that we all learn more about how to put Christ back in CHRISTmas here or on our own (through study of the Bible, through our Church, through our walk with Christ).
I ask that we all learn more about how to put Christ back in CHRISTmas here or on our own (through study of the Bible, through our Church, through our walk with Christ).
11.05.2008
post-election views
Here is a post from Pastor Mark Driscoll's blog, The Resurgence. Below is the entry entitled "In God When Do Not Trust". Convicting words.
In God We Do Not Trust
by Mark Driscoll
In my years of pastoral ministry I have worked very hard to not be political. I believe that my job as a pastor is to preach and teach the Bible well so that my people make their decisions, including their voting decisions, out of their faith convictions.
This election season which has dominated the cultural conversation for many months has been particularly insightful regarding the incessant gospel thirst that abides deep in the heart of the men and women who bear God's image. Without endorsing or maligning either political party or their respective presidential candidates, I am hopeful that a few insights from the recent election season are of help, particularly to younger evangelicals.
First, people are longing for a savior who will atone for their sins. In this election, people thirst for a savior who will atone for their economic sins of buying things they did not need with money they did not have. The result is a mountain of credit debt they cannot pay and a desperate yearning that somehow a new president will save them from economic hell.
Second, people are longing for a king who will keep them safe from terror in his kingdom. In the Old Testament the concept of a peaceable kingdom is marked by the word shalom. In shalom there is not only the absence of sin, war, strife, and suffering but also the presence of love, peace, harmony, and health. And, this thirst for shalom is so parched that every election people cannot help but naively believe that if their candidate simply wins shalom is sure to come despite sin and the curse.
The bottom line is obvious to those with gospel eyes. People are longing for Jesus, and tragically left voting for mere presidential candidates. For those whose candidate wins today there will be some months of groundless euphoric faith in that candidate and the atoning salvation that their kingdom will bring. But, in time, their supporters will see that no matter who wins the presidency, they are mere mortals prone to sin, folly, and self-interest just like all the other sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. To help extend naïve false hope as long as possible, a great enemy will be named and demonized as the one who is hindering all of the progress to atone for our sins and usher in our kingdom. If the Democrats win it will be the rich, and if the Republicans win it will be the terrorists. This diversionary trick is as old as Eve who blamed her sin on Satan rather than repenting. The lie is that it's always someone else's fault and we're always the victim of sinners and never the sinner.
Speaking of repentance, sadly, no matter who wins there will be no call to personal repentance of our own personal sins which contributes to cultural suffering and decline such as our pride, gluttony, covetousness, greed, indebtedness, self-righteousness, perversion, and laziness. And, in four years we'll do it all again and pretend that this time things will be different. Four years after that, we'll do it yet again. And, we'll continue driving around this cul de sac until Jesus returns, sets up his throne, and puts an end to folly once and for all.
In the meantime, I would encourage all preachers to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and repentance of personal sin. He alone can truly atone for our sins. He alone can deliver us from a real hell. He alone is our sinless and great King. And, he alone has a Shalom kingdom to offer.
Lastly, for those preachers who have gotten sidetracked for the cause of a false king and a false kingdom by making too much of the election and too little of Jesus, today is a good day to practice repentance in preparation to preach it on Sunday. Just give it some time. The thirst will remain that only Jesus can quench. So, we've still got work to do….until we see King Jesus and voting is done once and for all.
In God We Do Not Trust
by Mark Driscoll
In my years of pastoral ministry I have worked very hard to not be political. I believe that my job as a pastor is to preach and teach the Bible well so that my people make their decisions, including their voting decisions, out of their faith convictions.
This election season which has dominated the cultural conversation for many months has been particularly insightful regarding the incessant gospel thirst that abides deep in the heart of the men and women who bear God's image. Without endorsing or maligning either political party or their respective presidential candidates, I am hopeful that a few insights from the recent election season are of help, particularly to younger evangelicals.
First, people are longing for a savior who will atone for their sins. In this election, people thirst for a savior who will atone for their economic sins of buying things they did not need with money they did not have. The result is a mountain of credit debt they cannot pay and a desperate yearning that somehow a new president will save them from economic hell.
Second, people are longing for a king who will keep them safe from terror in his kingdom. In the Old Testament the concept of a peaceable kingdom is marked by the word shalom. In shalom there is not only the absence of sin, war, strife, and suffering but also the presence of love, peace, harmony, and health. And, this thirst for shalom is so parched that every election people cannot help but naively believe that if their candidate simply wins shalom is sure to come despite sin and the curse.
The bottom line is obvious to those with gospel eyes. People are longing for Jesus, and tragically left voting for mere presidential candidates. For those whose candidate wins today there will be some months of groundless euphoric faith in that candidate and the atoning salvation that their kingdom will bring. But, in time, their supporters will see that no matter who wins the presidency, they are mere mortals prone to sin, folly, and self-interest just like all the other sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. To help extend naïve false hope as long as possible, a great enemy will be named and demonized as the one who is hindering all of the progress to atone for our sins and usher in our kingdom. If the Democrats win it will be the rich, and if the Republicans win it will be the terrorists. This diversionary trick is as old as Eve who blamed her sin on Satan rather than repenting. The lie is that it's always someone else's fault and we're always the victim of sinners and never the sinner.
Speaking of repentance, sadly, no matter who wins there will be no call to personal repentance of our own personal sins which contributes to cultural suffering and decline such as our pride, gluttony, covetousness, greed, indebtedness, self-righteousness, perversion, and laziness. And, in four years we'll do it all again and pretend that this time things will be different. Four years after that, we'll do it yet again. And, we'll continue driving around this cul de sac until Jesus returns, sets up his throne, and puts an end to folly once and for all.
In the meantime, I would encourage all preachers to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and repentance of personal sin. He alone can truly atone for our sins. He alone can deliver us from a real hell. He alone is our sinless and great King. And, he alone has a Shalom kingdom to offer.
Lastly, for those preachers who have gotten sidetracked for the cause of a false king and a false kingdom by making too much of the election and too little of Jesus, today is a good day to practice repentance in preparation to preach it on Sunday. Just give it some time. The thirst will remain that only Jesus can quench. So, we've still got work to do….until we see King Jesus and voting is done once and for all.
9.24.2007
lyrics to ponder
From the song, "This Too Shall Be Made Right", off the album "The Ringing Bell" by Derek Webb.
people love you the most for the things you hate
and hate you for loving the things that you cannot keep straight
people judge you on a curve
and tell you you’re getting what you deserve
this too shall be made right
children cannot learn when children cannot eat
stack them like lumber when children cannot sleep
children dream of wishing wells
whose waters quench all the fires of Hell
this too shall be made right
the earth and the sky and the sea are all holding their breath
wars and abuses have nature groaning with death
we say we’re just trying to stay alive
but it looks so much more like a way to die
this too shall be made right
there’s a time for peace and there is a time for war
a time to forgive and a time to settle the score
a time for babies to lose their lives
a time for hunger and genocide
this too shall be made right
I don’t know the suffering of people outside my front door
I join the oppressors of those who i choose to ignore
I’m trading comfort for human life
and that’s not just murder it’s suicide
this too shall be made right
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