In the afterglow of the "Susan Komen Foundation for the Cure v Planned Parenthood" conflagration, where a foundation dedicated to women's breast health gave in to the pressure of an abortion organization, I think there is something to consider. Not that the Foundation caved to the baby killers. No, the question for the church in America is "Will you follow suit?"
So, you pro-life Christians, it's time to step up. Specifically, churches in America. Time to stand or fall. Time to state at possible cost "We value human life because Man is made in the image of God." No more playing around. This can quickly become expensive.
On January 20 the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services issued a press release. Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, under direction from the president, has announced that "non-profit religious employers that offer insurance to their employees" can no longer limit that insurance to preclude either contraception or, ostensibly, abortion. Does your faith hold that contraception or abortion is a sin? Too bad. No choice. The government has spoken. Your religious freedoms in this regard are terminated. Sebelius has "kindly" offered to add a year to that requirement because, I mean, it must take time for churches to comply with this law. And, of course, that's the only reason that churches would not comply, right?
Why? Well, "Scientists have abundant evidence that birth control has significant health benefits for women and their families, is documented to significantly reduce health costs, and is the most commonly taken drug in America by young and middle-aged women." Thus, the only reason churches might oppose such rules is either ignorance ("Hey, we didn't know that killing children in the womb, either by abortion or by contraception, was good for women's health.") or malice ("Yeah, we knew, but we didn't care."). In either case, our benevolent government has determined that you no longer have that First Amendment right. (Let's not delve into the fact that abortifacents are known to increase the risk of cancer and such -- See things like the New York Times on Yaz and Yasmine, the U.S. government on contraception and cancer, womenshealth.gov on the risks, or Science Daily on the dangers. Let's not go there, okay?) No, because "young and middle-aged women" commonly take contraceptives, you, dear church, will provide coverage for it. Now that we think about it, since young and middle-aged women are known to drink alcohol quite a bit, we might consider adding that, too. Well, not yet.
Tongue in cheek? Only a little. That's the declaration. Those whose faith preclude it don't get the right to practice their faith. Too bad. So it is time to decide. The Catholic Church has already stated, "We cannot — we will not — comply with this unjust law." What about the rest of us? Will we cave (again)? Or will we count the cost and stand our ground? Now is when we begin to find who is and is not pro-life. "We're pro-life! Unless, of course, the government says we can't be. In that case, we're pro-life ... in word, at least. Pay no attention to that hypocrite behind the pulpit." We don't want to go there.
10 comments:
Stan,
Our problem is not an absence of truth, but a suppression of it. We as believers have the Truth and can read for ourselves where our authority begins and ends. Decisions on where life becomes valuable is not a matter up for discussion. If we in the Church will not rise up for life, when we are the only ones who know the Author of Life we will have One far greater in authority than our current administration with whom to give an answer for our acquiescence.
The Catholic's stand will be interesting to watch. Don't hold your breath. Most Catholics voted for this sort of thing in my opinion when they, like everyone else, voted for their portion of the government's strong arm. We all know where the quasi State Church, you know, the ones that made a deal to keep quiet about all things "political" in exchange for a tax refund check. The life in both is draining out and into the ground I think; much like blood drains out of a dying victim. But I have seen signs of life lately, is it perhaps a last kick?
We are on the very edge of the precipice now. We (American Christians) are on the verge of counting the cost. Will we take the loss by standing up for life? Or will we cave to pressure? This is where the rubber meets the road. This is where it gets expensive. This is where we pay up or step out. This is where many will go out from us because they are not of us. And, quite frankly, I think we've had it too easy for too long.
Dan, our "tax refund check" -- the willingness of the churches to be bought off to keep their mouths shut on all matters political -- is the thing that makes me wonder. I suspect that we'll find far fewer wheat than tares in this field. Looking at it naturally, I, too, would wonder "Is the victim dying?" Fortunately, it was Christ who said, "I will build My church." The public acceptability of Christianity in America may vanish, but Christ's very own will remain.
It's interesting that you should use the wheat and tares parable. I read that a couple of days ago and again this very morning. I always saw this as an "in the Church" parable; i.e., we are not supposed to remove the tares from the Church. Of course this doesn't reflect much of Paul's letters to Churches. But Jesus didn't say the enemy sowed the seed in the Church but in the world. Somehow I'd never seen that. Just thought I'd pass that "revelation" along.
As to the "dying" church. When a society becomes too hostile to the Church, the Church goes underground leaving behind a Cicada-like shell. It disappears in some respects, but becomes much much stronger in many others, since being a part of it comes at a price. My metaphor, I'll admit, was weak, but that's what I meant by the "blood seeping into the ground". We're not there yet, but what offense will be the one that finally puts us there? What offense will be an offense too far? These sorts of things come rapidly I think. Things are one way one day, after long periods of being that way, then tectonic tensions exceed their resistance and there is sudden and violent change that alters the landscape. The last thing almost everyone expects before is something so vastly different as the result; something that so violates their normalcy biases.
Still, with this in mind, I agree with you, the American Church is alive and well, it's just that it's hard to see because the very words "church" and "Christian" have been so diluted in meaning as to be virtually meaningless. Think about it. The very administration that is administrating all of this is headed by a christian... and supported by many christian churches whatever those terms mean.
I didn't think your metaphor was weak. I think you're right. The external "church" is dying and the "Christians" in the "church" are showing themselves for they are ... neither Christians nor the Church. If left at that, it can be discouraging. I'm just glad it's not left at that.
Gentlemen,
Enjoying the dialogue. Just thought I would say that I have been thinking for some time about what might be the topic that will bring about the shifting plates. I have thought it might be the school system. The next generation is critical (and has been in every group trying to "change the future" - as in 'raise a generation of young people devoid of a conscience, imperious, relentless and cruel') and will come under attack by those seeking to attain power. In Europe already there are laws in place, in some cases charging parents who want to homeschool $20,000 or more per year to do so. Also the push by the current administration for passage of the Convention for the Rights of the Child (CRC) which is essentially a UN sponsored international control of households. Perhaps a combination of either destroying future lives except where allowed, persecuting those who do not wish to have their children indoctrinated with the message of the 'State' and removal of children from parents who wish to retain control of their children's education and Godly training. So, the question could be asked (beyond will we fight for life) will we stand up and fight for the next generation.
Just a few thoughts as I have been preparing my mind for where my family will make our stand when (not if) such pressures are applied.
Absolutely! The next generation is a huge concern. Look at what has been done thus far.
Plato said, "Give me the music of a nation and I'll change the mind of the nation." That's been done already.
The Bible defines marriage as "one man and one woman for the purpose of companionship and procreation". The current generation defines it as "a nice albeit dangerous thing between two people who love each other ... at least as long as they feel warmly about each other."
The Bible defines reality itself as "All things are contained in Him". A large number of Christians see a deistic God who kind of keeps hands off and succumbs to "Human Free Will, the Master of the Universe".
The astounding leap from "sex is reserved for marriage" in my lifetime to "friends with benefits" in today's generation is horrifying both in its immorality and the speed in which it happened.
Feminism was a radical movement in its day; now it's the rule. While Scripture paints a picture of a patriarchal structure, all society militates against it in general and men in particular. "Get in touch with your feminine side." "You need to get in touch with your inner child." Whatever men need to do today, it is not "be men".
Concepts like self-sacrifice, delayed gratification, charity, selflessness, integrity, and a host of biblical values are belittled today. Forgive? What are you ... crazy? Humility? Don't be a fool!
Absolutely. The next generation is already in deep, deep trouble. Thanks be to God that I don't serve a God who is not there.
Stan,
Well said. And this is why I believe there must be a renewed focus on discipleship. Training up Godly men and women through the long road of biblical instruction. I am excited in this, because as twenty- and thirty-somethings wait longer and longer to have children (if at all) I have five young men and women in my home to disciple and prepare for battle. I also am a member in a congregation that sees discipleship as the command that it is, and that it starts in the home. It is a long road, but a lifetime spent investing in the kingdom work of making disciples of all nations (at home first, then fanning out as far as the Lord has ordained), a generation of men and women feeding on the meat of the Word and sharing the Truth in a world of error is a task worth whatever temporal cost.
Stan, Dan and all others be encouraged and continue to press on in the fight. On the internet through the blog, in the home and community, in the local newspapers, in whatever outlets to which you are called. Keep the faith, finish the race and may God richly bless you as you uphold the Gospel of Christ Jesus, the only hope for mankind.
Blessings.
Well said Jeremy
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