February 5, 2012

Life for Life (2/5)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Exodus 19-21.

“If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise” (Exodus 21:22-25).

Capital punishment for murder has been a divine rule since the end of the flood (Genesis 9:6). Today, governments continue to “bear the sword” to punish evildoers as part of their divinely ordained role (Romans 13:4).

But this case that is addressed in the Law is a little different than most murder cases. This involved an unborn child. In the event that someone’s action against that unborn child led to his/her death, the offender would be subject to the same penalty as if he had murdered another grown man.
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January 30, 2012

The Midwives Feared God and Let the Boys Live (1/30)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Exodus 1-3.

“Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph” (Exodus 1:8).

This new king was fearful of the children of Israel. As the people multiplied, he worried that they might turn against him and depart. So he “afflicted them with hard labor” (Exodus 1:11), hoping that would keep them in check. But the Israelites continued to increase.
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February 24, 2011

Silenced Cries: A New Blog Dealing with the Issue of Abortion

In July 2009, I posted a review of Aaron Erhardt’s book, Silenced Cries, A Study of Abortion. Aaron has recently started a new blog dealing with the topic of abortion. He approaches the issue, not only from a religious and moral perspective, but also as it relates to society in general, as well as politics.

His most recent article is particularly good — Answering Pro-Choice Arguments. In it he clearly and concisely answers some of the common arguments made in favor of abortion

You can visit the site by clicking the link below. I encourage you to check it out and also tell others about it who might be interested.

Silenced Cries

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October 12, 2010

Why Christians Should Vote

[An important set of elections is taking place in three weeks. As we still have the opportunity to vote in this country, it is important that we cast our votes primarily as Christians, rather than Republicans, Democrats, or Independents. I encourage you to consider the Biblical teachings addressed in this article by Tim Haile. He also has a PDF version available on his website if you are interested. Read this article, consider the passages, and pray for our leaders — both the current ones and those that may soon be elected. -Andy]

Democratically elected representatives and officials make decisions that have a tremendous impact upon our lives. They have the power to pass laws, impose rules, regulations and taxes and appoint judges. Their decisions can either shape civil government after the divine model that is revealed in Scripture (Romans 13:1-10), or they can shape it after the model of the “sea beast” and the “great whore” of the Apocalypse – an intrusive, abusive and invasive government that was both anti-God and anti-man (Revelation 13, 17, 18). Considering how much power politicians have to affect our lives, either for the better or for the worse, it behooves us to do all that we can to elect honorable ones. In a democracy, the voting booth is where one makes his strongest statement.

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April 6, 2010

Pro-Life, With Exceptions

Pro-Life

[This article was written by Bryan Matthew Dockens.]

For years, political candidates have attempted to appease conservative voters by claiming to be “pro-life”, while moderating their positions to appeal to the mainstream by claiming three exceptions, namely: rape, incest, and the mother’s life. Is the pro-life position one that can bear exceptions?

In the case of rape, it is certainly true that someone deserves to die. That would be the rapist. The Old Law stated plainly, “If a man finds a betrothed young woman in the countryside, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die” (Deuteronomy 22:25). Although the Law of Moses has been done away with, capital punishment remains a valid penalty for crime (Romans 13:4).

Under what rationale can it be argued, though, that the unborn child, conceived in rape, deserves to perish for his father’s sins? In the Old Testament it was written, “The fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin” (Deuteronomy 24:26). The baby in the womb is entirely innocent of the sin his father committed against his mother. Spare that child the pain of death. Punish the sinner, not one of his victims.
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March 11, 2010

Obamacare and Abortion

[This article was written by Tim Haile for the Parkway church of Christ.]

President Obama and his democratically controlled congress are now in a frenzy to pass their national health care plan. An effort is currently under way to get the plan passed in the House of Representatives, then use a “budget reconciliation” procedure to pass it in the Senate. This procedure requires a simple majority of only 51 votes for passage. This reconciliation procedure is now being pursued, for since the election of Scott Brown, the Senate lacks sufficient votes to pass the bill with a 60-vote majority.

I strongly object to the nationalized health-care plan on several grounds, but my primary concern involves the practice of abortion. The Senate health bill, in its present form, provides for taxpayer funding of elective abortions through federal funding of Community Health Centers. The House bill originally provided 7 billion dollars for these centers, but Obama raised the amount to 11 billion. Because this funding is a part of the actual bill, it will not be subject to the Hyde Amendment that bans federal funding of abortions. The wording of this bill will have to be changed by Senate procedures in order for abortion funding to be prevented.
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July 22, 2009

Book Review: Silenced Cries, A Study of Abortion

Silenced Cries, A Study of Abortion by Aaron ErhardtAbortion is one of the defining moral and political issues of our time. In his new book, Silenced Cries, A Study of Abortion, Aaron Erhardt provides some valuable material on the subject and presents it in a way that is easy to understand.

The book deals with every aspect of this issue. Aaron addresses the doctors and the abortion clinics, their tactics and procedures. He talks about the consequences, not just for the aborted child, but for the mother and the rest of the family. He responds to some of the common arguments in favor of abortion. In the book he also mentions the twisted irony that some of the ones who disregard the lives of unborn children are often the same ones who militantly defend the “rights” of animals and even plants.
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