An abortion related post

This is an excerpt from a new book by DA Carson that I read on Justin Taylor's blog.  Although the quote is from Lincoln and he is referencing slavery. I could not help but think of today and abortion.

But those who say they hate slavery, and are opposed to it, . . . where are they?

Let us apply a few tests.

You say that you think slavery is wrong, but you denounce all attempts to restrain it. Is there anything else that you think wrong that you are not willing to deal with as wrong? Why are you so careful, so tender, of this one wrong and no other? You will not let us do a single thing as if it was wrong; there is no place where you will even allow it to be called wrong! We must not call it wrong in the free States, because it is not there, and we must not call it wrong in the slave States, because it is there; we must not call it wrong in politics because that is bringing morality into politics, and we must not call it wrong in the pulpit because that is bringing politics into religion . . . and there is no single place, according to you, where this wrong thing can properly be called wrong!

—Abraham Lincoln, “Speech at New Haven, Connecticut [1860],” in Lincoln: Speeches and Writings, 1859-1865 (New York: Library of America, 1989), 140-141.

To  God Alone be the Glory

This is Where We Begin

"I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant. (Gen 32:10)

I am torn between commenting exhaustively on these words of Jacob (soon to become Israel) and simply letting them hang there for the Spirit work them into our hearts and minds.

(built in pause)

To be honest, my mind is on prayer, since that was where Jacob was at. What we see demonstrated for us is the humble approach of a servant to a King. Or and beggar to a generous rich Man, Or a child who has squandered everything to a Father who still posses everything. In other words, it is a worked out example of the true dynamic between us and God.We have nothing and in ourselves, we don't have the grounds to plead with Him for anything.

Yet, God call us to pray. Jesus encourages, models and assumes we will pray. And the Holy Spirit is praying and enabling our praying.

So, how do we take the true self assessment of Jacob and allow it to drive us not into some spiritual black hole, but to our knees before God? I think, perhaps, the true heart behind Jacob's words is that we have nothing of our own. Everything we have and everything we are is a gift. And the sustaining of everything we have and everything we are is a gift. Anything we desire to do whether it is super spiritual or ordinary and trivial is done by God's gracious permission and enabling.

As I think about this, it leaves me with a closer understanding of Paul's admonition to pray without ceasing. Obviously not a "close your eyes, bow your heads" prayer at all times. but a conscious (and sometimes sub conscious) realization that I need God's favor to drive to work, to do my work, run an errand, to write a blog, preach a sermon, to hold my tongue, wash the dishes, to study for a test, to fall in love, to stay in love, to say good by, to hope for Christ. (and we could all add a thousand more)

Father, we really are unworthy servants. We really are prodigal children. We are really sheep who are prone to wander. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for your mercy. Thank you for the 10,000 (is that too small?) things you give us each day without us even asking, simply because that is the kind of Father you are. You deserve more praise and glory than this feeble man via this feeble blog can ascribe to you. But what I have, I offer to you in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

I now send forth this post with a deep sense of its many defects; but with an earnest prayer that it may do some good. (JC Ryle)

To God Alone be the Glory

Do We Presume on the Riches of God?

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Rom 2:4)

Take a moment and consider this verse from Romans 2. How do you view God's kindness, his richness and his patience?

If you are anything like me, the honest answer is that I often view God's kindness, richness and patience (not to mention his grace and mercy) are perks of membership in this club called Christianity. Sure, God saved me  by his grace alone. Sure, it was only in the cross of Christ that my sins were forgiven. Sure, it is only by laying a hold of these realities by faith (which itself is a gracious gift) does any of this matter to me personally.

But then what? How do I interact with God today, believing and trusting in all that I just wrote? What is my reaction to the kindness of God when he gives me a warm, dry, safe house this morning? What is my attitude toward God when he endures another routine prayer at breakfast, lunch or dinner? How do I view God when I open my Bible in freedom and read it my own language and can actually begin to grasp what He is trying to say? Gratitude? Humility? Adoration? Worship? Child-like incredulity?

If you are like me, it takes a Spirit-driven reminder to get back to these appropriate responses to the riches of God in my life. As I survey my life, I see many more examples of presumption, of expectation (not the good kind) and of neglect. My heart continues to drift back to a self-focus and so often, when I am not intentionally thinking about God and Christ and the Spirit, my mind, by default returns to a focus on me.

I want to close with an awesome thing for you to consider. Even as our focus moves constantly from God and to ourselves, God is continuing to pour out his riches in kindness and patience. He is always after our good and He is sending us thousands of reminders of his awesome love and power and grace. The question is: will we see them? And will we allow the Spirit to change our presumption to praise?

I now send forth this post with a deep sense of its many defects; but with an earnest prayer that it may do some good. (JC Ryle)

To God Alone be the Glory

It Is Not Death to Die

It is not death to die
To leave this weary road
And join the saints who dwell on high
Who’ve found their home with God

It is not death to close
The eyes long dimmed by tears
And wake in joy before Your throne
Delivered from our fears

Chorus O Jesus, conquering the graveYour precious blood has power to save
Those who trust in You
Will in Your mercy find
That it is not death to die

It is not death to fling
Aside this earthly dust
And rise with strong and noble wing
To live among the just

It is not death to hear
The key unlock the door
That sets us free from mortal years
To praise You evermore

To God Alone be the Glory

If God...then I...

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, [21] so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. (Gen 28:20-21)

How often do we adopt an approach to God that looks like Jacob's?

Seriously.

Don't think about your kids. Don't think about your spouse. Don't think about your less spiritually mature friends. Think about yourself. Think about your prayers. Think about your confidence in the day or week or year ahead. How contingent is your faith? How conditional is your obedience?

As I read Gen 28 this morning, I was struck first by Jacob's apparent self-serving approach to God. And, knowing the rest of the story, realizing that God actually fulfills His end of the bargain and in the process brings Jacob to a true faith in Him. This is another awesome reminder that God seeks us and saves us before we ever would (or could) seek Him.

Yet after those thoughts settled in my mind it dawned on me that I often approach God like Jacob did. Not in public (I too "religiously correct") for that. Not necessarily even in private prayer as was the case with Jacob. But down in my heart, at the core of who I am, there's the lingering thought: "God, if you do this, I will do that" or "God, if I do this, I expect you to do that"

Do you see the idolatry in that? Do you see the sin in that? Who do I think I am?

I ask these questions and probe these depths for a couple of reasons.  First, I think it is very healthy to look in the mirror as see that we are still sinners in need of a savior. I have not reached sinless perfection. You have not reached sinless perfection. Sin may be principally defeated and its priced paid for by Christ, but the battle rages. And we need that reminder. Daily. It raises the value of Christ in our eyes. And it lowers our estimation of our ability to do anything on our own to the glory of God.

Second, I think this serves as a healthy self-diagnosis. Like a cholesterol test, we need to see where in our spiritual lives we need the Spirit to do His work. And where we need to work in Him and through Him to the glory of God.

I now send forth this post with a deep sense of its many defects; but with an earnest prayer that it may do some good. (JC Ryle)

To God Alone be the Glory

Where you are heading, trouble will be no more.

The following is the conclusion from a blog post by Paul Tripp that I read yesterday.  The full post is here. What strikes me most is that what makes life in this fallen world bearable is not that somehow it will get better or that I am somehow earning "misery points". No what makes life worth it is that we are working toward the prize of Christ and His promise of a New Heaven and a New Earth. May it be so, even today!

You could argue that the biblical story is about three locations. The Garden in Genesis was a location of perfection and beauty but became a place of sin and trouble. The hill of Calvary was a place of both horrible suffering and also transforming grace. And the New Jerusalem, that place of peace and refuge lit by the brightness of the Son, will be our final refuge forever. Because of the cross of Jesus Christ, your story will not end with daily trouble and temporary refuge. No, your final location will be utterly unlike anything you have ever experienced, even on your best and brightest ministry day. You are headed for the New Jerusalem, where the final tear will be dried and trouble will be no more.

Today, in life and ministry, you will face trouble of some kind. Today you will run somewhere for refuge. Today there is hope and help to be found. May God be your refuge, and as you run to him, may you remember that he has promised you that there will be a day when your trouble is no more.

I now send forth this post with a deep sense of its many defects; but with an earnest prayer that it may do some good. (JC Ryle)

To God Alone be the Glory

What are we doing? (updated, again)

Update 2: A couple more links at the end. One that is worth your time is 180movie.com. It is a 33 minute YouTube video that is part apologetic and part person on the street interview. As you watch, pretend the questions are being asked of you. Or better yet, imagine you really had to face the issues the video raises. SDG.

Update: I have added several more links to the end of this post. Piper said it best. Citing Acts 4, he said "all Christians should stand up and tell it like they see it. Let the chips fall where they will. Don't worry if the public doesn't even agree with your most basic assumptions. Your job is not to win. Your job is not to control this society. Your job is to say what God wants said."  SDG

I write this with fear and trepidation. In part, unfortunately, my fear and trepidation rises from what some readers might think of me after reading this post. I could list the potential responses, but that will only fuel a false, man-centered fear. The other part of my fear and trepidation is that I am not saying nor doing enough. I am not praying enough. I am preaching or teaching enough. I am not honoring God and extolling Christ enough to help remove the cultural scourge that has ravaged our nation for 39 years.

For those of you who know me, you know that I am not an extremely political person. I care about elections and I care about how my representatives and governor and president enact public policy. But, if the leader at the moment (whether I voted for them or not) goes against what I think is correct, I don't get too worked up about it. After all, that is the nature of governance in the United States. However, there is a growing exception to this "live and let live" political philosophy of mine. That is in regard to abortion.

There, I've said it. Any nay-sayers can start their naying. But I am becoming more and more convinced that from my side of the room, saying nothing to avoid a rebuke is no longer an option. Besides, if I am resting in Christ's perfect love for me, what are man's angry words anyway? And, if Jesus was annointed by the Spirit "to proclaim good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,” shouldn't I have a similar vision?

All of that is an introduction to say that I have been personally negligent in my responsibility before God to defend the defenseless. I know this is ultimately in God's hands, but He uses us as his instruments in this world. So by His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, I want to pray a risky prayer. God use me, whatever it takes, to put a dent or maybe even an end to abortion in this country. And Father, do it not primarily through political means, but through gospel-driven means. May we all stand amazed as you work in our midst to turn the tide some of think can never be changed. Let life (all of life) matter to us as much as it matters to you.

I have one last risky thing to say. I do not think my apathy is unique. I know there are mature, devoted Christians who have had the cause of life on their hearts for years or even decades. But I'm grieved to consider how many of us who name the name of Christ have allowed abortion to flourish unimpeded even in our prayers.

What follows are several links to posts I have read over the weekend. These men can express themselves on this issue better than I can. Please read some (or all) and allow the Spirit to do His work in your heart.

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/five-things-we-can-do-for-the-unborn

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-day-john-piper-was-arrested

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/19/moving-pro-life-legislation-forward-the-need-for-prudence-and-civility/

http://gospeldrivenchurch.blogspot.com/2012/01/gospel-shaped-pro-life-passion.html

http://www.abort73.com/blog/factories_of_death_lessons_from_auschwitz/

http://www.abort73.com/blog/eulogy_for_the_martyred_children_what_mlk_has_to_teach_us_about_abortion/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2012/01/18/an-actual-pro-life-conversation

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/racial-slavery-and-abortion-in-america-how-history-repeats-itself

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/20/one-month-for-life/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2012/01/23/roe-v-wade-radical-legally-untenable-and-immoral

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/its-the-christians-duty-to-speak-the-truth

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/eight-ways-to-live-as-pro-life-christians-under-a-pro-choice-president

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203718504577176641699224320.html

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/five-ways-to-fight-abortion-and-serve-the-unborn-and-their-moms

http://180movie.com/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2012/01/23/healing-after-an-abortion

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/gospeldrivenchurch/2012/01/23/what-does-job-3113-15-tell-us-about-abortion/

I now send forth this post with a deep sense of its many defects; but with an earnest prayer that it may do some good. (JC Ryle)

To God Alone be the Glory