Chapter XXXIV
Aborted Values
The Lord says: “These people come near me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” [Isaiah 29:13 NIV]
Aborted Values
The Lord says: “These people come near me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” [Isaiah 29:13 NIV]
No, it is not that they are being disingenuous. For in most cases, they are being quite sincere in their convictions.
Nonetheless, be assured that all who support the illegalization of abortions based upon their belief in sanctity of physical human life have been woefully deceived[1]. For it is written: But someone will say, "How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?" You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one {flesh} of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the {glory} of the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable {body,} it is raised an imperishable {body;} it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual {body.} So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam {became} a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. [1 Corinthians 15:35-50 NAS]
In other words, it is spiritual life that our Heavenly Father holds sacred—not physical life[2]. For physical life is meant to end[3]. Whereas spiritual life in His only begotten Son[4], who truly is the Lord Jesus Christ[5], will last forever and ever[6]. AMEN!!!
No, physical death has nothing to do with spiritual life. For it is written: “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.” [Luke 12:4 NAS]
Oh yes, this opens a can of theological worms that many would rather be left on a shelf deep down in an abandoned root-cellar with a thick coat of dust covering its label. For they have been led to believe that one must be at least baptized into the church before being able to enter into the very presence of our Heavenly Father in His Kingdom of Heaven, and that is not a belief that is shared by others in their coalition.
Surely it would do us all well not to share in such a belief. For the soul of every aborted baby goes straight to the bosom of their Creator[7]—be assured[8].
Yes, there is still plenty of common-ground for them to stand upon, and part of that has to do with lost potential. For it is preached from pulpits on both sides of the Catholic/Protestant divide that the next aborted baby may hold the key to the cure for cancer or world peace, but who in their “right-mind”[9] would want to believe any of that[10]? After all, is there anything good about any of us apart from our Creator[11]?
Besides, is not preaching such the height of hypocrisy? For who is to say that the next executed convict does not hold the key to the very same things by that sort of reasoning, and is it not true that many who ferverently oppose abortions also see nothing wrong with capital punishment?
Oh yes, there is a big difference between an innocent aborted baby and a duly convicted felon, but we are talking about hidden potential here—are we not? Besides, who from amongst us can guarantee that the next aborted baby would not make Adolph Hitler or Josef Stalin look rather harmless by comparison if allowed to live?
No, none of this is meant to deny that abortion is murder. For what is generally considered as being life in the eyes of this world does indeed begin at conception[12], and the taking of an innocent life is indeed murder.
Subsequently, it is those who see nothing wrong with the practice that are much more in need of saving than the aborted babies, and this cannot be accomplished through the enactment of any laws[13]. For everything really is in the hands of our Heavenly Father[14], and if it is accordance to His will that there will come a day when no one will want to have an abortion, whether or not it is legal to have one will not matter[15].
Is this to say that we should be in favor of abortion? MAY IT NEVER BE! For to do so would be to support premeditated murder, but in regards to political action, it would be in the best interest of all concerned for the Christian community to stay neutral.
The same cannot be said of capital punishment, however. For to lock someone in a cage for the rest of their natural life truly is cruel and unusual punishment[16]!
No, this is not to say that stoning should be reintroduced, but even if it was, would that not be more merciful than keeping someone incarcerated for life—even if in one of our modern facilities? For the sufferings of this world would be over for them at the instant of their physical death.
Alas, does this not speak to the crux of the issue? For in far too many cases, being in favor of life sentences is more about punishment than keeping society safe, and that warrants an eternal death sentence[17].
Yes, it can be argued that life sentences stand as a strong deterrent, but do they really? For that would only work in the case of someone in their right-mind, and no one in their right-mind would want to do anything that would warrant such a harsh sentence in the first-place.
No, this is not ignore the suffering of the victims and their families, but vengeance is our Heavenly Father’s to repay[18]. Besides, prolonging the physical lives of those who face eternal damnation just prolongs when the real punishment will begin (naturally-speaking, of course)[19], but woe be it to all who would want to think in such as way as this[20].
Yes, much of that sounds like grounds to be in favor of the legalization of suicides and assisted-suicides, and I must admit that this is jar of some really disgusting stuff that I would rather be left on a back-shelf, myself. For I have been there. That is, at least in regards to suicide.
In fact, I am still there. For if it was not for knowing that anyone in their right-mind who kills (even themselves) when it is not in accordance to the will of our Heavenly Father commits murder, I would kill myself. For my life in this world has been one of intense pain and anguish—both physically[21] and spiritually[22], and I have not received any assurances that my sufferings will end anytime soon.
A terrible thing to say, I know. For it would cause my wife an enormous amount of grief, but that would pass soon enough. Whereas the suffering that she endures because of my infirmities keeps going on, and that is something that I can honestly say that I do not want to be a part of[23].
Please, do not misunderstand. For I know that everything that I have had to endure is for our Heavenly Father’s glory[24], but that does not make it any less painful[25].
Oh yes, I am naturally a gutless wonder, but that does not mean that I do not know what I am talking about. For what I have been given to say is of our Heavenly Father[26], and if you don’t want to believe it, I beseech thee to seek His counsel for yourself[27].
{1}Ephesians 6:10-12; {2}John 6:63; {3}Hebrews 9:27; {4}John 3:16; {5}Matthew 3:16-17; {6}2 Corinthians 4:17-18; {7}2 Samuel 12:23; {8}Matthew 19:14; {9}1 Corinthians 2:6-16; {10}Jeremiah 17:5; {11}Psalms 16:2; {12}Psalms 139:13-16; {13}Romans 8:3; {14}John 16:8-11; {15}2 Corinthians 5:17; {16}Leviticus 24:10-23; {17}James 2:12-13; {18}Deuteronomy 32:35; {19}Revelation 20:10-15; {20}1 John 4:20-21; {21}Job 10:18-22; {22}Jeremiah 20:7-9; {23}John 21:18-19; {24}1 Corinthians 10:12-13; {25}2 Corinthians 12:7-10; {26}Galatians 1:11-12; {27}James 1:5.
Nonetheless, be assured that all who support the illegalization of abortions based upon their belief in sanctity of physical human life have been woefully deceived[1]. For it is written: But someone will say, "How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?" You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one {flesh} of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the {glory} of the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable {body,} it is raised an imperishable {body;} it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual {body.} So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam {became} a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. [1 Corinthians 15:35-50 NAS]
In other words, it is spiritual life that our Heavenly Father holds sacred—not physical life[2]. For physical life is meant to end[3]. Whereas spiritual life in His only begotten Son[4], who truly is the Lord Jesus Christ[5], will last forever and ever[6]. AMEN!!!
No, physical death has nothing to do with spiritual life. For it is written: “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.” [Luke 12:4 NAS]
Oh yes, this opens a can of theological worms that many would rather be left on a shelf deep down in an abandoned root-cellar with a thick coat of dust covering its label. For they have been led to believe that one must be at least baptized into the church before being able to enter into the very presence of our Heavenly Father in His Kingdom of Heaven, and that is not a belief that is shared by others in their coalition.
Surely it would do us all well not to share in such a belief. For the soul of every aborted baby goes straight to the bosom of their Creator[7]—be assured[8].
Yes, there is still plenty of common-ground for them to stand upon, and part of that has to do with lost potential. For it is preached from pulpits on both sides of the Catholic/Protestant divide that the next aborted baby may hold the key to the cure for cancer or world peace, but who in their “right-mind”[9] would want to believe any of that[10]? After all, is there anything good about any of us apart from our Creator[11]?
Besides, is not preaching such the height of hypocrisy? For who is to say that the next executed convict does not hold the key to the very same things by that sort of reasoning, and is it not true that many who ferverently oppose abortions also see nothing wrong with capital punishment?
Oh yes, there is a big difference between an innocent aborted baby and a duly convicted felon, but we are talking about hidden potential here—are we not? Besides, who from amongst us can guarantee that the next aborted baby would not make Adolph Hitler or Josef Stalin look rather harmless by comparison if allowed to live?
No, none of this is meant to deny that abortion is murder. For what is generally considered as being life in the eyes of this world does indeed begin at conception[12], and the taking of an innocent life is indeed murder.
Subsequently, it is those who see nothing wrong with the practice that are much more in need of saving than the aborted babies, and this cannot be accomplished through the enactment of any laws[13]. For everything really is in the hands of our Heavenly Father[14], and if it is accordance to His will that there will come a day when no one will want to have an abortion, whether or not it is legal to have one will not matter[15].
Is this to say that we should be in favor of abortion? MAY IT NEVER BE! For to do so would be to support premeditated murder, but in regards to political action, it would be in the best interest of all concerned for the Christian community to stay neutral.
The same cannot be said of capital punishment, however. For to lock someone in a cage for the rest of their natural life truly is cruel and unusual punishment[16]!
No, this is not to say that stoning should be reintroduced, but even if it was, would that not be more merciful than keeping someone incarcerated for life—even if in one of our modern facilities? For the sufferings of this world would be over for them at the instant of their physical death.
Alas, does this not speak to the crux of the issue? For in far too many cases, being in favor of life sentences is more about punishment than keeping society safe, and that warrants an eternal death sentence[17].
Yes, it can be argued that life sentences stand as a strong deterrent, but do they really? For that would only work in the case of someone in their right-mind, and no one in their right-mind would want to do anything that would warrant such a harsh sentence in the first-place.
No, this is not ignore the suffering of the victims and their families, but vengeance is our Heavenly Father’s to repay[18]. Besides, prolonging the physical lives of those who face eternal damnation just prolongs when the real punishment will begin (naturally-speaking, of course)[19], but woe be it to all who would want to think in such as way as this[20].
Yes, much of that sounds like grounds to be in favor of the legalization of suicides and assisted-suicides, and I must admit that this is jar of some really disgusting stuff that I would rather be left on a back-shelf, myself. For I have been there. That is, at least in regards to suicide.
In fact, I am still there. For if it was not for knowing that anyone in their right-mind who kills (even themselves) when it is not in accordance to the will of our Heavenly Father commits murder, I would kill myself. For my life in this world has been one of intense pain and anguish—both physically[21] and spiritually[22], and I have not received any assurances that my sufferings will end anytime soon.
A terrible thing to say, I know. For it would cause my wife an enormous amount of grief, but that would pass soon enough. Whereas the suffering that she endures because of my infirmities keeps going on, and that is something that I can honestly say that I do not want to be a part of[23].
Please, do not misunderstand. For I know that everything that I have had to endure is for our Heavenly Father’s glory[24], but that does not make it any less painful[25].
Oh yes, I am naturally a gutless wonder, but that does not mean that I do not know what I am talking about. For what I have been given to say is of our Heavenly Father[26], and if you don’t want to believe it, I beseech thee to seek His counsel for yourself[27].
{1}Ephesians 6:10-12; {2}John 6:63; {3}Hebrews 9:27; {4}John 3:16; {5}Matthew 3:16-17; {6}2 Corinthians 4:17-18; {7}2 Samuel 12:23; {8}Matthew 19:14; {9}1 Corinthians 2:6-16; {10}Jeremiah 17:5; {11}Psalms 16:2; {12}Psalms 139:13-16; {13}Romans 8:3; {14}John 16:8-11; {15}2 Corinthians 5:17; {16}Leviticus 24:10-23; {17}James 2:12-13; {18}Deuteronomy 32:35; {19}Revelation 20:10-15; {20}1 John 4:20-21; {21}Job 10:18-22; {22}Jeremiah 20:7-9; {23}John 21:18-19; {24}1 Corinthians 10:12-13; {25}2 Corinthians 12:7-10; {26}Galatians 1:11-12; {27}James 1:5.
Using the Holy Scripture to "prove" that killing unborn babies is somehow in accordance with His plan for Mankind is a marvel of convoluted thinking and proof positive that truly one can twist the intent of even the purest truth into any meaning one might want it to support. Your views are of yourself and from within your own mind and not of any imagined divine inspiration of our Heavenly Father. I hope not too many will be mislead by your incredible, even astounding, misinterpretation. May God help you to see the light of his real truth.
ReplyDeleteWoe be it unto us all if it is not, my dear Tanisha. For that would mean that either He does not care to do anything about such an abominable practice or there is nothing that He can do about it.
ReplyDeleteYou have certainly given us much food for thought. I agree with you that it really would be in the best interest to remain neutral on abortion, at least in the political realm. I do not want to stand in judgement of any human being. That is the Lord's decision. And as you say, a baby (fetus) will be delivered straight to God.
ReplyDeleteOn capital punishment. I do not believe in it, again because I do not beleive it is up to us to determine life or death. I do, however, believe in life sentences without the possibility of parole in situations where it is warranted. Man must have some laws to prevent chaos. No, it is not a deterrent but it seems a more righteous path of of earthly justice so that when the time comes, God can determine the true soul which lies within.
Suicide is a painful subject for me. My only sibling committed suicide and the entire family was stricken with overwhelming and sometimes paralyzing grief. Have there been times when I have considered that course myself? Yes. But one positive thing occurred after my brother's death. I saw the debris left behind and know that for those of us who loved him, that debris will last a lifetime. I would not do that, if for no other reason, than I do not want my loved ones to suffer in that way. You are courageous to reach into your heart and to consider your wife. And besides, dear FishHawk, you have a mission to perform here on this earth, as difficult as that may be at times. You never know who may find Salvation through your insights. You are a good vessel, my friend, so stay courageous. One day your pain will be gone and your heart will remain as pure as it is.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to leave such a great comment, my dear Cherlock!!! I fully understand what you are saying about me, and it is much to my chagrin that I feel as I do so much of the time. For I know that I should want to endure hardships like soldier, and that everything that I have had to endure has been for our Heavenly Father's glory and my ultimate good.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I don't know just exactly what my calling is, as in regards to being an apostle or a prophet or an evangelist. For I know that I am special messenger, but I suppose that it doesn't really matter either way. For it is the message that is important--not the messenger.
Nonetheless, part of my calling is to be as honest about myself as I can possibly be, and the absolute truth of the matter truly is that I have spent most of my "born-again" life feeling much more like a spiritual crash-test dummy than any sort of conquering hero of the faith. May that be of some encouragement to all who do not believe that they are strong enough to be an ambassador of reconciliation for our Heavenly Father.
My youngest daughter's fiance died three months ago and initially it was suspected suicide. But the post-mortem was inconclusive.
ReplyDeleteAs askcherlock says, food for thought, FishHawk - as always, my good man.
As few know, yet several have discovered, Cherlock is (or are) two of us. It is, therefore, the other Cherlock who is responding to you at this moment.
ReplyDeleteOver time many wise men and women have labored tirelessly over discovering the true meaning of God's word, as set forth in the Holy Scriptures. Men such as Thomas Aquinas, Francis of Assisi, Calvin and Luther have all had much to say concerning God's will, and His instructions for how we should live our lives. Yet here we are today, two thousand years after Christ's victory on the cross, arguing and debating among our many factions and sects about the true meaning of God's word. I am a reader of Scripture, but certainly not a scholar, yet I know by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within me, certain truths. Among these truths are that we must let God be in charge of our lives, and be guided by the Holy Spirit; that God will reveal the truth to all who seek it in His name; that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son to die upon the cross for the redemption of our sins", and that God has a plan for our lives and will use us according to His purpose. Like you said, FishHawk, we as messengers are not as important as the message itself. But you are wrong to think you are unimportant. I pray you will find the strength to take the onerous physical and spirtual burdens you have been given to bear, and lay them at the foot of the Cross. Remember Christ's words when He said "Come to me all you are labor hard and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take your rest, my friend, be of good heart, and live to fight another day.
I just wanted to let you know I have an award for you FishHawk :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
As it truly is, my dear Mike, suicides are indeed a great tragedy. For it truly is an unpardonable sin if the person knows what they are doing because there is no way to seek forgiveness afterward. I hope your daughter's fiance didn't actually do it. Thanks for stopping by again.
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much for the encouragement, my dear "The Other" Cherlock. Be assured that I have been made well aware of being created to be someone of great importance--even if only in regards to what I have been given to say.
ReplyDeleteNonetheless, I am still deeply ashamed of who I naturally am, and my own personal demons (who are oh so very real--certainly not figurative) have a really good time hammering away at me with stuff about being a great disappointment in the eyes of all concerned. Since this has been going on night and day, awake and asleep, for over 16 years now, it gets to me sometimes.
Thanks, my dear Theresa!!! I'll be over to check it out muy pronto.
ReplyDelete