Some Christians refuse to serve in the military on religious grounds. So what of those who do serve? Are they disobeying God? In honor of Veteran’s Day let’s look into God’s Word and see what HE has to say.
Category Archives: Questions – Theology
I’m Pro-choice but Anti-abortion.
Somebody told me they were upset because a Christian friend accused her of being pro-abortion because she said was pro-choice. “That angers me”, she complained, “because I hate abortions but I think a person should have a choice in this matter. How come Christians think pro-choice is the same as pro-abortion?”
I can understand her frustration at being labeled as being in favor of something that she despises. Most people would consider her stance rather neutral. She is not in favor of abortion but neither does she think people should be restricted from having them if that is their choice.
She is tolerant. She is correct – at least politically.
But here could be why her friend accused her of being pro-abortion simply because she was pro-choice. Think this through with me.
First of all, I know of no one that would say they are pro-abortion. No one who understands even the most basic aspects of abortion, its trauma to the woman and the death of the child, could say they are pro, or in favor of, abortion. The reason, however, some people equate pro-choice with pro-abortion is because if you look at the practical outcome of a pro-choice stance it produces the same thing a pro-abortion stand would produce. For example, a pro-choice senator asked to vote on a measure limiting abortion would vote the same way as a pro-abortion senator, if such a person existed.
Let me try to illustrate by looking at a parallel example, another hotly debated topic – gun control. Let’s assume you hate guns but you also believe people who want to own them should be allowed to freely own guns. You have a pro-choice stance. If you were forced to vote or take a stand on the issue, even though you hate guns you would have to side with the pro-gun people to oppose restrictions on gun owners. Therefore, though you would never say you are “pro-gun”, the ultimate outcome of your position is the same as the pro-gun people. In this case, pro-choice is virtually the same as pro-gun, it produces the same outcome, no limitations on the ownership or use of guns.
Apply this same template to the abortion debate. You hate abortions (guns) but you feel people should be able to freely have an abortion (a gun) if that is their choice. Therefore, the practical outcome of your stance is as if you were pro-abortion (pro-gun). As much as you hate abortion (guns) a pro-choice stance puts you squarely on the side of those who profit from the death caused by abortion (guns). If you hate guns, like we assume you do for this example, it would likely make you angry to be called pro-gun but your “neutral” stance actually advances the distribution and uncontrolled ownership of guns – the pro-gun position.
However, there is an even stronger reason that some would say being pro-choice is equivalent with being pro-abortion. If I am pro-choice, I am saying I am in favor of a person having the right to make whatever choice they desire – either option – keeping the child or aborting the child as long as it is that woman’s choice. I am pro her keeping the baby if that is her choice. But, I am also pro aborting the child if that is her choice. If I am “pro”, or in favor of, only one choice then there really is no choice. To truly be pro-choice I must be in favor of either option – keeping or aborting the child. Therefore, to be pro-choice says I am pro, in favor of, abortion in the case where that is the woman’s preferred choice. In that case I am pro-abortion. I cannot say I am pro-choice if I do not support one of the two choices available. So, quite literally, while I might hate abortions, if I am pro-choice I am also pro-abortion at least on occasions where the woman chooses to end the child’s life. If abortion is her choice then abortion is my choice for her – or I am not truly pro-choice.
While it may be frustrating to have people align you with something you hate so much, in reality, your stance is one that fosters abortions and, at least in some cases, is pro, or in favor of, abortions. If you are not in favor of abortions even if that is the woman’s choice then you are not pro-choice. If you are in favor of abortions when it is the woman’s choice then you must admit that, at least sometimes, you are in favor of abortions, or pro-abortion. There is no neutral stance on this issue. Think about it. I would love to hear your comments and if there are any fallacies in the reasoning or something I am missing, please point it out.
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Proverbs 6:16-17
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, …
Sinning in the Will of God
Acts 1:20 [speaking of Judas and how he betrayed the Lord]
“For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no one dwell in it’; and, ‘let another man take his office.’
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Someone asked, “If Adam’s sin was all part of God’s plan then his disobedience was actually fulfilling God’s will and therefore, not really sin.” Can it be sinful to do the will of God? In the same way here, it was prophesied that Judas would deny the Lord. This was part of God’s plan of salvation for mankind and yet Judas is condemned for carrying out God’s plan. Doesn’t that seem unjust?
The answer isn’t really that difficult to understand.
It should be obvious it is never God’s will that man sin. God doesn’t even tempt us to sin (James 1:13). But God understands our hearts. He knows and remembers what we are made of – dust. Through His foreknowledge of future events and His complete understanding of our hearts, it is not difficult for Him to foretell our actions. Just as a parent can often predict which child will obey and which will disobey, God, who knows the hearts of all men, was able to predict how Adam would respond and Judas’ behavior. The idea of God knowing the hearts of me is even referred to later in this same event when deciding who would take Judas’ place. “And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, … Acts 1:24.
They were praying, Lord, just as you knew the heart of Judas and were able to predict his failure, you know the heart of these candidates to take his place. In your foreknowledge, guide this selection process and help us choose one who will not fail.
Finally, does God’s foreknowledge mean he is responsible for the actions that He predicts.? Not anymore than the weatherman is responsible for the rain when he predicts it. Knowing what will happen, even if it is a certainty, is not causal. I know for certain the sun will rise tomorrow but certainly I cannot claim to have made it come up because I know that it will happen. No, man is still left to follow the nature of his own heart and reap the reward or consequences of following it.
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Job 40:8
“Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
Romans 9:19-21
One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?'” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
Christians and Homosexuality
I recently posted this video on Facebook and it brought so much response that I thought it worthwhile to also share on this blog. Ravi Zacharias answers a young man’s question, “Is it possible for a man or woman to lead a sincere Christian life as a homosexual?” I believe Ravi’s answer not only reflects the truth of God’s Word but also the heart of the Father. If I were as eloquent as he, this would be my answer.
What are your thoughts?
Do sinners experience God’s love?
QUESTION:
In my reading I came across some statements that do not quite sit right with me. What do you think about them?
“Because of our rebellion and disobedience we are separated from God and we do not experience His love. As long as we are going our own way and doing our own thing we do not experience God’s love. In order to experience God’s love we must be ‘born again.'”
ANSWER:
I would disagree and here is why. Continue reading
Why Crucify?
Question:
What was the big deal about Jesus being crucified that in 1 Corinthians 1:23 Paul said that is what he preached? It seems he should have said “but we preach Christ” risen from the dead. Wouldn’t it have been the same if they stoned him or killed Jesus with a sword?
Answer:
You are right that a major message of Paul was not just that Jesus died but that he was “crucified”. He should have been stoned. At his trial he was convicted of blasphemy (Matthew 26:65) and Scripture clearly teaches a blasphemer should be stoned (Leviticus 24:16). Continue reading
How old is the earth?
QUESTION:
The Bible says the earth is only 6000 years old but carbon dating and other factors indicate it is much older. Is the Bible wrong about how old the earth is? Continue reading
Why send missionaries?
QUESTION:
With so many non-Christians in America why send missionaries to other countries?
ANSWER:
You can sum it up in one word: access. Continue reading
Will everyone eventually be saved?
QUESTION:
Someone told me that hell is just temporary and that the greek word associated with eternal punishment really meant for a limited time but the church translated it “eternal” to control people through fear. Is God saving some people now but will save others after they have been in hell for awhile?
ANSWER:
Some refer to this teaching as Biblical Universalism trying to distinguish themselves from the traditional universalists that deny the Scriptures.
While Biblical Universalists lay claim to believing the Bible it is still the same old heresy “in sheep’s clothing”. First, they deny all major translations of the Bible as being accurate. These “mistranslations” include the King James Version, New International Standard Version, New American Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, the Amplified Bible, The Net Bible, New Century Version, New Living Translation, International Standard Version as well as many others. Instead, they refer you to a few obscure translations which, if you will check it out, you will find were almost exclusively done by other universalists who were not well educated in the original languages and had a point to prove by “correcting” the translations done by scholarly teams of translators both old and new. A key to cult success and heretical teachers is to undermine the trustworthiness of Scriptures so you are left having to depend upon their word, or their translations, for the “truth”. Continue reading
Is it God or just Life?
Don’t confuse God with Life.
This quote comes from one of the greatest books I have ever read. Disappointment with God by Philip Yancey is a hard hitting, no nonsense approach to dealing with times that God “let’s us down”. I suggest you get a copy for yourself AND a friend.
This quote explains in 5 words why many Christians stumble and falter when difficulties come. I lose my job. My child gets sick. I get sick. A loved one dies. Random tragedy shatters my life and dreams. Why God? Why! Why! Why!