A while ago I introduced a new category detailing the bumber sticker battles taking place on our highways everyday. It's been some time since I've shared a bumper sticker, but this one caught my attention on Wednesday:
God's job is to forgive terrorists. Our job is to arrange the meeting.
This bumper sticker message begs the question, "Should God forgive unrepentant terrorists?" 
If you follow the line of reasoning of militant atheists like Sam Harris and his "end of faith" thesis, then the answer is "Yes!" In fact, I was listening to the Dennis Miller radio show last Friday. I caught part of his interview with atheist author Christopher Hitchens and Pastor Douglas Wilson. They spent that part of the program debating the fundamental question, "Is Christianity good for the world?" It is a question that they debate in more detail in their new documentary, "Collision".
So, what do you think--Is Christianity good for the world or not? Why?
(TDD Warning: One of the following links related to this post contains some language and content that may be inappropriate for any of our younger TDD readers. Please use necessary discretion.)
Apparently, today is officially Blasphemy Day, according to the group of secularists who seek to defy God. This effort reminds me of the similar initiative back in May 2007 when atheists were engaging in the "Blasphemy Challenge", videotaping themselves committing the unpardonable sin by blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
I am struck by a couple of things when reflecting on this movement. First of all, as with any of these efforts to blaspheme God, the sheer arrogance demonstrated by those who participate is simultaneously offensive and tragic. But at the same time, it is to be expected. Man's pride versus God's primacy has been the struggle since the beginning of human history. And if there is no God, then we ourselves become our own gods--a prideful position indeed. As long as there is no God, then there are no consequences other than potentially offending those who belief otherwise. But what if all of these mis-guided folks are wrong? Just because the number of people who choose not to believe in God is growing in this country doesn't necessarily mean that He doesn't exist.
Secondly, I find it ironic in this tolerant age that the ridicule of religion is so dismissively tolerated. It's trendy to be a skeptic, and yet, it's offensive to be a Christian. Surprisely, I agree with Paul Kurtz, the emeritus chair of the Center for Inquiry, the organization that sponsored the Blasphemy Day event. He blasted the leadership of the CFI for Blasphemy Day. As he wrote in a blistering essay,
"The right to publish dissenting critiques of religion should be accepted as basic to freedom of expression. But for CFI itself to sponsor the lampooning of Christianity by encouraging anti-Catholic, anti-Protestant, or any other anti-religious cartoons goes beyond the bounds of civilized discourse in pluralistic society.
"One may disagree with contending religious beliefs, but to denigrate them by rude caricatures borders on hate speech. What would humanists and skeptics say if religious believers insulted them in the same way? We would protest the lack of respect for alternative views in a democratic society."
I couldn't agree more. We Christians certainly have contributed our fair share of civil disintegration, and we must humbly accept the times when we have dishonored the name of Christ. But the truth is, it is a human condition, not defined nor limited by religious devotion. And as much as atheists condemn Christians for their role in the disintegration of civil discourse, they too must look in the mirror and consider their own contributions to where we've come as a society on this issue.
Given the gradual devolution happening in our culture, it will not be surprising to see more of these kinds of efforts. The challenge for Christians is to continue to love others, even when it is not reciprocated.
As part of the teaching series that I'm in the midst of right now, I sent out a London Times article from back in 2003. The occasion was celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first test-tube baby, Louise Joy Brown. Robert Edwards, one of the original two-man team that was responsible for the in-vitro fertilization technology, was being interviewed to commemorate that milestone.
What was especially revealing in the article was the point of discussion for our class on worldviews--namely, the clash between science and God. It was encapsulated in Edwards' revelation:
“It was a fantastic achievement but it was about more than infertility,” says Edwards, who rarely gives interviews but, when he does, delights in speaking his mind. “It was also about issues like stem cells and the ethics of human conception. I wanted to find out exactly who was in charge, whether it was God Himself or whether it was scientists in the laboratory.”
And what did he conclude? “It was us,” he smiles triumphantly.
Interestingly, the article also goes on to elaborate on this idea, even quoting him saying, "A child in your own image — just think of what it means to people. It’s fantastic."
No longer are we made in God's image. The "fantastic" reality is that we can create babies made in our own image. I'm reminded of Paul's comments in Romans 1 in which he wrote, "They...exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man...they worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator" (vv. 23, 25).
And so the clash between man and God lives on... It almost makes you wonder what God thinks of all of this.
Maybe you have already seen this story, but if not, I pass it along to you for some encouragement. The incident involves high school football player Matt Ziesel, a young player with Downs Syndrome who was part of the team but was never able to play. He was so enthusiastic that he suited up with pads and helmet every game, ready and willing to get into the game, but he only road the bench. Until this week. In a blow-out game, both teams worked to make it an unforgettable night for Matt.
On a related, more serious note, imagine if Matt's parents had followed the admonition of people like bioethicist Peter Singer and had eliminated people like Matt whose lives Singer has deemed as "not worth living". So many opportunities lost...
UPDATE: My apologies to any of you who clicked the link above and were taken to a Bonhoeffer book at Amazon. A technological oversight brought to my attention by one of our alert readers. The problem is corrected now and should take you to this very heart-warming story (and a link to the video of Matt's touchdown run).
As you presumably know, I've been teaching an 8 week series on Christian thinking and application at two different churches here in Indianapolis. As a part of the first week's lesson, I've included a case study about Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his role in an assassination attempt of Adolf Hitler. He is part of what I wrote in that controversial case study, along with some of the questions for your reflection.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was hanged on April 9, 1945 in the Flossenburn concentration camp, mere weeks before Allies liberated Nazi Germany. He was only 39 years old.
The crime for which Bonhoeffer was brutally executed was his participation in an assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler.
...he was a Christian and a pastor. In fact, he actually known less for his role in the assassination attempt on Hitler and more for his sermons and writing during the years he spent in both Germany and the United States. And it his book The Cost of Discipleship which secured his reputation as one of the leading voices in the twentieth century.
Questions to Consider:
1. Do you believe Dietrich Bonhoeffer--as a Christian and a pastor--should have been involved in an assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler?
2. How do you think his Christian faith affected his decision to participate? Should it have affected his decision?
3. Knowing what we know about Hitler's legacy, if you were in Bonhoeffer's place to do something to prevent it--even if it meant assassination--would you do it? Why/why not?
4. What might the Bible to say about Dietrich Bonhoeffer's situation?
These are not easy questions to answer. And it is easy for us who sit in the safe confines of suburbia to suggest what we would or wouldn't do in Bonhoeffer's situation. But these are important things to think about. So, what do you think?
There is a new documentary that is being screened around the country entitled, "Lines That Divide". It focuses on the current stem cell debate and has been put together by a former classmate of mine at Trinity International University, Jennifer Lahl. She is the founder and national director of The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network.
In addition to Jennifer Lahl's work on the film, it was written and directed by Brian Godawa, whose best-known film To End All Wars (starring Kiefer Sutherland) is one of the best movies I've seen. A few years ago I had the opportunity chat briefly with Mr. Godawa while attending a worldview/apologetics conference down in Georgia. His pursuit is in putting together film projects that are inspirational, but also controversial. This documentary on stem cell research fits the bill.
I would encourage you to seek out this movie and watch it. Not only do we all need more education on this controversial issue, but it's also important to share this information with those in our circles of influence.
I was just trolling around Facebook and came across fellow Centurion Stuart McKelvie's comment about a disturbing Breakpoint commentary. The subject of Chuck Colson's commentary concerns the latest developments in the stem cell research debate--this time arguing that we should consider harvesting organs from aborted fetuses in order to supply the needs of those waiting on the transplant list. All of this is with the "noble" intent of saving lives.
This entire idea is the essence of utilitarianism--the philosophy built on the idea of "doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people". In this case, taking one life (the fetus) in order to save other lives is justified. But where do we draw the line in such thinking?
Friends, this is not the speculations of futuristic science fiction. We are quickly moving down this gruesome path, and in some cases, we have already arrived.
In settling into my new job, I ran across a compelling quote shared with me some time ago by one of our TDD readers, which I have since posted in my office:
"Doing nothing is no longer an option!"
Especially for those of us who are Christians, the Bible compells us to "Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves" (Proverbs 31:8). And furthermore, it says in Proverbs 24:11-12,
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?
Beyond merely a spiritual perspective, there is a pragmatic consideration that should grab all of our attention whether we're religious or not. The fact is, utilitarianism left unchecked means that ultimately nobody is immune from its grasp. Either we or our families will eventually succumb to the whims and "wisdom" of the most powerful among us. And that is a reality that can become extremely dangerous indeed.
More and more lately I have found myself being confronted with this nagging question, "John, what will it take for you act? How bad do things have to get before you finally say, 'Enough his enough!', and do something to combat the problems?" That is something for all of us to think about. So, be disturbed by this latest commentary on the stem cell debate, and do something about it (or any of the other issues confronting us today). If we don't, who will?
What would you do if confronted by an intruder? Probably not what an elderly Virginia couple did when William Spencer broke into their home brandishing a loaded gun. Ultimately, Robert and Frances Belote escaped unharmed, but not before being tied up in the bathroom and having their lives threatened. But it was their actions, and specifically their hard-to-imagine interactions with the intruder, which have caught the attention of the country.
The Belotes are committed Christians. And it was their Christian faith which sustained them through the ordeal. As they described it later, despite their circumstances, "...God was here. We felt his presence, and it gave us peace, and we were able to be calm." More than that, because of their faith, they began to talk to Spencer about religious issues while he was barricaded in their home with the police closing in outside. At one point during the standoff, Frances Belote even served him some food and drink. And it was their compassion toward Spencer which facilitated his willingness to eventually surrender to the police. Even before being arrested, he gave the couple $140 from his pocket (which they turned over to the police).
There are those, many of whom do not actually understand the true nature of Christian faith, who see it as nothing more than a crutch for the naive and rejectors of reason. But the truth is, real faith, as demonstrated by the Belotes, is not hastily manufactured when life's crises are thrust upon us. On the contrary, it is built over a lifetime of reasoned decisions to trust God no matter what, and the continued confirmations from God as He works directly in the lives of the Christian faithful. As such, merely manifests itself when the moments of crisis come as a natural expression of that sustained development.
I saw this yesterday while attending the funeral ceremony of 22-year old Jerrod Taylor. He was the son of Jim and Sharon Taylor, the pastor at Grace Church in Mooresville where I grew up (and have spoken more recently). Tragically, Jerrod struggled with addiction issues, and it was his struggle with those demons to which he eventually succumbed last Saturday. As Pastor Jeff Faull pointed out during the funeral service, as much as Christians may wish it otherwise, tragedy strikes us all at one time or another, no matter the fervency of our faith. The key is how we respond to tragedy when it comes.
As I sat through the service, offered my condolences, and quietly watched the graveside ceremony, I kept thinking about my own children. I can't imagine what it must be like to have to bury a child. It is especially tragic because a child dying before his/her parents seems to go against the natural cycle of the human experience.
The faith of Jim and Sharon was evident throughout the morning. During the visitation and the funeral service, they greeted the over 1,000 mourners with grace and poise and a steadiness buoyed up by their strong faith in a sovereign God. Even as I assurred Jim that we have been, and will continue to be, praying for them during this difficult time, he said without hesitation, "We can feel everyone's prayers. Thank you." Based on the difficult times in my own life when I too have experienced God's undeniable presence, I know that God is indeed ministering to them during this excruciating experience. Even in the midst of unanswered questions and processing their grief, He is surrounding them with that peace which transcends understanding which He promises to give. And which the Belotes came to experience in a very tangible way when facing almost-certain death.
The tangible outworking of the Christian faith continues to confound many (which is partially why the reactions by the Belotes toward their intruder have so many people scratching their heads). And in those moments when all other hope has failed, I too am confounded at just exactly how God seems to step in and resolve the issues. He doesn't necessarily alleviate pain and suffering from the life of Christian. He never promised such immunity. But He does promise, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" even when we walk through "the valley of the shadow of death" (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 23:4). No matter how bad life gets sometimes, He is always there (even if we can't always see it).
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Taylor family. And we are reminded (as I was reminded the last time I had to be with a family through a drug overdose situation) how brief life is, and how important it is for us to savor the moments we share together. More than that, we are also reminded of the sustaining power of faith in God. And for those who question the validity of Christianity, that faith lived out will continue to confound. But it also provides a door of opportunity for those willing to explore it further.
A company out in California has now made it possible for pregnant women to find out as early as 10 weeks into the pregnancy what the sex of their unborn child is. The company, Intelligender, boasts a 78-80% accuracy rate.
The prospect of being able to determine the gender of one's child raises pros and cons on both sides. On the plus side, being able to know the sex of your child as early as 10 weeks into the pregnancy begins to personalize the little being inside the mother. No longer is it just a mass of human tissue, but rather a human being, and this understanding strengthens the bond between parents and child.
The potential downside concerns the ethical issues that are currently swirling around gender-selection debate. There is the possibility that a pregnant mother might be more inclined to abort the unborn child if she determines that the sex of that child is not to her liking. Because gender could be determined at an earlier stage in gestation it is psychologically easier to rationalize the termination of a baby when their development is not as advanced. (Of course, the knowledge that your child is either a boy or a girl personalizes the child even more, and thus, may make it that much more difficult to terminate the pregnancy.)
Often, many people (and many Christians) attempt to distance themselves from various bioethical issues (stem cell research, euthanasia, cloning, even abortion), assuming that those issues don't apply to their daily lives. Nothing is further from the truth. And especially with the continuing advancements in biomedical technology, bioethical issues will continue to pervade our daily experience. So it is imperative that we begin to think seriously and strategically about these various issues in order to know how we will respond when confronted with them.
For example, in this case, there are two issues to consider: 1.) If you could know the gender of your child even 10 weeks earlier in the pregnancy, would you want to? For those of us parents who didn't want to wait until delivery day for the surprise, the answer is presumably, "Yes!", 2.) But the more significant question to thoughtfully consider is, "If you could determine the gender of your child, would you?" The answer lies in that Pandora's box of issues which pursue the balance between "the things of God" and the things of man. And we cross that line at our peril.
