Matthew 24:4-13
New International Version
"Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."
In light of the recent vote against amendment 26 in our state, I feel prompted to post my thoughts on the issue (sadly, too much after the fact). Not that I consider my opinion to carry more weight than that of anyone else, I simply feel that so many believers missed the mark on this proposition. First, let me clarify the amendment. It was only a few sentences and involved no fine print. It sought only to define the word "person" as written in our state constitution to identify the beginning of life at conception. It was intentionally left vague for the very reason that additional fluff would only provide a greater outlet for division, there would be no viable line to draw that would please everyone. It was kept basic, simply because it is a simple idea. Life starts the moment that cell begins to grow into a body.
This idea is backed by scientific rule and logic. For any scientist to say that life does not begin here, would be to say that simple and single cell organisms are not alive. Further this cell has already determined everything about the person it is to become. The hair color, the eye color, even many food preferences. To say this 'seed' is anything less would be ignorant, both scientifically and logically. I say this with intentional disregard to the idea that the heartbeat has anything to do with it (if the heartbeat was the key factor - then those in hospitals with hearts that can't beat on their own aren't really "people").
Second, this idea is based in scripture. "Before you were formed in your mother's womb, I foreknew you." "For we are fearfully and wonderfully made in our mother's womb." Despite man's intellect, achievement, and power, life is a gift given solely from the creator. Who are we to question what God does? How he does it? I've heard many people complaining that there is no "rape or incest" clause. So, are we supposed to believe that the method of conception can devalue the creation? Are we to punish the children for the sins of the father? I've heard complaints about repercussions, many totally founded. Complaints that this would affect some types of birth control, IVF, etc. The problem, though, is that no matter how founded these complaints are, no matter the repercussions, no matter the uncomfortable ill effects, our position as believers is to operate under the covering of the word of God. We are told to "measure EVERYTHING against the word of God."
I was amazed at the number of Christians speaking out against this bill. I am both frightened and saddened by the level of deception that runs rampant in the "kingdom" here in the US, specifically in the south. We make decisions based on "overall opinions" and the "voice of the majority." Those who stand behind this system and idea, please explain to me where the line will be drawn. Who gets final say on what 'morality' really is? Why do we assume one thing is wrong, but something else is not? Who determines this? The majority? What is to happen when the majority chooses to allow murder, abuse, etc? A great quote I use often is this: "Satan is not opposed to morality. He is opposed to the authority behind morality, which is the name of Jesus Christ. When you separate the name of Jesus from morality, it becomes something ever molded and shaped by man's own opinion."
I hear people arguing that our country was founded under the principle of separation of church and state. True. Does it matter? No. As believers, the only history we are to concern ourselves with is the history of the believer. The law we submit ourselves to is the word of God. Given the opportunity to make the two work together, why not take it? You cannot serve two masters. My allegiance is to Christ. My God tells me to obey the laws of the land, EXCEPT when they are in contradiction to the word of God. We have to be alert. We have to walk with the constant realization that we are in battle. "Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
We can't let deception divide God's people. "A house divided will not stand." Believers, we need to come together and stand by the word of God. To read his word and hide it in our hearts. To burn it on our lips. Paul tells us in the new testament that we are "not to merely listen to the word and so deceive ourselves," but to "do what it says." We can't keep walking in deception, we have to walk in the spirit. "For the spirit of the life of Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death."
I hope this doesn't offend, but if it does, I don't apologize. My intent is to speak what is on my heart and hopefully you can see that I am doing so in love. The word of God is a two edged sword, piercing to the marrow. It is everything to a believer. There is no other power, no other standard, no other comparable by which we are to live our lives.
Philippians 1
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."
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