There already are and will continue to be many on the political spectrum that speak to the meaning behind the leaked documents, but what is the church position on the potential decision of overturning Roe v Wade? Let me address this in three interlinked but independent thoughts.
First, the issue of killing children is not a new issue. We see the nation of Israel offering their children on the altar of Molech. God’s response to this can be found in Jeremiah 7:30-31 30 “For the sons of Judah have done evil in my sight, declares the Lord. They have set their detestable things in the house that is called by my name, to defile it. 31 And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind.” So the evil of killing children at an altar is not a new evil. It is one that has roots in the diminishing of the value of those created in the image of God, therefore we would offer that the slaughter of children is an outcropping of worshipping evil. The altar and what we call it shifts. Todays evil is committed on the altar of self or “choice.” This is a feeble but effective attempt to disguise the brutality of the actions committed to a child as an acceptable practice. This is where politics intervenes in theology. In order to have individuals beholden to political masters, it is first important to get them to deny their commitment to God and His design. Therefore, the wholesale killing of children is an expedient means to accomplish this. First by denying the reality of life and second by exalting the self above God in determining what value life has. By appealing to the sinful nature of humanity, those who desire to gather a base of people to establish an assault upon God and His values, will draw those who hold little value in God’s design. At the same time they will rely on the apathy of others who will spend little time investigating the matter to form informed decisions.
The second thought on this matter is how little those who advance a philosophy of killing children care about women, though it is offered as a women’s rights issue. An easy understanding of this is the simple statistics that approximately 50% children killed are girls. This issue alone is problematic for the desire to offer children up on the altar of self as a women's rights issue. However, there is a much greater issue at hand. There is a constant drum beat that we hear culturally that there are no differences between women and men and that women can do whatever men can do. One, this is scientifically (biologically) false, but two, why is this the measuring rod used to establish the value of women? Consider the uniqueness of women in God’s design and the beauty that is manifest in this. Why would women want to deny this and be more like men? Upon conception, women can grow a completely separate human being that bears the image of God in their wombs. Then, miraculously, they can deliver this child into the world. And again, with God’s design, they are equipped to feed this child from their own bodies. Why is this not something we hold greater value in within our culture? Why are women belittled as by a former president who stated he doesn’t want his daughters “to be punished with a baby.” This mindset serves what was addressed above, children hold little value and are a punishment, while at the same time demeaning the value of a tremendously blessed design given to women by God. Let me state this portion plainly and directly to women, you were not designed to be men. Embrace God’s design for you.
The final thought on this topic is less about the murdering of children and more on the thoughts of the divisive nature of our current cultural climate. It will be noted repeatedly that the leak that occurred last night of this document is unprecedented. In the church we are given fairly explicit instructions on what we do with division: “10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned (Titus 3:10-11)” There is a reason for the rules and protocols established in the church as well as within political structures. One of these within the political structures is to protect the citizens. There is more than likely a high intentionality behind this divisive act designed to alter the potential outcome an stir up those who would seek to continue with their denial of women’s value and God’s design. As Christians with dual citizenship being US citizens and Citizens of Christ’s Kingdom, we ought to expect this division to be dealt with. Further, we should not blindly accept this division as status quo for the operations of the governing structures.
I will close my thoughts with this Christian, continue to pray, continue to love God, and continue to love others. Regardless of what the culture says, we know eternal hope comes through Christ alone. This hope we take into the world. While the killing of children is not new, neither is our mission to make disciples. The hope of Christ changes hearts, minds, and eternal destination.
What Does the SCOTUS Leak Mean?
There already are and will continue to be many on the political spectrum that speak to the meaning behind the leaked documents, but what is the church position on the potential decision of overturning Roe v Wade? Let me address this in three interlinked but independent thoughts.
First, the issue of killing children is not a new issue. We see the nation of Israel offering their children on the altar of Molech. God’s response to this can be found in Jeremiah 7:30-31 30 “For the sons of Judah have done evil in my sight, declares the Lord. They have set their detestable things in the house that is called by my name, to defile it. 31 And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind.” So the evil of killing children at an altar is not a new evil. It is one that has roots in the diminishing of the value of those created in the image of God, therefore we would offer that the slaughter of children is an outcropping of worshipping evil. The altar and what we call it shifts. Todays evil is committed on the altar of self or “choice.” This is a feeble but effective attempt to disguise the brutality of the actions committed to a child as an acceptable practice. This is where politics intervenes in theology. In order to have individuals beholden to political masters, it is first important to get them to deny their commitment to God and His design. Therefore, the wholesale killing of children is an expedient means to accomplish this. First by denying the reality of life and second by exalting the self above God in determining what value life has. By appealing to the sinful nature of humanity, those who desire to gather a base of people to establish an assault upon God and His values, will draw those who hold little value in God’s design. At the same time they will rely on the apathy of others who will spend little time investigating the matter to form informed decisions.
The second thought on this matter is how little those who advance a philosophy of killing children care about women, though it is offered as a women’s rights issue. An easy understanding of this is the simple statistics that approximately 50% children killed are girls. This issue alone is problematic for the desire to offer children up on the altar of self as a women's rights issue. However, there is a much greater issue at hand. There is a constant drum beat that we hear culturally that there are no differences between women and men and that women can do whatever men can do. One, this is scientifically (biologically) false, but two, why is this the measuring rod used to establish the value of women? Consider the uniqueness of women in God’s design and the beauty that is manifest in this. Why would women want to deny this and be more like men? Upon conception, women can grow a completely separate human being that bears the image of God in their wombs. Then, miraculously, they can deliver this child into the world. And again, with God’s design, they are equipped to feed this child from their own bodies. Why is this not something we hold greater value in within our culture? Why are women belittled as by a former president who stated he doesn’t want his daughters “to be punished with a baby.” This mindset serves what was addressed above, children hold little value and are a punishment, while at the same time demeaning the value of a tremendously blessed design given to women by God. Let me state this portion plainly and directly to women, you were not designed to be men. Embrace God’s design for you.
The final thought on this topic is less about the murdering of children and more on the thoughts of the divisive nature of our current cultural climate. It will be noted repeatedly that the leak that occurred last night of this document is unprecedented. In the church we are given fairly explicit instructions on what we do with division: “10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned (Titus 3:10-11)” There is a reason for the rules and protocols established in the church as well as within political structures. One of these within the political structures is to protect the citizens. There is more than likely a high intentionality behind this divisive act designed to alter the potential outcome an stir up those who would seek to continue with their denial of women’s value and God’s design. As Christians with dual citizenship being US citizens and Citizens of Christ’s Kingdom, we ought to expect this division to be dealt with. Further, we should not blindly accept this division as status quo for the operations of the governing structures.
I will close my thoughts with this Christian, continue to pray, continue to love God, and continue to love others. Regardless of what the culture says, we know eternal hope comes through Christ alone. This hope we take into the world. While the killing of children is not new, neither is our mission to make disciples. The hope of Christ changes hearts, minds, and eternal destination.
Blessings,
Pastor Steve