Pro Life or Anti Abortion?

I recently joined the Virtual March for Life owing to my inability to join the March for Life in Washington, D.C. Owing to the large event occurring today, I thought I would post something concerning the pro life movement in America.

It is easy to identify one's self with a movement without fully understanding the moral consequences. This can be seen in the pro life movement and the pro choice movement. These two opposing movements reveal how a moral issue can become more about politics than morality. Owing to my association with the pro life movement, I will look at how many pro life supporters have become corrupted in their thinking.

Sometimes I wonder if the pro life movement should be renamed the anti abortion movement. I say this because I have noticed that many who label themselves as pro life are limited in their respect for the sanctity of life. In many cases, the individual who decries the pro choice movement is calling for indiscriminate bombing of areas of the Middle East. Many of those who argue against the pro choice movement owing to its categorizing of what lives are worth saving commit the same fallacy with respect to warfare.

I am not arguing against "Just war," but it seems as though there is a double standard for many who consider themselves defenders of life. For example, I find it disturbing to hear someone attempt to justify the bombing of areas of the Middle East with high concentrations of civilians. Politically speaking, it is too easy for an individual to be against abortion, but in favor of killing innocent populations in a "the ends justify the means" type of fashion.

Those who support the pro life movement must come to an understanding of what defending life truly means. Unfortunately, some who consider themselves pro life are more anti abortion than pro life. To them the movement is more about supporting a political movement than upholding an objective moral standard that places value on human life, no matter the age or religion.

On this day of marching in support of the unborn, may the marchers examine their standards of morality. After all, it is hard to convince those on the other side that we defend life when some are calling for an end to abortion in America and, at the same time, supporting a 400,000+ square kilometer parking lot in the Middle East.

Manmade Systems Cause Problems

This post was inspired by a discussion that broke out in one of my graduate courses. Below are some thoughts that came to mind when the professor began explaining the rise of modernism, Cartesian thinking, and the decline of biblical authority in western society. Perhaps in the near future I will more fully formulate my thoughts. Nonetheless, below are some points I am pondering...

Modernism v. Postmodernism
*The modernist view is not necessarily biblical.

• Here we have another example of a system created by man attempting to replace the system established by God
  
• Rather than living out the Christian lifestyle, many within the church conformed themselves to a flawed system. Hence, replacing God's system with a manmade system. (In essence, God is replaced by man.)

•  Therefore, when the system of modernism did not live up to its promises, many rejected the church. After all, those within the church had joined the modernist club. If the system fails, the followers of the system can't possibly be right.

• Many tend to begin by placing the world inside a system. However, one must view the established order and God's revelation in creating a lifestyle. Rather than making the world conform to a system, the system must be conformed to the established order of creation.
• Descartes' philosophy began with doubt. Generations that followed Descartes and published his writings began leaving out God. Then the philosophy became secularist.
• Another instance of placing a divide between secularist and sacred. Philosophy in and of itself is not not sacred. When it is blatantly considered secular, truth within philosophies is rejected owing to philosophy not being "sacred."
• Since Cartesian thinking led many to no longer view the Bible as an authority, many Christians have rejected it. This stems from Cartesian thinking beginning with doubt.
  
  
  • However, will Truth not prevail in the presence of doubt? Perhaps the ill effects of Cartesian thinking have led many to reject doubting. This leads to shallow, unchallenged thinking. Faith is a necessary element for Christian living. However, doubt itself is not secular. And stupidity is definitely not sacred.
  
  
  

• Many problems within the community of Christians stem from a fear of losing Truth and creating a divide between the secular and the sacred. Categorizing things as "sacred" and "secular" creates unnecessary societal divides. For example, those who have long hair may automatically be viewed by some to be not saved. Or the one who sips an ale is placed in the same category of the damned. 
  

*Thus, man-made systems cause problems. Should the reality of God's sovereignty and the sinful nature of man not lead us to strive to conform in lifestyle to God's system rather than conforming our concept of God to our own system?

I would like to reemphasize that these are just a few points to ponder. I will later post a more organized and formulated entry in the future.

Systems vs. Lifestyles

Owing to some recent conversations with friends and fellow RA's at Liberty University, I thought I would place some of my thoughts in writing concerning the significant differences between systems and lifestyles. I started contemplating the topic when I heard about a program for losing weight. Someone mentioned that the program was not really a diet but a way of living. Thus, a lifestyle and not a system.

Nonetheless, the subject goes deeper than weight loss programs and developing healthy habits. I shall explain...

It has become easy in the culture of America to take a set of rules and conform one's life to it. This may be easily observed in the context of "American Christianity." Christianity in the United States has developed in such a way that rules, and burdens, have been placed on the individual upon conversion. Although such rules are not strictly biblical in nature, they are associated with cultural Christianity in America. Examples of this include the prohibition of dancing and all forms of alcohol.

Cultural Christianity in America is an example of the system overtaking the lifestyle. Many are fooled into thinking they are going to heaven as long as they stay away from beer and vote Republican. The system has created a fog that covers the ground of biblical Christianity.

Christians are not called to check off a list of do's and don'ts. After all, salvation is not by works, but by faith in Jesus Christ. Unlike all other religions in the world, Christianity teaches that man cannot be saved by checking off a list, but only through the grace of God. The Christian's life, therefore, is to reflect his relationship with Jesus Christ. Good works are practiced as a result of salvation, rather than for the purpose of salvation. It is this distinction that separates the concepts of a lifestyle and a system.

I plan on writing more on this subject in the future. Some things to ponder...

Can true love be created by rules/regulations?
Can a structured system bring different people together in true community?