Month: April 2009

“Dementia = Euthanasia”

Matthew 19:19   19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

I believe by now most of us are familiar with the statistics on abortion.  But just to be sure, I just looked up the data, at “The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform.”

Worldwide there are approximately 42 Million abortions per year and 115,000 abortions per day:  In the United States approximately 1.37 million abortions per year and approximately 3,700 abortions per day.

The two largest groups of women receiving abortions are between 20-24 obtain 32% while teenagers obtain 20%.  64.4% of all abortions are performed on never-married women.

When asked why they are having an abortion, 93% of all abortions occur for social reasons (i.e. the child is unwanted or inconvenient)[1]

Those numbers are staggering and tragic.  As bad as these numbers are, they will only rise with the removal of the restraint on “partial birth abortions.”  There has been a war waging since ‘Roe v. Wade’ hit the court system.  There are people on both sides and this writer believes that ‘abortion-on-demand’ is nothing more than an “Oh no, I am pregnant; I need an abortion” solution, with little or no regard for the life inside.  Just to set the facts straight for those of you who would say “but what about rape and incest?”  According to the data, that number is only 1%.  So abortion-on-demand is clearly a lifestyle decision.

Since 1973 we have become insensible to the fact that we are murdering the un-born.  What is next on the agenda, the elderly?  If so, at what age or medical/mental conditions would we select people to be led to the slaughter?  Would people be in jeopardy if they had dementia or Alzheimer’s?  Would that fall under the category of “unwanted or inconvenient”?

While those question may seem “over the top” I want to bring your attention to the statement of Baroness Warnock, a veteran UK government advisor and one of Britain’s leading moral philosophers in an interview with the Church of Scotland’s magazine, “Life and Work.”

Elderly people suffering from dementia should consider ending their lives because they are a burden on the National Health System (NHS) and their families.[2]

She goes on to say, “Pensioners in mental decline are “wasting people’s lives” because of the care they require and should be allowed to opt for euthanasia even if they are not in pain.  She insisted that there was “nothing wrong” with people being helped to die for the sake of their loved ones or society.  She hoped people will soon be “licensed to put others down” if they are unable to look after themselves.

At this point the UK has a National Health System, much like what the President, Congress and the Senate wants in the US.  As the UK is facing this issue, so will we if we go to a national health plan.  The push is on to allow “doctor assisted suicides” as well as all the arguments for those that are terminally ill.  But read her comments closely

Elderly people suffering from dementia should consider ending their lives because they are a burden on the National Health System (NHS)

Pensioners in mental decline are “wasting people’s lives” because of the care they require

There was “nothing wrong” with people being helped to die for the sake of their loved ones or society.

She hoped people will soon be “licensed to put others down” if they are unable to look after themselves.

Reading between the lines identifies her argument.  It is all about money.  The cost of health care is expensive.  In the words of Baroness Warnock, patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s are a drain on the budget, so for the sake of the families and society, “put them down.”

So my question is, “What is the worth of a human being.”  The US has already decided that, in the case of abortion, it is not worth much if the baby is “unwanted or inconvenient.”

Folks, this is the future mankind faces.  Just like abortion-on-demand, there could also be euthanasia-on-demand.  They could murder an elderly person with approval of the state.  And after all, that is what we have been doing with the un-born, should the elderly be any different?  Baroness Warnock’s’ opinion certainly has had a lot of play on the internet.  And sad to say, her opinion is gaining more attention every day in the US.

The general Christian position on “assisted suicide” is very simple.  We believe that “life and death” is in the hands of God.  It is God’s will that takes precedence over the will of man.  When man becomes involved in matters of life and death, we have seen how that turns out.  People murder people every day.  In society, human life has very little value.

God gives life and He takes life.  From the point of conception until natural death I believe that life is sacred.  According to Ascension Health, defines “sanctity of life” as man “may never intentionally interfere with continued human existence in any form for any reason.”[3]  The scriptures have many passages on the subject, but when God gave Moses the Commandments, He included “Thou Shalt Not Kill.”  And that is just as valid today as it was in Moses time.

The Christian position is. “Man cannot nor should not ever be able to make that decision.”  Instead of Roe v. Wade, I wonder what the name of the bill that will allow euthanasia be called.  Perhaps the “Final Solution?”

That is my opinion, what is yours?

He is Risen!

Matthew 28:6  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Around the whole world today, people will be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah.  As I write this, it is 4:30 am on Sunday, April 12, 2009 and within hours in the US, people will be getting up to attend sunrise services in His honor.

What is so special about this morning that the casual church going person will make an effort to be in a service today?

Well there are many tenets to Christianity; including the virgin birth, His sinless life, His numerous miracles, His terrible beating and His substitutionary death.

But for me, as special as these tenets are, they are only part of the life of Jesus.  It is the resurrection of Christ that completes all the prophecies.  It is the resurrection of Christ that makes today the biggest day of the Christian year.  This is the day that we celebrate the miracle of Jesus decaying body coming back to life.

About two thousand years ago, after being put to shame and death, buried in a borrowed tomb that was sealed and watched with Roman guards, the miracle of life took place.  Sometime between sundown Saturday evening and early Sunday morning, GOD raised his Son back to life.  Jesus mission was not complete.  The Gospel Message needed one more chapter before it was completed.  Jesus was to show His followers GOD’s power in the resurrection and to give His followers one more challenge.  “Get out of hiding and tell my message to the world.”  We call this the “Great Commission.”

Matthew 28:18-20   “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:   20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

That is what is so special about today.  His message goes on.  Christian Churches today will celebrate the resurrection of their Savior.  The early followers would greet each other with “He is risen” responding with “He is risen indeed!”

Homosexuality in Today’s Church

Recently I was reading the Southern Baptist Texan and on the front-page of the March 9 edition there is a discussion about a Fort Worth church that is being looked into by the Southern Baptist executive committee.  Every Baptist Church is an independent organization that at times the church may reach out to other organizations to help them in their time of trouble and that is exactly what Broadway Baptist has done.  The problem became so big that they contacted the Southern Baptist convention.

What is this all about?  Well the executive committee began studying the church’s affiliation last year after a messenger at the Southern Baptist convention annual meeting in June made a motion that the convention declare Broadway Baptist not to be “in friendly cooperation” with the denomination.  The article went on to say that “Article III of the SBC Constitution states the churches “which act to affirm approve or endorse homosexual behavior” are not in friendly cooperation.This all came to a head when the church last February decided in a vote of 294 to 182 to publish a directory without family portraits of homosexuals but would include candid shots of members involved in various ministries.  Read that last line again, “but would include candid shots of members involved in various ministries.”  What ministries could a practicing homosexual be involved in at Broadway Baptist Church?

Later in the article a letter dated Jan 27 states in part: “Broadway has never taken any church action to affirm, approve or endorse homosexual behavior.  Broadway Baptist Church considers itself to be in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist convention and has every intention of remaining so” it further stated “we extend Christian hospitality to everyone including homosexuals we do not endorse, approve, or affirm homosexual behavior.”I have a couple comments.

1.         I’m not a member nor have I ever been to Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth Texas.  I certainly have not “walked a mile in the shoes” of those who have been going through this agonizing and heartbreaking situation.  So some of you might say that I am not in the best position to post this as I do not personally know what is going on there.  I certainly am not experiencing the real-life situation that is affecting the congregation.  I do not understand the dynamics of the relationships of the congregation.

2          That being said I believe the Scripture is very clear about all sin including homosexuality.   The burden of proof is that homosexuality is not a “lifestyle” nor is it an inherited trait other than just being our sin nature.  Sexual union was for creation, not physical enjoyment.  I know that every day the Biblical position is being eroded, even by some main line denominations who are openly embracing homosexual membership in their church.  Some even allow homosexuals positions of authority such as pastors, deacons and bishops.  If Broadway Baptist Church has practicing homosexuals in positions of authority such as Sunday school teachers, committee members, etc. aren’t they in opposition to their statement that “we do not endorse, approve, or affirm homosexual behavior”?

As we look at the laws that God gave the Hebrews, we see that homosexuality was called an abomination.  Leviticus 20:13  If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

I am certainly not hostile to people who are practicing homosexuality.  As a bi-vocational pastor, my civilian job had me in contact with homosexuals daily.  I worked with them in that setting and I treated them as I would any other employee.  But spiritually that is a different position.    Jesus teachings are very clear that we are to preach the gospel to every living creature.  In Matthew chapter 5 Jesus teaches that we should love one another.  But there is a penalty for sin.  No matter what that sin may be.  Some sins are far more visible and threatening to the family unit than others.  That is why I believe homosexuality is an abomination in the eyes of God.  The destruction of the family unit can certainly be, to some extent, laid at the door of the homosexual movement.

Jesus knew that situations would come into the church that would have to be dealt with.  Jesus gave the instructions in how to take care of the matter with love and kindness in the Gospel of Matthew.  Matthew 18:15-17   “15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.  16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.  17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”  The Epistles consistently are correcting problems that creep into the church.  By following the above process then, if a member was an alcoholic, a child abuser, someone practicing pornography, committing acts of fornication or adultery and would “neglect to hear” them, the church would then consider them as members not in good standing.  I would include the person practicing homosexuality in this same category.  Jesus taught us that the church was to be set apart. 

This is not a twenty-first century problem for the churches as the Apostle Paul wrote against it in his letter to the Romans and the Corinthians in the first century.  The big difference is that in the first century, they called sin a sin.  Today through “political correctness” we can only call it a lifestyle decision.

How do we extend the hand of love and yet protect the sanctity of the body of Christ?

So my question to you is “What is your opinion?”

Bob