10 Comments »

Chris,

While overall I do agree with your general thrust, at the end of your post I had a couple of question which caused me to do some searching.

1. Are some sins lesser or greater than others? In particular is “Abortion is no greater a sin than anything else”?

2. Is the fact that we share a role in actually electing our representatives, and sometimes share in making policy decisions (referendums), cause us to have some responsibility to elect people and make decisions in line with God’s moral law?

First, that all sins are equal in God’s eyes is a common belief I’ve run into with Christians. One verse in particular is used to support this view is;

James 2:10
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

This verse however is best understood in the entirety of scripture as pointing not to all sins being equal, but rather that one sin is enough to separate us from God.

In the Old Testament, God Himself sets the punishments for violations of his law, and not all punishments were the same. For example, if a man killed another accidentally he would be permitted to flee to a city of refuge and not be killed in retribution by the victim’s family. In contrast, if he did kill intentionally then he merited the death penalty.

Moving ahead we see Jesus Himself talking about degrees of punishment.

Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt go down unto Hades: for if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee (Matthew 11:21-24)

Finally in the Book of Revelations; Revelation 20:12-13

And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

As an earthly judge would be labeled as unjust for always dolling out the same punishment regardless of the crime, God Himself does not punish all people with the same punishment.

So do I think that the Lord regards “Abortion is no greater a sin than anything else.” – No. It involves the intentional taking of a living human being’s life. Scripture itself elevates the murder of human life as a crime which is deserving of a greater level of punishment. While you make very good points that if we were to love the pregnant mother better and gave her support and options then yes less children would be aborted. However, I don’t think the existence of options to help curtail the incidence of abortion necessarily absolves us of a responsibility to elect representatives and help make decisions which help policy decisions which lowers the accessibility and potential for abortions to occur.

This leads me to my next question which is are we supposed to live a life unconcerned with the politics of our nation, because we are to be Kingdom Focused?

I’ve got to say this question has given me considerable conflict. First, I do recognize that we are to be kingdom oriented. As has been stated in Steve Larson’s Bible Study numerous times, if we strive to make the world look like the Church then the world won’t need the church. Our primary duty as followers of Christ is to point people towards the savior. However, we live in a world which is significantly different than in the days of Christ.

We have the ability to make decisions which have some (albeit small) impact on how our nation is run. I am very disenchanted with the political system myself. I think the amount of power that the ordinary citizen has is extremely small, that the principles of federalism embodied in the Constitution have all but been abrogated in favor of “democracy” which actually ironically puts less power into the hands of ordinary folks than what a more republican (not the party) system of government would. Having several hundred people in Washington which make decisions which effect the everyday lives of over 300 million people seems extremely disproportionate to me. Why not put more power in the hands of State and Local government? I digress, the fact is we do have some power in determining how our country is run. Furthermore, if we collaborate as Christians for certain policy objectives then we have even more power to effect change.

“With great power comes great responsibility” – Spiderman

If we have the ability as Christians to make it less accessible and easy for women to obtain an abortion, do we not have a responsibility to do so? I’m not talking about making the world look like the Church and making everybody a good moral person. I’m talking about saving lives. Jesus himself saved lives while on earth; he took the time to redeem Lazarus from death. I know we only have 80 or so years on this earth, but if it was important enough to Jesus who lived a little over 30 years to take time to try to save lives, how about us? Arguably it doesn’t just stop at the saving of lives; Jesus also improved the quality of life of people by healing the blind, lame, and deaf. I know we don’t have quite the same power as Christ to effect change, especially instantaneous change, but we do nonetheless have some power.

Christ’s ultimate role on earth was not to go around healing and raising people from the dead, but to save us from our sins. In the same way just because our primary responsibility is to point people to Christ, that doesn’t mean that we also have a responsibility to be a blessing to those around us. I don’t think we can separate out a responsibility to love our neighbor from our capacity to effect positive change on a political level. Also, politics can be utilized by God’s people to glorify God and point to Him as the savior. Look especially to the books of Daniel, Nehemiah, Esther, Genesis (Joseph), Exodus (Moses) to see how God has used His people to change political systems for the betterment of mankind and for his own glory. I’m not talking about trying to make a “Christian” nation, such a nation will only exist in Heaven. I don’t think it should be Christian people’s objectives in politics to make the citizenry “good” (also impossible), but rather to use politics to do good things.

On the healthcare question, I do agree with you ultimately. It’s a crapshoot, some people will lose on the deal, others will benefit. Ultimately if it gets passed will it do more good than harm? We really can’t know at this point. Hopefully the net effect on our society is that it does serve to increase the quality of life, however there’s a serious chance it won’t. That’s one battle as Christians I don’t think it’s important that we should fight. Abortion however, yeah, that’s a battle I think needs to be fought, and insofar as the healthcare bill will make it easier for people to acquire abortions that’s a tragedy. So I think it’s appropriate for people to raise their voices about that.

It’s obvious that you care about social justice from your desire to create opportunities for people to drink clean water. However, the law can be utilized to do those same things, and just because some choose to do it through political systems and others choose to do it through non-governmental organizations do not change the fact that both efforts can yield glory to God and an increase in the quality of life for those God has created in his image.

If you read this all thank you because it is a much longer reply than I ever thought I was going to make to your post.

Comment by Alan Pierce — March 22, 2010 @ 12:05 pm




Wow, spoken like a true lawyer.

My point in saying that abortion is no greater a sin than anything else is not to put a value statement on it, like killing someone isn’t worse than lying. But in the eyes of God, sin is sin. Separation is separation. We tend to elevate things because we’re human and have feelings and thoughts, but in the end it’s all defiance in light of what God’s commanding us. And for that, there is one punishment, eternal separation.

Abortion is one of those unfortunate topics that gets the spotlight because we have put a strong moral value on it, which is understandable. What about healthcare reform giving care to those who can’t afford it? Can’t we say that this legislation will allow those who would couldn’t afford preventative care to live longer? Is that the end we as Christians striving for?

For me, what it comes down to is will I spend my time campaigning to make abortion less accessible, or will I spend my time being in relationship and loving people?

Comment by chris — March 22, 2010 @ 12:15 pm




Chris,

I agree with and appreciate your challenge this morning to make sure we as followers of Christ remember and act under the reality of the eternal kingdom of God. Our passion to see the leaders of our country make wise political decisions should never exceed our passion to know and love God. I would only suggest that to frame the situation as a choice between either loving people or making abortion unlawful or being politically active is inaccurate. They are not mutually exclusive options.

Comment by Nathan — March 22, 2010 @ 12:58 pm




I’m not suggesting making something illegal or loving people are mutually exclusive, but I’m saying that our rhetoric seems to suggest that. How many Christians are beating the “ban abortion” drum and at the same time spending time with women in that situation, or being active in the community to help stop the causes of unwanted pregnancy?

I am also not suggesting that I am awesome at doing the right thing. In fact, I rarely do what I know God is calling me to.

Comment by chris — March 22, 2010 @ 1:05 pm




I really don’t think that mere eternal separation is the one punishment that all who do not follow Christ receive. That Hitler would receive the same for his actions that Ghandi would for his strikes at the very notion of justice. God is just. God will punish people according to what they’ve done.
Will the doctor who performs abortions day in and day out receive the same punishment as the doctor who although not a Christ follower brings life into the world day in and day out. I really hope not. Both need Christ for salvation, but to think that my family members who don’t know Christ, and still yet are fairly “moral” people will receive the same punishment in Hell as Hitler is simply not just, or even a biblical view of Hell and punishment. In the eyes of God sin is not just sin, He does see gradations of sin. Separation from God explains what happens when we sin, however it is not the punishment for sin. The idea that mere separation from God is our punishment for sin paints God being totally hands off when it comes to punishing sin. I pray this isn’t true.

I’m studying the law, and inasmuch as our human system of justice is inadequate I take refuge in the fact that in the end God will do what is right. Rapists, child-molesters, and murderers destroy lives, and families, and the truth is many never get caught, and of those who do, even less get convicted.

To strike at the heart of the issue, you love people by caring about their earthly needs and their heavenly needs. Going back to the clean water effort you’ve made. Pro-life advocates may well better spend their time pouring into non-governmental organizations dedicated to helping women deal with the fact that they’re pregnant rather than change the government. However I don’t think “campaigning” politically against abortion is not a way to love people. If abortion was ended in our nation, think about the lives that would be brought into the world. They would never have had a chance to experience life or to love or be loved, but because abortion was eliminated they now would. Not to mention those mothers who might not abort due to it being illegal. They would not need to live with the guilt and shame of having ended the life of one of their own children.

However, I don’t think Rowe v. Wade is going away anytime soon. The effort on the governmental front may well be a battle lost. I do think in terms of effectiveness groups like Birthright and such are doing much more good than those picketing outside of Planned Parenthood. Plus with organizations Christians come across as loving others, rather than hateful spiteful people who accuse and demean those who are obviously in a hard place.

Comment by Alan Pierce — March 22, 2010 @ 1:33 pm




Alan, I think you’re walking a dangerous line of putting our understanding of justice as the driver for what God chooses to do. Yes, God is just and will judge according to what we’ve done. What we have done is disregard God as God, and the resulting punishment is separation from Him. That’s biblical. That’s what He said He will do. That’s not God being hands off, that’s God giving us the punishment He said He would. And I would be careful to call the separation “mere.” That “mere separation” is the absence of all things good.

I’m also hesitant to agree that making abortion illegal (again, I agree abortion is wrong) will change a culture. By making hate crimes illegal you don’t change the mentality of those who are racist. By making pedophilia illegal you don’t change the urges of the perverse. By making abortion illegal you don’t change the minds of those who think it is someone’s personal choice.

In politics, the side that’s in the majority makes the rules. Then the next time the tide shifts, the other sides reverses those rules and makes their own. Has there really been progress on any of these “moral” issues in the last century? It’s simply a game of political tennis that changes every 4 years or so.

Comment by chris — March 22, 2010 @ 1:45 pm




I’m going to get back to you on this Chris. This issue merits a deep study, because it speaks to character of God Himself, not to mention the future of those who reject Christ.

Comment by Alan Pierce — March 22, 2010 @ 6:27 pm




I just wanted to say how much I appreciate this post, Chris. It’s good to be reminded that we ARE strangers here. I’m afraid we get way too comfortable sometimes . . . and the greater our comfort-level with the world, the less our love of King Jesus. “Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4, of course.)
This has nothing to do with the very deep spiritual debate going on in the comments above, nor is it at the heart of your post. It’s just the thing that struck me. I always appreciate your take on things, Chris. You ALWAYS make me THINK. And I like that!
Keep it up.

Comment by marcleen — March 23, 2010 @ 10:18 am




We need to take a better look at the apostles and the NT. They did not believe that overhauling social structures would transform culture. The only thing that can do that is the gospel. If enough individuals are transformed, society as a whole benefits and Christianity begins to function as a leavening influence. How is that to happen when we act as though government is our great hope? How is that to happen when we do not offer anything different, but offer just another option in a world of options? What to blame here is not politics, but the church.

I struggle with the fact we live in a country with a government “for the people, by the people.” Our form of government requires active engagement by its populace, yet how engaged do I get in a system ruling over a place that is not my home? I must be more interested in the idividual over the state not only because of C.S. Lewis’ statement that “the individual is not only more important but incomparably more important, for he is everlasting and the life of a state or a civilization, compared with his, is only a moment,” but a civilization only changes when the individual changes. This cannot be achieved with a top down strategy (as the right typically operates), but with the transformation of the individual (coincidentally how the left has operated and generally succeeded). We are far from a “Christian” nation as our culture can clearly attest, and I believe we are suffering the results to which John Adams warned at the founding of this country.

First, “because power corrupts, society’s demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases.” The leaders we put in place are only a reflection of society and the leaders who are in power are there because society saw them as the ones of moral authority and character. Now, if the leaders who were elected lack both these things we must look back at the populace who elected them and state the same.

Second, “our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” This clearly can be shown from the previous argument, and our current state of affairs. One final warning from my favorite founding father: “Democracy… while it lasts is more bloody than either aristocracy or monarchy. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.” Our hope cannot rest on the institutions of man. Christianity has flourished since Christ’s death (and all the more so when it is persecuted), for it is under the soverign rule of the Savior not of men. We will be given over to our sin.

We must never forget God’s soverignty over the rulers of the earth. If we are being punished by them then our judgment is to be punished, and we will rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. In this way government only shows us God more clearly, and our need for Him.

Comment by Carl — March 24, 2010 @ 11:41 am




Totally dig this post and your writing in general. Stumbled on it through your comment on a Relevant post (which led me to Twitter, then your Web site, then the blog). It is not only refreshing to read about your thoughts on life with Jesus, but also the life you and your wife share together. You have no idea how encouraging it can be to single people to see real-life examples of couples who seek and serve God passionately and openly. Seriously, sometimes I forget how beautiful God must have intended relationships to be for His children. Thanks for the solid words.

Comment by Kelly — March 30, 2010 @ 12:30 pm

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Leave a comment