Here we go...Abortion and the Bible

A co-worker in California once told me, "Lauren, there are two topics you should never discuss in a social setting: politics and religion. "Well, I'm double-breaking that rule today as I dive into an issue that falls into both categories: abortion.

With recent actions taken by the Texas Legislature making headlines nationwide, now seems like an appropriate time to explore the controversial subject that has seemingly divided Americans down the middle, including Christians. The package of legislation recently considered by the Republican body would prohibit abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy, while also limiting the procedure to surgical centers - effectively giving the Lone Star State the strictest abortion regualtions in the country. Protestors and activists on both sides of the issue have demonstrated at the Capitol in recent weeks - some citing Bible verses, others citing women's rights. Interestingly enough, Christians are among both parties, which begs the question: what role should our faith play in politics?

I don't believe that your political perspective defines your Christian walk; however, I do believe that your faith should be the foundation of the political platform on which you stand. And when it comes to the issue of life, there isn't a gray area in the Bible. Though the Bible doesn't mention the term "abortion" (since the word's origin post-dates that of the Bible), Scripture makes God's view of conception and human life abundantly clear. "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you" (Jeremiah 1:5).

He doesn't say, "When you were born, I knew you," or, "In your third trimester, I knew you." The key word here is "before." He purposefully created each one of us in His own image (Genesis 1:27), and though He gave us free will, I don't think He ever intended for us to destory human life - especially not the life of the innocent. "Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him" (Psalm 127:3). Again, there are no loopholes here. The Bible doesn't say, "Only children conceived in wedlock are a gift from the Lord," or "Only children born into financially stable homes are a gift from the Lord." All of them are, regardless of how, when, why and by whom they were conceived.

The pro-choice perspective supports a woman's right to choose what she does with her own body. The problem with this logic lies in this: once a woman is pregnant, it's not just her body anymore; it is occupied by two human beings, one of which sadly does not have a voice. I know many women who ask, "What about cases involving rape?" Believe me: I am passionate about protecting women from this horrific experience that no human should ever have to go through. My heart breaks for them, truly. If a woman conceives a child from this tragedy though, I don't believe that killing the baby is the answer. The child is the innocent party here and should not bear the punishment for a crime committed by its father. I beg of women who find themselves in this tough position: please consider giving the child up for adoption so it can have a life that may have started in the worst of circumstances but can blossom into something beautiful.

Christians believe that God knit each of us together in our mothers' womb (Psalm 139:13) and that He created mankind in His own image (Genesis 1:27). Therefore, we believe that humans are God's personal and purposeful creations. To undo or interrupt His design or to give someone else permission to is a sin. Having said that, is it an unforgivable sin? Absolutely not, and it should not be treated differently from any other sin. If you're a woman who has had an abortion or is considering having one, this article is not meant to condemn you in any way. Jesus said, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone" (John 8:7). I refer to this verse in instances of all sin because I fear that Christians have done our faith a great injustice by condemning sinners when we are none the better. Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Now go, and sin no more" (John 8:11)

Christians, let our shared goal be to stand for what the Bible stands for and love the way Jesus loves. Let us offer compassion to women with unwanted pregnancies, and let us pray for those who have made the life-changing decision to have an abortion - I guarantee you they are hurting and need our love. Finally, let us unite in our faith to stand for life and advocate for the unborn. Our nation needs God, plain and simple. What are we going to do about it?

By Lauren Thurston | Guest Blogger (first posted on June 25, 2013)

Trust & Responsibility

Trust – a simple word to speak, yet the most challenging word to regain once lost. It is my sincere belief that we all desire to trust those around us. It is most similar to believing that all people are inherently good. When we look at the philosophical and religious aspects of inherent goodness, we find a spectrum of takes on the issue. Philosophically speaking, the structure of society weighs on the idea that most men/women do not want to harm their neighbor; yet society creates and enforces laws to maintain civility (see Socrates and Plato). Religiously, the Bible tells us that we are “born sinners” (Psalm 51:5), yet we are commanded to ‘love thy neighbor’ (Mark 12:31). The multi-faceted dynamic of human nature leaves us in toil of self-possession. Since it is the responsibility of each of us to implement self-control, and decide daily, or perhaps moment by moment what our behavior is going to reflect, we must learn by which qualities we desire to be known.

Do we believe people are inherently good? Can people be trusted? Have we experienced negative circumstances with people that have caused us to lose trust or even faith in humanity?

If we can remember that forgiveness is a key component in moving forward, regardless of the circumstance, a healthy perspective can be achieved. Although every situation is different, forgiveness will be a helpful tool in healing. It is important to remember that we must be conscious of our inter-personal relationships, beahvioral patterns, and individual perspectives, that are all too often shaped by negative experiences. If someone has broken our trust, but seeks sincere forgiveness from us, it may be worthwhile to  learn to trust them again. However, if someone does not seek forgiveness after having broken our trust,  it may be helpful to take a quiet moment and offer up  forgiveness to them within ourselves, for our own inner-peace. The courage we find to forgive will ultimately keep us from becoming jaded, and weary towards humanity.

I would be remised if I did not mention the unique portrayal of sacrifice, forgiveness, and trust, found in scripture. A beacon of self-sacrifice, unconditional love, and forgiveness, is Christ, as He uttered, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). We should view this as the pinnacle of humanity; where we find the most heinous of pain inflicted on the human body (and spirit), but from those pangs restoration and life is found. In the spoken word forgive, trust in a higher purpose is revealed and life regained.

I leave you with this quote from Timothy Zahn, author of Vision of the Future (Star Wars), “Without trust, there can be no genuine peace. Neither in politics, nor in the quiet individuality of the heart and spirit.”

By Malarie Roxanne Rodriguez | Founder of P.S. Chic   

American Revolution 1754-1781

The road to America’s independence was both long and brutal. Americans fled from Britain for a reason: freedom. The colonists did not agree with Britain’s monarchy form of government. In addition to opposing much of the British Parliament’s laws and policies, they also sought religious freedom. A series of burdensome taxes imposed on the colonists coupled with a continuously encroaching government was the tipping point that ultimately led to American independence. Here I will provide a summary of the major events of the American Revolution.

The French and Indian War and Pontiac’s Rebellion:

The battle between Britain and France for colonial dominance in America was known as the French and Indian War (1754-1763). The colonists dutifully fought alongside British soldiers, while the French allied themselves with several Native American tribes.  After the British captured most of France’s major cities and forts in Canada and the Ohio Valley, the war came to an end. Worried that the British would take more tribal lands from the Native Americans, the Ottawa chief Pontiac led a series of raids on British forts and American settlements in the Ohio Valley. This Native American uprising is known as Pontiac’s Rebellion. It did not take long for the powerful British forces to squash the rebellion. However, in an effort to make peace with the Native Americans, Parliament issued the Proclamation of 1763, which forbade American colonists to settle on Native American territory unless native rights to the land had first been obtained by purchase or treaty.

The End of Salutary Neglect and Taxation Without Representation:

After the French and Indian War, Parliament moved to end the age of salutary neglect. The British government began to impose numerous burdens and taxes on the American colonists. These included the enforcement of the Navigation Acts, the Sugar Act to tax sugar, the Currency Act to remove paper currencies from circulation, the Stamp Act to tax printed materials, and the Quartering Act requiring Americans to house and feed British troops. Americans throughout the thirteen colonies did not like being taxed without having representation in Parliament, hence the famous phrase “no taxation without representation”. Colonial leaders petitioned Parliament and King George III to repeal the Stamp Act. In response to intense public pressure, Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766. However, it passed the Declaratory Act, which allowed the Parliament to tax the colonies anytime it chose.

The Townshend Acts and the Boston Massacre:

Another series of taxes, this time on lead, paints, and tea, were levied on the colonists through the Townshend Acts of 1767. At the same time, Parliament also passed the Suspension Act, which suspended the New York assembly for not enforcing the Quartering Act. Fearing a violent response from the colonists, Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson requested assistance from the British army. In 1768, four thousand British soldiers landed in the city to help maintain order. Nevertheless, on March 5, 1770, an angry mob of rebels clashed with British troops. The violent and bloody event, in which five colonists were killed, became known as the Boston Massacre. News of the massacre spread like wildfire throughout the colonies.

The Boston Tea Party:

In 1773, Parliament passed the Tea Act, which granted the British East India Company a trade monopoly on the tea exported to the American colonies. Tea merchants in many American cities refused to purchase British tea. In an effort to uphold the law, Governor Hutchinson of Massachusetts allowed for ships arriving in Boston harbor to deposit their cargoes and ordered that appropriate payments be made for the tea. On the night of December 16, 1773, sixty men boarded the ships and dumped the entire shipment of tea into the harbor. This famous event, known as the Boston TeaParty, was a turning point in American history.

The Intolerable Acts:

The Intolerable Acts (the Coercive Acts), were passed by Parliament in January 1774. The laws closed Boston Harbor until the British East India Company had been fully reimbursed for the tea destroyed in the Boston Tea Party. People from all over the colonies sent food and supplies to help their fellow Americans survive the brutal northeastern weather.

The First Continental Congress:

Prominent colonials gathered in Philadelphia in 1774 at the First Continental Congress to take action against the Intolerable Acts. They petitioned King George III and the British government to repeal the acts. They also instituted a boycott of all British goods in the colonies.

Lexington, Concord, and the Second Continental Congress:

On April 19, 1775, British forces in Boston marched to the town of Concord, Massachusetts, to seize a colonial militia arsenal. Militiamen of Lexington and Concord intercepted them and attacked. The first shot, famously quoted as the “shot heard round the world” was followed by many more shots that forced the British to retreat back to Boston. Thousands of militiamen from nearby colonies went to Boston to assist.

In the meantime, leaders held the SecondContinental Congress. They drafted the Olive Branch Petition, in which they expressed their loyalty to Britain and asked King George III for peaceful reconciliation. The king rejected the petition and formally declared that the colonies were in a state of rebellion.

The Declaration of Independence:
The Second Continental Congress chose GeorgeWashington, who would later become America’s first president, to command the militiamen defending Boston in the north. They also appropriated money for a small navy and for developing a professional Continental Army. Support began to grow for America’s succession from Britain. A vote was held on July 2, 1776, to declare independence. Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence. On July 4, 1776 the United States was born.

By Diane Durbin | Guest Blogger