Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Monday, December 07, 2009 5:56:16 PM
There is no greater contrast between radical naturalism and Biblical Christianity than in their view of life.
Re: http://townhall.com/columnists/StarParker/2009/12/07/will_baltimore_succumb_to_culture_of_death
What saith the Scriptures?
‘Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them’ [Psalm 127:3-5 NAS].
And again…
“Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God” [Luke 18:16].
But what is the view of the other side of the cultural war? A paraphrased comment from one in authority is telling…‘If my daughters make a mistake and it results in pregnancy, then I don’t want them to be punished with a baby.’ -President Obama
The Christian view is taking responsibility and doing what is right in whatever circumstance, because God is always sovereign over the sins of men and the sins of those in authority over us and even over our own sins.
Consider the testimony of Joseph to his brothers, which gives us a glimpse of Jesus Christ in the OT…
‘You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive’ [Genesis 50:20].
And again we have the apostolic testimony concerning Christ…
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it…” [Acts 2:22-24]
Now, consider the testimony of Him who has put to death sin and death by the sacrifice of Himself and now reigns with all authority as the first fruits of the resurrection from the dead…
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? [Matthew 16:24-26]
Making self your priority is the way that leads to death. However, self denial and the act of considering others as more important than yourself is the way of life. There is no better way to find your life than investing yourself in the life of another.
Note that the soul is of infinite worth because that is the part of man that bears the image of God. Now will God hold them guiltless who unjustly enable the destruction of His image bearers? There is nothing that man can give in exchange for his soul, but God has paid the ransom in blood to redeem a multitude of sinners that no man can number from every kindred, tribe, nation and tongue.
The gospel message is one of grace and forgiveness for those who repent of their sins and call out to God for mercy in the name of Jesus Christ.