Why Bad to Worse

Ever experience someone who could not stop being bad? People reason with them, but they will not listen. Nothing works.

Why will they not change? Today, I grasped an answer.

It is in Proverbs 17:4. "An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue."

Evil people do not follow watchful, loving men or women who recognize the inevitable consequences and endeavor to provoke change.

Instead, self-destructing humans, bent on being bad, solely pay attention to others voicing agitation, discord, depression, and grief. Like zombies, blundering along, they follow the directives of the discontented driving to desecration and disaster. (Is this selective hearing?)

When do people become selective for evil? Where is the proverbial 'point of no return'?

What does God do with the selectively evil? Two answers are:

• Hebrews 10:26-27 "26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries."
• Romans 1:28-32 "28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."

Are you listening to God himself, solidly on good ground, gaining His grace, taking His advice, and struggling to imitate Him?

Dear Diary

(From Tom's diary we read...)

Today, we geared up for a 'retreat' in the mountains. We gathered food and bedding. But He didn't want anyone to know where we were going. 

It seems strange to me. For three years, we have tried to gather crowds so the Rabbi could teach them. Now He does not want any crowds. We are going to stay away from Chorazin, Gennesaret, Magdala, and Cana. We will be in the mountains of Northwest Galilee. 

All day I wondered why. Why are we going there? Few people live there. Why all the supplies? We normally stay in people's homes. 

Well, on this trip, He started talking about things that didn't make sense. He talked about betrayal. Don't all twelve of us believe in Him? Who would BETRAY him?

He spoke of people KILLING him. He is the most popular man in Israel. People think He might deliver them from Roman tyranny. ALL He does is help people, and teach them. Why would ANYONE want to kill him?

And then, there is this nonsense of Him rising from the dead. I have seen Him raise a few folks from the dead, but they are just going to die again. He's talking about being raised and never dieing. Have you ever heard of someone being raised and never dieing? Me neither. 

Over the past 3 years, I have worked hard to be a good disciple. I have gone where He has gone. I understand most of His teachings. I believe only what I have seen. I am reasonably convinced He is God's son. 

But on this trip, I just don't get it. I just can't see Him being betrayed. I can't believe anyone would want to kill him. And being raised in three days never to die again, well.., it is just not going to happen.

I think I have Him fooled. He thinks I understand all this. He thinks I believe everything. But I don't understand any of it.

And I am scared to ask him about it. He may fuss at me. He might embarrass me if he finds out I don't understand. He has chided me and my buddies before about our 'little faith'. And that was not fun!

I'll keep it a secret, just between me and you, dairy. No one will ever know. 

What I write in my diary, stays in my diary.

Mom And Dad Are Going To Kill Me…

“Mom and dad are going to kill me…”

Statements like these point us beyond definitions to our next factor: selfishness.

Selfishness

A third factor looks at a biblical concept: selfishness. Every case at the beginning of the post is indicative of selfishness. All the statements point to one person’s reckless impulse for something,  You find no concern for how it affects others.

The New Testament uses the word ‘selfish’ only four times. The references are: Galatians 5:20; 2 Corinthians 12:20; Philippians 1:16 and 2:3. That is it. Strong, known for his many word definitions, said the Greek word is “found before the New Testament times [being used] only by Aristotle, where it denotes self-seekers pursuits of political offices by unfair means. Paul exhorts Christians to be one in mind of Christ, not putting self forward, being unselfish (Phil 2)” Putting one's own interests before the interests of others (selfishness) is diametrically opposed to Christianity. Christians place the needs of others before themselves, just as Jesus did.

A fourth factor, also biblical, is what God has said regarding these key words previously defined.

Individuals with immoral behavior are lead to “death,” and they do not “regain the path of life,” according to Proverbs 2:18-19. In the New Testament, James wrote how ripened sin “brings forth death.” All sex outside of legitimate marriage is called fornication. Fornication is a sin. When men participate in sexual 'adventures' with a woman who is not their wife, they sin (fornicate). The consequence is death. A woman has a 'fling' with a man who is not her husband. She, too, is fornicating, sinning, and a death will follow.

When God spoke of killing in the Old Testament, He was plain. “Whoever kills.... shall be put to death,” Leviticus 24:17 says. Exodus 21:14  says premeditated killing should not happen. Exodus 23:7 directly says the Jews were not to kill the innocent and righteous.

Murder is a stronger term and is employed frequently. The Old Testament writings expose God’s view of murder. In the 10 Commandments, Exodus 20:13 says people should “not murder.” This is echoed in Deuteronomy 5:17. Anyone using implements, stones, or wood to kill “shall surely be put to death,” according to Numbers 35:16-18. The New Testament, under which we live, declare a higher criteria for living. Matthew 5:21-22 reports Jesus saying “You have heard you shall not murder...But I say to you whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” In Mark 7:21, Jesus indicates the heart produces evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication, and murder. Paul is clear in Romans 1:28-32. Those who “do not retain God in their knowledge,” He has given them over to do unfit things, including sexual immorality, wickedness, and murder. People living this addiction are “haters of God... violent, ...unloving.” Galatians 5:21 indicates murders will not “inherit the kingdom of God.” Murderers will not go to heaven. Peter tells his audience no Christian should be spoken of as a murderer (1 Peter 4:15). Why would Cain murder Abel? John’s answer is because his works were evil (1 John 3:12). Three verses later John adds hating our brother makes us murderers. Finally, in Revelation 21:8, murderers are grouped with the sexually immoral. They will be in the second death (sent to hell).

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What would you like to add to selfishness?

Do you have an example or a story of selfishness? Please, share it here. Click on the ‘comments’ link below.

For the first post on abortion, click here. The third installment will be posted shortly.

Abortion

"Mom and dad are going to kill me when they find out.”

“I'm not ready to be a parent.”

“We already have too many children. We can't support any more!”

“It's only birth control.”

“Let's abort it while it is still tiny, and it won't hurt. It will hurt when it gets big, and I have to give birth then.”

“He raped me. I don't want any part of that man. Get it OUT of me, now!”

Abortion has divided our country. It should not. One grouping believes it is a 'thing' – not living, and definitely not a person. Discarding ‘IT’ from their body is like removing their appendix – no harm, no foul. The other body disdains the former grouping and believes anyone who aborts is killing a person and is doomed to hell.

In this series of posts, I wish to examine multiple factors influencing opinions and decisions, recommend a better idea, and then, summarize.

FACTORS

To discuss abortion necessitates examining key terms. All parties must consent to common definitions in order to discuss this divisive force intelligently.

What is abortion? Merrian-Webster Dictionary defines abortion as “The spontaneous or induced termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus.” The key terms in the definition are spontaneous, induced, termination, and death.

Webster says Death is “1: the end of life. 2: the cause of loss of life. 3: state of being dead. … 5. slaughter.”

The verb form of Kill means “1: To deprive of life. 2: to put an end to. Synonyms: slay, murder, assassinate, execute.” The noun form is defined as “the act of killing.” In killing, there is an implied direction, an intent.

Murder, as a noun, is defined as “1: the crime of unlawfully killing a person esp. with malice aforethought...” The verb form states, “1: to commit murder: also: to kill brutally  2: to put an end to  ….”  By strict definition, abortion cannot be murder. Why? It is not “unlawful.” Due to the decision of our highest court, in Roe v. Wade, it is not unlawful, and therefore not a crime against the state.

We are NOT talking about MISCARRIAGE. The same dictionary defines miscarriage as, “spontaneous expulsion of a fetus before it is capable of independent life.” Many women have miscarried their desired child. It is radically and fundamentally unlike abortion, where an “induced termination” is desired.

Connotation of Abortion

Another factor is the connotation of 'abortion'. Connotations are not found in dictionaries. It is that commonly understood meaning. The commonly understood meaning of  'abortion' is a willful choice based on incomplete information, a premeditated decision and action to remove life from an embryo or fetus.

An “induced termination of a pregnancy” cannot occur unless the female first learns she is pregnant, then follows with the “death of the embryo”, or “slaughter” of the “fetus.” Did you see the sequence? How much complete information was present? First, she learned of being pregnant, then decides to cause the death of the organism. This implied meaning, or connotation, indicates there was a WILLFUL CHOICE to “induce termination” of a living organism.

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What could you add to the definitions and applications?

Can the Connotation of Abortion be expanded? How?

Please add your comments by clicking the link below.

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If you would like to read more, please click this link for the next in the five-part series.