Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Assessing Assisted Suicide: Part 3

In the first two articles in this series (which you can find here and here), we looked at the symptoms of ALS, the disease most often used to justify assisted suicide. Specifically, we considered the case of Geoff Whaley, whose recent illness and death have caused debate to flare up in the United Kingdom. While his pain is understandable, his response to it helps to show the warped worldview of those who see suicide as a viable option. The second post explains the differences between the secular pro-death and the Christian pro-life views. Now I want to spend some time with the results those views produce.

Friday, February 22, 2019

Assessing Assisted Suicide: Part 2

My previous article began a multi-part consideration of assisted suicide and the Christian approach to those suffering enough to want it. As a reminder, it is vital to keep that suffering in mind when discussing this issue. People are in pain, and we cannot ignore it. However, while it may explain their desire, it does not justify it. At least, it is not justified from a Christian perspective. And if we hope to resist it, we need to understand the mindset that attempts to claim it as a right.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Assessing Assisted Suicide: Part 1

Recently, I posted an article on the biblical foundations of the pro-life movement as it relates to abortion. A friend asked me to follow up on that with a discussion on assisted suicide, particularly in regards to the ongoing debate in the United Kingdom, and in reference to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). I love getting questions rather than focusing on my own interests, so I am certainly willing to do it.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Contemplating a Sanctified Hypocrisy

TL;DR

Can hypocrisy be a good thing? This is an attempt to see if it can be viewed that way. Whether you can find that angle or not, Christians need to know that their failures do not mean their attempts to be holy are fake. What matters is whether we are trying to grow. If we are, then that is a reason to be encouraged.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Memory of a Truth Spoken

TL;DR

This article recalls a time from my childhood when I challenged the faith of a young Catholic. I do not remember exactly how I went about it, and it may have left something to be desired. But he was under the impression that Mary was God, so I do not regret having told him otherwise. We shouldn't offend people just for the sake of being offensive. But sometimes, if we are being faithful to God's truth, we might wind up offending them for their own sakes. It is good to be as tactful as we can, as long as that does not keep us from offering what they need to hear.

Friday, February 8, 2019

Praying for the Little Things

TL;DR

Sometimes, it is the smallest things that stick with you in the biggest ways. For me, one example of that is the answering of a childhood prayer. It was for something insignificant, but it taught me that God cares about even the minutest details of our lives. And if He looks after the little, He certainly presides over the bigger moments, too. The impact of that experience on my life has been deep, and I hope sharing it proves to be an encouragement to others.

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

The Value of Life

TL;DR

Christians can be discouraged by setbacks on the front of protecting life, but not to the point of complacency. We need to realize that there is still progress to be made, even if it is only a little at a time. We also need to know why we are fighting. Unborn life has value because of the nature we all share. It comes from God, and is not ours to dispose of as we see fit. That truth has biblical foundations we need to know. It strengthens us to keep moving forward and equips us to show the evil of abortion for what it really is.

Friday, February 1, 2019

Reason and Emotion in the Christian Life

TL;DR

People are on a sliding scale between the rational and the emotional, but each of us tends more toward one side or the other. That is not a bad thing, but it can become a problem if we let it. There needs to be cooperation in our faith between timeless truths and deep feelings. Otherwise, we cannot fully live the life to which God calls us.