CUSA & Abortion

Early next month the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) council will vote to amend the campus discrimination policy to state that “no CUSA resources, space, recognition or funding be allocated for anti-choice purposes.”

The Charlatan article can be found here.

http://www.charlatan.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18052&Itemid=26

I sent an e-mail to the woman who tabled this motion, as well as a brief response to the editorial in the Charlatan (which also opposed this amendment).

Interestingly, I borrowed “A Christian Manifesto” by Francis Schaeffer from the Queen’s library today before I learned about the story at Carleton.

Schaeffer makes an incredibly strong argument for Christians to be engaged in public discourse on matters of moral and social implications. Writing in the early 1980s, he felt that abortion was the premier social crises facing the North American Church.

In my first year law class at Carleton, we discussed abortion – and I was the only student in the class of 50 + who spoke against the practice. Indeed, it’s become so accepted and normalized that, as the issue at Carleton demonstrates, opposing views have become incredibly unpalatable to many.

In the Manifesto, Schaeffer argues that the clash of worldviews (Christian vs Humanism) has tremendous implications for public policy. He writes, “These two world views stand as totals in complete antithesis to each other in content and also in their natural results – including sociological and governmental results, and specifically including law.”[i]

Humanism, Schaeffer argues, “is the placing of Man at the center of all things and making him the measure of all things.”[ii]

But Christians know better. For we recognize that “for from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).

[i] Francis Schaeffer, A Christian Manifesto, Westchester, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1981, p. 18.
[ii] Ibid, p. 23.

Ebenezer & Heel Lifted Friends

I learned that Ebenezer (mentioned in 1 Samuel) means ‘stone of help’.

A few days ago I stumbled across Psalm 41:9.

“Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.”

I sure can relate to David – even more so when I read the commentary in the Reformation Bible.

“For this idiom see Genesis 25:19-26, where the noun ‘heel’ is connected with the verb ‘to deceive’ the point is that the psalmist’s close friend has betrayed him in his moment of need. He is abandoned by everyone.”

Lord, if only this wasn’t the case. Yet it is. So, please give me the ability (and desire) to forgive, as well as the decency to avoid lifting my heel against my friends.

Psalm 39

I said, ‘I will’ guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make the scorn of the fool! I am mute; I do not open my mouth for it is you who have done it. Remove your stroke from me; I am spent by the hostility of your hand. When you discipline a man with rebukes for sin, you consume like a moth what is dear to him; surely all mankind is mere breath! Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers. Look away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more!
Psalm 39 1-13 (ESV)

Northern Light

I just finished watching a CBC documentary about the history of Griese Fiord, Nunavut, Canada’s most northern community. The government moved seven families from northern Quebec in the 1950s. The poorly selected location spelt tremendous hardship for the families, and the settlement was eventually moved to another location approximately 8 km away.

The man who was profiled was among the initial settlers. His dad died shortly after they arrived. As a young adult he fell into depression and substance abuse. But that changed, when God converted him. He’s now a leader in his community and in the North.

The once-a-year supply ship arrived at the town while the reporter was in town. With little room to store frozen food, he decided to buy a refrigerator. It was delightful to watch his self-deprecating humour and his recognition of the irony in, as he put it, an "Eskimo buying a refrigerator."

Despite being treated poorly by the government as a child, he says he is a loyal Canadian. He flies the Maple leaf and helps to patrol the north.

Praise God for seeing fit to regenerate this man and for raising him up as a leader in the Inuit community!

Another Sunday

Another Sunday… another frustrating sermon peppered with pop culture, personal stories and light lessons. Plus, the opening 4-minute prayer included sixty (60!) utterances of ‘Lord’. Oye. I believe we are all aware of Whom is being addressed.

'Accept' Christ?

I was pleased to learn A.W. Tozer and I independently came to the same conclusion. Although the phrase ‘accept Christ” is a common phrase in the evangelical world lexicon, it’s one that is dishonest to the Scriptures. That phrase does not appear in the Bible, and instead reflects the view among some that people play an active role in their conversation. I use the term ‘received Christ’ instead.

Pharaoh’s Hard Heart

A year ago I had a conversation about Pharaoh. The person I was speaking to said that ‘he hardened his heart’ while I said that ‘God hardened his heart.’ Both of us are correct.

In fact, this is a good example of the relation between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. About half the time Pharaoh is said to have hardened his own heart (Exodus 8:15); the rest of the time God is said to harden it (Exodus 4:21; Romans 9:17,18). God’s sovereignty does not diminish people’s responsibility for their own actions. God can punish wilful sin by taking away the power to repent. (Joshua 11:20; Romans 1:24, 26, 28).