Is it inconsistent to be against abortion and for the death penalty ? At first glance it might appear to be, but on further inquiry it is not at all.
The first question that must be asked is; what's at stake? It is human life. And human life is not the sort of thing that should be taken in a careless manner. It must have the proper justification, and that of the highest degree, to be taken. So my objection to abortion is that human life is valuable and the reasons for abortion don't rise to the level of proper justification. In the case of capital punishment; it is because of the value of human life that the highest penalty is demanded and with proper justification. This is not to say that it is always carried out justly. We are mostly certainly prone to abuse our powers, that is why a system of checks and balances is so important.
So in summary; abortion doesn't have proper justification and capital punishment does. So there is no inconsistency. I start with the same premise in both cases, the value of human life, and apply it consistently through out.
As a side note; it would seem to me that the case for capital punishment would be getting stronger with DNA testing, not weaker.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Ariz. Leaders Mull Gay 'Marriage' Ban Anew
February 12, 2008
Associated Press
Republican lawmakers on Monday proposed asking voters in November to amend the Arizona Constitution to ban same-sex "marriage" in the state, which was the first to turn down such a measure.
The proposal was backed by 16 of 30 state senators, and an identical proposal was introduced in the House. Both chambers would have to approve the measure in a vote for it to be included on the ballot. continued
Associated Press
Republican lawmakers on Monday proposed asking voters in November to amend the Arizona Constitution to ban same-sex "marriage" in the state, which was the first to turn down such a measure.
The proposal was backed by 16 of 30 state senators, and an identical proposal was introduced in the House. Both chambers would have to approve the measure in a vote for it to be included on the ballot. continued
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
The war in Iraq
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so. Proverbs 2:27
Of all that is said about the war in Iraq, the majority of it is bad. I would however like to offer another perspective, one that is seldom considered. But let me say this first; All wars are evil but not everyones involvement in them is evil.
In America we cling to these words in the Declaration of Independence;
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
However it seems to me that we read the "all men" part as "all Americans" But I would argue that this statement, because it is grounded in creation, applies to all human beings. Even Iraqis.
Why do I raise this point? Because we as Americans tend to be isolationists, we are fat and happy, to bad about the rest of the world, good luck! seems to be our attitude. We don't want to get involved and pay the price to ensure that all men are free, when it is in our power to do good to our neighbor. I'm sure we all know the story of the good Samaritan. For those who don't, it may be found in Luke 10:25-37. Take the time to read that discourse because my argument rest on it and Proverbs 2:27. As a side note in the story of the good Samaritan. The Samaritans were despised by the Jews. In fact the Jews would go way out of their way to avoid walking through Samaria. So don't let the fact that this is a Jew being helped by a Samaritan, escape your attention. Verses 36-37 are my main point however, 36 "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Most people don't know that if the borders of Iraq could be sealed, all violence would cease. What we are dealing with here is a group of fellow human beings who are living under tyranny and oppression from forces outside. These are people like you and me, with the same wants and desire. Human beings with certain unalienable rights endowed to them by their creator. However, some people don't think so and wish to bring them into submission to their desires. It's like the schoolyard bully only on a national level.
So my question is this, do we have a moral obligation to help our neighbor, our fellow human beings liberate themselves from tyranny and oppression when it is within our power to do so?
When I see Iraqis holding up their purple thumbs because they can now vote, when I hear of schools and hospitals being built, girls being allowed to go to school for the first time, Iraqis coming out of hiding and joining the police force and military, small business owners opening up their shops again, Iraqis coming out of hiding and turning over insurgents, I see a people who love freedom and peace as much as we do. I see a people who are grateful that we came to help them.
I'm afraid that we as Americans are a very self-centered people, just consider all the self-help material that's available to us. We spend thousands to comfort and please ourselves, consider the Super-Bowl. We have no trouble spending on things that have a direct benefit for us. Yes, we are the most generous nation in the world as of right now, but that is fading fast. Convenience and comfort have become our gods and we sacrifice joyfully at their alters. When our creator, the Lord Jesus Christ, asks us to give to our neighbor with no expectation of return, we shrug off our responsibility and turn a blind eye to the suffering all around us.
So yes, the war has cost us and that cost has been heavy, but the cost didn't concern the Samaritan, he was willing to pay it on behalf of his neighbor with no expectation of return. I firmly believe that it is wiser to pay a small price now, than a much greater one later. If we save the lives of hundreds of thousands at the cost of several thousand, than it was worth it. This is the "bloody arithmetic" that won the civil war here and gained liberty for all men and women who call America their home.
So do we cower in the face of evil because it might cost us our very lives. Our do we put it down at great cost to ourselves because we understand the gravity of what is at stake. Are we the good Samaritan who does good to his neighbor when it is within our power to do so, regardless of cost?
"All it takes for evil to succeed, is for good men to do nothing." -Anonymous
In America we cling to these words in the Declaration of Independence;
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
However it seems to me that we read the "all men" part as "all Americans" But I would argue that this statement, because it is grounded in creation, applies to all human beings. Even Iraqis.
Why do I raise this point? Because we as Americans tend to be isolationists, we are fat and happy, to bad about the rest of the world, good luck! seems to be our attitude. We don't want to get involved and pay the price to ensure that all men are free, when it is in our power to do good to our neighbor. I'm sure we all know the story of the good Samaritan. For those who don't, it may be found in Luke 10:25-37. Take the time to read that discourse because my argument rest on it and Proverbs 2:27. As a side note in the story of the good Samaritan. The Samaritans were despised by the Jews. In fact the Jews would go way out of their way to avoid walking through Samaria. So don't let the fact that this is a Jew being helped by a Samaritan, escape your attention. Verses 36-37 are my main point however, 36 "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Most people don't know that if the borders of Iraq could be sealed, all violence would cease. What we are dealing with here is a group of fellow human beings who are living under tyranny and oppression from forces outside. These are people like you and me, with the same wants and desire. Human beings with certain unalienable rights endowed to them by their creator. However, some people don't think so and wish to bring them into submission to their desires. It's like the schoolyard bully only on a national level.
So my question is this, do we have a moral obligation to help our neighbor, our fellow human beings liberate themselves from tyranny and oppression when it is within our power to do so?
When I see Iraqis holding up their purple thumbs because they can now vote, when I hear of schools and hospitals being built, girls being allowed to go to school for the first time, Iraqis coming out of hiding and joining the police force and military, small business owners opening up their shops again, Iraqis coming out of hiding and turning over insurgents, I see a people who love freedom and peace as much as we do. I see a people who are grateful that we came to help them.
I'm afraid that we as Americans are a very self-centered people, just consider all the self-help material that's available to us. We spend thousands to comfort and please ourselves, consider the Super-Bowl. We have no trouble spending on things that have a direct benefit for us. Yes, we are the most generous nation in the world as of right now, but that is fading fast. Convenience and comfort have become our gods and we sacrifice joyfully at their alters. When our creator, the Lord Jesus Christ, asks us to give to our neighbor with no expectation of return, we shrug off our responsibility and turn a blind eye to the suffering all around us.
So yes, the war has cost us and that cost has been heavy, but the cost didn't concern the Samaritan, he was willing to pay it on behalf of his neighbor with no expectation of return. I firmly believe that it is wiser to pay a small price now, than a much greater one later. If we save the lives of hundreds of thousands at the cost of several thousand, than it was worth it. This is the "bloody arithmetic" that won the civil war here and gained liberty for all men and women who call America their home.
So do we cower in the face of evil because it might cost us our very lives. Our do we put it down at great cost to ourselves because we understand the gravity of what is at stake. Are we the good Samaritan who does good to his neighbor when it is within our power to do so, regardless of cost?
"All it takes for evil to succeed, is for good men to do nothing." -Anonymous
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