“FETUS” = “BABY”
By Al Diestelkamp

Just a couple of decades ago the word “fetus” was rarely heard. Even then, its use was usually reserved for technical and legal discussions between doctors, scientists and lawyers. Today the word is commonly used in newspapers, magazines, television programs and daily conversations.

Have you ever wondered just what the difference is between an unborn baby and a fetus? My dictionary defines “fetus . . . in man, the offspring in the womb from the end of the third month of pregnancy until birth.” Thus, by definition, there is no difference. But I am more interested in the difference in our use of these words. In everyday conversations how do we choose between the words “fetus” and “baby”?

It’s hard to understand why we would want to make our conversations more difficult to understand by using technical terms. Very few of us talk about going to get a follicular trim at a barber or beauty shop. So why are some in our society going out of their way to use the word “fetus” instead of “baby”?

The answer, of course, is because the word “fetus” is less personal. Social liberals know a woman will have an emotional bond with a baby that she might not have with a fetus, and that would affect attitudes in the abortion issue. When discussing the subject of abortion proponents are careful not to refer to the victim as a baby, using fetus in order to diffuse any natural affection. The result is an “unloving” disposition of which the apostle Paul twice warned (Rom. 1:28-32; 2 Tim. 3:1-3).

When was the last time you heard someone ask an expectant mother, “When is your fetus to be born?” Or, how would it sound to ask her, “What do you plan to name the fetus?” In fact, it would be considered rude to do so. It is only in the context of abortion where such an impersonal choice of words would be “acceptable.”

So, considering our cultural use of the two words, the difference between a baby and a fetus is: A baby is loved and wanted and a fetus is unloved and unwanted. Our nation, which was once an example to the world in matters of human rights, should be ashamed! I have to wonder if the souls of these innocent babies are saying what another innocent one once said: “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Lk. 23:34).  Back to Top



IF DR. KEVORKIAN WERE ONLY MR. KEVORKIAN
By Al Diestelkamp

If Dr. Jack Kevorkian had chosen any other profession than the one he did, and had he assisted people with suicide, he would now be sitting in jail. Only because he has “Dr.” instead of “Mr.” in front of his name, has he been able to avoid successful prosecution.

Think about it. If Kevorkian were an auto mechanic, instead of a doctor, the juries that have lacked the courage to uphold the law would have easily rendered a guilty verdict. It wouldn’t have mattered that as a mechanic he could have “expertly” helped them to a peaceful death through carbon monoxide poisoning.

The fact that the man who has come to be known as “Dr. Death” has escaped successful prosecution merely on the basis of his professional education betrays a warped sense of authority. Indeed, the medical profession has been held up so high in the minds of people that they have become “like gods.”

Through the years there have been religious cult leaders who have aided some of their followers in committing suicide. Whenever such has happened it has been correctly portrayed as a tragedy and the leader denounced as a fraud and charlatan. However, had the cult leader been a medical doctor I guess we would have to respect him for his compassion.

The fact of the matter is that a medical doctor has no business “playing god” by helping people to end their lives. The guilt of Dr. Kevorkian who teaches his disciples how to end their lives is no less than that of a demented cult leader who does the same. The only difference is that Dr. Kevorkian does his dirty work one at a time (at least so far).

Fortunately, the vast majority of the medical profession is not supportive of assisted suicide. I fear that the failure to convict this one who is openly thumbing his nose at the law and morality is a signal that public opinion is turning toward approval of the practice. And that (public opinion) is another “god” in our world today.

I confess that there are some difficult issues which have been raised because of our advanced technology in the medical field. I don’t pretend to suggest that all decisions we are called to make are easy. I do not believe we must avail ourselves of every procedure advanced by medical science in order to prolong life, but that is quite a separate issue with that of purposely taking life.

I recall the anguish that accompanied the decision my family members and I had to make after my father’s stroke. The issue of whether or not to prolong his life artificially, and possibly increase his discomfort, was one with which we struggled. But regardless of the pain and discomfort he suffered, which eventually prompted us to pray for his death, never would we have considered usurping God in that matter.

It was God who gave life, and it is God who has the right to take life (Job 1:21). Anyone else, whether he be a mechanic, a preacher or a doctor, has no right to meddle in God’s business.     Back to Top



DIVORCE: ACCEPTABLE IMMORALITY
By Andy Diestelkamp

There is no getting around the fact that in our society divorce is completely acceptable. It is done with frequency. It is almost expected. It is normal. It is done, allegedly, with “no-fault” being assigned to either spouse. Subsequently, remarriage after divorce is common, equally accepted and very much encouraged. The 1992 census reveals that the average duration between a first divorce and remarriage is two and a  half years. Three-quarters of remarriages occur within five years of divorce. It is not surprising that people desire marriage. God observed that it was not good for man to be alone, so He created woman (Gen. 2:18-25). In the creation of the marriage union God was acknowledging the general need that mankind would have for companionship.

However, just as mankind has managed to pervert all of God’s ways, he has likewise perverted God’s intent for marriage. Divorce is a perversion of God’s intent. It is immoral, but it has become acceptable in our society. Societal acceptance of a practice is a frightening precursor for what will eventually be accepted among professing Christians. Instead of standing up to the immorality of divorce many have caved in to the majority opinions of the worldly and no longer teach what Christ taught and what God intended from the beginning. Divorce is immoral for three scriptural reasons: 1) It is a violation of God’s will; 2) It is a breaking of vows and/or commitments; and 3) It leads to further immorality.

Divorce is a violation of God’s will. To this we have already alluded, but now we will document it from scripture. “‘Jehovah God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence,’ says Jehovah of hosts” (Mal. 2:16). Here divorce is called violence. When we see what it does to families no wonder it is called violence. Divorce does violence to God’s intention for marriage as well as doing violence to the many who are hurt and abandoned. It should not be surprising therefore that when such violence becomes acceptable behavior, that a society begins to deteriorate. Ours has! We say we are concerned about crime and violence, but we are blind to the most prevalent forms (divorce and abortion). No governmental solutions will be adequate to quell the rising tide of violence until we again become sensitive to what God calls violence.

Jesus said, “What God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matt. 19:6). Our Lord’s teaching is being blatantly ignored today. Yet, if Christ’s condemnation of divorce is truth, then why did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce? Jesus said that such behavior was permitted because of the hardness of their hearts, but it was not God’s intent from the beginning (Matt. 19:7-8). Jesus said, “whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery” (Matt. 19:9). Our Lord has spoken! He has not authorized divorce except for sexual immorality. Nevertheless, divorces, thousands of them daily, take place with the consent of government, society, churches and families. We are a violent people!

Divorce is a breaking of vows and/or commitments. Again, this seems to be no big deal to most people. We have become so accustomed to lies and broken promises that few take seriously the commitments made in the contracting of marriages. Marriage carries with it certain divinely ordained responsibilities whether they are uttered in formal vows or not. Each spouse is commanded to render to the other the affection that is due him or her as a marriage partner (1 Cor. 7:3-5). Wives are instructed to submit to their husbands in everything as head (Eph. 5:22-24; 1 Pet. 3:1-6). Husbands are taught to love their wives as themselves and to dwell with them in an understanding way giving honor to them (Eph. 5:25,28,33; 1 Pet. 3:7). Incompatibility is not a legitimate reason for dispensing with these commitments. There is no relationship more incompatible than a believer married to an unbeliever. It is fraught with difficulties. Still, it is God’s will that such marriages remain intact (1 Cor. 7:12-13). If God expects believers to remain with unbelievers, then the frivolous reasons offered by so many for divorce will never be acceptable. God sharply rebuked the Jewish men for their abandonment of their wives. God saw Himself as a witness to the covenant that these men had made with their wives. God does not countenance the breaking of wholesome covenants. He calls it treachery (Mal. 2:13-15).

Divorce leads to more immorality. This is typical of sin. It usually leads to more sin. Jesus warns that divorce will cause people to commit adultery. One who divorces his wife will cause her to commit adultery. Anyone who marries the divorced wife will also be guilty of adultery (Matt. 5:32). Likewise, the one who divorces his/her spouse and remarries will be guilty of adultery (Mk. 10:11-12). Ironically, our present society would never call the remarriage of divorced persons adultery. Our culture even assigns some honor to the man or woman who exercises self-control in remaining faithful until the divorce is finalized. We used to call for faithfulness until death (Rom.7:3), but now society says that faithfulness until divorce is acceptable. To whom is this acceptable? It certainly is not acceptable to God. Such a loose interpretation of marriage that is acceptable is leading our nation into moral dilemmas. Now homosexuals want to get in on marriage. If adulterous marriages are now acceptable, then it only stands to reason that homosexual marriages be accepted as well. Remove one moral standard and all will begin to erode. It is time to restore marriage in our land to the high ideal that it once was, to the way intended by God from the beginning. Marriage is honorable, but God’s judgment will come down upon the immoral (Heb. 13:4).
Back to Top


PROVOKE
By Ed Brand

Our emotions are like the steam that spins the turbines in an electrical generator. God has made us with feelings, which are often intense. They move us to action.

Like many things in life, emotions may move us to honorable and noble acts, or they may lead us to do things which are shameful and ignoble. That is why (it seems to me) God placed a governor within us to help control our actions. People who are “emotional” often hurt themselves and others when they fail to use self-control. Observing such a person, one may decide that he will never be like that and so stifles his emotions that it appears his heart is made out of stone. Our society tends to produce men like that—stone faced and cold hearted. At least that is what some people would like us to think.

We need to use our emotions correctly. Our worship together ought to be an emotional experience. The writer of Hebrews urges brethren to “provoke (one another) unto love and good works” (10:24). This provocation is to stimulate and encourage one another unto love (the source or well-spring) and good works (the fruit which is produced by love).

We cannot do that unless we actively participate in our worship. This does not encourage an unbridled display of emotions which some people have been known to do. But do not go to the other extreme of a worship so devoid of feelings as to produce a worship hour which is the equivalent of sitting in a meat locker.

“Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise” (Jas. 5:13).  Back to Top




THOUGHTS ABOUT THE RAISING OF CHILDREN
By Larry Beckham

It would be nice if we were able to wave a magic wand over these cute little bundles of energy, and see them transformed before our eyes into well-behaved, disciplined, and obedient children. Unfortunately, It doesn’t work that way.

There is an age-old principal that says the more you put into something, the more you will get out of it. This applies to Bible classes, marriage and raising children. If you take the time to work, teach and play with your children, they will reward you with their love and devotion. At the same time, you will learn valuable lessons from them on patience, forgiveness, and being tender-hearted.

If, on the other hand, you are a parent who is more interested in a job than children, you will be missing so much in your life. Fathers of days gone by used to think it was only the wife’s role to be in charge of child care. This type of thinking caused them to cheat themselves, as well as their children, out of so much. It is amazing the bonding and closeness that can develop while changing a baby’s diaper, feeding, or bathing them. These are opportunities that can be used to begin teaching about God and the wonderful world He made. Thankfully, many fathers of today are now taking a much more active role in raising their children. If you’re not one of them, perhaps you need to give some serious consideration to this matter. When those little arms are squeezing your neck, you will find that it is all worthwhile.

There is no absolute way of raising a child; much depends upon the individual. I would like to mention a few basic principles.

1. GIVE PRAISE. In the early years, giving praise when deserved is essential to building the child’s self-esteem. When Daddy is kissed by a sticky peanut-butter-and-jelly mouth, he had better love and appreciate it, rather than criticize. Someday those kisses that he wants so much won’t be there. I remember when our second daughter accomplished the feat of using the potty chair for the first time. My wife praised her, my other daughter praised her, and we all gave her a standing ovation. We almost took pictures of the blessed event. She enjoyed being the center of attention, but we simply wanted her to know that what she had done pleased us greatly.

2. DISCIPLINE. It is hard to discipline with consistency. There are times when short tempers, hard days, and bad moods get in the way of being fair and dealing with the situation properly. When Daddy buys a new car and a tricycle scratches it, your first impulse is to call the orphan’s home. But when those big ol’ blue eyes look up at you, and you see those tears running down her cheek, and she says with a sob in her voice, “I’m sorry,” that heart of cold stone is suddenly melted. When I was a child, and about to be spanked, my father would say, “This is going to hurt me a lot more than it’s going to hurt you.” Let’s face it, this just doesn’t make any sense to a six year old. But, now that I have children of my own, I realize how much truth was in my father’s statement.

There are times when spankings are the only thing that works.  God knew this when He inspired Solomon to write, “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently” (Prov. 13:24). If your child is being openly defiant and challenging your authority as a parent, that is the time to let him know in no uncertain terms who is the boss. On the other hand, if he accidentally spills his milk, there is no need for harsh measures to be taken; this is simply part of being a child. It is all the ground in between that can be difficult for a parent to decide how to handle. My advice is to do the best you can, use the Bible as your child-rearing manual, and pray to God for wisdom. Many of the spankings in our household are preceded by an explanation of the offense committed and of the necessity of obedience. Without it, the home is in an uproar, both physically and spiritually. As adults, it is just as necessary that we obey God, not pleasing ourselves, but as a servant doing that which He wants us to do.

3. BECOME CHILDLIKE. Children have many great attributes that grownups need to imitate. They are usually honest. Several years ago our youngest daughter came to her mother one day and said, “Mess, mess.” She then led Mommy to her room where cross-stitching thread had been strewn across the floor. She knew she had done wrong, and in her own little way had confessed to Mommy. She wanted to make it right. Do we? Or do we try to cover up our mistakes and hope nobody finds out? We are commanded, “Confess your faults one to another” (Jas. 5:16).

I believe that Christ must have liked children and seen in them the attributes needed to obtain a home in heaven, as reflected in His statement, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matt. 19:14).
 
In conclusion, let me assure you that there will be difficult times, times when you want to pull your hair out, times to bandage cuts and bruises, to walk the floor with a sick child, and times to kiss away the tears caused by a broken heart. But these are the times that draw us closer to this precious heritage the Lord has given us.

When I come home after a hard day’s work, my girls have a race to the door to see who gets to hug Daddy first. I pick them both up, and hugging and kissing abounds. These are some of the rewards of raising children, and at moments like those I feel I have more than all the riches of Solomon.  Back to Top



GOSPEL LIGHT OR “LIGHT” GOSPEL?
By Al Diestelkamp

There are all kinds of foods and beverages on the market which bear the word “lite” along with the product name. Those marketing these products claim the “lite” version contains less calories or less fat than one would expect from the same product without the “lite” label. Consumers usually find it also means less taste.

For centuries sectarians have been tampering with the original “recipe” as far as the gospel is concerned. Each denomination has come up with its own “new and improved” formula and has branded it as gospel.

Why do men dare to take a perfect gospel message and change it? Because it sells! The apostle Paul warned that men would “not endure sound doctrine” and would seek teachers who would say what they wanted to hear (2 Tim. 4:3-4). He warned that some would teach “things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain” (Tit. 1:11).

Heeding these warnings, we in the Lord’s church have been quite militant against anything we see as an attempt to “pervert the gospel of Christ” (Gal. 1:7). Even when perversion arises within the body of Christ from brethren who may have good intentions a remnant is willing to “let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:9) rather than accept error.

When you examine the divisions which have occurred in the church in modern times, the modifications to the gospel have always been cloaked in good intentions. Brethren imagined new ways of drawing more people to the gospel with carnal enticements, social appeals or by tempering the message.

Today, in a time when interest in true Bible teaching is at a low point, the temptation to sacrifice conviction for “results” must be resisted. There is a perception in some congregations (promoted by a few preachers) that successful evangelism is hampered by strong convictions. As a result they seek out one who preaches a “lite” gospel, appealing to more people. It feels good “going down,” but, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth of one who loves truth.  Back to Top
   



HONEST STUDY OF SENSITIVE ISSUES
By John Hendrix

There have ever been questions and issues among members of the church that—for one reason or another—tend to generate very emotional reactions. The issues obtain a certain celebrity status and sometimes even get their own abbreviation (like MDR for Marriage/Divorce and Remarriage).  Debates are held, sides are chosen and emotions run so hot that many lose the ability to honestly study the questions.

To restore calm, members begin to halt all discussion whatsoever. “Live and let live” becomes the uniting cry and only the “Pharisees” continue to discuss them. We call a man a “Hobbiest” if he thinks we ought to continue the discussions. He is “majoring in minors” because—by common decree, I suppose—we have determined that the question just is not important. If he persists there are accusations of divisiveness and talk of withdrawal.

I know full well that there are divisive people in the church, people who love arguments much more than they love the truth. And we have many people who seem determined to inflame discussions, disobeying God by not seasoning their speech with salt (Col 4:6). Edification is not the motivation for their speech.

Yet a cease fire is not a peace treaty. Unity is not “agreeing to disagree.” What is needed is a calm and deliberate approach toward gaining a common understanding of God’s word. When we refer to Bible questions as “opening up a can of worms,” we have stopped striving to speak and practice the same thing (Phil. 3:16).

“But people get angry whenever we discuss the head covering.” Why? Is it because wearing one or taking one off is a hard and difficult thing? If you believe that a woman should wear one—and a man should not—whenever a prayer is offered, calmly turn to the Bible and explain your thinking. If you believe the covering is long hair instead of a veil, show the Bible proof. If you think the covering does not apply today, open your Bible and explain why.

If we share a love for the truth we will be able to talk about this issue as Christians should. And this is true of all other questions: Can a Christian serve in the military? Can a Christian kill in war?  May the church offer the Lord’s supper more than once on the Lord’s day?

Do not stand ready to silence these questions with anger, accusations, or name calling. Stand ready to give a Bible answer. If you cannot, hold your tongue and try to learn.  Back to Top