The recent cluster of microcephaly cases and other neurological disorders reported in Brazil, following a similar cluster in French Polynesia in 2014, constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.Abortion proponents are now using the Zika outbreak to advocate for more abortions in Brazil and elsewhere in Central and South America. A February 3rd New York Times article reported that,
The surging medical reports of babies being born with unusually small heads during the Zika epidemic in Brazil are igniting a fierce debate over the country’s abortion laws, which make the procedure illegal under most circumstances.The essence of this “fierce debate” is that it is preferable that children with disabilities related to microcephaly be aborted rather than be born.
Wherever you turn on this planet and see a living person, you are seeing an image of absolute reality, ultimate reality, original reality — the Word, who was with God and was God, and was Life. You have never met an ordinary human being. There are none. They are all extraordinary. They are all amazing.We are all image bearers. Notice that Pastor John does not modify his statement with “except if they have a disability.” He would have been blasphemously wrong if he had. God kindly and specifically informs us in his word that disability is also under his sovereign authority (Exodus 4:11; John 9:1–3). Again, I do not expect non-Christians to understand our hope. But I do encourage Christians to cling in faith to God’s word and behave accordingly:
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16–18)As Christians, we do not address suffering by destroying the person who is suffering. We attack viruses to prevent outbreaks and eliminate mosquitos and develop vaccines and send medical professionals and go ourselves — we don’t kill little human beings. We trust that his promises of supply (Philippians 4:19) are true and his predestined plans (Acts 4:28) are perfect. We can respond in proactive, loving ways to families experiencing microcephaly, and every other disability, because our hope is in God and not ourselves.
Chances are you are among the massive majority of Christians who rarely or never fast. It’s not because we haven’t read our Bibles or sat under faithful preaching or heard about the power of fasting, or even that we don’t genuinely want to do it. We just never actually get around to putting down the fork.
Did you know that almost six out of ten teens leave the church at some point? Nearly 60% of high school students who grow up going to church will close the doors to a Christian life. And usually, they don't come back (survey by the Barna Group). "Because of people breaking the laws and sin being everywhere, the love in the hearts of many people will become cold." Matthew 24:12
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