The Only Man With the Right to These Words

Psalm 22:1:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

If you think about it, Jesus Christ is the only man who can truly utter these words.

Christians sometimes feel forsaken by God. They wonder where God is in their suffering and pain. King David certainly did when he penned these words, but he was not truly forsaken. He is the same man who wrote, “most certainly goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” David deserved to be forsaken for his sin, yet because of God’s covenantal mercy and steadfast love, he was never truly forsaken. If the promises of God can be trusted, then the promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” cannot be broken. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. 

Others may feel forsaken by God. If Jesus is not their Savior, they cannot truly say, “My God, my God!" God is not their god. Someone or something else has first place in their heart and life. No wonder they feel forsaken by their gods. They are no gods at all and they are impotent to help and save. If they accusingly ask God, “Why have you forsaken me?” He has every right to respond, “Forsaken you? You refuse to trust me. You have forsaken me. You are on the path of your own choosing. I am only giving you what your rebellion deserves."

Only Jesus Christ can truly utter those lines. Only he can say, “MY God…MY God, Why have you forsaken ME?" He was THE Son of God. He was perfectly faithful to His Father. And the Father turned his face away. He didn’t just feel forsaken. He really was forsaken. And all so that God-forsakers like us, who trust in Jesus to save them from just condemnation, will never, ever, ever be forsaken.

When Pro-Life Rubber Meets the Road

Mobile Care Units. This is a GREAT idea. Check out this article about what the Pregnancy Resource Center is doing in Charlotte.

THIS is a Teacher

This is a beautiful embodiment of 1 Timothy 1:5 (in more than one way):

"The goal of our instruction is love..."

What do you like about Sunday School? from seeJesus on Vimeo.

HT: JT

Why Do We Turn Away?

You've heard about the Planned Parenthood videos in the news. Have you actually watched them? If you haven't, why haven't you? Have you asked yourself that question? Do you want to avoid facing these grisly realities?

If you have reticence, how many of those you interact with at work or in the neighborhood or at school have actually watched the videos? I bet lots of people who are listening to and talking about the political commentary have not viewed the videos.

So, I'm writing here for three reasons:

1) To encourage you to read this article by Russ Douthat entitled, "Looking Away From Abortion."

Here's one brief sample from the article:

...it’s precisely a fetus’s humanity that makes its organs valuable...more than just “products of conception” or tissue for the knife.

That’s why Planned Parenthood’s apologists have fallen back on complaints about “deceptive editing” (though full videos were released in both cases), or else simply asked people to look away. And it’s why many of my colleagues in the press seem uncomfortable reporting on the actual content of the videos. 

Because dwelling on that content gets you uncomfortably close to...that moment when you start pondering the possibility that an institution at the heart of respectable liberal society is dedicated to a practice that deserves to be called barbarism.

2) To encourage you to push back any reticence to watch these videos, and to go and watch them.

3) To be prepared to ask others if they've watched the videos. And if they haven't, to ask them why.

If we Christians want our nation to face the horrific realities of abortion and abortion practice, then we Christians need to be willing to face the horrific realities of abortion and abortion practice. Don't look away. And be prepared to ask others why they do.

Planned Parenthood News and Commentary

By now, you've seen the sting videos (see this if you're bothered by the ethics of sting videos in the service of righteousness) and heard all kinds of commentary and reaction for and against Planned Parenthood. As Christians, outrage at this horrific evil is righteous. Indifference and silence and avoidance is morally repulsive in the face of such atrocities. This does not mean we scream and spew hate. It does mean we weep and plead with God for his merciful intervention. And it means we speak up and seek to influence and persuade. 

One helpful perspective you may not have considered is represented here in a post by Rosaria Butterfield. She grew up thinking that Planned Parenthood upheld "family values." Read it and ponder the fact that some of the people you work with or live by or go to school with grew up much in the same way. And God is just as able to grab hold of them as he did Rosaria. Maybe he'll even use you!

Finally (for this post anyway), Justin Taylor has posted lots of helpful commentary on his blog. This update contains lots of helpful information, including some ways we can take action. Now that the Senate defunding vote has been taken and a 5th video has been posted, it is a bit "dated", but still helpful.

What You Should Know About the Planned Parenthood Defunding Vote

Joe Carter answers some FAQ's on yesterday's vote.

Why Did Jesus Say What He Said?

Why did Jesus teach the way he taught? Why did he say the things he said? I'm sure there are lots of answers to those questions.

This morning I found three reasons, in close proximity, that were pretty thrilling. They combine to paint a beautiful portrait of our Savior's love and goodness. Who wouldn't want to listen to this man?!

John 15:11:

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 16:1:

I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.

John 16:33: 

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Responding to the SCOTUS Decision and a Quickly Changing Cultural Landscape

In the wake of the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage, the church, and individual Christians, will face a variety of challenges. As I mentioned on Sunday in a message on Ephesians 5:22-33, we must be people of Christian conviction AND people of Christlike kindness. Not either/or; both/and.

As we seek to faithfully follow Jesus and speak the truth in love, we will need help to think and speak with clarity, wisdom, and grace. So, let me direct your attention to several helpful resources.

Russell Moore is the president of the Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission (of the Southern Baptist Convention). I can't recommend his work too highly. I'm so glad God has raised up this voice for the church in our day. You'll find his website full of good resources on all kinds of issues. I'd suggest you subscribe to his blog so you can have his posts delivered to your email box (scroll down near the bottom on the right hand side and enter your email under where it says, "subscribe by email").

Some of his recent posts on the topic have been excellent:

Why the church should neither cave nor panic about the decision on gay marriage

How should you talk to your children about same-sex marriage?

The sexual revolution's coming refugee crisis

Kevin DeYoung is a pastor and author who is also a great gift to our generation. I can highly recommend just about everything he writes. He's written a number of helpful books. Most recently he wrote What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality. As we, the church, need to ensure we have clear, biblically informed convictions on these issues, this book is a great place to start.

He's also posted some helpful thoughts of late:

But what does the Bible say?

40 questions for Christians now waving rainbow flags

The Desiring God blog is also a great source of encouragement and wisdom on lots of issues. Here are a few of their contributions to this topic of late:

Voddie Bauckham addresses the question, "Is Gay Now the New Black?"

John Piper wrote, "So-Called Same-Sex Marriage: Lamenting the New Calamity"  

There's a whole lot more, but that's probably more than most of you will check out. That said, we will be wrestling with this one for awhile, and we need to do so wisely and graciously. The links above have one thing in common. They represent the both/and of conviction and kindness. May our responses be characterized by the same Christlike combination.

Dads, Disciple Your Future Son-in-Law (And Any Other Would-Be Suitors Who Prove Not to Be)

Fast forward to the time when one of my daughters is old enough to go on a date (like, in her 30s...okay, MAYBE in her 20s). My plan has long been to greet that guy at the door (this may be difficult when she's away at college, but I need to make it happen so he knows I am EVERYWHERE). I will have my 12 gauge shotgun leaning against my waist, with a shell in one hand and a Sharpie in the other.

Let's call him Joe (I hope his name isn't Joe -- ugh, that got me thinking about what his name is going to be...I don't like any of the names that came to mind). I will show him aforementioned shell, with "JOE" written on it with aforementioned Sharpie. And then I will ask him, "Is that how you spell your name?" And then I will proceed to tell him what time to have her home and how I expect him to treat her while they are out.

Any of you father's out there are welcome to use this idea. You can even borrow my gun and my Sharpie -- as long as it's not a date night.

That being said, I recently ran across a blog post on the Desiring God blog. It's entitled, "Dads, Date Your Daughter's Boyfriend." I'd pick a different title, but other than that it is REALLY GOOD. If you are a dad of a daughter - whether she's 2 or 22 - you need to read it.

And one more recommendation: if your daughter is in middle school or high school, read this post with her and talk about it. I did with Hannah on a recent "daddy-daughter date" and it was a good opportunity to talk through these issues proactively.

Bruce Jenner Responses

Bruce Jenner's transformation to Caitlyn has been all over the news lately. As Christians, how should we process and respond? 

Jon Bloom and James MacDonald both provide good examples.