Baby Baby

                How is it that fifty million deaths have occurred and it is labeled lawful? The next statement I make will insult you, your way of life, and your “moral” code if you are pro-choice. There, you have fair warning. I challenge you to take your beliefs and reasoning and see how they stack up against not mine, but God and The Bible. The Roe vs. Wade decision of 1973, the one where The US Supreme Court concluded that the unborn child was not really human or a person, therefore was not protected by the right to life assured “persons” by the US Constitution. Furthermore, The Supreme Court concluded that the unborn fetus was merely a part of the mother’s body, not a separate human individual. If memory serves, another landmark case, the Dred Scott decision had The Supreme Court concluding incorrectly that black slaves were not really persons and therefore had no rights under the constitution.

            It is interesting to note that most often, when someone is planning to terminate the life of the unborn, and destroy this miracle of God’s creation, they refer to the unborn as the “fetus” or the “embryo.” By contrast, when they plan to keep the child and cherish it, it is always known as “my baby” or “my child.” Did you ever hear anyone say “I’m going to have a little fetus?” Did you ever hear an abortionist say, “We’re going to kill the little baby?” Our respect for the unborn seems to be strangely affected by the circumstances or semantics.

            First, let’s set up the stage.

Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.”

             Most Christians have concluded that in those very few instances where the life of the mother is at stake, an abortion is justified. However, modern medical technology has virtually eliminated this terrible choice. In almost every case where the mother’s life is jeopardized, the baby can be taken by Cesarean Section and the doctor can do all that is humanly possible to keep the child alive.

          Is rape and/or incest a justification for abortion? Evidence indicates that less than one percent of the abortions in America today are the result of rape or incest.

         Does destroying the unborn baby eradicate the tragedy of the rape? The answer is no.

         Don’t cry out choice. Let me make it clearer. When does life begin? Surely you don’t think a fetus becomes a baby at birth. Do you think the fetus is magically transformed into a breathing little thing thanks to the marvels of medical science? If so, why, please think, why do expecting mommies and pops  gush when listening to the heartbeat of the fetus? You don’t have to look too far to see the plan of life. Look in Genesis. God breathed into Adam. He instructed Eve on the pains of her future childbirth. Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines human as “having human form or attributes.” It further defines being “substance, nature, or essence of anything existent, one that exists.”

           Can anyone rationally conclude the unborn child is not a human being? To suggest it is not a “being” is to suggest it doesn’t exist. Certainly, it does exist and it is, therefore, a “being.” Further, to suggest it is not a human being is to imply it must be some other kind of being. If it is some other kind of being, what kind is it? Is it a pig, a cow, or a duck? Is it a vegetable, or perhaps some inorganic thing? Surely, this developing child within the mother’s womb, from the moment of conception, is a human being. While we are looking up words, let us see what Webster says about abortion:

The termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus. a: spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus during the first 12 weeks of gestation b : induced expulsion of a human fetus c : expulsion of a fetus by a domestic animal often due to infection at any time before completion of pregnancy

            Did you read C? Expulsion of a fetus by a domestic animal. Are we domesticated animals now instead of being formed by the hand of God? Two words not found in The Bible are Embryo and fetus. Consider the marvelous occasion when Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, several months pregnant with John the Baptist. When the good news of the Messiah’s coming was declared, the Bible says: “The babe leaped in her womb...” (Luke 1:41,44). Luke further declares that John was “filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15). The Holy Ghost only fills people, not tissue or cells.

           The Greek word for baby is (βρεφος) brephos. It is the same word used here in this passage for the unborn baby in Elizabeth’s womb. The Thayer Greek Lexicon defines brephos as “embryo, fetus, newborn child, young child or nursing child.” This same word is used to describe Jesus in the manger (Luke 2:16) and Timothy as a “child” learning the scriptures (2 Tim. 3:15)

In 1967, the first International Congress on Abortion was held in Washington D.C., six years before abortion became legal. At that conference, there were 60 major authorities from the fields of medicine, ethics, law, and social sciences. After several days ,this was their official statement passed with only 1 dissenting vote: “The majority of our group could find no point in time between conception and the birth of an infant at which point we could say that the fetus is not a human life. The changes occurring between implantation, a 6-week embryo, a 6-month fetus, a 1-week-old child, and a mature adult are mere stages of development. Here’s a weightier statement from God in Jeremiah 1:5:   

Before I formed thee in the womb I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee...

Choice is for choosing medium or large fries not whether a baby is allowed to live or is literally ripped apart inside you because his/her life is inconvenient at the moment. All life is precious because The Bible says it is. Right now, those who disagree are jumping and saying, soldiers kill, the same law that says abortion is choice also practices capital punishment “It is hypocritical,” opponents say to decry abortion, but uphold the death penalty. Even though The Bible clearly commands, “Thou shalt not kill,” and even though the Bible continually affirms the sanctity of all human life, The Bible does allow the taking of human life in instances of flagrant and serious crimes, such as murder, rape, incest, and child sacrifice. Capital offenses were sometimes punished by the death of the offender.

              However, in every instance where God allowed or even commanded the death of a human being, it was in response to that person’s serious crime. God does not condone the death of an innocent human being. THAT IS THE KEY, FRIENDS. GOD, not a politician, a judge, a rape victim, or an inconvenienced girl COMMANDED IT. THERE IS NO INSTANCE IN THE SCRIPTURE WHERE THE BIBLE TEACHES OR GOD CONDONES THE DEATH OF THE UNBORN CHILD. King David killed many people who attacked Israel, and God was with him as he did so. But when he killed one single innocent man, Uriah, God was much displeased and held him accountable.
           

Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor said from the bench in a case concerning decency, “The evolving standards of decency mark the progress of a maturing society.” It is because of this evolving standard of decency that has not matured, but “manured” our society calling abortion a choice. Your body your choice? Eve thought that too. Look up Genesis chapter 3.

Due to copyright issues, I cannot show the information from the Barna Group, but feel free to check out the information for yourself. The information considering Christians’ attitudes may surprise you. It is a shame that we as a church, a people that say we love God even have to have a Sanctity of Life Sunday. Every day should be that for us. So Christian, you say disagree with abortion unless it’s a rape or a life or death situation for the mom? We can’t hold our bibles and say amen over the cries of the dead babies can we?  I leave you with this story called Lifetime.

LIFETIME

I remember the tenderness in your voice the first time I heard it. I remember you saying the silliest things. I knew you were the most important person in my life. I knew we were linked together. It is humbling to think God made me for you and you for me. We were made for his Glory. I remember the first visit to Doctor Livens and the words, “It’s positive. Congratulations you’re pregnant.” It still seems like a dream that I will wake up from.

            Out of all the new experiences during the pregnancy, I remember the spicy pickled nachos that hit the spot. That was gross most people said I’m sure, but it’s not theirs to digest. I remember listening to Bach and Beethoven. I think I liked Bryan Adams too. I remember all the kicks and jabs that were delivered dancing to the beats. Looking back on all that now, I wish I could experience it again.

            In the early stages, I tried to imagine your face. I longed to feel your comforting, warming touch that would tell me all would be okay and the world is a good place to live, love, and grow. You were everything I wanted. Truth is, you were all I needed. All my life, some people called me names and didn’t think I deserved to have you in my life because of how things needed to be. I’m as much of a person as they are. I remember how excited I was to feel and hear your heartbeat. It made me feel as though we were the only ones in the world. I dreamed of the day we would hold one another and dance the night away.

            Do you remember the day, my hair was pulled back into pigtails and we spent the day snorting and having fun? What about the time my heart was broken and you promised to make it better with chocolate cake and scotch tape? I so long to cherish those precious memories, but I can’t.

What will you remember?

The truth is I don’t remember the pigtails, cake, or tape. I don’t remember the music. I can’t recall even hearing your voice unless it was the loud hateful sound that was constant. I was twelve weeks old. I was only with you for three months and you decided to kill me. I know you didn’t mean to get raped. You were the victim first before you became a murderer. I heard you call me a mistake. The politicians called me a fetus. God called me chosen when he created me. Did I want to call a rapist Daddy? No. Did I want to call a murderer Mom? I never had the chance.

I feared the word Misoprostol, but you let me live past the age range for that murderous death. Suction Aspiration is a nice way to say death. Mom, I remember trying to kick that suction thing away. It invaded my womb, my sanctuary! It started decimating my home and me! I open my mouth! I’m screaming! Mom, save me! Oh God it’s ripping my toes. I hear my limbs coming apart! I can’t see! My entire body is being savagely torn! This was not a choice! It’s murder! Can’t they hear my heartbeat? Can’t they see I’m not a fetus, or a mistake, but a child created by God? My body is gone!  

 “Is number one out?”

“What are you doing? What’s that metal thing on my head doing? Oh no! It’s bearing down on me! I can’t stop it! It hurts It hurts It h-----------------------------------.”

            If the baby could talk now, she would say that this has not been graphically presented as a fundamentalist scare tactic, but rather as a presentation of how far gone our society has plunged when the act of murder is semantically sabotaged and referred to as choice. Our current president, Barrack Hussein Obama once said he did not want his daughters punished with a mistake referring to “unplanned” pregnancy in his defense of murder known as abortion.

            With that being said, the same self-professed Christian president cannot say when life begins despite The Christian Bible making it clear. Christian people hold The Bible sacred, as God’s holy, inerrant (without error), Word. We know that God knit us in our mother’s womb and that He knows us before we are born. We know this because The Bible says it is so! In a Stephen King novel one character said, “God knows the truth and waits.” One day the unified voice of the murdered unborn will be heard with a loud trumpet. Woe be to those murderers in the guise of healers that killed helpless children and those who allowed it.

            Most murderous mommas say it was not an easy decision to make. Most regret it after learning the truth of God’s Word. Some will cling to the excuse that it was either her or the baby. It is what it is; ripping apart a living breathing creation inside your own body is not a procedure. It is murder. 

Baby Baby

                How is it that fifty million deaths have occurred and it is labeled lawful? The next statement I make will insult you, your way of life, and your “moral” code if you are pro-choice. There, you have fair warning. I challenge you to take your beliefs and reasoning and see how they stack up against not mine, but God and The Bible. The Roe vs. Wade decision of 1973, the one where The US Supreme Court concluded that the unborn child was not really human or a person, therefore was not protected by the right to life assured “persons” by the US Constitution. Furthermore, The Supreme Court concluded that the unborn fetus was merely a part of the mother’s body, not a separate human individual. If memory serves, another landmark case, the Dred Scott decision had The Supreme Court concluding incorrectly that black slaves were not really persons and therefore had no rights under the constitution.

            It is interesting to note that most often, when someone is planning to terminate the life of the unborn, and destroy this miracle of God’s creation, they refer to the unborn as the “fetus” or the “embryo.” By contrast, when they plan to keep the child and cherish it, it is always known as “my baby” or “my child.” Did you ever hear anyone say “I’m going to have a little fetus?” Did you ever hear an abortionist say, “We’re going to kill the little baby?” Our respect for the unborn seems to be strangely affected by the circumstances or semantics.

            First, let’s set up the stage.

Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.”

             Most Christians have concluded that in those very few instances where the life of the mother is at stake, an abortion is justified. However, modern medical technology has virtually eliminated this terrible choice. In almost every case where the mother’s life is jeopardized, the baby can be taken by Cesarean Section and the doctor can do all that is humanly possible to keep the child alive.

          Is rape and/or incest a justification for abortion? Evidence indicates that less than one percent of the abortions in America today are the result of rape or incest.

         Does destroying the unborn baby eradicate the tragedy of the rape? The answer is no.

Don’t cry out choice. Let me make it clearer. When does life begin? Surely you don’t think a fetus becomes a baby at birth. Do you think the fetus is magically transformed into a breathing little thing thanks to the marvels of medical science? If so, why, please think, why do expecting mommies and pops  gush when listening to the heartbeat of the fetus? You don’t have to look too far to see the plan of life. Look in Genesis. God breathed into Adam. He instructed Eve on the pains of her future childbirth. Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines human as “having human form or attributes.” It further defines being “substance, nature, or essence of anything existent, one that exists.”

           Can anyone rationally conclude the unborn child is not a human being? To suggest it is not a “being” is to suggest it doesn’t exist. Certainly, it does exist and it is, therefore, a “being.” Further, to suggest it is not a human being is to imply it must be some other kind of being. If it is some other kind of being, what kind is it? Is it a pig, a cow, or a duck? Is it a vegetable, or perhaps some inorganic thing? Surely, this developing child within the mother’s womb, from the moment of conception, is a human being. While we are looking up words, let us see what Webster says about abortion:

The termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus. a: spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus during the first 12 weeks of gestation b : induced expulsion of a human fetus c : expulsion of a fetus by a domestic animal often due to infection at any time before completion of pregnancy

            Did you read C? Expulsion of a fetus by a domestic animal. Are we domesticated animals now instead of being formed by the hand of God? Two words not found in The Bible are Embryo and fetus. Consider the marvelous occasion when Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, several months pregnant with John the Baptist. When the good news of the Messiah’s coming was declared, the Bible says: “The babe leaped in her womb...” (Luke 1:41,44). Luke further declares that John was “filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15). The Holy Ghost only fills people, not tissue or cells.

           The Greek word for baby is (βρεφος) brephos. It is the same word used here in this passage for the unborn baby in Elizabeth’s womb. The Thayer Greek Lexicon defines brephos as “embryo, fetus, newborn child, young child or nursing child.” This same word is used to describe Jesus in the manger (Luke 2:16) and Timothy as a “child” learning the scriptures (2 Tim. 3:15)

Choice is for choosing medium or large fries not whether a baby is allowed to live or is literally ripped apart inside you because his/her life is inconvenient at the moment. All life is precious because The Bible says it is. Right now, those who disagree are jumping and saying, soldiers kill, the same law that says abortion is choice also practices capital punishment “It is hypocritical,” opponents say to decry abortion, but uphold the death penalty. Even though The Bible clearly commands, “Thou shalt not kill,” and even though the Bible continually affirms the sanctity of all human life, The Bible does allow the taking of human life in instances of flagrant and serious crimes, such as murder, rape, incest, and child sacrifice. Capital offenses were sometimes punished by the death of the offender.

              However, in every instance where God allowed or even commanded the death of a human being, it was in response to that person’s serious crime. God does not condone the death of an innocent human being. THAT IS THE KEY, FRIENDS. GOD, not a politician, a judge, a rape victim, or an inconvenienced girl COMMANDED IT. THERE IS NO INSTANCE IN THE SCRIPTURE WHERE THE BIBLE TEACHES OR GOD CONDONES THE DEATH OF THE UNBORN CHILD.
           

Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor said from the bench in a case concerning decency, “The evolving standards of decency mark the progress of a maturing society.” It is because of this evolving standard of decency that has not matured, but “manured” our society calling abortion a choice. Your body your choice? Eve thought that too. Look up Genesis chapter 3.

Due to copyright issues, I cannot show the information from the Barna Group, but feel free to check out the information for yourself. The information considering Christians’ attitudes may surprise you. It is a shame that we as a church, a people that say we love God even have to have a Sanctity of Life Sunday. Every day should be that for us. So Christian, you say disagree with abortion unless it’s a rape or a life or death situation for the mom? We can’t hold our bibles and say amen over the cries of the dead babies can we?  I leave you with this story called Lifetime.

LIFETIME

I remember the tenderness in your voice the first time I heard it. I remember you saying the silliest things. I knew you were the most important person in my life. I knew we were linked together. It is humbling to think God made me for you and you for me. We were made for his Glory. I remember the first visit to Doctor Livens and the words, “It’s positive. Congratulations you’re pregnant.” It still seems like a dream that I will wake up from.

            Out of all the new experiences during the pregnancy, I remember the spicy pickled nachos that hit the spot. That was gross most people said I’m sure, but it’s not theirs to digest. I remember listening to Bach and Beethoven. I think I liked Bryan Adams too. I remember all the kicks and jabs that were delivered dancing to the beats. Looking back on all that now, I wish I could experience it again.

            In the early stages, I tried to imagine your face. I longed to feel your comforting, warming touch that would tell me all would be okay and the world is a good place to live, love, and grow. You were everything I wanted. Truth is, you were all I needed. All my life, some people called me names and didn’t think I deserved to have you in my life because of how things needed to be. I’m as much of a person as they are. I remember how excited I was to feel and hear your heartbeat. It made me feel as though we were the only ones in the world. I dreamed of the day we would hold one another and dance the night away.

            Do you remember the day, my hair was pulled back into pigtails and we spent the day snorting and having fun? What about the time my heart was broken and you promised to make it better with chocolate cake and scotch tape? I so long to cherish those precious memories, but I can’t.

What will you remember?

The truth is I don’t remember the pigtails, cake, or tape. I don’t remember the music. I can’t recall even hearing your voice unless it was the loud hateful sound that was constant. I was twelve weeks old. I was only with you for three months and you decided to kill me. I know you didn’t mean to get raped. You were the victim first before you became a murderer. I heard you call me a mistake. The politicians called me a fetus. God called me chosen when he created me. Did I want to call a rapist Daddy? No. Did I want to call a murderer Mom? I never had the chance.

I feared the word Misoprostol, but you let me live past the age range for that murderous death. Suction Aspiration is a nice way to say death. Mom, I remember trying to kick that suction thing away. It invaded my womb, my sanctuary! It started decimating my home and me! I open my mouth! I’m screaming! Mom, save me! Oh God it’s ripping my toes. I hear my limbs coming apart! I can’t see! My entire body is being savagely torn! This was not a choice! It’s murder! Can’t they hear my heartbeat? Can’t they see I’m not a fetus, or a mistake, but a child created by God? My body is gone!  

 “Is number one out?”

“What are you doing? What’s that metal thing on my head doing? Oh no! It’s bearing down on me! I can’t stop it! It hurts It hurts It h-----------------------------------.”

            If the baby could talk now, she would say that this has not been graphically presented as a fundamentalist scare tactic, but rather as a presentation of how far gone our society has plunged when the act of murder is semantically sabotaged and referred to as choice. Our current president, Barrack Hussein Obama once said he did not want his daughters punished with a mistake referring to “unplanned” pregnancy in his defense of murder known as abortion.

            With that being said, the same self-professed Christian president cannot say when life begins despite The Christian Bible making it clear. Christian people hold The Bible sacred, as God’s holy, inerrant (without error), Word. We know that God knit us in our mother’s womb and that He knows us before we are born. We know this because The Bible says it is so! In a Stephen King novel one character said, “God knows the truth and waits.” One day the unified voice of the murdered unborn will be heard with a loud trumpet. Woe be to those murderers in the guise of healers that killed helpless children and those who allowed it.

            Most murderous mommas say it was not an easy decision to make. Most regret it after learning the truth of God’s Word. Some will cling to the excuse that it was either her or the baby. It is what it is; ripping apart a living breathing creation inside your own body is not a procedure. It is murder. 

Psalm 55

            Everyone regardless of status has problems, burdens, and rough times. David’s live was plagued with more trouble than most. He was hunted by King Saul not to mention his dysfunctional family ties to his sons. Like David, most of us can handle rough situations when trouble comes from those we know are out to get us. What happens though when the trouble comes from a trusted friend? In Psalm 55, we see the answer.  

[1] Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
[2] Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
[3] Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
[4] My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
[5] Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
[6] And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
[7] Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
[8] I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
[9] Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
[10] Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
[11] Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
[12] For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
[13] But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
[14] We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
[15] Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
[16] As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.
[17] Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
[18] He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
[19] God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
[20] He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken  his covenant.
[21] The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
[22] Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
[23] But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
      
             First, we see in the first verses a coming to God in times of trouble.
 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

            

                  As I have often reiterated, God hears the pleas of those who are his. That being said, everyone prays. I have no science or data o back that up, but I just know that every person regardless of “belief” or lack thereof will pray. Perhaps not to God, but they will pray. This may offend many of you, but God according to the Word does not hear the pleas from those who are not his children. Look at Isaiah 59:2 as a reference. Anyway, back to the original plan.  We see David praying here. David is broken by life, but through it all, he focuses on the one constant. God. He prays to God. How many of us are quick to proclaim to all who can hear in reality or facebook how life sucks, yet at the same time, we do not stop to pray to God. When someone dies, at the funeral there is always the person that says the obligatory statement, “Don’t take a day for granted. Tell everyone that you love, ‘I love you.’” I don’t think with jobs and other things of life occurring that we can talk to all of our friends and family every day, but think about this: When did you last talk with God? The lord is sovereign and he knows our hearts and thoughts, but prayer is an effective tool that he has designed for us. So when did we last talk to the very One that loves you enough to never forsake you?    

            Now we see why David was praying to God in this particular instance in verses three through eight.

Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
             
        For those who say you don’t understand The Bible, this is actually pretty simple. God, I’m praying because I’m scared. Everyone is against me. I feel like dying. If I could fly way, I would. Don’t say you haven’t felt like this because I know you have. We all have. Some days we feel like staying under the covers so we don’t have to face the monsters that await. Hold on, wait. Where is David longing to go? Silly question really. It’s not Gulf Shores. Heaven, friends. Heaven.  Amidst his troubles, again, David never loses sight of God because his faith was solid.

        

         Many Christians try to ignore David’s words in the Psalms when said words are vicious concerning his enemies, the enemies of God. All scripture is God breathed so I don’t shy away. Verses nine through eleven are again, straightforward.

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
            Sounds like today doesn’t it?

     

       Verses twelve through fourteen show us proverbial thorn hurting. David. Most of us I think can relate. If we have problems with those who are not our friends, we expect them to be um, jerks. The hurt we feel is unbearable when we are betrayed by those closest to us.

For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

            How many times do idiot people bring shame on the church body because they look from the cross to the carpet’s color, the Lord’s Supper calendar, the financial statements, or the type of music played or not played? David just said his betrayer went into God’s house together! No Christian would ever walk away from any church to another if they kept their eyes on Christ and their mouths shut from criticism, but open to praise and worshipping the One they claim to love. With that being said not to make light of the harsh situation David was in, but when you are betrayed by a friend, think about the pain you feel compared to Jesus. Christ was betrayed by both Judas and Peter. Now, if when you are betrayed the “friend” does not apologize then they most certainly are like Judas. What does Jesus teach about those who betray and persecute us?

            Ahithophel was a counselor of David who betrayed him, and followed after Absalom.
Ahithophel had walked by the side of David. He was a aide, an advisor, and yet he abandoned him, and turned against him to pursue after Absalom. Ahithophel is a type of Judas, and the anti-christ. Though Christ knew what Judas would do, it still must have burdened his heart that he did so!

Verse 15 really unsettles folks. It may because it makes them feel guilty FOR ECHOING David’s sentiments.

 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

            Let me connect this statement made by David to the mercy Christ instructs us to show. You may be asking, “What? David just said those who betrayed him can go to hell. What is up?”

First, David knew I believe as Christ later taught that the road to Heaven is narrow. David was speaking about the enemies of God not just those that pursued him. See, friends, one of David’s enemies was King Saul, a man chosen by God to be the first king of Israel. David demonstrated Christ’s compassion and mercy for those against him by sparing Saul’s life not once but twice. He did so stating he would not strike against a man that God had chosen. There have been and will continue to be forces against God and ultimately nations and people that continually reject him until the end are going to hell. Mortal men, though ever so high and strong, will easily be crushed by an eternal God. Those who are not reclaimed by the rod of affliction will certainly be brought down to the pit of destruction. The burden of afflictions is very heavy, especially when attended with the temptations of Satan; there is also the burden of sin and corruption. The only relief under it is, to look to Christ, who bore it.

Verses 16-22 show us what we are to do n times of trouble.

As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
            A friend visited an elderly woman badly crippled by arthritis. When asked, "Do you suffer much?" she responded, "Yes, but there is no nail here," and she pointed to her hand. "He had the nails, I have the peace." She pointed to her head. "There are no thorns here. He had the thorns, I have the peace." She touched her side. "There is no spear here. He had the spear, I have the peace." That is what the atonement of Jesus Christ means for us--He gave of himself so that we might have the peace. Peace. Jesus is also known as the Prince of Peace.

God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
            God is love. God is merciful. God is JUST. We deserve his justice, but we receive his mercy when we accept the Christ, the grace of the cross, the very love of God in Jesus taking our place on the cross.

            We have the final two verses that point us toward the way.

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
            The burden that we carry is not ours alone. Give it to God. If we give our trouble to God, we will be sustained. Life is hard and troubles overtake us at times, but God through Christ’s sacrifice has given us victory over those who are against God. Now I know that cynics will say that verse 22 is wrong because “bad” stuff happens to Christians all the time. It isn’t about bad stuff happening to Christians. It is about accepting God’s power in your life and accepting Him. He gets you through it by prayer. Hey unbeliever, you know that you have people, Christians praying for you. Deal with it.

But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

               David finishes this prayer with a strong statement of judgment to come for those who continue to live and die without knowing the Lord God Almighty as savior. Dale Earnhardt, The Intimidator," was approaching the last turn of the last lap of the Daytona 500 when his car was sent head-on into the wall at 180 mph. An autopsy revealed that he died from the force of his head whipping back and forth on his neck, and by the force of his chin hitting the steering wheel. It has been suggested by some that had he been wearing a device designed to support the head and neck in a collision, he may have survived. Earnhart refused to wear the device because it interfered with his ability to drive the car. That choice cost him his life. Those of you who do not believe in Jesus Christ are headed for a terrible collision: a collision with God’s Judgment. Faith in Jesus will save you from this terrible collision. You must decide to make use of what God has offered in Jesus Christ. It will save your life.

Historically Speaking

        

         Why Jesus? Let us see where this takes us. Every day people deny Christ. They deny him in life and with their last breath. I want to look at Jesus through the eyes of history. If you are one that denies that a man named Jesus from Nazareth even lived well, frankly, this piece will not appeal to you, but I hope you read it. As you read keep this in thought, Christianity is not a blind faith. It is the only religion that can prove itself, and a main source of that proof is the Bible.

         
         Before we go on, we need to look at our sources of information concerning Jesus. Opponents of Christ deny that He is God and, deny The Bible as God’s holy word, saying that is is an ancient book full of myths written by men. Okay then. Before looking at Christ, we need to look at evidence that supports The Bible as more than an old book, but as the holy, inspired word. By the way, Roman historians also document that the one known as Jesus lived.

Both the Old and New Testaments are strongly supported by manuscript evidence (the evidence of early hand written copies). The famous Dead Sea Scrolls are one example of the Old Testament evidence. These documents came from the “library” of a settlement founded at Qumran before 150 B.C. and abandoned about 68 A.D. Some of the manuscript copies were made during that period, and some were written earlier (third century BC) and brought to the settlement. Ignoring spelling-oriented (orthographic) changes and similar small differences, the Dead Sea Scrolls match the Hebrew text behind today’s Old Testament, in spite of the passage of over 2,000 years.

Over 20,000 known manuscripts document the New Testament text. This makes the New Testament the most reliable document of antiquity (a document written before the printing press).  Special proof exists for the New Testament, since Christians were strongly persecuted by both the Jews and the Roman government. If the New Testament writings were false, these two groups would have produced a great deal of evidence to stop the growth of this “sect.” None exists. Further, the New Testament writings (before they were assembled into the “book” we call the New Testament) circulated during the lifetimes of thousands of people who had actually seen Jesus’ miracles and other historic events. No one ever refuted the New Testament writings as “fairy tales.” The Bible contains prophecies about the coming Messiah. Hundreds of years after they were written, Jesus fulfilled them.

            Many critics have challenged the historical accuracy of the Bible, and have been proven wrong. Let me provide one example. Historians questioned the accuracy of the accounts surrounded Pontius Pilate's crucifixion of Jesus. Pilate found nothing wrong with him and was reluctant to crucify an innocent man. The Jews put pressure on Pilate saying that if you refuse this "you are no friend of Caesar" (John 19:12). At which point Pilate gave in to the Jews. This did not fit any historical records we had of Pilate who was a cruel and dominating man, not likely to give in to a group of Jews whom he hated. Many believed that this account was historically inaccurate because of the way in which it portrayed Pilate.

Later it was discovered that Pilate had been appointed by a man named Sejanus who was plotting to overthrow Caesar. Sejanus was executed along with many of his appointees (Delashmutt, Sejanus, p. 55, 56). What this demonstrated was that Pilate was in no position to get in trouble with Rome. The Jews had him in a tight place. If word returned to Rome that Jerusalem was in rebellion, Pilate would be the first to go. The gospel account was confirmed as accurate.

Many facts recorded in the Bible have been challenged with the same result, later archeology confirms the reliability of the biblical records down to the smallest detail. A respected Jewish archaeologist has claimed that, "It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference" (Shelly, p. 103). This is a strong statement for any archaeologist to make because if it were not true, he would quickly be condemned in his own field.

One of the key points missed by the agnostic and liberal critics of the literal Gospel record is that the Jews of the first century of the Christian era possessed a unique ability to remember and record the statements of Jesus of Nazareth that would be deemed almost impossible by modern readers. The ancient Jews of Israel had developed sophisticated memory techniques to remember every word of a discourse by their rabbi. Their ability to recount verbatim long speeches or teaching would astonish modern teachers and critics of the Gospel record. Over the centuries the religious leaders of Israel had developed advanced memory techniques to enable their students to remember in remarkable detail every single statement of their religious teachers. An example of this oral memory technique can be found in the specially trained Maori tribesmen of New Zealand can remember and recount for several days during annual festivals a verbal rendition of their 4,000 year old tribal history.

The conclusion that one draws from this material is that the Bible is a reliable historical document. Its accuracy has been proved numerous times. Its historical inaccuracy has never been demonstrated. So that when we approach the Bible, we do so with confidence that what it records actually happened. If this is true, then we need to come to terms about what the Bible claims. We cannot dismiss it out of hand because we were not there, regardless of the difficulty of what is said (Lang). This brings us to Jesus.

The popular historian Will Durant, himself not a Christian, wrote concerning Christ's historical validity, "The denial of that existence seems never to have occurred even to the bitterest gentile or Jewish opponents of nascent Christianity" (Durant, The Story of Civilization, vol. 3, p. 555). And again, "That a few simple men should in one generation have invented so powerful and appealing a personality, so lofty an ethic and so inspiring a vision of human brotherhood, would be a miracle far more incredible than any recorded in the Gospels" (Ibid., p. 557). In other words, even those who hated Christianity to begin with in the early days could not deny its cornerstone, Jesus Christ’s existence.

You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.

I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God'. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of thing Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic  on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse.
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

President Abraham Lincoln was an agnostic until he reached the age of forty. Then he read Dr. James Smith's brilliant examination called The Christian's Defence, that established the historical reality of the events in Christ's life. The evidence from this book convinced Lincoln of the truth about Jesus, and he became a genuine Christian. "My doubts scattered to the winds and my reason became convinced by the arguments in support of the inspired and infallible authority of the Old and New Testaments."

Follow the domino effect. If The Bible is a historically accurate document that contains nada, zero errors, and Jesus claims to be God, the same Jesus that fulfilled the Messianic prophecies listed in said historically accurate document, all should see what the conclusion is. Earlier I said Christianity is the only religion that can prove itself. That is true. Christianity is also the only religion where the cornerstone is God. All others follow people claiming insight on the ways of the world. Jesus Christ is the only “religious” figure that claimed to be God and actually backed it up. If you are denying Christ as God, you in essence are denying historical records that align with scientific and archaeological facts. Instead of what I say, let us look at what Jesus said in regards to Himself.     

In Luke 22:70 and John 8:58, Jesus answers questions put to him by the Pharisees that declare Himself to be on “God’s level.” Notice how Jesus answered their questions by saying “I am.” (Ego eimi in Greek.) Ego eimi is not a translation of YHWH, but it is similar to our translating YHWH into “I AM” in English. This choice of words was not lost on the Jewish audience He was talking to! They immediately wanted to kill Jesus for blasphemy. That is, the Jews believed that by comparing Himself to God in that way, that Jesus deserved death. They clearly understood the implication Jesus was making—that He was the same as God. Please look at these other statements:

John 4:25,26 - Jesus acknowledged to the Samaritan woman that He was the Messiah (Christ).

John 9:35-37 - He told a blind man He had healed that He was the Son of God.
Matthew 26:63-66 - During His trial in the presence of His enemies, Jesus acknowledged that He was the Christ, the Son of God.
In addition, He allowed various other disciples to make such claims for Him (John 11:27; Matt. 14:33; John 1:29,34,49).
John 15:27 - He told His apostles that they would bear witness of Him, because they had been with Him from the beginning.
Mark 2:3-12; Luke 7:48,49 - Jesus claimed to have power to directly forgive sins. This is a work only God can do.
Matthew 20:28 - He came to give His life a ransom for many.
John 3:13-15 - Jesus claimed He came down from heaven so that whoever believes in Him can have eternal life.
John 14:6 - I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me.

John 10:27-30- My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

            The decision to follow Christ is not a matter of the intellect, but of the heart. It is you taking a leap of faith in The Bible as God’s holy word, and in Jesus Christ as THE SAVIOR. Regardless of the proofs presented here, it comes down to you and your realization that you are a sinner like all of us in need of forgiveness by the very blood of Christ. I pray that you at least think about what is written here by me and what God, Jesus Christ in the flesh did for you over 2000 years ago.