Coldly Calculating the Price of Human Life

Abortion has been on the mind of many Houstonians lately, especially with the construction of an enormous new clinic in our midst. How do you calculate the price of a human life? An article from the National Review blog gives a chilling parallel…

And don’t imagine that we do not coldly calculate the price of a human life. In 1974, the speed limit was lowered to 55 mph to conserve oil. That also led to a dramatic drop in traffic fatalities — approximately 3,000 lives every year. This didn’t stop us, after the oil crisis, from raising the speed limit back to 65 and beyond — knowing that thousands of Americans would die as a result.

The calculation was never explicit, but it was nevertheless real. We were quite prepared to trade away a finite number of human lives for speed, and for the efficiency and convenience that come with it.

(HT: National Review)

Great Life Video

(HT: Justin Taylor)

“He Saw My Unformed Substance”

I agree with Russell Moore (see below) about hating Sanctity of Life Sunday. However, yesterday was a good day also…mainly because I got to hear my fellow elder Billy Newhouse deliver what is probably the best message he’s ever preached!

The preview? Check it out…
The topic? Abortion (Sanctity of Life Sunday)
The text? Psalm 139 (mainly verses 13-16)
The title? “Acceptable Murder?”
The audio? Right here.

Other related resources:

Russ Moore explains why he hates Sanctity of Life Sunday.

An Open Letter to Barack Obama from Ron Jones, pastor of Immanuel Bible Church, urging him to reconsider his views on abortion. (HT: Challies)

C.J. Mahaney, preaching at CHBC on Psalm 47–The Troubled Soul. Mark Dever said that it was “a balm to the soul. You could hear the quiet weeping of many saints at the silent moment after the benediction. The Lord was obviously faithful.” (HT: CJ and 9 Marks)

Sunday we gave away copies of Randy Alcorn’s new book called “Why Pro Life?” These were really cheap and perfect to give away to folks! If you’re interested, visit this website.

What Did He Mean By “Above My Paygrade?”

Obama answers that question regarding his response to Rick Warren at the Saddleback Church forum and a few others about his faith in the below “This Week” interview.

(HT: Real Clear Politics)

New TBI Curriculum Now Available!

From Desiring God:

Our new TBI Curriculum, Abortion Is About God: Reframing a Moral Issue, is available and ready to ship. We are taking orders at our website. Again, this is a six-week Sunday School curriculum advancing the truth that the deepest evil of abortion is that it defies God’s supremacy over life in the womb. Students will gain a deeper understanding of this issue by closely examining key biblical passages, answering provocative questions, and considering sermons and writings from the ministry of John Piper.

On the website, you will find an Annotated Table of Contents and an Explanation of the Curriculum.

YouTube Video: John Piper on Abortion and the Supremacy of God
In a recent interview, John Piper discussed the relationship between abortion and the supremacy of God. He addressed the amazing person-forming work of God in the womb, the connection between the cause of racial harmony and the pro-life movement, and reasons for hope that the pro-life cause will triumph in the end. This video may be found here and embedded on your website.

Special Introductory Price
Normally, this curriculum would cost $25 for an Instructor’s Guide and $15 for a Student’s Workbook. However, we are launching this curriculum with an initial 20% discount ($20 for an Instructor’s Guide and $12 for a Student’s Workbook).

Special Introductory Promotion
Also, as a special introductory promotion, we are including a free copy of Randy Alcorn’s book Why Pro Life? with every order of an Instructor’s Guide or Student’s Workbook. In this book, Randy Alcorn offers compassionate, factual answers to the central issues of the abortion debate. We are grateful to Randy for his partnership in the gospel and the cause of the unborn.

Don’t Be Fooled By His Oratory Ability

Thanks to Justin Taylor for posted the below video of Obama giving a speech to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund (July 17, 2007). Sometimes we only see him with the American flag draped behind him speaking about more jobs and cleaner air. But, it’s a whole new ballgame when you see the Planned Parenthood logo behind him. Don’t be fooled by his oratory ability. His agenda is clear. Click here to read Justin’s post.

Let’s pray for our leaders realizing that the Lord sets up leaders (kings) and brings them down. Lord, come quickly!

Abortion is an Injustice…Against God

Previously on Mercy Swimiming I have mentioned a new course being put together by the Bethlehem Institute entitled Abortion Is About God: Reframing a Moral Issue. Below you will find the most recent publicity for the course that seeks to sound the trumpet for the unborn!

The official launch date for the course will be August 18th, 2008. For more information please visit the Bethlehem Institute online or Desiring God.

“In this urgent moment, it is our conviction at The Bethlehem Institute that the church needs to be reminded that abortion is primarily and ultimately an injustice against God.

As John Piper has said,

Abortion is about God, the Creator of the universe, the Giver and Sustainer of all life, the Judge of the living and the dead, the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the Redeemer and Forgiver of all who trust him. Abortion is about God.

To leave God out of the picture of abortion is to trivialize it. All things are trivial without God. God is the ultimate reality over the universe. All other reality is derivative and dependent and has no ultimate meaning at all without reference to God the ultimate reality. In him we live and move and have our being. If we leave him out of account, we know nothing of any lasting significance about ourselves or the world. (From the sermon, “Where Does Child Killing Come From?” available at http://www.desiringgod.org)

To that end, we have designed a unique six-week Sunday School curriculum advancing the truth that the deepest evil of abortion is that it defies God’s supremacy over life in the womb. Entitled Abortion Is About God: Reframing a Moral Issue, the course will aim to provide a biblical and theological foundation for the pro-life cause. Moreover, the course will aim to bring a God-centered perspective to bear on this contested issue.

In addition to asserting that abortion is fundamentally an offense to the glory of the Creator, the curriculum will celebrate the sovereignty of God over all of life, will lift up the good gifts of children and parenthood, and will proclaim the mercy freely offered to all through the gospel. Students will gain a deeper understanding of this issue by closely examining key biblical passages, answering provocative questions, and considering sermons and writings from the ministry of John Piper. It is our prayer that this course would be used by God to awaken the church afresh to the horror of abortion as a belittling of the glory of God and an assault on those made in His image.”

Abortion Is About God: Reframing a Moral Issue

This post is meant to introduce you to material from Desiring God on the issue of abortion entitled Abortion Is About God: Reframing a Moral Issue. Here is a preview of what to expect:

This course will advance the biblical truth that abortion is fundamentally an offense to the glory of the Creator, as well as celebrate the sovereignty of God over all of life, while seeking to provide a biblical and theological grounding for the pro-life cause from a God-centered perspective. Students will gain a deeper understanding of this issue by closely examining the key biblical passages regarding the issue of abortion, answering provocative questions, and considering sermons and writings from the ministry of John Piper.

When is it coming out?

With an election year upon us, our plan is to begin shipping this course in mid-August 2008 so that churches can use it prior to the election to anchor biblical convictions about the transcendent moral issue of our time.

What’s the goal?

Our goal is not primarily political (though we hope that Christians would exercise their rights as citizens and seek to influence the culture through the political process). Rather our aim is fundamentally theological. Abortion is not merely the killing of human beings; it is an assault on God’s rights as Creator. Our prayer is that this course would be used by God to awaken the church afresh to the horror of abortion as a belittling of the glory of God and an assault on those made in His image.

Stay tuned to the DG website and to this blog for further information on this timely course!