Scary Decision in the UK

You may think the issue of whether or not marriage is between one man and one woman is not an issue that affects you, but a recent decision in the UK reveals otherwise. The case is of a man who was fired from his counseling job because he would not provide therapy for a homosexual couple. The man refused to do so because he felt that to provide the counseling would violate his Christian beliefs.

You can read the story for yourself  by clicking the title above. Two amazing things stand out in the judges decision. One, he totally ignores the man's right to live out his religious faith in the workplace. Near the end of the article, the judge says (in essence) that a person can believe whatever they want, they just can't let it affect what they do!

Secondly, he says that if the man was to live out his faith by refusing to provide the counseling, the state is imposing Christianity on others. Again, this is just unbelievable mental and verbal gymnastics. The counselor, who is Christian, is admonished for "imposing" his beliefs on others by refusing to do something. On the other hand, the judge does not see that the by forcing the counselor to provide the service, he is, in fact, imposing the beliefs of the couple on the Christian.

Our world has gone crazy. This judge railed against a non-existent imposition of Christian beliefs over and above other beliefs, then he actually elevates beliefs that are opposed to Christianity over and above Christianity. As believers in the United States, we must realize this is coming our way. The question is not "if" it will happen, but "when" will it happen?

We must engage people in the marketplace of ideas and offer an apologetic for our faith and our values. We are called to share the truth in love. Truth is not a club used to beat people over the head. Truth is like a laser that carefully removes falsehood from a person's heart and mind to allow room for the truth to replace the lie. You want to change your culture? It does not happen by forcing people to change their behavior, it happens by allowing the Holy Spirit to transform a person's mind, then they will be led to change their behavior.

The Making of an Atheist

James Spiegel's book is an excellent look at why atheists are atheists. It is not overly long, nor is it exhaustive in its content. However, it is very well done in stating in simple terms why atheists hold on to their beliefs. His central premise is that atheists hold to their view because of their desire for no moral accountability. As much as the militant atheists claim their view is because of their superior intellect and thinking, they are really placing their faith in something that will not hold them morally accountable.

This is the kind of book that would be great for someone looking to start an exploration of the arguments against atheism. Spiegel's arguments range from the philosophical, biological, chemical, mathematics, to psychological. At no point are the explanations so overwhelming that the uninitiated in these fields would not be able to grasp them. It is footnoted, so a person could do some excellent follow-up reading for further research.

I will add this to my bookshelf and it is a potential book to recommend to friends.

Blog on Adopted Russian Boys Return

Dr. Al Mohler has very good comments about the Russian boy who was sent back to Russia by his "adopted" mother in Tennessee. Dr. Mohler does a great job in pointing out the theological implications of adoption and the theological symbolism of this woman's act.

On another level, this act by this woman is one of the dumbest, most selfish, and short-sighted things I can think of. It is dumb because, of all the ways she could have resolved this issue, this was the worst possible way to respond. Evidently, she did not refer the boy to any professional help or seek other avenues to address the issues the boy had.

It was selfish because this woman only thought of herself, without regard for the boy or anyone else. There are an estimated 3,000 families in the adoption process with Russia. Due to her actions, their adoption is on hold at the moment. I can speak from personal experience, waiting for an adoption to be processed is not very fun, and delays can be painful. When it is cause by some persons stupidity, it makes it that much harder to tolerate.

Finally, her actions were short-sighted because she totally ignored the long-term implications of her actions. This woman should never be allowed to adopt again, and one would hope she never has biological children because she misses the point of children. Children are a gift and responsibility from God that requires a lifetime of investment in the child. Based on the stories, the boy may have serious emotional issues, but to throw him away because he didn't meet her expectations is deplorable.

Funny Article

Sometimes, we all need a good laugh. I found an article that may be one of the funniest I have read in a long time. I way this with a tinge of sarcasm because the article was intended to be serious, but it is very hard to take this story seriously.

What is the topic of this article? Rabbit Whisperer! Yes, rabbit whisperer. It seems that a man is able to hypnotize rabbits. I missed my opportunity for this type of job growing up because I was too busy hunting the tasty little creatures with my grandfather. However, if you have a problem rabbit, this man will be able to help you.

I think I will let you wrestle with some of the theological implications for a story like this. My only advice would be to remember that we are to worship the Creator, not the created. Additionally, man is the only part of creation that is created in God's image and created for eternity.