I have been keeping track of some of the news items reported the last few months that relate to our lives morally. Some of the decisions of courts have been helpful, some have been appalling. Read on:

Teens Need Help: One out of two high school seniors in America uses marijuana; it is smoked daily by one in 16. 24 percent of fourth graders feel pressured to take drugs. 87 percent of high school seniors use alcohol; 6 percent drink daily. The average age for the first use of drugs is 11. These are problems - sins - that begin early and often continue throughout one's life. Galatians 5 describes it as "sorcery" (NASB) and "witchcraft" (KJV): the Greek word is pharmakia which is easily seen as involving drugs (v. 20). Verse 21 condemns "drunkenness" and both sins are warned against "that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (v. 21).

Abortion: The Battle Continues: The former surgeon general, C. Everette Koop, has reported that before the Roe vs. Wade decision of 1973, 393 women died as a result of illegal abortions. Since the decisions more than 23 million babies have been destroyed. In July, Chief Justice Rehnquist wrote that the court upheld the constitutionality of a Missouri law that sharply restricted the availability of publicly funded abortion services and required doctors to test for the viability of a fetus at 20 weeks. Basically, this decision says the battle about abortion can be restricted by state laws.

Up to this point we were considered radical if we decided to vote for a candidate because of his/her one position on abortion. Now this is exactly what the "Pro-Choice" movement is proposing to do. Three states (at least) have started the discussion to limit abortions. Let us hope and pray and vote that they succeed, for the Bible teaches that God recognizes life in the womb. (Read Exod. 21:22-25 which requires a life for the taking of a life; Judg. 13:7 where Samson was a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death, therefore his mother had to honor the intake of grape products while he was in the womb; Jer. 1:5 - Jeremiah was known, consecrated and appointed as a prophet before he was born; Lk. 1:15 - John the Baptizer would be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb; Matt. 1:20 - Jesus came into the world by conception in his mother's womb; when he did become life?)

One news week I saw three items where, in the same program on television or in the same magazine the death of animals for the sake of taking their skins was strongly denounced, while at the same time the fact that women might not be as free to abort their babies was also denounced.

Where are our values? It is against the law to touch a sea turtle's egg, but legal to end a child's life. It is against the law to touch an eagle or even its empty nest, but for the sake of convenience a pregnancy can be ended. If a woman does not want to be pregnant, say no to the situation that leads to it. This will handle most of the situations. Can we not help with adoptions instead of abortions?

One other thing about this matter: in the August edition of Publishing News it was announced that "editors from 18 women's magazines have mutually agreed to step up pro-choice coverage." Included are Cosmopolitan, Family Circle M, Glamour, Mademoiselle, Redbook, Lear's, Ms. and even Good Housekeeping! I'm sure there will be more involved in this attack than just the "women's" magazines, so be careful what you read or hear; they are trying to change our minds about pro-life.

The Gay '90s Are Upon Us: The word "gay" at one time meant an excessive lifestyle. Around 1850 it was used of prostitutes who were called "gay" women. Somewhere after the turn of the century we only associated the happiness of a lifestyle with the word "gay." No more! The homosexuals have come out of the closet where they once tried to hide their sin. We now have several congressmen openly admitting they are homosexual. Barney Frank admits he has hired a homosexual prostitute. The "United Church of Christ" (Please - no relation to us!) has accepted a 150-member congregation of mostly homosexuals into their Eastern Minnesota association. New York city's mayor Koch gave bereavement leave to city workers whose "domestic partners" (read: homosexual partner) die. Newsweek said, "It is part of a trend toward giving homosexual and unmarried couples perks once reserved for men and women with marriage licenses." "The strongest such law is San Francisco's, which lets those who 'share one another's lives in an intimate and committed relationship' file a declaration making them eligible for full benefits given to married spouses."

Sodomy was named for the city of Sodom; read about the openness of their sins in Genesis 18:20-21; 19:1-11; the children of Israel were told it is an abomination (Lev. 18:22). The church is told, "Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, . . . nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, . . . shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 6:9-10). It really makes one wonder about the denominations, such as the United Church of Canada, whose governing council has voted to admit homosexual men and women into the clergy. They are not the only group doing such things! Let us be moral, support moral laws and vote for people who respect moral laws.

A Potpourri of Problems: gunman . . . paternity . diabolical plan . . . spend the night together . . . quickie divorce . . . nude photo . . . clandestine meeting . . . unruly customer . . . lie . . . mishap and . . . mystery . . . henchmen . . . pent-up passion . . . searching for . . . kidnaping . . . hit-and-run accident . . . registers under an assumed name . . . employ his masculine wiles . . . act of thievery . . . custody battle . . . found guilty of sexual assault . . . Ooops! This was not the news! This was excerpts from the TV Guide summary of one week's Soap Opera Guide. Realizing that we all like a good story, let's make sure we are not filling our minds too much with things like the above instead of the word of God (see Col. 3:16).

Conclusion

"Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If any one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever" (1 Jn. 2:15-17). Any sin can be forgiven if one seeks God humbly in repentance. After listing many of the same sins discussed in this short article Paul said, "And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:11). This is our hope in Christ.

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 2, pp. 52, 56
January 18, 1990