Why not abortion?

Henry Bergh was a New York philanthropist appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to a diplomatic post at the Russian court of Czar Alexander. During his time in Russia, Bergh was greatly disturbed to see work horses mercilessly beaten by their peasant drivers. While passing through London on his way back to America in June 1865, Bergh decided to visit the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The visit not only awakened his determination to charter an ASPCA at home, but also to exercise the power to prosecute those who mistreat “these mute servants of mankind.”

Back in New York, Henry Bergh began speaking in schools and public meetings. He pointed out that protecting animals was an issue that crossed party lines and class boundaries. “This is a matter purely of conscience; it has no perplexing side issues,” he said. “It is a moral question in all its aspects.”

Bergh’s impassioned accounts of the horrors inflicted on animals convinced the New York State Legislature to pass a charter incorporating the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on April 10, 1866. The first effective anti-cruelty law in the United States was passed nine days later. His efforts also led to the inspections of slaughter houses, the closing of dog and rat-fighting pits, and the passage of anti-cruelty laws in 37 of the 38 states by the time he died in 1888.

But, more importantly, Bergh’s dramatic rescues of mistreated horses and livestock served as a model for those trying to do as much for abused children. In 1874, nine-year-old Mary Ellen McCormack was found tied to a bed and brutally beaten by her foster parents. As a result, the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was formed and Henry Bergh served as one of the organization’s first vice presidents.

Imagine. No challenge to Henry Bergh’s premise that mistreating animals (or children) is a moral question without perplexing side issues. That is because the underlying MORAL aspects were universally understood.

Unfortunately, the moral aspects of most social issues in our time are not understood or even considered. For instance, all elected officials in our state consider it an immoral criminal act to purposefully harm a household pet, but few find such application for the killing of a pre-born human being. How illogical is that?

We are inspired by the accomplishments of Henry Bergh. And we are inspired by your continued support for our efforts to bring moral clarity to the defining issues of our day.

Rick Forcier

"Unity or Doctrine?"

I am a frequent “guest panelist” at a very liberal seminary in Seattle. But I have been told that my belief that the Bible is the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27), is somewhat disturbing and “dis-unifying.”

Some time ago, I came across a sermon by Pastor Sam Crabtree, Executive Pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis titled, Do Mature Christians Pursue Unity or Do They Pursue Doctrine? Here is an excerpt:

“This is of course a trick question, though not tricky. Paul's instructions are plain that we are to pursue both unity and doctrine. Further, pursuing both at the same time will be one indication that growth is occurring. ‘...till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God (Eph 4:13-14).”

Some see doctrine as divisive, discordant, and disagreeable. Others see the avoidance of doctrinal clarity as the slippery slope to the church's undoing. So how can Christians grow in unity without compromising the church's foundations for unity, and yet simultaneously press for clarity in doctrine without becoming quarrelsome?

One way is by contending in love; that is, standing for truth in the face of error. ‘...but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ…’ (Eph 4:15). People who grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ are the same ones becoming increasingly ready apologists for God's truth in order to graciously benefit God's people, balancing courageous firmness with tender love. One need not be a busybody or a burdensome crank in order to correct someone for their sake. This is what Paul did in corresponding with the Galatians and Ephesians. He contended, but without being contentious…His was an attitude of pastoral contention, battling for doctrinal essentials but for the sake of the people in beholding God's glory. There is a holy tenacity that defends truth, even at great personal risk.

Such contending for truth is pivotal if the aim of evangelism and missions is worship. Worship presupposes knowledge. To worship God in truth is to approach him on the basis of his self-disclosure. To get a wrong answer to the question ‘What is God like?’ is to go down a path of ignorance or superstition or idolatry… worship must be rigorously informed by revelation…There will be little unity in corporate worship if we sweep away precision in understanding just which God it is we are worshipping.”[1]

I persuaded one of the distinguished pastors on our advisory board to take my place at the seminary last month. He contacted me within a day or so following the event to tell me his hosts were very gracious. When I raised the question of their theology, he said, “They are clearly whack-jobs.” We both had a good laugh.

The Christian Coalition was established “to encourage and equip the Church to be an effective, well-informed voice for moral clarity in a rapidly changing culture.” Thank you for helping us accomplish that mission.

[1] Sam Crabtree, Do Mature Christians Pursue Unity or Do They Pursue Doctrine?, 7/6/1999, www.desiringGod.org

Church or the Real World

To be sure, Christians watch television. Some are driven by a need to be entertained but most are simply looking for anonymous and effortless connections to the outside world. We are curious by nature and we want to know “what’s happening?” But, while television provides us with news (and gossip) that stimulates, it never really satisfies our need to know “the rest of the story.”

Where contemporary events are involved, I believe Christians are as informed as non-Christians. But who informs us? Do we get our news from someone with a biblical worldview or someone with a decidedly “worldly” outlook on life?

It is the perception of far too many Christians that there are two essential spheres in life. Sunday Church is a small sphere and the real world is a large sphere, and never the twain shall meet. We have been deluded to think that God concedes certain areas of our culture—that He doesn’t claim it all. That's a lie! Scripture says "The earth's is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof."

Each night, ideas, ideologies, and philosophies that come against the knowledge of God are piped into our living rooms. If they are not addressed in church, it is easy to understand why many Christians are taken captive.

Martin Luther said that "Where the battle rages [culture wars] there the loyalty of the soldier is proved..." That means that although the earth is the Lord's, Christians sometimes have to go down to the Valley of Elah to post an eviction notice.

Friend, until Jesus returns, that is the real world!

Rick Forcierinfo@christiancoalition.us

Cane Ridge Meeting

My wife and I had an opportunity to visit two special places while visiting one of our kids and his family in Lexington, Kentucky last week. Following a scenic 45-minute drive through Kentucky’s low rolling hills, we found the Cane Ridge Meeting Hall (built in 1791) a few hundred feet off a forgotten two-lane country road. It is believed to be the largest one-room log structure standing in North America.

Cane Ridge was ground-zero for America’s “Second Great Awakening.” In August, 1801, some 20-to-30,000 settlers hitched their wagons and came from hundreds of miles for a 3-day weekend of old-time “camp meetings.” They stayed, however, for two weeks when the Holy Spirit came in power, igniting fires of revival that swept quickly across the nation—lasting for decades.

We also headed north from Lexington along I-75 to Florence at Kentucky’s northern border. Our destination: Ken Ham’s new Creation Museum. It opened last year—attracting double the number of visitors expected.

Advertising on the Museum’s web site says: The Creation Museum presents a “walk through history.” Designed by a former Universal Studios exhibit director, this state-of-the-art 65,000 square foot museum brings the pages of the Bible to life. A fully engaging, sensory experience for guests. Murals and realistic scenery, computer-generated visual effects, over fifty exotic animals, life-sized people and dinosaur animatronics, and a special-effects theater complete with misty sea breezes and rumbling seats. These are just some of the impressive exhibits that everyone in your family will enjoy.

In the Hall of Mammals at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, visitors are greeted with a sign that says, “Welcome to the Mammal Family Reunion! Come, meet your relatives.” At the Creation Museum, it’s more like, “Meet GOD. He will help you make sense of nature and LIFE.”

We were impressed that Ken Ham wastes no time attacking or disproving evolution. Neither does he use scientific evidence to lend credibility to the Word. Rather, he says “Look at what GOD says and look how nature complies.” The main theme in each exhibit seems to be: “Same facts, different conclusions.”

In one of several state-of-the-art theaters, the Gospel is shared and viewers are invited to trust Jesus and receive forgiveness for sin. It is obvious that Ken Ham and the folks connected with the Creation Museum are “not ashamed of the Gospel.”

Neither are we at the Christian Coalition of Washington. Because of our name, it is impossible for us to disguise our intentions in the name of “traditional” or “family values.” We are, in fact, a network of Christians who unashamedly lift up the name of JESUS.

And we can do no other.

Rick Forcier

Welcome!

Welcome! 2008 stands to be one of the most pivotal years in church history. Check back for insightful commentary by Rick Forcier.