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I was sitting down to watch the V.P. debates on YouTube this morning, because I was helping my wife grade math tests last night as they were occurring (note: Being a math teacher means you do lots of grading…LOTS!). I felt that Ryan, just in demeanor alone looked and behaved much more presidential than Biden. But it wasn’t until the question about abortion came up that I got so disgusted with both men, that I had to walk away from the debate entirely. I could no longer listen to these two men and their views on abortion that are contrary to both the teachings of the Catholic church AND to the very Word of God itself.
1) I believe in God and that the Catholic church is the only true church
Obviously I disagree with them on the “only true church” issue, but I am going to let that slide for now
2) The Catholic church teaches that abortion is contrary to the moral law
Complete agreement with this. This SHOULD be a no-brainier for ANY human being…but sin being what it is…it clouds the mind of men…
3) I believe PERSONALLY that abortion is contrary to the moral law
Anytime I see that word “personally” come up in a conversation about morality, a huge flashing red light goes off in my head and I see a sign that says “WARNING: Relativism Ahead!”
4) What I believe about this issue shouldn’t be “forced” on others
…and here is where the logical portion of the debate comes to an end…and the appeal to emotion begins.
The problem is that the circumstances listed above, that is rape and incest, an unnecessary (and evil) loss of life is occurring, and BOTH men are OK with that.
Is a woman being raped tragic and evil? Yes. Is incest condemned and does it produce pregnancies with a higher chance of medically compromised offspring? Yes. Is either of these scenarios a good reason, or a logical reason, to kill a child? Absolutely not.
BOTH of these men are not subjecting themselves to the Law of God, but to something else. I think the Pope would disagree with their views, the bible certainly disagrees with their views and on top of that, it is logically incoherent as well. It’s time for these men to be honest and to admit that their views on abortion do NOT stem from a thorough and thoughtful exegesis from the entirety of scripture, but from something else.
I know for sure that I cannot vote for Obama, but I will have to spend time in prayer to see if I can vote for the Romney ticket as well. I fear the day that I stand before God and told him that I endorsed men who were ok with allowing people to kill children in certain, unbiblical, circumstances.
Want to hear about ministries or Christians that inspire you
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
From Chris: “As a runner I can tell you that running to win doesn’t happen only on race day. Training is mandatory if you are to even have the hope of winning. Training isn’t just running longer distances or faster speeds, but also includes proper sleep and eating habits. Simply put, running to win literally requires discipline to change your entire life ON PURPOSE to win the prize.”
Running a race in Paul’s time
More of a Greek custom, not a Jewish one
“These periodical games were to the Greeks rather a passion than a mere amusement” Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1 Co 9:24). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
What does winning mean here?
Paul says run to WIN not run to finish.
Sounds like WINNING is more than just being saved it is something else
These are the words in which the instructors of the young in the exercise schools (gymnasia) and the spectators on the race course exhorted their pupils to stimulate them to put forth all exertions. The gymnasium was a prominent feature in every Greek city. Every candidate had to take an oath that he had been ten months in training, and that he would violate none of the regulations (2Ti 2:5; compare 1Ti 4:7, 8). He lived on a strict self-denying diet, refraining from wine and pleasant foods, and enduring cold and heat and most laborious discipline. The “prize” awarded by the judge or umpire was a chaplet of green leaves; at the Isthmus, those of the indigenous pine, for which parsley leaves were temporarily substituted (1Co 9:25). The Greek for “obtain” is fully obtain. It is in vain to begin, unless we persevere to the end (Mt 10:22; 24:13; Rev 2:10). The “so” expresses, Run with such perseverance in the heavenly course, as “all” the runners exhibit in the earthly “race” just spoken of: to the end that ye may attain the prize.
(Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1 Co 9:24). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
Running here required discipline, honor via the oath, and focus
There is room for all to get the prize. You cannot fail if you run well. Yet there should be a noble emulation; you should endeavor to outdo one another. And it is a glorious contest who shall get first to heaven, or have the best rewards in that blessed world. I make it my endeavor to run; so do you, as you see me go before you.’
Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (1 Co 9:24–27). Peabody: Hendrickson.
An interesting thing as competition here is spoken of as a positive motivator.
Those that ran in their games were kept to a set diet: “Every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things, v. 23. The fighters and wrestlers in your exercises are kept to strict diet and discipline; nay, they keep themselves to it. They do not indulge themselves, but restrain themselves from the food they eat and so from the liberties they use on other occasions. And should not Christians much more abridge themselves of their liberty, for so glorious an end as winning the race, and obtaining the prize set before them? They used a very spare diet, and course food, and denied themselves much, to prepare for their race and combat; so do I; so should you, after my example. It is hard if, for the heavenly crown, you cannot abstain from heathen sacrifices.’ ’ 2. They were not only temperate, but inured themselves to hardships. Those who fought with one another in these exercises prepared themselves by beating the air, as the apostle calls it, or by throwing out their arms, and thereby inuring themselves, beforehand, to deal about their blows in close combat, or brandish them by way of flourish. There is no room for any such exercise in the Christian warfare. Christians are ever in close combat. There enemies make fierce and hearty opposition, and are ever at hand; and for this reason they must lay about them in earnest, and never drop the contest, nor flag and faint in it. They must fight, not as those that beat the air, but must strive against their enemies with all their might. One enemy the apostle here mentions, namely, the body; this must be kept under, beaten black and blue, as the combatants were in these Grecian games, and thereby brought into subjection. By the body we are to understand fleshly appetites and inclinations. These the apostle set himself to curb and conquer, and in this the Corinthians were bound to imitate him. Note, Those who would aright pursue the interests of their souls must beat down their bodies, and keep them under. They must combat hard with fleshly lusts, and not indulge a wanton appetite, and long for heathenish sacrifices, nor eat them, to please their flesh, at the hazard of their brethren’s souls. The body must be made to serve the mind, not suffered to lord over it.
Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (1 Co 9:24–27). Peabody: Hendrickson.
An athlete must be disciplined if he is to win the prize. Discipline means giving up the good and the better for the best. The athlete must watch his diet as well as his hours. He must smile and say “No, thank you” when people offer him fattening desserts or invite him to late-night parties. There is nothing wrong with food or fun, but if they interfere with your highest goals, then they are hindrances and not helps.The Christian does not run the race in order to get to heaven. He is in the race because he has been saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Only Greek citizens were allowed to participate in the games, and they had to obey the rules both in their training and in their performing. Any contestant found breaking the training rules was automatically disqualified. In order to give up his rights and have the joy of winning lost souls, Paul had to discipline himself. That is the emphasis of this entire chapter: Authority (rights) must be balanced by discipline. If we want to serve the Lord and win His reward and approval, we must pay the price.
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (1 Co 9:15). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
The goal of an apostle’s life is not to live in luxury, supported by admiring converts. Paul has his sights on a crown which God alone will give him — and he bends his body, mind and spirit towards that greatest prize. He wants not only to be saved through Christ, but also to give his very best for his Lord.
Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide (1st Augsburg books ed.) (583). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.
If athletes can give up their rights in order to win a fading olive-leaf crown, certainly Christians can lay aside privileges to win an eternal crown! Only one athlete could win each event at the Isthmian Games, but all Christians are given the opportunity to win Christ’s approval.
Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (446). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.* Because of the joy* awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;* then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed.) (Heb 12:1–4). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.
Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed.) (2 Ti 4:7–8). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
This summed up in one word: Discipline
What spiritual disciplines must we focus on? What disciplines are American Christians in general lax on (Myself included)?
State of mind: Marshawn Lynch, Walter Payton
Diet/Exercise 35% obese, 80% Christian…we have some overlap there
Bible reading during a typical week drops as age drops: 59% of Seniors; 43% of Builders; 39% of Boomers; and 29% of Busters read the Bible in a typical week. (2001)
An estimated 75 million adults (42%) said that reading the Bible is very important to them. (1997)
Among Bible readers, the average amount of time spent reading the Bible during an entire week is 52 minutes.There is much misunderstanding about the history of the Bible. For instance four out of every ten adults (38%) believe that the entire Bible was written several decades after Jesus’ death and resurrection. While this appears to be true for the New Testament, the entire Old Testament was written hundreds of years prior to the birth of Jesus Christ. (1994)
Almost two out of three adults (62%) know that the Book of Isaiah is in the Old Testament. One out of ten people (11%) believe it is in the New Testament. One out of four (27%) don’t know. (1994)
12% of adults believe that the name of Noah’s wife was Joan of Arc. (The Bible does not provide her name.) (1997)
One out of six people (16%) believe that one of the books in the New Testament is the Book of Thomas, written by the apostle Thomas. Another one-third of the population are not sure whether or not there is such a book in the New testament of the Bible. (1994)
Half of all adults (49%) believe that the Bible teaches that money is the root of all evil. One-third (37%) disagree with this contention. The actual teaching indicates that it is the love of money that is the root of all evil. (1994)
A majority of adults (56%) are convinced the Bible proclaims that the single, most important task in life is taking care of one’s family. (1997)
