PROFILING

From My Perspective - - -

There has been considerable referencing of “profiling” in the news and political discourse. Of late, “profiling” has had a narrower focus in two areas: (1) illegal immigration and (2) racial/ethnic considerations. There was a time when “profiling” had a positive emphasis. Former Senator (later President) John F. Kennedy, in his Pulitzer Prize Winning book – Profiles In Courage, wrote of the special courage of eight United States Senators. He noted: “…the three types of pressure faced by senators as pressure to be liked, pressure to be re-elected, and pressure of the constituency and interest groups…(he) explains that the book is about his admiration of the courage shown by elected leaders in the face of adverse factions like their electorates, popular opinion and political action committees that pull these elected men in different directions…(it) is a book about that most admirable of human virtues – courage. Grace under pressure…”  

One of the men of courage cited by Kennedy was: “Daniel Webster was a Massachusetts Senator (Whig) and one of the most distinguished members in Senate history. His trial by fire began in 1850 when he agreed to help Henry Clay of Kentucky push through a compromise bill that would keep the Union together. Webster’s famous “Seventh of March” speech in favor of Clay’s compromise bill asserted that slaveholders were entitled to property rights, that fugitive slave laws should be strengthened, and that the issue of slavery should be put aside in order to keep the Union together at all costs.” This is interesting because our nation seems to be far removed from this act of courage so many years ago. The Union appears to be anything but United. We are floundering and becoming more polarized as the days go by.

Consider some News Headlines and reporting so far this week: (1) Former Black Panther Pulled From House Floor - Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., lost his right to speak on the House floor after he violated rules by putting on a hoodie and sunglasses in honor of Trayvon Martin, the Florida teen shot last month; (2) Trayvon Protesters Ransack Store- North Miami Beach police said surveillance video shows dozens of high school students demonstrating in the Trayvon Martin case Friday ransacking a Walgreens store.The incident occurred during a walkout from North Miami Beach Senior High School in support of Martin, 17, who was fatally shot in Sanford; (3) So Where The DOJ, DHS On The Terrorists Group New Black Panthers Illegal Bounty For Zimmerman? - Members of the New Black Panther Party are offering a $10,000 reward for the “capture” of George Zimmerman, the Neighborhood Watch volunteer who shot Trayvon Martin. New Black Panther leader Mikhail Muhammad announced the reward during a protest in Sanford Saturday. And when asked whether he was inciting violence, Muhammad replied defiantly: “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” The bounty announcement came moments after members of the group called for the mobilization of 10,000 black men to capture Zimmerman, who shot Trayvon in a gated Sanford community on February 26; and (4) Registered Dem Killed Trayvon - The individual at the center of the controversial Trayvon Martin shooting is a registered Democrat. George Michael Zimmerman, born Oct. 5, 1983, registered as a Democrat in Seminole County, Fla., in August 2002, according to state voter registration documents. It is unclear whether he voted for President Barack Obama in 2008. Some in the media have sought to blame Republican politicians and conservative activists for Martin’s death.

It seems as though this nation is bent on division rather than unity and the secular rather than the spiritual. We need to return to the concepts of Acts 17:23-28, “For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.” Consider these things with me!

Common Sense

From My Perspective - - -

Whatever happened to practical common sense in our culture? Why are people so easily swayed into behavior and protest without first finding out whether or not there is any basic common sense for a cause of action? Why do people allow themselves to be a part of those who embrace the “herd instinct”? Have people of the 21^st Century lost their ability to think for themselves and to make wise and sensible choices for ones life? One might do well to review the pamphlet circulated by Thomas Paine in 1776 – Common Sense – wherein he issued a challenge to the British Government and Royal Monarchy. One of his thoughts was:“Government by kings was first introduced into the world by the Heathens, from whom the children of Israel copied the custom. It was the most prosperous invention the Devil ever set on foot for the promotion of idolatry. The Heathens paid divine honors to their deceased kings, and the Christian World hath improved on the plan by doing the same to their living ones. How impious is the title of sacred Majesty applied to a worm, who in the midst of his splendor is crumbling into dust! As the exalting one man so greatly above the rest cannot be justified on the equal rights of nature, so neither can it be defended on the authority of scripture; for the will of the Almighty as declared by Gideon, and the prophet Samuel, expressly disapproves of government by Kings.”

Perhaps we need a new voice and pamphlet that might return our nation and people to a Common Sense Approach for our day. However, and sadly, The Obituary - The Death of Common Sense – seems closer to our identity. In part, it states: “Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn’t always fair, and maybe it was my fault. Common sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults are in charge not children). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of an 8 year old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student, but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses, and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common sense finally gave up the will to live, after a women failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common sense was preceded in death, by His parents, truth and trust; His wife, discretion; His daughter, Responsibility; His son, reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers - I know my rights; I want my rights; I want it now; I’m a victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.”

The Bible is a practical collection of books detailing (1) what mankind is to believe concerning God, and (2) what duty/duties God requires of mankind. However, sometimes Common Sense is lost within the methodology employed by those who are stating they are rightly handling the Word of God. A practical common sense approach to be followed is stated in II Timothy 3:14-17, “…you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of…and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Common Sense regarding the Bible is: Believe it and do it! Consider these things with me!

Aspirations

From My Perspective - - -

We are living in a unique and troubled time in History. It is unique because of the many opportunities,  possibilities and advantages that allow and enable one to make a positive contribution and impact upon the culture of our day. It is a troubled time because of a sense of hopelessness and frustration that is seen on the nearing horizon. As a result, many are tempted or prone to surrender to the inevitable and to give up to the overwhelming situations and events that seemingly surround a greater number of people today. In the year 2012, there is the echoing of political aspirants who suggest they have a solution and that hope is not yet lost – but for too many – their words are hollow and meaningless. It comes across as “same old, same old” or words that have been heard before – and believed – but the result was far less than one was led to believe and/or expected.

Is there hope for today and the immediate future? Can our culture be extracted from and rise above the quagmire of the mundane and broken promises? In a speech before the United States Senate in May 1966, Robert F. Kennedy spoke these words: “A revolution is coming - a revolution which will be peaceful if we are wise enough; compassionate if we care enough; successful if we are fortunate enough - but a revolution which is coming whether we will it or not. We can affect its character; we cannot alter its inevitability.” What does that mean? If it is a Revolution that returns the nation to its foundational principles and founding charter, that would and could make a considerable difference. If it is a Revolution that jettisons God from our culture and ushers in radicalism, that would result in failure, demise and enslavement.

Inscribed at the Gravesite of Robert F. Kennedy in Arlington National Cemetery are the words: “It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” Is it time to stand up for “an ideal” or perform “acts to improve the lot of others” or to champion the Biblical message that Hope in the Eternal God and confidence in Him is a way and means for one’s life and future? The answer is – Yes!

There are these words contained in the Lyric from Les Misérables – I Dreamed A Dream – that says: “I had a dream my life would be; So different from this hell I'm living; So different now from what it seemed; Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.” An earlier part of the Lyric says: “I dreamed a dream in time gone by; When hope was high; And life worth living; I dreamed that love would never die; I dreamed that God would be forgiving; Then I was young and unafraid; And dreams were made and used and wasted…” That haunting melody raises a thought and a question – Is Hope no longer viable? Is the future only bleak and filled with despair? What would life be like if God was returned to the equation and became the primary focus for one’s life and culture – is that what’s been missing and needs to be restored?

In Psalm 60:10-12, David expressed the conviction of his heart when he wrote: “Is it not you, O God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies? Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.” In Psalm 146:3-5, the Psalmist wrote: “Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed is he whose help…whose hope is in the Lord his God.”The place where we need to be is given in Psalm 20:1,4,7 – “May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of…God…protect you…May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed…Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Consider these things with me! 

When God Gets In The Way

From My Perspective - - -

In many places in our nation, Church Attendance is waning and Church Giving is declining. Part of the reason is the economic situation – unemployment; home foreclosures; increased costs for basic necessities – these and other factors are causes that bring about the effect of lower amounts of expendable monies. We have seemingly lost a sense of thrift along the way that would have had a disciplined budgetary approach in personal affairs, such as, first - set aside one-tenth of available income as a Tithe; second – set aside another one-tenth for personal Savings; and carefully budget the remaining 80% for housing, necessary utilities, food, clothing, prescribed medications, etc.; medical coverage; etc.

When we get to the point where spiritual decline becomes a factor, it suggests a personal frustration and disillusionment with religion rather than an enlarged faith and confidence in God. If one wearies of an Eternal God, something will come along to fill the void and vacuum that is occurring in one’s life. One such “void-filler” is the announcement of an Atheist Rally in Washington, DC on March 24^th, 2012. Why are they gathering and what is their aim? They are very declarative on their webpage and announcements: “Join Us For The Largest Gathering Of The Secular Movement In World History - The Reason Rally: A Celebration of Secular Values.” They go on to say: “The Reason Rally is a movement-wide event sponsored by the country’s major secular organizations. The intent is to unify, energize, and embolden secular people nationwide, while dispelling the negative opinions held by so much of American society…It will be the largest secular event in world history. There will be music, comedy, great speakers, and lots of fun… and it’s free!” They assert that the Rally will be held “…at the National Mall, non-theists from all corners of the nation will descend on Washington, D.C. en masse to deliver the good news: We’re huge, we’re everywhere, and we’re growing.”

Who are the Contributors to and Sponsors of The Reason Rally? The submitted list includes: “The Reason Rally is sponsored by American Atheists, American Humanist Association, Atheist Alliance of America…” and several other groups. Their use of the phrase – “to deliver the good news” - is intriguing. Their version of “good news” obviously omits redemption and salvation through Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 1:7). Endorsement will be given: “Nonreligious Americans will be receiving video greetings from two federally elected officials at the Reason Rally…California Representative Pete Stark and Iowa Senator Tom Harkin both accepted invitations to welcome a crowd expected to be in the thousands at the National Mall for a day to exercise free speech and freedom from religion.” Their rationale – free speech!

When God is removed from the equation in the affairs of State and in Personal Lives, what can one expect as the end result? Romans 1:18-23, 28, 32 indicates what is occurring in the secular world from the spiritual perspective – the bigger, eternal picture: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools,and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man…And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting…who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” The Reason Rally reminds one of Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Our nation and culture is on a path that is circling the drain and spiraling downward. We need to be emboldened to put forth a greater effort and make a louder declaration of The Only Good News – Jesus Christ and that He provides salvation and redemption for all who will believe in Him. Consider these things with me!

Influences

From My Perspective - - -

Many of us were reared in a time when in both the home and school there was an ongoing instruction regarding influences in ones life. It was couched in general terms – good influences and bad influences. There was the reminder that “birds of a feather flock together” as a word of caution to choose one's associations wisely and well. There was a warning that “if it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck” don’t let someone influence you into believing it is something other than a duck. The point was made that ones associations are important in the shaping of ones life. The hope was that “good influences” would serve as a model of and for behavior that would serve one well if it was emulated.

One area where “influence” comes into play is in the “game of politics” as candidates for office spend thousands and millions of dollars so they can “influence” the citizen to vote for him or her. One can be barraged with mail and phone calls informing the citizen why one candidate is “better” than another and how an opponent for office is prone to be corrupt and entangled with those who are negative influences in a particular candidates life and career. A person with sufficient funding can buy radio and television time and saturate the listener and viewer with negative information about others. One candidate has already spent more than $25 Million and his campaign whereas another is seeking to raise $1 Billion for his campaign. It becomes easy for a citizen to become a bit cynical regarding all of this fund-raising and expenditure. It makes one muse: “Are these people trying to ‘Buy’ the respective office.” A related question might be: “Are we foolish enough to let them influence us to the extent that we let them get away with this ploy?”

Another area of influence are the Tracking Polls that are broadcast daily in terms of how voters plan to vote and why they will vote one way or another. There are Gender Polls, Ethnic Polls, Age Polls – polls of every thought and description – telling one of the negatives and positives of a candidate as well as informing us who is more likely to defeat one candidate over another. It seems as though we are succumbing more and more to secular and cultural influences for both our lives and nation. In the midst of the barrage of advertisements and mailings, one needs to arrive at a bottom line, namely, Who is the candidate of Principle, Integrity and Sincerity? Who is a person of Conscience and Conviction in terms of having a Moral Compass for direction of ones life and practice? Who stands head and shoulders over the rest in this regard?

What is basic for one to be a person of Positive Practice and Influence? First, the person must make Godly Choices for his/her life. A place to begin is Psalm 1:1-2 (NLT), “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about His law.” One’s associations matter greatly in terms of the influences and one’s exposure to them. To avoid negative influences, one is instructed to (1) walk not in a wicked place and where negative influences abound; (2) don’t let your self stand and observe what sinners are doing; and (3) don’t allow your self to sit down with them and become one with them. Instead – choose the high road and the  positive influence – the Law and Word of the Lord and meditate in it always.

Secondly, the person must make the Godly Choice in terms of becoming a child of The Light and pursuing righteousness and holiness. In Ephesians 4:17-18, 23-24 (NLT) the instruction is: “Live no longer as the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life & light of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him…there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness - righteous, holy, and true…” Never forget Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” You can and must make Godly Choices in and for all areas of your life. Consider these things with me!

Supercharged Universe

From My Perspective - - -

The Universe, of which the Planet Earth is just a small part, is vast and immeasurable. The further man explores the Universe much more is discovered – previously unknown galaxies; the possibility of water source once on Mars; etc. There is the likelihood that Earth will be able to experience a Northern Lights display today. Space.com reports: “A massive solar storm may spark an intense northern lights display for sky-watchers at high latitudes tonight and Thursday as a wave of charged particles reach the planet. Two huge solar flares erupted from the sun late Tuesday (March 6), triggering one of the most powerful solar storms in more than five years. The solar tempest is expected to intensify aurora displays (also known as the northern and southern lights) on Earth… Auroras are probably the treat that we get when the sun erupts… One of the big sun flares unleashed a cloud of solar plasma and charged particles, called a coronal mass ejection (CME), into space. While the CME is not expected to hit Earth directly, the wave could deliver a glancing blow to the planet.”

There may be some slight impact on The Earth due to the Solar Storms. It has been suggested that: “The storm could temporarily disrupt GPS signals and stress the North American power grid…but the Earth’s magnetic field will repel much of the radiation, protecting people on the ground.” There may also be disruption with Satellite Signals and transmission as well. These storms stimulate all kinds of speculations and internet chatter. A Solar Storm was thought to have been the cause in 2011 of the earthquakes in Chile and Japan, along with the Tsunamis and a shifting of the World on its axis. This was not scientifically connected to the Solar events but the speculations linger on.

There is a consideration and application of planetary and astronomical occurrences in a Spiritual application. One may wonder what this has to do with any plan God has for His Universe in relationship to The Earth, in general and Man, in particular. There’s an interesting concept regarding man in relationship to this vast Universe recorded in Psalm 8:3-4 (NKJV). The Psalmist muses and writes: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?”  In The Message, “I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, Moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way?” The Psalmist was used to the outdoors and in the evening hours would meditate upon the beauty and intricacy of nature. He did not have the “experts” of NOAA to explain the astronomical occurrences in the sky – just his belief that God had made both man and the universe in a wonderful way.

When Jesus walked upon the Earth, and as He ministered in terms of human need, there were occasions when He addressed what would incur in the future before He returned. In Luke 21:9-12 (NKJV) are these words of Jesus: “But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.  Then He said to them, Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake…” The significant words are: “…there…be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.” Jesus then shared these words in Luke 21:24-28 - “…Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles…And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory…when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." Many ignore these words – but – it is to their peril. However, you can – Consider These Things With Me!

Knowing The Unknown

From My Perspective - - -

For one to know what is unknown is a fascinating idea and possibility. In the areas of Psychology and Theology, there is so much that one doesn’t know – however – one embraces and champions a position that is held to the best of one’s knowledge. What is disagreeable to one’s defined position is pooh-poohed as being irrelevant and/or erroneous. Any contrary position is usually jettisoned or disregarded. Any “what-if” discussion is usually dismissed out of hand. However – “what-if” that which is viewed as mere possibility or idle speculation is in actuality reality and factual? Would one be able to adjust previously held presuppositions or pre-conceived positions and allow for the likelihood of other data having validity?

This past weekend, a NY Times Op-Ed Column by David Brooks entitled: The Machiavellian Temptation stretches one’s thinking and gives a secular view of how people are and why they are the way that they are. He wrote: “In the 19th century, there was a hydraulic model of how to be a good person. There are all these torrents of passion flowing through you. Your job, as captain of your soul, is to erect dams to keep these passions in check. Your job is to just say no to sloth, lust, greed, drug use and the other sins. Sermons could really help. They could help you identify sin. Preachers could exhort you to exercise the willpower you need to ward off temptation. These days that model is out of fashion. You usually can’t change your behavior by simply resolving to do something. If that were true, New Year’s resolutions would actually work. Knowing what to do is not the same as being able to do it. If that were true, people would find it easier to lose weight. Your willpower is not like a dam that can block the torrent of self-indulgence. It’s more like a muscle, which tires easily. Moreover, you’re a social being. If everybody around you is overeating, you’ll probably do so, too. The 19th-century character model was based on an expansive understanding of free will. Today, we know that free will is bounded. People can change their lives, but ordering change is not simple because many things, even within ourselves, are beyond our direct control…” Would this also apply to one’s presuppositions and preconceived interpretations?

This whole idea of who we are and why we are the way we are is challenged by some thinking about the world in which we live. What in the world is going on and why is it going on before our eyes today? Could it be that the world is in the midst of end-time prophecy – but because of a position previously staked out in terms of how the end times will unfold – we choose not to see or accept what is taking place? If one allows Ezekiel 38 and 39 to become part of a rationale that sees nations aligned to destroy the nation of Israel, does that make the person a heretic or out of step with a broadly-accepted view regarding how some have decided it will end? What if Ezekiel’s prophecy regarding Persia is applicable to the nations that occupy that land area today – Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran – would that cause one to re-think any previously held presupposition? What if the statement that Satan is bound (Revelation 20:1-3 and Matthew 12:29) is more likely to mean that he is tethered (leashed) and is functional in the manner described in I Peter 5:8 – “…your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” – but - much like John Bunyan’s description in Pilgrim’s Progress – he can roar and lunge and frighten - but – he cannot harm the one walking in the center of The Narrow Way – would that impact one’s thinking about prophecy and the end times?  What if Matthew 24 has more current relevance than not in terms of societal choices and behavior, is it wise to dismiss the prospects and possibilities that are unfolding? How well do we actually know the unknown? Is it wise to be adamant with limited knowledge?

What-if previously held positions are not as easily substantiated today as they once were in more stable times – is  one able to re-think and re-study and be open to different possibilities and/or likelihood in terms of what God is doing with His world? Jesus once stated that He did not know either the day or hour in terms of end time events and His Coming Again – should we and our positions be set in cement when His were relegated the Father’s schedule and time-frame? Consider these things with me!

Redefining A Person

From My Perspective - - -

The Journal of Medical Ethics has broached a subject that many thought could not or would not occur in a civilized culture. Abortion has been debated for quite some time - but now – a Paper presented to the Journal goes even further, namely, to discuss after-birth abortions. The question is framed by using some philosophical considerations:  When does – or can -  a person begin to be identified as a person? At what point – outside of the womb – can there be a recognition and an identification that this is a person? The proponents don’t want their concepts warped into views that have espoused euthanasia and infanticide. The argument is: “If the death of a newborn is not wrongful to her on the grounds that she cannot have formed any aim that she is prevented from accomplishing, then it should also be permissible to practice an after-birth abortion on a healthy newborn too, given that she has not formed any aim yet. There are two reasons which, taken together, justify this claim: (1) The moral status of an infant is equivalent to that of a fetus, that is, neither can be considered a ‘person’ in a morally relevant sense. (2) It is not possible to damage a newborn by preventing her from developing the potentiality to become a person in the morally relevant sense.”

How can this position be substantiated and defended? The presenters of the paper are: Alberto Giubiliniand Francesca Minerva. Their rationale is stated as follows: “We are going to justify these two points in the following way: “The moral status of an infant is equivalent to that of a fetus in the sense that both lack those properties that justify the attribution of a right to life to an individual.Both a fetus and a newborn certainly are human beings and potential persons, but neither is a ‘person’ in the sense of ‘subject of a moral right to life’. We take ‘person’ to mean an individual who is capable of attributing to her own existence some (at least) basic value such that being deprived of this existence represents a loss to her. This means that many non-human animals and mentally retarded human individuals are persons, but that all the individuals who are not in the condition of attributing any value to their own existence are not persons. Merely being human is not in itself a reason for ascribing someone a right to life.”

Let’s focus on just one initial proposition: “Both a fetus and a newborn certainly are human beings and potential persons, but neither is a ‘person’ in the sense of ‘subject of a moral right to life’. We take ‘person’ to mean an individual who is capable of attributing to her own existence some (at least) basic value such that being deprived of this existence represents a loss to her.” The writers of the paper seem to be suggesting that anyone who cannot articulate a reasonable defense regarding why they should have the right to exist and live is not yet or no longer a person. It amounts to – Move over God! The Medical Ethicists have usurped and replaced You! It also amounts to the one who has Alzheimers (a common form of dementia of unknown cause…characterized by memory lapses, confusion, emotional instability, and progressive loss of mental ability) should be Euthanized – thus removing the burden of family and care-givers. The same type argument occurs for the “after-birth-abortion.” If there is some unforeseen or undetected, such as: “Perinatal asphyxia, for instance, may cause severe brain damage and result in severe mental and/or physical impairments…” – this come be a reason for an “after-birth-abortion” (why not call it Infanticide?).

The unthinkable is creeping into our culture and is now becoming the thinkable. Consider personhood from Biblical declarations: Jeremiah 1:5 (The Message) – "Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations - that's what I had in mind for you." Psalm 139:14-16 (The Message) - “Body and soul, I am marvelously made!...You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.” The conscience of our nation is seared. We’ve allowed for more than 50 million Abortions since 1973. We are ripe as a nation for Euthanasia and Infanticide to become acceptable. May God have mercy on us and forgive us for rejecting Him and His Word. Consider these things with me!

Intelligence

From My Perspective - - -

There is considerable discussion regarding intelligence and how a person achieves it. One must ponder whether or not Intelligence is synonymous with Wisdom or Knowledge. If not, then the distinctions and determinations must be made regarding why they are dissimilar. Another consideration would be on the ground that wisdom and/or knowledge can and will impact one’s intelligence and comprehensive skills. The Intelligence Quotient (IQ) test score was obtained by dividing the mental age – which reflects the age-graded level of performance as derived from population norms – by the chronological age and multiplying by 100. The conclusion drawn was a score of 100 indicates a performance at exactly the normal level for a designated age group. A conclusion drawn is the following: “IQ scores reflect general capacity for performing intellectual tasks, such as solving verbal and mathematical problems. The average IQ score is 100.  The standard deviation of IQ scores is 15.  So, this means: 50% of people have IQ scores between 90 and 110; 2.5% of people are very superior in intelligence (over 130 – Albert Einstein scored 160); 2.5% of people are mentally deficient/impaired/ retarded (under 70); 0.5% of people are near genius or genius (over 140). 

This is an old discussion. There was this proposition – “An Intelligence Quotient Test Does Not Measure Intelligence” by Alfred Binet - made in 1905. Alfred Binet, a French psychologist who had designed one of the first such tests in 1905 stated this opinion. He used the test to see which pupils would need special help with the school curriculum. He believed that the test scales were not able to measure intelligence: “The scale, properly speaking, does not permit the measure of intelligence, because intellectual qualities are not super-imposable, and therefore cannot be measured as linear surfaces are measured. He argued that with good education programs, most students could catch up and perform quite well in school. This was independent of the background of the pupil. He did not believe that intelligence was a measurable fixed entity.” He cautioned: “Some recent thinkers seem to have given their moral support to these deplorable verdicts by affirming that an individual's intelligence is a fixed quantity, a quantity that cannot be increased. We must protest and react against this brutal pessimism; we must try to demonstrate that it is founded on nothing…”

An obvious distinction that is made when one considers the spiritual approach alongside of the secular propositions. The Scriptures address “Intelligence” and illustrates it in places like the Book of Daniel where Daniel and his friends were selected for special position in Babylon because of their comprehensive skills. The requirement of King Nebuchadnezzar was – Daniel 1:4 – “young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.” There was also the display of intellectual acumen on the part of the Apostle Paul in his encounter with the Epicureans and Stoics – Acts 17:22-26 – “Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you…” He summarized in Acts 17:30-33, “these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world…He has given assurance of this to all by raising Jesus Christ from the dead…when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, We will hear you again on this matter….”

What is wisdom and how does one get it? In Proverbs 1:2-7, “To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth - Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Are you seeking to be Intelligent – or – to be a person of Wisdom? Only a fool would despise wisdom and instruction!  Consider these things with me!