Respectable Sins

Christ Baptist Church is about to start reading and discussing a fantastic book called Respectable Sins in our care groups. Our goal is to grow together in our battle against all sin as we help each other apply the gospel to our everyday lives. I encourage you to get a copy of this book and invite other Christians to read it and discuss it together. There is even a discussion guide available.

9 Marks Library on Sale

To celebrate the release of Thabiti's new book, WTS has all of the 9 Marks books on sale. Stock up your church library or book table. Or, stock up to give as gifts throughout the year. All of them are excellent, particularly this one.

Rescue Those Being Taken Away to Death

Yesterday was the 39^th anniversary of the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion in America. It was the worst and most unjust decision ever made by the US Supreme Court.

Since 1973, there have been well over 50 million legal abortions in the United States of America.  That’s about 3,200 babies killed every single day in our country (legally).

And experts estimate that there are roughly 42 million abortions performed every year worldwide. That’s about 115,000 babies killed every single day.

In light of these statistics, listen to Proverbs 24:11-12

“Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay each man according to his work?”

Now, this text intentionally gives us no indication as to what specific injustice the author had in mind (someone is being killed and others are unknowingly heading toward destruction). So, this text serves as a general guideline for what God’s people are called to do in the face of violent injustice. If human beings are in danger of being taken away to death, God-fearing people are to come to their rescue.

And notice the point of verse 12. The author anticipates people turning a blind eye to injustice and claiming ignorance of it. The implication is that when we know about injustice, we should do everything in our power to put an end to it without excuse.

The worldwide genocide of babies is the greatest injustice I can imagine. The most helpless humans are those who don’t have a voice to plead their own cause. Who will rescue the unborn? Who will stand up for the rights of the unwanted children in our world? Who will defend those made in the image of God from their oppressors?

So, maybe the question is how can we (ordinary Christians) rescue those who are being taken away? Let me mention just a few very specific ways we can be involved in the pursuit of rescuing babies from abortion (this list is by no means exhaustive).

Start with prayer. Make it a regular practice to pray that abortion will once again be unthinkable in our land. God is the only one who can change hearts. Let’s plead with Him to do so.


Educate yourself. Stay updated on what is going on in the pro-life movement.

Support pro-life organizations that are on the front lines of helping and counseling abortion-minded women. You can start by learning more about your local pregnancy center.

Adopt a child or help someone else adopt. Adoption is a way to say to the world, “You may not want that child, but we do.” Adoption is THE greatest alternative to abortion. There needs to be an army of Christian parents and churches shouting to the world, “No child is unwanted. No child is a burden. Every child, no matter what gender, or color, or health is welcome here in my family.”

Teach you kids never to be ok with abortion. Our kids are growing up in a world where abortion is considered a normal part of life. Teach them that it is the greatest civil rights violation in the world today. Teach them that it is murder, no matter how accepted in our culture it is.

The Greatest Civil Rights Violation in the History of America

Wherever You Are, Whenever You Can..

I absolutely love this simple thought: "Wherever you are, whenever you can, open up the Bible."  Check out this video and these resources from the Good Book Company. We can all do this.

Wherever you find yourself and whenever you have have time....
Read, Study, and Meditate on the Bible.

50% off bestsellers

WTS has a rockn' good limited time sale.  You get 50% all of their 2011 bestsellers.

Challenge 2012: Crave the Word of God

As I do each new year, I challenged my church to love the Word of God. This year, I preached on the command in 1 Peter 2:2: "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk that by it you may group up into salvation." God commands us to intensely crave His Word.

I showed from the context of this command that Peter is referring to the inspired Scriptures and the gospel they proclaim. I showed how Peter lifts up the value and power and benefits of God's Word at the end of chapter 1. And I laid out some practical encouragements to consume a lot of Bible in 2012.

You can listen to that sermon here. Join me in praying that God would give us this passionate longing for the Bible this year.

Adoption Need: Notary

I've posted our need for a Notary to help us with our adoption over at our adoption blog. Please read what we need and see if you or someone you know can help us.