Confessions of a Seminarian

costs

This is quite a sobering and sad testimony from the UK about women who undergo multiple abortions for the purpose of contraception.

According to a government statistics cited by the article, the number of women seeking more than one abortion is climbing. Approximately 1,300 women in the UK had their fifth abortion last year.

This, on top of another recent report from the UK’s Royal College of Psychiatrists, warning about the increased possibility of mental illness associated with abortion.

Is there any reason to believe this is much different in America?

Numerous faith-based ministries and pregnancy resource centers work to counsel women who feel trapped in their situations, and consider abortion to be the only way out. While there will always be folks who give the entire pro-life movement a bad rap (and they always somehow seem to be easy finds for the media), they are the minority compared to the folks quietly doing the blessed work of counseling women and providing help.

And there are encouraging stories out there as well, such as this one about a mother who’s delighted her child survived an attempted abortion.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” -Psalm 139:13

the allure of separation

It’d be nice to get away and stay away, wouldn’t it?

Definitely.  That really sounds sweet right now.  Some distance.  Getting away. Running away. Why not?

Since the inception of the Christian church, movements within Christianity have advocated, at one time or another, a separation from society as a standing way of life.  The corruption is rampant, they’ve basically said, and we must cut ourselves off to save ourselves, our children, our faith.

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Risky Business: The “Self-Help” Gospel

A couple weeks ago, I attended a conference for small group leaders.  It was at a large well-known church, so I will omit names.  My hope is not to gossip, but make a vital point.  There was much to affirm about the training, but I had a frustrating experience fairly early that illustrated a theme that was rampant throughout the conference.

The first session, titled “Good Questions, Great Listening,” highlighted the importance of listening and asking questions in teaching.  So far so good.

I took my seat and listened as the speaker modeled this philosophy in his teaching by engaging the audience with questions.  However, as time went on I became increasingly worried that this session was not even Christian.

Was it heresy?  Not at all.  But it was strictly business.  The speaker did not include a single verse of scripture when the Bible has MUCH to say about showing love and respect in community. Here are some of the questions he asked the audience:
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