November 22 & 23
This column in our weekly emailing is about the strategies we employ to accomplish our purpose of giving God the glory he deserves, hence the title: Larry's Messages About Purpose and Strategy.
Someone could easily ask how this current series of messages on hot topics could be thought of as strategic. Might we scare people away? My answer is that there are times when living for the glory of God just means you have to take chances. It does not honor God to compromise and cover up the truth.
Many churches refrain from speaking out about matters like abortion, euthanasia, infanticide and bioethics. They don't want to offend anyone. So, why does Dayspring take the risk of being labeled old- fashioned, backward, or politically incorrect? Are we out of line?
My policy is to speak out on anything addressed in the Bible. The sanctity of human life is such a topic. See Gen. 1:27; Ex. 20:13; 23:7; Lev. 20:1-5; Ps. 82:2-4; 127:3; 139:13-16; Prov. 6:17; 24:11,12; 31:8,9; Is. 1:16, 17; Jer. 1:5; Am. 1:13; Mt. 18:10. God opposes the killing of the innocent.
When it comes to principles, we play hardball, but when it comes to people, we must be loving, delicate and sensitive. We do not condemn those who have sinned. We point them to Jesus our Savior. Even so, as we tell the truth, we will inevitably offend some people. Because we know we can't please everyone, the real question is, "Who will we offend?" It had better not be God.
Given what is called "the separation of church and state," some may still wonder why we deal with such a political issue here. It was only a breach of sense that allowed the lives of the unborn to fall into the hands of politicians. The right to life is more than a political, sociological, medical and civil rights issue. It is a profoundly spiritual issue! So we get involved. It has to do with life, and that is our territory.
Someone could easily ask how this current series of messages on hot topics could be thought of as strategic. Might we scare people away? My answer is that there are times when living for the glory of God just means you have to take chances. It does not honor God to compromise and cover up the truth.
Many churches refrain from speaking out about matters like abortion, euthanasia, infanticide and bioethics. They don't want to offend anyone. So, why does Dayspring take the risk of being labeled old- fashioned, backward, or politically incorrect? Are we out of line?
My policy is to speak out on anything addressed in the Bible. The sanctity of human life is such a topic. See Gen. 1:27; Ex. 20:13; 23:7; Lev. 20:1-5; Ps. 82:2-4; 127:3; 139:13-16; Prov. 6:17; 24:11,12; 31:8,9; Is. 1:16, 17; Jer. 1:5; Am. 1:13; Mt. 18:10. God opposes the killing of the innocent.
When it comes to principles, we play hardball, but when it comes to people, we must be loving, delicate and sensitive. We do not condemn those who have sinned. We point them to Jesus our Savior. Even so, as we tell the truth, we will inevitably offend some people. Because we know we can't please everyone, the real question is, "Who will we offend?" It had better not be God.
Given what is called "the separation of church and state," some may still wonder why we deal with such a political issue here. It was only a breach of sense that allowed the lives of the unborn to fall into the hands of politicians. The right to life is more than a political, sociological, medical and civil rights issue. It is a profoundly spiritual issue! So we get involved. It has to do with life, and that is our territory.
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