Friday, October 26, 2012

In the Abortion Debate, "Extremists" Are the Only Ones with a Leg to Stand On

I try not to go into politics much, especially topics like this. But one thing does need to be said about abortion: I don't for the life of me understand how people can be all that moderate about it.

Why do I say that? I say that because of the one issue that matters, the one question that makes all the difference. When does life begin? Does it begin at conception? Does it begin at birth? Does it begin some time in between? That isn't just an important question; it is the question. I'm even tempted to say that it is the only issue that matters (although that probably isn't totally true).

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

America, Capitalism, and the Difference Between Intentions and Results

Intentions Vs. Results
In most things, results matter far more than intentions. I tutor kids, and if I can't help them understand the material and get better grades, I won't be kept as their tutor for very long. Even if it's not my fault and the kid is just unreachable and I won't be replaced by anyone, there is still no use in keeping me on if nothing results from it. That is true for most any job. The one exception to this rule, of course, is also the most important judgment we have: It is judgment before God.

Before God, where are hearts were when we acted are far more important than the actual deeds. As religious and pious as the Pharisees were, Jesus could only lament their hearts, quoting what God said centuries before about His people, the Israelites: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me" (Matthew 15:8; cf. Isaiah 29:23). Jesus condemned those who would be His killers (Matthew 21:33-46; 26:24), and yet by them doing so, we were saved. They were condemned for sin, because they did not intend for good, but for evil, and so it was held against them. God killed Jesus to save us, but they murdered who they knew to be, at the very least, an innocent man, out of malice and wickedness.

Capitalism, Economic Philosophy, and America
With the upcoming presidential election here in the US, economic issues have been central (which makes sense, given the economic collapse and snails-paced recovery since). The last 4 1/2 years have been pretty awful from an economic standpoint. Tens of millions of people out of work or woefully underemployed (like myself). Many have just given up on searching (which keeps the official unemployment rate artificially low). Being a somewhat recent college graduate myself, I'm well in the thick of things. America has had serious economic downturns, but not since the great depression have they lasted this long. The middle class is dying. Beyond that, we have the long-term problem of the national debt, which has increased by more than 50% in the last 4 years (and is more than twice what is was 10 years ago, a time when it was still sustainable). At over $16 Trillion, it is greater than the GDP of any country on earth (including our own), and with enormous projected increases in Social Security and Medicare costs, there is no end in sight.