Adventures in Missing the Point, Part II

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On Tuesday, Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) will introduce a bill aimed at cracking down on prescription drugs like Viagra that treat erectile dysfunction. Turner’s legislation would make men jump through certain hoops — such as psychological screenings — before they could obtain the meds. The bill follows FDA recommendations to determine the underlying causes of erectile dysfunction — but that’s certainly not the only reason Turner is putting the measure forward.

via Ohio Senate Bill Offers Male Lawmakers A Taste Of Their Own Medicine | TPM2012.

According to Turner:

“All across the country, including in Ohio, I thought since men are certainly paying great attention to women’s health that we should definitely return the favor,” Turner told TPM. Her bill is one of several pieces of legislation offered over the past several weeks by women lawmakers eager to prove a point about the raging contraception debate.

No, Ms. Turner, men aren’t ‘paying great attention to women’s health.’  Men and women, are paying attention to the Administration’s attempts to violate our 1st Amendment rights.

Yet again, some are intent on obfuscating the real issue.  The issue isn’t ‘women’s health.’  The issue is religious liberty.

Adventures in missing the point!

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Rush Limbaugh slut comment reveals a double standard on sex – CSMonitor.com.

If I understand his argument right, Rush’s use of the term ‘slut’ reveals a double standard whereby women are promiscuous and men are ‘taking what’s rightfully ours.’  Perhaps, but maybe, just maybe, you’ve misunderstood the entire argument.

First, Rush said nothing about men, that I’m aware of.  So, this is an argument from silence.  Perhaps Rush would be just as harsh with men who are promiscuous.  It seems dubious to accuse of a double standard when, in fact, no double standard was evident.  Just because I say, “A=B,” doesn’t mean that “B ≠ C.”

Second, the author appears to be avoiding the actual context.  It seems Rush was attempting to be absurd.  Based Ms. Fluke’s testimony, he attempted to illustrate (very poorly, IMHO) some flaws in our thinking about this issue.  As I’ve written before, his choice of words was quite poor.  But, how does intentional absurdity reveal the double standard this guy speaks of?

Finally, this seems to be another attempt to ignore the real issue.  As an Evangelical Pastor, I believe extramarital sex is a sin.  But, this current debate about contraception has nothing to do with extramarital (nor even marital) sex.  It has everything to do with the First Amendment.

The real issue is whether or not the government is able to compel religious institutions to violate their religious convictions.  If so, then the Bill of Rights really means whatever the government says it means.  In which case, it means nothing at all.

I don’t expect those who do not hold to my convictions to live and act as I do.  I do expect the freedom to live and operate any ministry to which God calls me, according to my religious convictions and with no government interference.

Exclusive: Kirk Cameron Responds to Critics, ‘Hate Speech’ – ABC News

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“Obviously, Cameron has the right to recite his anti-gay talking points,” Graddick added, “just like fair-minded Americans have the right to tell him that his views are harmful and have no place in modern America.”

via Exclusive: Kirk Cameron Responds to Critics, ‘Hate Speech’ – ABC News.

Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with Mr. Cameron on homosexuality, every American should cringe at Mr. Graddick’s comment.  By the way, Mr. Graddick represents GLAAD.  So, it is safe to say that GLAAD believes in free speech, only to the extent it conflicts with their opinions.  Once you voice a dissenting opinion, then your views ‘have no place in modern American.’

Wow, really?  Isn’t the whole concept of free speech supposed to mean that everyone can speak their peace?  Especially if your views are in the minority or are offensive?  I mean, I think the KKK is immoral, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a right to speech in modern America.

“After all, if freedom of speech means anything, it means a willingness to stand and let people say things with which we disagree, and which do weary us considerably.”  Zechariah Chafee

 

Filmgoer takes stand on costly snacks, sues AMC Livonia theater | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

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Filmgoer takes stand on costly snacks, sues AMC Livonia theater | Detroit Free Press | freep.com.

So, how does suing the company (thus increasing their overhead) result in lower prices?  Only if there is something illegal going on, which is highly unlikely.  The outcome will be either no change in prices or higher prices to cover higher costs of litigation.

Why not just forgo the snacks or bring your own?

Power of Mom’s Voice Silenced by Instant Messages | Wired Science | Wired.com

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“IM isn’t really a substitute for in-person or over-the-phone interaction in terms of the hormones released,” said psychologist Leslie Seltzer of the University of Wisconsin, a co-author of the new study. “People still need to interact the way we evolved to interact.”

via Power of Mom’s Voice Silenced by Instant Messages | Wired Science | Wired.com.

As I read this article, I thought, “Of course, we’re social creatures.”  Moreover, we were created for relationship.  In the Genesis creation accounts God says that it is not good for man to be alone.  Clearly we need real, human interaction to fully thrive as humans.

This has some impact for ministry, today.  As we become a more wired culture, we maybe tempted to use more and more tech at the expense of good, old fashioned, face-to-face relationship.  Resist the temptation!  While tech may strengthen ministry, it cannot ever replace in-person interaction.

A new Lifeway Study

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For those who never attend church, the study revealed this group is least likely to pursue purpose and meaning in life or to think about the afterlife:– 19 percent strongly disagree that there is more to life than the physical world and society;– 33 percent strongly disagree that there is an ultimate purpose and plan for every person’s life;– 63 percent strongly disagree that they think often about what I must do to experience peace in the afterlife;– 50 percent never wonder how they can find more meaning and purpose in their life;– 68 percent never wonder if they were to die today, do they know that they would go to heaven.

via Ed Stetzer – New Research Just Released: How Americans Perceive and Pursue Spiritual Realities.

I came across this article on Ed Stetzer’s blog via the EFCA Facebook page.  On one hand it provides some, “Well, of course,” kind of information.  On the other hand, it provides some that might cause us to rethink evangelism.

For example, according to the study (you can download a .pdf or .ppt here) 49% of those with a college degree never wonder about going to heaven when they die.  That seems unsurprising for two reasons.  First, a certain percentage of those Americans are converted Christians, so they shouldn’t wonder.  Second, American education is so thoroughly humanist and anti-supernatural, you’re not going to find many Universities that seriously engage with such an issue.  Back in the ’90s Purdue required us to take a course called Great Questions or something like that.  It was billed as a look at how different groups had struggled with the great questions of life throughout history.  While creation, judgment, heaven & hell were discussed, it wasn’t serious.  It was more from a, ‘Look at what those unenlightened people used to think.’

The study does, however, provide some food for thought in terms of evangelism.  Fully 68% of the unchurched respondents never wonder if they will go to heaven when they die!  So, two-thirds of our mission field aren’t even concerned with the afterlife. At the same time, the article mentions Ed Stetzer’s Lost and Found.  In that book, he reported that 89% of unchurched young adults would be willing to listen to some explain their view of Christianity.

That would seem to indicate folks are willing to listen, but we can’t assume they believe in a heaven. Also, we can’t assume they believe they aren’t going there.  Perhaps 68% believe in Heaven and assume they are going.  As we share the gospel, then, we should make sure to communicate the reality of heaven and judgment.  If they don’t believe in Heaven, or don’t know about judgment, it shouldn’t surprise us that they don’t accept the gospel.

Thoughts?

Christmas as Christian or Cultural Event

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Part of the explanation is simple: Christmas in the United States has become a cultural event about food, family and gifts.

via – The Washington Post.

via – The Washington Post.

One of many articles written about the 10% of churches that cancelled Sunday Worship on Christmas.  But, I think this quote really gets to the heart of the matte:  culture.  Which raises the question:  when should we (Christians) capitulate to culture and when should we stand firm?

How Charity Can Be Toxic, Just in Time for Christmas | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

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The point is, let’s examine the outcome of care. When I talk about the progression of one-way giving, first you elicit appreciation. You do it twice, you elicit anticipation. What’s more, you do it three times and it becomes expectation that he’s going to do it again. Four times and it’s an entitlement. By the fifth time it’s dependency. They’ve done it every year and we count on it. If anybody has been doing this kind of work, they begin to see that pattern.

via How Charity Can Be Toxic, Just in Time for Christmas | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction.

via How Charity Can Be Toxic, Just in Time for Christmas | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction.

A timely conversation about the real costs of certain types of benevolence.  As the Church, we are called to use our plenty to meet the needs of others.  Doing so, without the unintended consequences mentioned about, does require a certain amount of wisdom.

Anyway, read the whole thing and feel free to add your 2 cents.