JOHN McCAIN PRO LIFE? WHAT A JOKE
By Chuck Baldwin
August 22, 2008
NewsWithViews.com

Once again, "pro-life" Christians are doing back flips to try and justify their compromise of the life issue by trying to convince everyone (including themselves) that John McCain is truly pro-life. However, these same people know in their hearts that John McCain shares no fidelity to the life issue in any significant or meaningful way. Like many in the Republican Party, McCain's commitment to life is about as deep as a mud puddle.

Dare I remind everyone that the "pro-life" GOP controlled the entire federal government from 2000 to 2006 and nothing was done to overturn Roe v. Wade or end legal abortion-on-demand? When George W. Bush took the oath of office in January of 2001, over one million innocent unborn babies were being murdered in the wombs of their mothers every year via legal abortions in this country. And when George W. Bush leaves office in January of 2009, over one million innocent unborn babies would still be murdered in the wombs of their mothers every year via legal abortions in this country. Eight years of a "pro-life" President and six years of the "pro-life" GOP in charge of the entire federal government and not one unborn baby's life has been saved. Roe v. Wade is still the law of the land, and abortion-on-demand is still legal in America.

I know I've been rather quiet around here lately. However, I haven't been all that quiet elsewhere.

JD alerted me to a post at Locusts & Honey the other day and I just couldn't resist responding.

Well, my post apparently caught the administrator's eye and he decided to make it it's own post. I've already had one criticism, which is wonderful. (I welcome them. Please contribute to the conversation!) And I've written a response to it.

I found a couple great resources online for Genesis 19.

First, an exposition by J.C. Ryle from his book Holiness:
Lot: A Beacon

Second, a sermon by Robert Murray M'Cheyne:
Lot's Wife

My son and I have been studying Genesis. We're up to chapter 19, the destruction of Sodom. Throughout this study, we've been emphasizing the antithesis between the covenant family's focus on eternal life/heaven and the ungodly family's focus on the temporary/this world. This came to a major climax in the Flood and again here in the destruction of the wicked cities.

But there's another important lesson I hope my son will learn in the person of Lot.

Lot had a surplus of fortitude. Webster defined fortitude as

That strength or firmness of mind or soul which enables a person to encounter danger with coolness and courage, or to bear pain or adversity without murmuring, depression or despondency. Fortitude is the basis or source of genuine courage or intrepidity in danger, of patience in suffering, of forbearance under injuries, and of magnanimity in all conditions of life. We sometimes confound the effect with the cause, and use fortitude as synonymous with courage or patience; but courage is an active virtue or vice, and patience is the effect of fortitude.

Fortitude is the guard and support of the other virtues.

When Lot brought his angelic guests into his house, the rule of hospitality directed him to put their own safety above his own. When the wicked men of the city demanded his guests, "Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him." He placed himself between his guests and the danger. We must be faithful to our duties. Here Lot showed uncommon fortitude.

However, he told the men, "Behold now, I have two daughters." What Lot possessed in fortitude, he lacked in prudence. Again, Webster defined prudence as

Prudence implies caution in deliberating and consulting on the most suitable means to accomplish valuable purposes, and the exercise of sagacity in discerning and selecting them. Prudence differs from wisdom in this, that prudence implies more caution and reserve than wisdom, or is exercised more in foreseeing and avoiding evil, than in devising and executing that which is good. It is sometimes mere caution or circumspection.

Prudence is principally in reference to actions to be done, and due means, order, season and method of doing or not doing.

Lot showed no hesitation in prostituting his daughters to these ungodly men - and I use that last term loosely. Lot was right to seek a way to protect his guests. He acted quickly, but he did not act prudently.

This is the lesson I want for myself and my son. Calvin's words on the example of Lot give us a vision for what we should pray for ourselves and our children:

But we are warned by this example, that when the Lord has furnished us with the spirit of invincible fortitude, we must also pray that he may govern us by the spirit of prudence; and that he will never suffer us to be deprived of a sound judgment, and a well-regulated reason. For then only shall we rightly proceed in our course of duty, when, in complicated affairs, we perceive, with a composed mind, what is necessary, what is lawful, and what is expedient to be done; then shall we be prepared promptly to meet any danger whatever.