
The original issue can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/issue-02/17/2012

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Baptist ethicist on mandate: We'd rather go to jail, pay fines
by Tom Strode
Date: February 17, 2012 - Friday

WASHINGTON (BP) -- The Obama administration's mandate that health insurance plans cover contraceptives that can cause abortions harms not only Baptists and other religious adherents but all Americans, two Southern Baptist ethicists told a congressional panel Feb. 16.

Their comments came during a four-and-a-half-hour hearing on the federal rule's impact on freedom of religion and conscience before the Oversight and Government Reform Committee of the House of Representatives. Ten representatives of Protestant, Catholic and Jewish bodies spoke in opposition to the mandate and what critics describe as its lack of sufficient religious and conscience protections for houses of worship, religious institutions and individuals.

C. Ben Mitchell of Union University told the committee the rule "is an unconscionable intrusion by the state into the consciences of American citizens."

"Contrary to portrayals in some of the popular media, this is not just a Catholic issue," said Mitchell, Graves professor of moral philosophy at the Baptist school in Jackson, Tenn. "All people of faith –- and even those who claim no faith –- have a stake in whether or not the government can violate the consciences of its citizenry. Religious liberty and the freedom to obey one's conscience is also not just a Baptist issue. It's an American issue enshrined in our founding documents."

Testifying as part of the same panel, Craig Mitchell of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary told members the requirement "is wrong not just for religious conservatives."

"It's wrong for all Americans, because it takes away the freedom of the citizens while emboldening the federal government to do whatever it wants," said Craig Mitchell, associate professor of Christian ethics at the seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. "It's wrong because it violates the Constitution. It's wrong because it violates religious liberty. It's wrong because it forces people to violate their consciences. ... This ruling is just plain wrong for America."

The Mitchells, who are unrelated, added their voices to the growing public dissent by Southern Baptists against the "contraceptive mandate," as it has become known. Southern Baptist leaders have joined the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church, other Protestant bodies and some Jewish organizations in opposition to the rule since the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Jan. 20 that health plans must cover contraceptives and sterilizations as preventive services for employees. 

The HHS mandate requires all methods approved as birth control by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be included in a range of services offered to patients free of charge. Those FDA-endorsed contraceptives include ones that have abortion-causing properties -- "ella;" emergency contraception, such as Plan B, and the intrauterine device (IUD). Those methods all have mechanisms that can prevent tiny embryos from implanting in the uterine wall. In the case of "ella," it also can block production of the hormone progesterone, destroying the placenta that provides nutrition to the embryo and causing the unborn child's death.

Opponents of the rule especially have protested its failure to provide an adequate religious or conscience exemption. The rule includes an exception for employers who oppose paying for such coverage on religious grounds, but it is narrowly drawn. It will protect many churches and other houses of worship, but it apparently will not cover churches that may primarily serve people outside their faith. The exemption also will not extend to such faith-based organizations as schools, hospitals and social service programs.

After an onslaught of criticism, President Obama announced a change Feb. 10, saying religious organizations would not have to pay for or provide contraceptives if they object on religious grounds. Instead, he said, their insurance companies would be required to pay for such services.

Southern Baptist leaders and other opponents said Obama's solution did not address the religious liberty and conscience problems. Some described it as an "accounting gimmick" that would still require religious organizations to be complicit in paying for employees' abortion-causing contraceptives through their insurance companies.

Dub Oliver, president of East Texas Baptist University (ETBU), expressed concern about the mandate.

"Perhaps the most frightening aspect of this entire episode for ETBU is that we have no idea where this road will end," Oliver told the panel. "Today, the administration is trying to force us to provide our employees with abortion-causing drugs. What's next?

"If the government can force Catholic monks to dispense birth control, what can't the government do?" Oliver asked. "If the government can decide that East Texas Baptist University is not religious enough to have the right to religious liberty, what can't the government do? If this administration can just decide that religious believers are less important than its chosen policy goals, what can't it do?"

To add to opponents' dissatisfaction with the president's revision, HHS did not actually change the rule. As witnesses and at least one Republican committee member said in the Feb. 16 hearing, nothing changed after Obama's announcement. The Heritage Foundation reported the final regulation published Feb. 15 in the Federal Register did not include the language described by Obama.

The witnesses at the House panel hearing expressed a determination not to comply with the requirement even in the face of fines -- that some described as potentially in the millions of dollars -- or possible imprisonment.

Because Southern Baptists believe in a free church in a free state, "tens of thousands of us, maybe hundreds of thousands of us, would be very willing to spend nights in jail for the sake of the preservation of religious liberty," C. Ben Mitchell told the committee. "It's not just our coffers that are at risk. It is our very freedom."

Matthew Harrison, president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, said, "Religious people determine what violates their consciences, not the federal government. ... We must obey God rather than men, and we will."

William Thierfelder, president of the Roman Catholic Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina, told panel members, "This is an issue worth dying for, and many have."

Both Mitchells cited the religious liberty contribution of Baptists to American freedom and the efforts of such Baptist leaders of other eras as Roger Williams, John Leland and Isaac Backus.

Craig Mitchell told the committee, "The thing that concerns me is that if &#91;administration officials&#93; don't see this as a religious liberty issue, what do they see as a religious liberty issue? And where do they stop? What I see here is a hollowing out of what the concept of religious liberty is almost to the point of eventually it will be nonexistent."

The committee's Democrats, who are in the minority, protested the failure of the first panel of five witnesses to include a woman. The second panel included two women among five witnesses. Many focused on women's access to contraceptives, and some defended the president's announced change.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D.-N.Y., asked, "Where are the women?" Rep. Gerry Connolly, D.-Va., decried the hearing as a "sham."

Rep. James Lankford -- a Southwestern Seminary graduate along with both Mitchells –- was one of the Republican committee members who denied the hearing was about access to contraceptives or women's rights.

The Oklahoma congressman said, "Today, this hearing is about: Can this administration, or any administration, say, 'I know your doctrine, but I have a different doctrine, and you will change your doctrine to my doctrine or I will fine you?'"

C. Ben Mitchell also is a consultant on biomedical and life issues for the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Craig Mitchell also is director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Seminary. ETBU, which is located in Marshall, is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Archived video of the hearing is available at http://1.usa.gov/wr2AZg
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Tom Strode is Washington bureau chief for Baptist Press. 


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Vanderbilt policy to impact Baptist group
by Lonnie Wilkey
Date: February 17, 2012 - Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Leaders of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at Vanderbilt University are determining how a new policy will affect the BCM ministry on campus.

On Jan. 31, the administration of Vanderbilt met with students to explain its enforcement of the university's non-discrimination policy and a new "all-comers" policy.

The all-comers policy means that any student at Vanderbilt is entitled to become a member and to seek a leadership position in any registered student organization on campus.

Thom Thornton, BCM director at Vanderbilt, said the BCM has had an "open door" philosophy on campus when it comes to students participating in their ministry. "We want to create an atmosphere where non-Christian students feel welcome," Thornton said. Students can then develop friendships and engage in conversations which can lead to witnessing opportunities, invitations to Bible studies and eventually to students accepting Christ, he continued.

The dilemma for the BCM and other organizations on campus is what criteria can be used to select leadership. The new policy states that student organizations cannot discriminate in membership or leadership, cannot have a statement of faith that they require leaders to sign, cannot have a faith prerequisite for leadership and cannot select leaders in a discriminatory manner, Thornton noted.

He said one administrator said that if faith was the only criterion for holding a leadership position, it would be discriminatory.

Thornton noted that while faith is a key element for BCM leaders, it is not the only criterion used.

The BCM currently uses a selection process for leadership in which Thornton appoints a selection committee that interviews all leadership applicants. After that process has occurred, the leaders are chosen.

Bill Choate, collegiate ministries coordinator for the Tennessee Baptist Convention, acknowledged that faith is one of the criteria used for selecting leaders at all BCM ministries in the state.

"If faith can't be one of the criteria, we have a major crisis," he observed.

"At this point we do not have enough clarification from the university to know what they are asking of us," Thornton said.

While most of the outcry to the policy has come from religious and Christian organizations on campus, the policy affects all organizations, the two BCM leaders noted.

Choate observed that the new policy is an over-reaction by Vanderbilt administrators to an earlier incident in which a Christian fraternity asked an openly gay member to resign. The young man later filed a discrimination complaint against the university.

As a result, the school "stepped up its discrimination policy and removed a statement in the student handbook that protected religious organizations and their right to elect leaders," he said.

"For months we thought the university would back away from this ridiculous position, but now it looks like they may not," Choate said.

"Part of our strategy is to be good citizens of the universities in which we minister," Choate said. "Vanderbilt may deny us that opportunity."

The BCM has been a part of a diverse community for 85 years at Vanderbilt, he added.

"It looks like the university wants to decrease diversity on campus," Choate concluded.

Thornton noted the BCM is trying to work with the university and be supportive of its non-discrimination policy. At the same time, Thornton said it is important to be able to select BCM leaders who support the vision and purpose of the organization. 

"We can't compromise on that," Thornton said.

As it stood before the all-comers rule, the BCM was in compliance, Thornton said.

Four on-campus organizations had been cited for non-compliance -- the Christian Legal Society, Beta Upsilon Chi, Graduate Student Fellowship and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Campus organizations have until April 16 each year to complete Vanderbilt's documents to become a recognized group on campus.

Thornton said meetings will be taking place among its leadership to decide the next steps to take. Any action taken must receive approval from the local BCM board, he added. "Our desire is to be a recognized student organization at Vanderbilt," Thornton said, noting the BCM is the second oldest religious organization on the Vanderbilt campus.

"At the same time, we will hold to the integrity of our religious beliefs," Thornton promised.
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Lonnie Wilkey is editor of the Baptist & Reflector (www.tnbaptist.org/BRNews.asp), newsjournal of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.


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SPORTS: Hall of Famer Gary Carter dies
by Michael Brown
Date: February 17, 2012 - Friday

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (BP) -- After battling brain cancer for nearly nine months, Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter died Feb. 16 in West Palm Beach, Fla., where he had been head baseball coach at Palm Beach Atlantic University since 2009. He was 57.

Nicknamed "The Kid" for his infectious smile and enthusiasm, Carter was diagnosed with four small brain tumors in May 2011 and had been receiving chemotherapy and other medical treatments for a type of cancer deemed inoperable.

Carter leaves behind an incredible legacy in many circles for his athletic abilities, charitable endeavors and unyielding faith.

His most recent career path led him to join his daughter and son-in-law, Kimmy and Kyle Bloemers, at Palm Beach Atlantic University where Kimmy is the head softball coach for the Sailfish and Kyle is an assistant athletic director.

Inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003, Carter was one of the greatest catchers ever to play the game. Spending a majority of his 19-year playing career with the Montreal Expos and New York Mets, Carter helped lead the Mets to a World Series championship in 1986 as he started a two-out rally in Game Six to propel the Mets to an improbable victory in seven games.

Following his playing career, Carter went into coaching and managing within the minor league ranks and independent baseball before settling in as PBA's head coach in October 2009.

Carter had made Palm Beach County his permanent home since 1982. His Gary Carter Foundation was instrumental in raising funds and awareness for such causes as juvenile diabetes, children with autism and in providing education resources to local schools.

Carter is survived by his wife of 37 years, Sandy. The couple has three children, Christy Kearce, Kimmy Bloemers and D.J Carter, and three grandchildren.

It seemed almost providential that Carter came to Palm Beach Atlantic when he did, Kimmy Bloemers said. The family always had a home in South Florida, where the Montreal Expos came for spring training. After his career in the majors, Carter traveled a lot as a broadcaster and baseball manager. When Palm Beach Atlantic approached him about the coaching position, he embraced the opportunity to invest in a Division II program at a Christian university and spend more time with his family.

Although Carter wanted to improve the team, he had a higher purpose in mind.

"My primary goal is to help these young athletes become better Christians and prepare them for life, not just baseball," Carter said in 2009 when the university announced he was joining the staff.

Many of PBA's ball players chose the school because they wanted to learn under the famous catcher.

"When I heard he was the coach here, I didn't believe it at first," Sailfish second baseman Michael Lyon said. "Some Major League players don't care to give back to others like he has."

Murray, who plays Carter's old position, said the coach took him under his wing and taught him both the physical and mental aspects of the game.

"He's always positive, trying to motivate people to do their best and give 100 percent," Murray said, adding that Carter enjoyed telling the team stories from his past, including the two-out, two-strike base hit that sparked the Mets' three-run rally in the bottom of the 10th inning in Game Six of the 1986 World Series.

"But he's always quick to say he never would have made it as far if he didn't have Christ as his Savior. He's always giving glory to God."
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Michael Brown is assistant athletic director for communications at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Fla. With additional reporting by Susan Edgar of World News Service.


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Akin: Why I endorsed it & what I disagree with
by Daniel Akin
Date: February 17, 2012 - Friday

<i>EDITOR'S NOTE: Daniel Akin is president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C.</i>

WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP) -- Early this year Thomas Nelson released the book "Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship and Life Together" by Mark and Grace Driscoll. The book immediately became a best seller as well as a topic of spirited conversation and debate. Some loved it and others hated it. Few, however, were neutral in their opinion, regardless of whether they had read the book.

I was asked, along with my wife Charlotte, to read the book before publication and consider providing an endorsement. We read it and, after talking it over, agreed to give a "qualified" endorsement as long as none of the wording was changed. That request was honored and so the endorsement appears as follows:

"Real Marriage is brutally and sometimes painfully honest. Further, it is frank and direct in addressing a number of important marital issues. Sometimes you probably will feel uncomfortable. And, you may not agree with everything Grace and Mark Driscoll say. We didn't. However, this is a book we will gladly use and recommend to others who care about healthy, biblical marriages. We believe both husbands and wives will be blessed by and benefit from its content. Grace and Mark are to be commended for writing a book that bares their souls and, more importantly, points to the redeeming power of the gospel in the sacred covenant called marriage."

A few of my friends have asked me a couple of questions: 1) Why did you endorse the book knowing, or at least suspecting, it could be controversial? 2) Exactly what is it that you disagree with in the book?

Those are fair and good questions and so let me respond to both.

First, why did we endorse the book? We did so because we believe it powerfully demonstrates the redeeming power of the gospel in healing broken and troubled marriages. Opening chapters such as "Friends with Benefits" (ch. 3), "Men and Marriage" (ch. 4) and "The Respectful Wife" (ch. 5) would be helpful and valuable to anyone seeking a biblical framework for their marriage The book is clear in its complementarian understanding of what the Bible teaches about gender roles, and it affirms that God ordained only heterosexual, monogamous sex within the covenant of marriage.

Mark and Grace also are brutally honest about the baggage they brought into their marriage, but then testify to how God has brought wholeness, joy and blessing as they confessed and repented of sin, sought and extended forgiveness, and more faithfully embraced God's role assignment for a husband and a wife. I strongly suspect thousands of couples will be helped and given hope for their own marriages, especially if they have walked a path similar to Mark or Grace.

We also thought the chapter on Sex as God's gift (ch. 6) and the chapter on the dangers and destructive nature of pornography (ch. 8) were valuable and well done. I could go on but let me simply say that we found a great deal of good in the book and believed and still believe it will help many couples find fulfillment in their marriages and glorify God in the process.

Second, exactly what do you disagree with in the book? There are several things I can share here and I am glad to do so. I am also thankful that as I share where I disagree with my friend Mark, I know he will receive it from a brother who loves him, and that it will not harm or negatively impact our friendship one whit! This is how Christian brothers and sisters should relate to each other.

Mark's "vision" of seeing sexual sin makes me very uncomfortable. I am not sure what to make of it, and it concerns me that he seems to have these revelations in an ongoing kind of way. I have never had such a vision, first of all. I acknowledge that may say something about me. Further, I am not sure there is any real value in sharing things like this in a public venue, even if they are true. Some things are often best left unsaid. I believe that is the case here.

It is also the case, and I doubt anyone will be surprised here, that I am in disagreement with sections of the (in)famous chapter 10 entitled, "Can We ______?" Now to be honest and fair, this chapter overall has more good than bad. In fact I believe most of it is good. The documentation and research is solid. And, I appreciate Mark and Grace tackling tough issues. Someone needs to. As someone who has conducted hundreds of seminars on marriage and family in the past 20 years, I have been asked about almost all of the issues that the Driscolls address. In my research for my book "God on Sex," a popular treatment of the Song of Solomon, these issues repeatedly came up. I chose to address them in a much different way than Mark and Grace, and in most instances did not address them at all. Again, someone needs to, and I appreciate Mark and Grace taking the risk even if I disagree with some of their conclusions.

Let me begin by saying I think their taxonomy is too narrow in answering the question, "Can We ______?" In addition to: 1) Is it lawful? 2) Is it permissible? 3) Is it enslaving?, I would add 4) Is it loving? 5) Is it glorifying to God with my body? 6) Will it bless and build up my mate? 7) Does it glorify God? Further, I believe natural theology is very helpful, especially when dealing with the issue that has caused the most controversy, a particular act many believers would consider a perversion (an issue that receives all of 2½ pages in a book of 249 pages). Taken as a whole, even if one does not think there is a chapter and verse that specifically addresses this issue, the weight of the biblical witness would speak against engaging in this activity (see, for example, Romans 1:18ff). Now, to be fair to the Driscolls they conclude their treatment of this issue noting that, "unless both the husband and wife ... can do so without pain, shame, or harm, this should not be done" (p. 189).

Concerning other issues addressed in chapter 10, I am willing to grant more liberty and freedom for creativity within a heterosexual, monogamous marriage. My understanding of the Song of Solomon and Hebrews 13:4 are my guides at this point, as well as my expanded taxonomy noted above.

In conclusion, this is certainly not a perfect book and Grace and Mark say this at the very beginning (p. xi). There is only one perfect book and we all know which one that is! However, Charlotte and I think Real Marriage is a book that will help many in spite of certain flaws. I was asked the other day in light of all the controversy surrounding the book, would I endorse it again? The answer is, yes I would. I am already hearing from those who are being helped by the book as they pursue a God-glorifying marriage. For that we should all give thanks, whether we are a fan of the book or not.
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This column first appeared at betweenthetimes.com, a blog of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C.


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CULTURE DIGEST: NASCAR sponsor is pro-Israel
by Staff
Date: February 17, 2012 - Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- One of the cars in this year's Daytona 500 will bear an unmistakable message of support for American-Israeli relations, thanks to a couple of NASCAR fans in Charlotte, N.C.

The No. 49 "America Israel Racing" car will have an American flag and an Israeli flag along with an eagle on the hood when it takes to the track Feb. 26 in Florida. 

Rich Shirey and Mark MacCaull want to educate the public about the relationship between the United States and the Middle Eastern nation steeped in biblical history, so they funded the car for the marquis race at a cost of around $10 million, according to WCNC-TV in Charlotte.

"NASCAR is the only sport televised where they pray before every race," MacCaull said. "They are aligned with racing, religion and patriotism."

Shirey admitted the sponsorship is expensive, but "being brought up Southern Baptist, I was always taught we stand behind Israel. This is a way I felt I could give back to society. It's something I believe in."

The two men hope to sponsor the car in races past Daytona but will have to raise additional funds. Their fan base is growing, with more than 400 followers on Facebook.

ABORTION-CAUSING DRUG SOLD IN VENDING MACHINE -- One American university is selling from a vending machine a contraceptive drug that can cause an abortion.

Shippensburg University, a state school in south-central Pennsylvania, stocks a vending machine in its health center with Plan B One-step, known as the "morning-after" pill or "emergency contraception." While the method works to restrict ovulation or prevent fertilization, it also has a back-up chemistry that can operate after fertilization, blocking implantation of a tiny embryo in the uterine wall, thereby causing an abortion.

While other universities sell the "morning-after" pill, Shippensburg's vending machine is reportedly the only one in the country to stock the drug, according to the Associated Press. It has been sold by means of the vending machine for two years and costs $25. Between 350 and 400 doses are purchased each year, AP reported Feb. 10.

Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, decried the availability of the drug in a vending machine.

"Pretty clearly, not only have universities become so immune to abortive medication that they allow the sale of it on their campuses, but they do so with a machine located in a back room of their health center -- without the bat of an eye and with the expectation that those watching you cram crumpled bills into a Coke machine in order to kill your child wouldn't think twice about it, either," Hawkins said, according to LifeNews.com.

"Shippensburg University's decision to sell Plan B -- an emergency contraception that results in the murder of pre-born children and one that touts a slew of harmful effects on women -- in a vending machine on campus is reflective of how dangerous the disease of abortion has become."

Under federal regulations, women 17 and older do not need a prescription to buy the "morning-after" pill, but they must request the drug from pharmacists, who stock it behind their counters. Girls 16 and under must have prescriptions to buy the drug.

University officials defended providing the drug in the vending machine. None of Shippensburg's students are under 17, and no public funds or student fees are used to pay for the drug, a school official said. Other items stocked in the machine are condoms, pregnancy tests and cough drops, according to AP.

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN MARKS 25 YEARS OF MUSIC -- Steven Curtis Chapman is marking 25 years in the Christian music industry by presenting a new acoustic, one-take performance of one of his songs and the story behind it every other Thursday this year at stevencurtischapman.com/scc25. 

Each video in the "Twenty Five" series will be available for viewing for only 25 days, and a greatest hits package titled "#1s Vol. 1" will be available April 3. The spring leg of Chapman's "Songs & Stories" tour launched in February with Andrew Peterson and Josh Wilson.

In his 25 years of music, Chapman has amassed 46 No. 1 singles, 56 Dove Awards, five Grammy awards and more than 200 songs on 17 original albums. He has sold more than 10 million records, and his Show HOPE ministry to help families reduce the financial barrier of adoption has provided grants to more than 2,700 families since 2001.

CROWN FINANCIAL LAUNCHES CROWN.TV -- Crown Financial Ministries, which has been transforming individuals' finances, careers and businesses with biblical values for more than 35 years, has launched Crown.tv, a forum for broadcasts from the ministry.

Available at crown.org, Crown.tv is a series of videos updated regularly with news from the ministry's global offices, the latest products and available training as well as testimonies from people who have been aided by Crown resources.

In a recent Crown.tv installment, viewers tour the Crown Training Center in Malawi, where practical farming skills are taught in order to improve crop yields. Students also learn to be good stewards of the land, combined with principles of biblical financial management.

Crown this year announced a new logo as part of its corporate rebranding initiative to better reflect the organization's mission and connect to a broader audience. 

"Our new logo's crown-shaped water splash signifies the life-transforming impact our ministry is having with our constituents," Chuck Bentley, Crown's CEO, said. "The outward-flowing ripples in our new logo illustrate the ongoing influence Christians exert in the world around them as they live out God's unique design for their lives."

PRECEPT MINISTRIES CHANGES LEADERSHIP -- David Arthur, son of Jack and Kay Arthur, is assuming the role of CEO of Precept Ministries International, the organization his parents founded.

Jack Arthur recently was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and his wife, a renowned Bible teacher, expressed a desire to focus on his health in the coming years. Through Precept Ministries, Kay Arthur has been establishing people in God's Word for more than 40 years.

The Arthurs had been co-CEOs of Precept Ministries, and their son has been transitioning to the role for five years. They believe the best days for the ministry are ahead, according to a news release, and they will continue to serve in other roles.

GINSBURG: COURT WENT 'TOO FAR TOO FAST' ON ABORTION -- The Roe v. Wade opinion legalizing abortion nationwide went "too far too fast," Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said recently.

Of the 1973 ruling that struck down all state abortion restrictions, Ginsburg said Feb. 10, "It's not that the judgment was wrong, but it moved too far too fast."

Some states already had liberalized their laws against abortion, and the justices at that time could have postponed reviewing any decision similar to that of Roe while the situation in the states evolved, she said, according to AP. Or the high court could have invalidated the Texas ban in the Roe case without supporting a right to privacy that legalized abortion throughout the country, she said.

"The court made a decision that made every abortion law in the country invalid, even the most liberal," Ginsburg said, AP reported. "We'll never know whether I'm right or wrong ... things might have turned out differently if the court had been more restrained."

Ginsburg, who supports abortion rights, made her comments at a symposium at New York's Columbia Law School. The event celebrated the 40th anniversary of her addition to the faculty as its first tenure-track female professor.

VIRGINIA HOUSE APPROVES PRO-LIFE BILLS -- The Virginia House of Delegates passed Feb. 14 two pro-life measures.

The House voted 63-36 for a bill requiring women to have ultrasounds before undergoing abortions, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The Senate approved a similar piece of legislation Feb. 1. Gov. Bob McDonnell has said he would sign such a measure into law.

Delegates also approved a bill establishing "personhood" as beginning at conception. The vote was 66-32.
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Compiled by Baptist Press assistant editor Erin Roach and Washington bureau chief Tom Strode. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp).


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N.J. Gov. Christie vetoes gay 'marriage' bill
by Staff
Date: February 17, 2012 - Friday

TRENTON, N.J. (BP) -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a gay "marriage" bill Friday, following through on a promise he made when he ran for governor. 

Meanwhile, Maryland's House of Delegates was poised to vote on a similar bill Friday afternoon. If it passes, it would then go to the Senate, and the governor, who has vowed to sign it. Opponents have pledged to try and overturn it at the ballot. 

 The New Jersey bill was a top priority of Democratic leaders in the state legislature, and it sailed through the Senate 24-16 Monday (Feb. 13) and the Assembly 42-33 three days later with little Republican support. Neither margin is veto-proof. No GOP assembly members supported it, and only two Republican senators did.

Christie, a Republican, pledged during his 2010 campaign that he would veto a gay "marriage" bill. The outcome of that election directly impacted the current bill: the Democratic governor he defeated, Jon Corzine, supported gay "marriage." 

Despite the veto threat, supporters of the bill celebrated when the bill passed the legislature.

"Without question, this is a historic day in the state of New Jersey," Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver said, according to The Star-Ledger. 

Democrats and supporters immediately said they would work on gaining enough votes to overturn a veto, and they have until January 2014 to do so, The Star-Ledger said. That's the end of the session. 

Traditionalists took comfort in the veto but also criticized the legislature.

"We believe it to be the highest form of hubris when those in authority tinker with natural law and challenge God in His creation of the natural order. He will not be mocked," said Len Deo, founder and president of the New Jersey Family Policy Council. "... Those in favor of this bill have long argued that the people shouldn't be allowed to vote on retaining marriage as the union of one man and one woman, but rather that the legislature should decide for them. They have tried the courts and now the legislature; however, we believe this is such a huge public policy shift that the people should weigh in."

Yet there probably will not be a vote at the ballot because Democratic leaders oppose it. 

Traditionalists warned the legalization of gay "marriage" would have a widespread negative impact on New Jersey society, affecting the tax-exempt status of religious organizations, the religious liberty of private businesses and curriculum in elementary schools. 

In Massachusetts -- where marriage has been redefined -- a second-grade class read a book, "King & King," about a prince who "marries" another prince. 

In Vermont, where gay "marriage" is legal, the ACLU sued a bed and breakfast after it declined to host a same-sex "wedding" reception. Illinois saw a similar lawsuit, when a male couple filed a discrimination suit against two bed and breakfasts that refused to host their civil union ceremony.
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Compiled by Michael Foust, associate editor of Baptist Press. 


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Uzbek repression spans Baptists to Muslims
by Staff
Date: February 17, 2012 - Friday

WASHINGTON (BP) -- When it comes to dealing out religious persecution, officials in Uzbekistan say they don't choose favorites.

"We treat everybody equally, both Christians and Muslims," a local official named Nurmina Askarova told Forum 18, a Norway-based religious freedom monitor. In addition to terminating a Baptist church service, authorities also closed a nearby mosque, Askarova said.

The former Soviet republic of 28 million people in Central Asia has among the most suffocating religious restrictions of any ex-Soviet satellite. According to Forum 18, all religious activity not registered with the state, including meetings in private homes, is a criminal offense. Uzbekistan's Muslim majority is held under state domination and religious minorities are routinely targeted for persecution.

Baptists have borne their share of the state's ire in recent months, Forum 18 reports. Ten officials broke up a meeting of an unregistered Korean Baptist congregation on Sunday, Feb. 5, confiscating sound equipment, books, cassette tapes and DVDs. The officials stated that charges will be brought against the pastor, Vyacheslav Kim, who was leading 10 others in worship.

Askarova defended the raid, saying the Baptists were instructed to attend a registered church, but she would not say which church. In the past, according to Forum 18, Baptists were instructed to attend a Russian Orthodox Church.

On Nov. 21 of last year, Sergei Kozin was fined 800 times the monthly minimum wage for non-state sanctioned religious activity after a police raid grabbed him and a group of Baptists who were reading while on holiday. Baptists claimed the case was fabricated and that the government used a fake witness who did not produce the required documents proving his identity.

Officials also raided the flat of Latifzhon Mamazhanov, a member of an unregistered Baptist church, on Nov. 19. The officials did not produce a search warrant but still confiscated Bibles, books and other religious materials.

Uzbek authorities also have targeted Jehovah's Witnesses recently, raiding two homes that each had a visitor present for Bible reading. Using methods that Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18 were "brutal," police arrested five family members and two of their acquaintances. All were accused of violating several of the country's religious restrictions and hit with hefty fines, while two family members and one acquaintance also were given 15-day jail sentences. 

Forum 18's religious freedom survey on Uzbekistan states that religious groups are "raided with impunity and their members threatened, assaulted and even tortured." It says the government plants microphones at houses of worship, has agents spy on religious communities, and heavily restricts religious literature, even for Muslims. State television attempts to fan hysteria against religious minorities, and some Uzbeks have told Forum 18 of the use or threat of torture, including rape.

"Oppressive laws are symptomatic of oppressive official attitudes, and state officials do not appear to acknowledge any restraints on their actions," the Forum 18 analysis states.

Underlying the paranoia of state officials toward religion, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18 that a man who was sentenced at the same court as the Jehovah's Witnesses "could not help showing his surprise that he got only five days for attacking a police inspector but they got 15 days for Bible reading."
--30--
Compiled by John Evans, a writer based in Houston. Forum 18 is on the Web at www.forum18.org.


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'The Vow' book hits No. 1 on NYT list
by Staff
Date: February 17, 2012 - Friday

NEW YORK (BP) -– "The Vow," the true story of a woman who lost all memory of her husband following an automobile accident, has opened at No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list in its first week of re-release.

Published by B&H Publishing Group, the book is the true story behind the film of the same name. The film was produced apart from interaction with B&H. The book is No. 1 on The Times' paperback nonfiction list.

The book tells the story of Kim and Krickitt Carpenter, who made national news in the 1990s when an auto accident left Krickitt with no memory of her husband or their marriage. Initially released in 2000, the book tells the true story of the couple's commitment to their wedding vows, the rekindling of their romance and their strong faith in God.

"This story is not about me, and it's not about Krickitt," husband Kim writes in the book. "It's about the Lord and how He brought my wife and me through a terrible time to a life that is greater than we could have ever imagined. It's about a commitment to the Lord and to each other."

Married just 10 weeks in November 1993, the Carpenters survived an auto accident that left Kim critically injured and Krickitt in a coma. When she awoke, head trauma suffered in the wreck claimed 18 months of her memories including all recollection of meeting, dating and marrying Kim. With Kim committed to his wedding vows and Krickitt maintaining her strong Christian faith, the couple began a long road to rebuild their relationship, including a second marriage ceremony and renewal of vows almost three years later.

It is not the only B&H book on The New York Times' bestseller list. "The Resolution for Men," "The Resolution for Women" and "The Love Dare" are Nos. 10, 12 and 13, respectively, on The Times' paperback advice list. 

"The phenomenal success of these books -- each dealing with the importance of faith and commitment in the family -- shows the great hunger for encouraging and inspiring messages today," said Selma Wilson, B&H Publishing Group president. 

The movie is rated PG-13 and contains content some viewers may find objectionable. It's gotten mixed reviews among Christian websites. Reviewer Paul Asay of Focus on the Family's Plugged In website said the film is "stripped of its real-life Christian core."

"It loses sight of its own title and, in so doing, fails to talk about another side of love: the hard side of love, the love we choose to cling to even when neither we nor our partner is very lovable at all," Asay wrote of the film. (Read the full review at PluggedIn.com). 
--30--
Compiled by Michael Foust, associate editor of Baptist Press. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp).


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FIRST-PERSON: A mandate by any other name ...
by Matt Bowman
Date: February 17, 2012 - Friday

WASHINGTON (BP) -- Many things can be said about President Obama's sleight of hand in declaring that religious employers must still provide their employees with health plans that cover abortifacients, contraception and the like, but that supposedly it is the insurance company, not the employer, who provides the coverage.  

But one point that lots of people are talking about should be addressed specifically. Defenders of this semantic "compromise" have been claiming that it should satisfy religious entities, because they don't have to "pay" for the coverage, the insurer does. First of all, this is plainly not true, since coverage of these items is not free to the insurer. Not only do the "free" mandated items have a cost, but some, like surgical sterilization or implantable abortifacient items, cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and insurance companies simply cannot eat that cost, or print money to cover it. They necessarily add the cost into premiums.

But even if this claim of non-payment made any economic sense, the moral question is, so what? Paying for something is not the ONLY way for an employer to morally facilitate it. In the president's scheme, the employer's providing of its specific plan to the employee is the only thing that makes the employee able to obtain the coverage, and she can only obtain it from the insurer whom the employer is paying. This is a rather direct form of facilitation of the employee getting the objectionable coverage. Therefore it forces religious employers to directly help employees obtain coverage they consider objectionable. It is not morally sufficient to tell religious objectors that they aren't paying anymore, while making them take some different action that still facilitates the objectionable activity. Federal law prohibits the president from imposing burdens on religious beliefs, not just from imposing burdens on pocketbooks.

This situation is also not analogous to the mere fact that when an employer pays an employee a salary, she can go spend it on immoral things. Here the employee can only get the coverage from one vendor, and can only get it from that vendor because the employer is already paying that vendor. It is therefore more like the government ordering religious employers to give their employees a gift certificate for free abortifacient/contraception coverage, knowing that the employee can only qualify for that coverage if the employer gives her that certificate.

Or, to use a more extended analogy, it is like if the government declared that all employers must provide their employees with a monthly meal credit to use at a specific major restaurant chain that the employer chooses, say Applebees or Outback Steakhouse, but the government also requires that each restaurant must offer, to any covered employee who requests one, a free sea-turtle omelet. No environmentalist employer (including a left-leaning Christian conservationist entity) would be content to say, "I myself am not cooperating in the extinction of the sea turtle, since the restaurant I contracted with, not I, is the one who must give the employee her spoil at its own cost." Nor could the government excuse itself by insisting that the meal credit actually costs the employer less in those circumstances, since employees who satiate themselves on sea-turtle frittata will, on balance, order less additional food. 

Even if that made economic sense, the Sierra Club employer is still being forced to exacerbate sea-turtle genocide. The president's plan requires direct moral facilitation of coverage that religious people object to providing. There's no way around that except to stop the government coercion altogether.
--30--
Matt Bowman is legal counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund (telladf.org) at its Washington, D.C. regional service center. This column first appeared at blog.telladf.org/

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FIRST-PERSON: Sports Illustrated's (& America's) slide downward
by Kelly Boggs
Date: February 17, 2012 - Friday

ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP) -- Sports Illustrated's annual pornography issue hit newsstands the week of Feb. 12. It is the one time of the year the iconic sports magazine eschews any mention of athletics and plasters its pages with images of might-as-well-be nude models. 

Some will argue the models found in SI's swimsuit issue can be found regularly in other popular magazines aimed at a male audience. While this is true, those "other" magazines do not market themselves as America's premier sports publication. 

SI introduced its first swimwear edition in January of 1964. Originally it was published to generate interest during a slack time for sports news.

The initial SI swimsuit issue featured only five pages of models wearing suits that, I might add, were modest by today's standards. The remainder of the magazine was, as always, dedicated to sports news and features. 

Fast forward to 2012 and SI makes no pretense. Nothing is modest. There is not a single sports-related story in this year's swimsuit edition.  

When a serious and reputable sports magazine can publish an issue like that, it is clear America has embraced pornography. 

"The mainstream acceptance of pornography has become a social fact," wrote Ben Shapiro in his book "Porn Generation."

In fact, it seems that what is known as soft-core pornography hardly raises an eyebrow in American pop-culture. The hard-core variety is less tolerated in public, but if statistics are correct, it is ever-present and living large on computer screens and cable television.

Further evidence that the pornography on display in the SI swimsuit issue is now socially acceptable: The models featured in the magazine routinely appear on the newsmagazine programs of national news organizations. And news outlets wonder what has happened to their credibility. 

SI has even persuaded serious athletes to shuck their clothes, as well as their dignity, and appear in the swimsuit issue. This year's issue sports a professional golfer, a soccer player and a swimmer.

One fact I found shocking is that a female writer, New York Magazine's Amy Odell, wrote that "one-third of the issue's 70 million readers (actually viewers may be a more accurate word) are women."

Though some in America still want to debate the definition of pornography, most accept it is literature and images that are designed but for one reason -- to cause sexual excitement.

No matter how you try and spin it, the SI photos of women with more skin showing than they have covered have only one purpose. The inescapable byproduct of all forms of pornography is that it reduces women to the sum of their body parts. They are rendered objects rather than persons. The SI swimsuit issue does a good job of achieving that. 

Pornography creates an imaginary standard in the male mind that no female can ever match. No matter how it is experienced, pornography -- even the soft-core socially acceptable variety featured in Sports Illustrated -- leaves a lasting impression and reduces women to objects to be ogled rather than individuals with personality, intellect and ability. Men would do well to remember Proverbs: "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised" (Proverbs 31:30). 

Regardless of what Sports Illustrated says it believes about female athletes, one time a year it reveals what the magazine really thinks about the ladies of sport. And if that is not objectifying and insulting, I don't know what is. 
--30--
Kelly Boggs is a weekly columnist for Baptist Press and editor of the Baptist Message www.baptistmessage.com, newsjournal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) and in your email (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp).


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EDITORIAL: La Biblia son las cartas de amor del Padre
by Octavio J. Esqueda
Date: February 17, 2012 - Friday

<i>NOTA DEL EDITOR: La columna First-Person (De primera mano) es parte de la edición de hoy de BP en español. Para ver historias adicionales, vaya a
http://www.bpnews.net/espanol</i>

LA MIRADA, Calif. (BP) -- Me encantan las historias. Recuerdo que cuando tenía como tres años mi papá me dio uno de los mejores regalos que he recibido, el primer tomo de la colección "Joyas literarias juveniles" de editorial Bruguera. Este número era la historia de Miguel Strogoff del gran escritor francés Julio Verne y por años cada mes mi papá compraba la novela que salía a la venta en los puestos de revistas. Cada tomo resumía una obra de arte de la literatura universal y la presentaba con ilustraciones de manera que uno podía leer el libro de una manera interesante y resumida. Esta colección formó parte de mi niñez y aún todavía cuando voy a la casa de mis padres los busco con nostalgia. Obviamente a los tres años no sabía leer, pero las ilustraciones eran fascinantes y me encantaba hojear los libros de la colección.

De alguna manera mi papá contribuyó grandemente en mi gusto por la lectura y las historias. Fue a través de su ejemplo que los libros me han acompañado a lo largo de mi vida. Por lo tanto, cuando fui a la universidad me decidí por estudiar literatura y siempre he estado involucrado en el estudio de las humanidades. Ahora soy profesor y mis actividades cotidianas involucran la lectura y el análisis de textos, especialmente la Biblia. 

La Biblia es, sin lugar a dudas, la mejor historia que se haya escrito porque es la historia de las maravillosas obras de Dios en la humanidad. La narrativa bíblica  tiene un tema en común a pesar de haber sido escrita por más de cuarenta personas con diferentes trasfondos sociales y culturales, en tres diferentes continentes, en tres idiomas distintos,  hebreo, arameo y griego y a lo largo de un periodo de aproximadamente 1500 años. Evidente esta asombrosa unidad solamente pudo ser posible al ser el Espíritu Santo el que inspiro a los autores bíblicos. Por lo tanto, la Biblia tiene un origen tanto divino como humano. 

Además, a lo largo de la narrativa bíblica se da respuesta a las preguntas fundamentales del ser humano usando la estructura de creación, caída y redención. La Biblia inicia con la historia de la creación y en los dos primeros capítulos de Génesis se da respuesta a cuatro preguntas esenciales, ¿Qué es la realidad?, ¿Dónde estoy?,  Quién soy?, ¿Por qué soy?

La metafísica es la rama de la filosofía que estudia la realidad. La historia de la creación comienza respondiendo a la pregunta básica de la metafísica, ¿por qué existe algo en lugar de la nada? con esta afirmación "En el principio, creó Dios los cielos y la tierra" (Gen. 1:1). Dios es el creador de todo lo que existe y El es la explicación y fuente del universo. Los capítulos 1 y 2 de Génesis describen la historia de la creación, en el primer capítulo con un enfoque cosmológico y el segundo capítulo con uno antropológico. Al finalizar la creación, Dios afirmó que lo que había hecho era bueno en gran manera (Gen. 1:31). Por lo tanto, los seres humanos nos encontramos en el mundo que el Señor creó y que además es bueno. 

Génesis 1:26-28 es conocido como el decreto de la creación y en él encontramos respuesta a las preguntas ¿quién soy y por qué soy?:

"Entonces dijo Dios: Hagamos al hombre a nuestra imagen, conforme a nuestra semejanza; y señoree en los peces del mar, en las aves de los cielos, en las bestias, en toda la tierra, y en todo animal que se arrastra sobre la tierra. Y creó Dios al hombre a su imagen, a imagen de Dios lo creó; varón y hembra los creó. Y los bendijo Dios, y les dijo: Fructificad y multiplicaos; llenad la tierra, y sojuzgadla, y señoread en los peces del mar, en las aves de los cielos, y en todas las bestias que se mueven sobre la tierra." 

Somos creados a la imagen de Dios y esto es la fuente de nuestro valor y dignidad. La imagen de Dios consiste en la investidura humana de la gloria divina y la capacidad moral de reflejar Su carácter mientras señoreamos la tierra como los representantes de Dios. Dios nos creó con un propósito spiritual, para relacionarnos con El, con un propósito social, para relacionarnos unos con otros y con un propósito cultural, para relacionarnos con el resto de la creación. 

Sin embargo, todos sabemos qué algo anda mal en el mundo. Qué las cosas no son como deberían de ser; que hay sufrimiento y maldad a nuestro alrededor. Génesis 3 nos da la respuesta a la pregunta ¿qué salió mal? al relatar la historia de la caída y el pecado. La desobediencia del ser humano a los preceptos divinos trajeron como consecuencia la separación del ser humano con Dios, con sus semejantes, consigo mismo y con la creación. 

A partir de la primera promesa de Dios en Génesis 3:15 para restaurar las consecuencias del pecado hasta el final en Apocalipsis 22, la Biblia se centra en la historia de la redención. De hecho, la parte central de la narrativa bíblica es la manera en que Dios nos atrae nuevamente hacia El y responde a la pregunta, ¿cuál es la solución? La primera sección de nuestras Biblias narra la promesas de redención por parte de Dios a través de diferentes pactos los cuales forman la columna vertebral de la historia de la redención. Es a través de Jesucristo que el cumplimiento de esos pactos se va logrando. Por lo tanto, a la promesa de redención le llamamos Antiguo Testamento y al cumplimiento le llamamos Nuevo Testamento. Jesucristo en su primera venida inicia la obra de redención y la culminará totalmente en su segunda venida. La Biblia termina con la promesa de la nueva creación. Así que, la historia bíblica se puede resumir con la creación, caída y redención del ser humano. 

A mi hijo Darío también le fascinan las historias. Cada noche leemos algunos cuentos e historias bíblicas. Sin embargo, la Biblia es una historia, pero no es como ninguna otra. En ella el Dios creador de todo lo que existe se revela de una manera majestuosa pero personal. La Biblia son claramente las cartas de amor del Padre celestial que desea relacionarse con nosotros y que a pesar de que nos alejamos de El, nos muestra su amor a través de Jesús y nos invita a disfrutar la plenitud de la vida para la que fuimos creados (Juan 10:10). A través de la páginas de la narrativa bíblica Dios nos recuerda que existimos para adorarle y que, como declaró Agustín de Hipona al inicio de sus Confesiones, podemos afirmar que nuestro corazón está sin descanso hasta que no encontramos nuestro descanso en El. 
--30--
Octavio Javier Esqueda es profesor en los programas doctorales en educación en Talbot School of Theology de la Universidad Biola en La Mirada, California. Es miembro de la iglesia bautista Green Hills en La Habra, California y ha tenido la oportunidad de enseñar en diferentes países, instituciones y niveles académicos.

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El mundo spiritual cede ante la oración de una pareja
by Por Shiloh Lane
Date: February 17, 2012 - Friday

SOUTHEAST ASIA (BP) -- La mayoría de los instrumentos necesitan músicos que los toquen. Pero otros, como lo descubrieron dos trabajadores cristianos, no necesitan a seres humanos. 

David and Regan York* se mudaron hace nueve años junto con sus dos hijos a una ciudad rica culturalmente en el sureste de Asia. La ciudad parece una obra de arte con edificios adornados con murales y pinturas grafiti, pero los residentes valoran especialmente las melodías complejas de su música tradicional.

York, quien tiene estudios superiores en música, pensaba usar sus conocimientos para crear oportunidades para compartir el evangelio. Pero cuando los York compraron varios instrumentos -- teteras de bronce, gongos, y tablas hermosamente talladas de madera—experimentaron personalmente el mundo espiritual conectado a la expresión artística de la cultura. 

Sin pasar mucho tiempo después de mudarse a su casa en Asia, la pareja puso en la sala los instrumentos que había comprado. Entonces, una noche después de que la familia se había ido a dormir, uno de los instrumentos empezó a tocarse por sí mismo. 

"Pensamos...quizá todavía estaba medio dormido, quizá un millón de cosas," dijo Regan. "Quizá es otro instrumento que alguien más tiene en nuestro vecindario. Quizá no es el de nosotros."

David and Regan no se dijeron nada acerca de la música ya que cada uno pensaba que el otro no la había escuchado. Pero la misma canción se escuchaba noche tras noche. David se salió de la cama, revisó la casa y aseguró las puertas. Nadie había entrado pero podía ver las tablas de bronce todavía vibrando por la música.

Después de varias semanas de preocupación, los York finalmente se admitieron que habían estado escuchando la canción. También admitieron que la guerra espiritual era la única cosa que puede hacer que un instrumento se toque por sí mismo. Cuando los artesanos hacen sus instrumentos, como pronto descubrió la pareja, los hombres oran y ayunan por su trabajo y piden que espíritus habiten y mejoren el sonido de los instrumentos.

La familia mantuvo la calma al inicio, pero cuando Regan se dio cuenta que Esther*, su hija mayor, también podía oír la canción, empezó a temer por su familia. 

"Recuerdo orar y decirle a Dios que estaba muerta de miedo," dijo Regan. "No sé qué está pasando y no sé cómo pararlo...estamos solos donde vivimos y tengo hijos. No quiero que esas cosas asusten a mis hijos."

A pesar de que David trató de confortar a su esposa, él simplemente se sentía abatido. Instrumentos de bronce que se tocan por sí mismos no encajaban en su cosmovisión. 

"Mi teología no tenía lugar para todo esto," dijo. "Básicamente pensaba que era imposible que las fuerzas demoniacas habitaran objetos inanimados o quizá nunca pensé que era posible que dominaran o influenciaran personas a través de objetos como estos. Pero una vez que llegamos al campo misionero, nos dimos cuenta que esto es una realidad."

Enfrentados con la guerra espiritual en su propia sala, los York no tuvieron otro recurso más que orar. La pareja se arrodilló delante del Señor y le dedicaron sus instrumentos a Dios.

"Son tuyos," oraron. "Haz lo que tengas que hacer para defender lo que es tuyo. Si realmente te pertenecen, entonces confiamos que los limpiarás. Y todo lo que usemos será para tu gloria. Esto no es de nosotros. Es tuyo."

Después de orar, los instrumentos nunca volvieron a tocarse por sí mismos.

David y Regan creyeron que habían dado un gran paso adelante. Esperaban usar la historia para mostrar el poder de Dios sobre el mundo espiritual y para guiar a la personas a la libertad y seguridad en Cristo.

Sin embargo, los amigos locales de la pareja y sus vecinos no pensaron que esta historia era muy convincente. En un mundo en donde los espíritus siempre compiten por poder, pensaban que Dios simplemente había conquistado a un demonio, pero los resultados podían cambiar en otras batalla. 

De hecho, algunas personas se enojaron pensando que la pareja había descuidado sus posesiones al sacar a un espíritu que supuestamente bendecía la música. Unos días después del exorcismo, la persona que le ayuda a Regan en las labores de la casa la confrontó. 

"Tus instrumentos ya no sirven," le dijo la mujer. "No tienen nada especial. Solían tocarse solos antes, pero ahora no lo hacen. ¿Qué les hiciste?"

Regan le explicó que ella y su esposo no tenían los instrumentos hechos para un espíritu que no conocían. Ellos dedicaron sus instrumentos al Dios que adoraban para que ningún otro ser espiritual los poseyera. 

La ayudante no la escuchó y seguía pensando que los York habían tontamente arruinado un tesoro. La pareja se encontraba con una historia única sobre el poder de Dios que no podía convencer a nadie de seguir a Cristo. Entonces David se dio cuenta de que no necesitaban una nueva historia de las obras maravillosas de Dios. Ni las historias de espíritus ni la obra divina a través de la música tradicional podían remplazar el testimonio de la muerte de Cristo.

"El testimonio más poderoso y efectivo no es a través de esta magnífica y creativa estrategia en donde usamos música tradicional, en donde tenemos encuentros poderosos, en donde tenemos estrategias de oración," dijo David. "...Esas cosas tienen su lugar—pero el testimonio más efectivo es simplemente cuando alguien está dispuesto a sentarse cara a cara con una persona perdida para explicarle el amor de Dios expresado a través de Jesucristo."

Mientras que David reacomodó sus ideas sobre el ministerio, Regan le agradeció a Dios con alivio. El Señor había salvado a su familia durante una de sus situaciones más difíciles. A pesar de que temía por sus hijos, Dios los protegió. Regan dice que siempre recordará este encuentro espiritual como un ejemplo de su fortaleza y amor. 

Desde que los instrumentos dejaron de tocarse por sí mismos, los York han tenido otros encuentros con el mundo espiritual, pero la familia se fortalece con cada encuentro. Saben que Dios tiene poder sobre los demonios y que nunca les ha dejado de proteger. Cuando se encuentran con guerra espiritual, solamente necesitan pedir y el Señor les librara de cualquier espíritu que los atemorice. 

"La experiencia nos hace tener más seguridad, no porque tenemos todo bajo control o porque sabemos qué fórmula utilizar en caso de que algo suceda," dijo Regan, "pero nos hace sentir que tenemos un Dios quien es realmente más poderoso que los espíritus y no tenemos porqué tener miedo." 
--30--
*Los nombres han sido cambiados. Shiloh Lane sirvió por dos años con la Junta de Misiones Mundiales en el surest de Asia. Para más historias sobre este ministerio y otras historias de Asia, visite http://www.asiastories.com.

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La JMN, vía 'Send North America,' envía a favor de la plantación de iglesias
by Por Mickey Noah
Date: February 17, 2012 - Friday

MIAMI (BP) -- "Send North America" es el plan estratégico para revertir la tendencia a perder terreno en la plantación de nuevas congregaciones que se ha visto en la Convención Bautista del Sur, esto dijo Kevin Ezell, el presidente de la Junta de Misiones Norteamericanas, (NAMB, por sus siglas en inglés), durante una junta en Miami el 8 de febrero. 

Ezell revisitó la historia de la plantación de iglesias en la Convención Bautista del Sur durante su discurso ante la mesa directiva. Nacida en 1845, la CBS había plantado una iglesia nueva por cada 3,800 personas, hasta 1900; usando una metáfora del juego de futbol americano, Ezell dijo que era como mover la pelota fuera de la línea de las 50 yardas.

"En el 2010, solamente tuvimos una iglesia por cada 6,100 personas, una baja del 59 por ciento, lo cual significó que retrocedimos hasta la línea de las 20 yardas," dijo Ezell.

"Por eso anunciamos 'Send North America' como nuestra estrategia nacional de plantación de iglesias," afirmó Ezell. "Queremos incrementar nuestra ganancia neta de congregaciones para alcanzar 5,000 más en los próximos 10 años, pasar de ser 51,000 a ser 56,000. Para hacerlo, tenemos que plantar 15,000 iglesias en la próxima década porque cada año perdemos 890 iglesias ya existentes. En otras palabras, tenemos que plantar cerca de 900 iglesias cada año para recuperarnos de la pérdida."

Para alcanzar esta meta, Ezell dijo que la JMN ahora está enviando misioneros catalizadores para la plantación de iglesias, mucho más estratégicamente que el pasado, con el objetivo de tener un catalizador por cada millón de personas de población.

"Por eso estamos haciendo algunos recortes en algunos lugares y enviando misioneros a otros porque, tradicionalmente, el envío de nuestros plantadores de iglesias ha sido desproporcionado," dijo Ezell. "Por ejemplo, en cierta área tenemos 23 catalizadores plantadores de iglesias pero hay solamente 5 millones de personas en la región que abarca dos estados. Debería haber solamente seis catalizadores ahí.

"El el área de Nueva York, con 19 millones de personas, tenemos solamente 11 catalizadores plantadores de iglesias," continuó Ezell. "Así que tenemos el doble de catalizadores en un área de 5 millones de personas que en un área como Nueva York. En Canadá, con 35 millones de personas, sólo tenemos seis catalizadores."

Ezell dijo que la mayor necesidad de la JMN es "obreros."

"En Mateo 9, Jesús nos dijo que no oráramos por la cosecha –- eso va a suceder -- sino que oráramos por obreros para recoger la cosecha. Por ello estamos reubicando nuestros recursos. Para asegurarnos que los catalizadores plantadores de iglesias estén ubicados estratégicamente... debemos hacer lo que sea necesario para penetrar la oscuridad entre los perdidos."

OFRECIENDO INCREMENTOS

Los miembros de la mesa de la mesa directiva también recibieron las nuevas noticias de parte del Vicepresidente de la JMN y Funcionario Financiero Principal, Carlos Ferrer, que la Ofrenda de Resurrección Lottie Moon 2011 para la Junta de Misiones Norteamericanas fue de $56,040,868, un 3 por ciento más que el año anterior.

Ferrer también reportó que las entradas de la JMN provenientes del Programa Cooperativo estuvieron justo debajo de los $43 millones. Al final de los 12 meses, el 31 de diciembre del 2011, el total de los ingresos de la JMN fue de $119 millones, excediendo el total de los gastos, que fueron $108.8 millones.

Larry Wynn, vicepresidente de evangelismo, presentó el proyecto de distribución del Nuevo Testamento "Encuéntralo Aquí," programado para el 2012. Los miembros de la mesa directiva de la JMN aprobaron el proyecto, separando $2.5 millones para los Nuevos Testamentos. Se distribuirá una caja de estos Nuevos Testamentos para cada iglesia de la CBS en Norteamérica. El proyecto "Encuéntrelo Aquí" incluirá Nuevos Testamentos en inglés y español, y capacitación sobre las estrategias para su distribución. La iniciativa forma parte del programa evangelístico de 10 años de la JMI, denominado GPS (El Gran Plan del Señor).

PASTORES BIVOCACIONALES, MISIONES EN ZONAS URBANAS DE ESCASOS RECURSOS

Los miembros de la mesa directiva aprobaron $800,000 para la futura compra de una propiedad en Miami para plantar una iglesia y centro ministerial que albergará a una nueva iglesia a la vez que provea espacio ministerial para actividades como las clases de inglés como segundo idioma, programas educativos para niños después de salir de clases y clínicas deportivas. 

Ezell dijo que la JMN también está renovando su enfoque en los pastores bivocacionales, los pastores que tienen un trabajo de tiempo completo y a la vez sirven como pastores de tiempo completo en las iglesias bautistas del sur.

"Los verdaderos hombres de acero de la CBS son nuestros pastores bivocacionales," dijo Ezell ante los miembros de la mesa directiva de la JMN, añadiendo que en algunos estados –- como Alabama y Arkansas -- los pastores bivocacionales representan la mitad de los pastores bautistas del sur. 

"Estos hombres de acero han sido ignorados y no han sido apreciados lo suficiente en la CBS," afirmó Ezell. "A partir de la reunión anual de la convención este verano, vamos a enfatizarles en maneras que nunca se han hecho anteriormente. Vamos a reconocerles y honrarles."

Aaron Coe, vicepresidente de movilización de la JMN, anunció que el antiguo foro de plantación de iglesias y las juntas de liderazgo estatal se unirán para ser una sola y gran conferencia llamada "Send North America," programada para el 30 y 31 de julio en la First Baptist Church en Woodstock, Ga. La lista de invitados se expandirá para incluir no sólo a los plantadores de iglesias y asociados estatales, sino también a todos los pastores y laicos involucrados en la plantación de iglesias quienes necesitan ser capacitados sobre el proceso de la iniciativa Send North America. 

UNO, PERO NO EL MISMO

Ezell, en sus comentarios ante los miembros de la mesa directiva, dijo que está "orgulloso de ser un bautista del sur, incluso ahora más que hace 16 meses cuando comencé en la JMN.

"La CBS es un grupo único de personas. Somos uno –- apoyando al Programa Cooperativo, &#91;la ofrenda de Navidad para las misiones internacionales&#93; Lottie Moon y Annie Armstrong. Y a través del Mensaje y Fe Bautistas 2000, estamos unidos en lo que creemos. Somos uno y sentimos la unidad. En eso estamos de acuerdo.

"Pero aunque somos uno, no todos somos lo mismo. Tenemos diversidad. Sólo plantamos iglesias bautistas del sur pero no queremos iglesias que se parecen en todo. Algunas iglesias tienen pastores con traje y corbata, otros predican con jeans. Algunos gustan de la música tradicional, otros la contemporánea.

"Somos uno pero no lo mismo. Y todos queremos penetrar la oscuridad que cubre a los perdidos."
--30--
Mickey Noah escribe para la Junta de Misiones Norteamericanas.

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COMPENDIO CULTURA: patrocinador de NASCAR es pro-Israel
by Por el Staff
Date: February 17, 2012 - Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Uno de los carros en las 500 millas de Daytona llevará un inconfundible mensaje de apoyo a las relaciones estadounidenses israelíes, gracias a un par de aficionados a NASCAR de Charlotte, North Carolina.

 
El carro No. 49 "Carrera EE.UU. Israel" tendrá una bandera estadounidense y una bandera israelí junto con un águila en el capó cuando entre a la pista el 26 de febrero en Florida. 

Rich Shirey y Mark MacCaull quieren educar al público sobre las relaciones entre EE.UU. y la nación del Medio Este impregnada de historia bíblica, así que encontraron el carro para la carrera marquis a un costo de alrededor de $10 millones, de acuerdo a WCNC-TV en Charlotte.

"NASCAR es el único deporte televisado donde oran antes de cada carrera," dijo MacCaull. "Ellos están alineados con la carrera, la religión y el patriotismo."

Shirey admitió que el patrocinio es caro, pero "habiendo sido criado como bautista del sur, siempre se me enseñó que respaldamos a Israel. Esta es la manera en la que siento que le puedo devolver a la sociedad; es algo en lo que creo."

Los dos hombres esperan patrocinar el carro en carreras después de Daytona pero tendrán que levantar fondos adicionales. Su base de aficionados está aumentando a más de 400 seguidores en Facebook.

FÁRMACO QUE CAUSA ABORTO ES VENDIDO EN MÁQUINA EXPENDEDORA -- Una universidad estadounidense está vendiendo a través de una máquina expendedora un fármaco anticonceptivo que puede causar abortos.

Shippensburg University, una universidad estatal ubicada en la parte centro-sur de Pennsylvania, surte una máquina expendedora ubicada en su centro de salud con Plan B Un-paso, conocida como la "píldora del día siguiente" o "anticonceptivo de emergencia." Aunque el método funciona para restringir la ovulación o prevenir la fertilización, también tiene un mecanismo de retroceso que puede funcionar después de la fertilización. Puede bloquear la implantación del diminuto embrión en la pared uterina, y por lo tanto causa un aborto.

Aunque otras universidades venden la píldora del "día siguiente," la máquina expendedora de Shippensburg está reportada como la única en el país que surte el fármaco, de acuerdo a Prensa Asociada (AP por sus siglas en inglés). Ha sido vendida a través de la máquina expendedora durante dos años y cuesta $25. Entre 350 y 400 dosis son compradas cada año, reportó AP el 10 de febrero.

Kristan Hawkins, presidenta de Estudiantes por la Vida de EE.UU., condena abiertamente la disponibilidad del fármaco en la máquina expendedora.

"Muy claramente, no solamente las universidades se han vuelto muy inmunes al medicamento abortivo que permiten que se venda en sus propios campus, sino que lo hacen con una máquina ubicada en un cuarto trasero de su centro de salud -- sin un parpadeo y con la expectación de que aquellos que te observan atiborrar arrugados billetes en una máquina de sodas para matar a tu bebé tampoco pensarían dos veces en el asunto," dijo Hawkins, de acuerdo a LifeNews.com.

"La decisión de la Universidad Shippensburg de vender Plan B -- un anticonceptivo de emergencia que resulta en la muerte del niño nonato y que pregona un montón de dañinos efectos en las mujeres -- en una máquina expendedora en un campus es reflejo de cuán peligrosa se ha vuelto la enfermedad del aborto."

Bajo regulaciones federales, las mujeres mayores de 17 años no necesitan una prescripción para comprar la píldora del "día siguiente," pero deben requerir el fármaco de un farmacéutico, que la surte detrás de un mostrador. Las chicas menores de 16 años deben obtener una prescripción para comprar el fármaco.

Los oficiales de la universidad defendieron el proveer el fármaco en las máquinas expendedoras. Ninguna de las estudiantes de Shippensburg tiene menos de 17 años, y no se usan fondos públicos u honorarios de los estudiantes para pagar por el fármaco, dijo un oficial de la universidad. Otros artículos que se pueden conseguir en la máquina son condones, pruebas de embarazo y pastillas contra la tos, de acuerdo a AP.

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN MARCA 25 AÑOS DE MÚSICA -- Steven Curtis Chapman está marcando 25 años en la industria de música cristiana presentando una única interpretación acústica nueva de una de sus canciones y la historia detrás de ella cada jueves de por medio este año en stevencurtischapman.com/scc25. 

Cada video de la serie "Twenty Five" (Veinticinco) estará disponible para verlo solamente 25 días, y un paquete de los más grandes éxitos titulado "#1s Vol. 1" estará disponible el 3 de abril. El tour de Chapman "Songs & Stories" (Historias y canciones) de la etapa de primavera fue lanzado en febrero con Andrew Peterson y Josh Wilson.

En sus 25 años de música, Chapman ha amasado 46 sencillos No 1, 56 Premios Dove, cinco premios Grammy y más de 200 canciones en 17 álbumes originales. Ha vendido más de 10 millones de discos, y su show ministerios HOPE (Esperanza) para ayudar a familias a reducir la barrera financiera de la adopción ha provisto subvenciones a más de 2.700 familias desde 2001.

FINANCIEROS CROWN LANZA CROWN.TV -- Conceptos Financieros Crown, que ha estado transformando las finanzas, carreras y negocios individuales con valores bíblicos durante más de 35 años, ha lanzado Crown.tv, un fórum para transmisión del ministerio.

Disponible en crown.org, Crown.tv es una serie de videos actualizados regularmente con noticias de las oficinas globales del ministerio, los últimos productos y entrenamiento disponible además de testimonios de personas que han sido impactadas por Crown.

En una reciente entrega de Crown.tv, los espectadores visitaron el Centro de Entrenamiento Crown en Malawi, donde se enseñan habilidades prácticas de agricultura para mejorar el rendimiento de las cosechas. Los estudiantes también aprenden a ser buenos mayordomos de la tierra combinado con principios de administración financiera bíblica.

Este año Crown anunció un nuevo logotipo como parte de su iniciativa de cambio de nombre corporativo para reflejar mejor la misión de la organización y conectarse con una audiencia más amplia. 

"Nuestro nuevo logo en forma de corona que salpica en el agua significa el impacto transformador de vida que nuestro ministerio está teniendo en nuestros constituyentes," dijo Chuck Bentley, director ejecutivo de Crown. "Las ondas exteriores que fluyen en nuestro nuevo logo ilustran la continua influencia que los cristianos ejercen alrededor de ellos cuando viven el diseño único de Dios para sus vidas."

MINISTERIOS PRECEPTO CAMBIA DE LIDERAZGO -- David Arthur, hijo de Jack y Kay Arthur, está asumiendo el papel de director ejecutivo de Ministerios Precepto Internacional, la organización que sus padres fundaron.

Jack Arthur recientemente fue diagnosticado con la enfermedad de Alzheimer, y su esposa, la renombrada maestra de la Biblia, expresó el deseo de enfocarse en la salud de su esposo en los años que vienen. A través de los Ministerios Precepto, Kay Arthur ha estado estableciendo gente en la Palabra de Dios durante más de 40 años.

Los Arthur han sido los codirectores ejecutivos de Ministerios Precepto, y su hijo ha ido hacienda la transición para el puesto durante cinco años. Ellos creen que los mejores días del ministerio están por venir, de acuerdo a una divulgación noticiosa, y ellos van a continuar sirviendo en otros roles.

GINSBURG: LA CORTE FUE 'MUY LEJOS MUY RÁPIDO' EN EL ABORTO -- La opinión Roe contra Wade que legalizó el aborto a nivel nacional fue "muy lejos muy rápido," dijo recientemente la jueza asociada de la Suprema Corte Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Del fallo de 1973 que se trajo abajo todas las restricciones estatales al aborto, Ginsburg dijo el 10 de febrero: "No es que la sentencia estuviera equivocada, sino que se movió muy lejos muy rápido."

Algunos estados ya habían liberalizado sus leyes contra el aborto, y los jueces en ese momento habían pospuesto revisar cualquier decisión similar a la de Roe mientras la situación en los estados evolucionaba, dijo ella, de acuerdo a AP. O la corte alta podría haber invalidado la prohibición de Texas en el caso Roe sin apoyar el derecho a la privacidad que legalizó el aborto a través del país, dijo ella.

"La corte hizo una decisión que volvió inválida cada ley sobre el aborto en el país, inclusive la más liberal," dijo Ginsburg, reportó AP. "Nunca sabremos si tengo razón o no... las cosas se hubieran presentado diferente si la corte hubiera sido más comedida."

Ginsburg, quien apoya el derecho al aborto, hizo sus comentarios en un simposio en la Escuela de Leyes Columbia de New York. El evento celebró el 40o aniversario de su adición a la facultad como la primera mujer profesora titular.

LA CASA DE VIRGINIA APRUEBA PROYECTO DE LEY PRO-VIDA -- La Casa de Delegados de Virginia aprobó el 14 de febrero dos medidas pro-vida.

La Casa votó 63-36 por un proyecto de ley que requiere que las mujeres tengan un ultrasonido antes de someterse a un aborto, de acuerdo al Richmond Times-Dispatch. El Senado aprobó una pieza similar de legislación el 1º de febrero. El gobernador Bob McDonnell ha dicho que firmará tal medida en ley.

Los delegados también aprobaron un proyecto de ley que establece que la "condición de persona" comienza en la concepción. El voto fue de 66-32.
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Compilado por Erin Roach, editora asistente de Baptist Press y Tom Strode, jefe de la oficina de Washington. Obtenga los titulares de Baptist Press y las últimas noticias en Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress) y en su correo electrónico (baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp).

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EDITORIAL: La Biblia son las cartas de amor del Padre
by Por Octavio J. Esqueda
Date: February 17, 2012 - Friday

LA MIRADA, Calif. (BP) -- Me encantan las historias. Recuerdo que cuando tenía como tres años mi papá me dio uno de los mejores regalos que he recibido, el primer tomo de la colección "Joyas literarias juveniles" de editorial Bruguera. Este número era la historia de Miguel Strogoff del gran escritor francés Julio Verne y por años cada mes mi papá compraba la novela que salía a la venta en los puestos de revistas. Cada tomo resumía una obra de arte de la literatura universal y la presentaba con ilustraciones de manera que uno podía leer el libro de una manera interesante y resumida. Esta colección formó parte de mi niñez y aún todavía cuando voy a la casa de mis padres los busco con nostalgia. Obviamente a los tres años no sabía leer, pero las ilustraciones eran fascinantes y me encantaba hojear los libros de la colección.

De alguna manera mi papá contribuyó grandemente en mi gusto por la lectura y las historias. Fue a través de su ejemplo que los libros me han acompañado a lo largo de mi vida. Por lo tanto, cuando fui a la universidad me decidí por estudiar literatura y siempre he estado involucrado en el estudio de las humanidades. Ahora soy profesor y mis actividades cotidianas involucran la lectura y el análisis de textos, especialmente la Biblia. 

La Biblia es, sin lugar a dudas, la mejor historia que se haya escrito porque es la historia de las maravillosas obras de Dios en la humanidad. La narrativa bíblica  tiene un tema en común a pesar de haber sido escrita por más de cuarenta personas con diferentes trasfondos sociales y culturales, en tres diferentes continentes, en tres idiomas distintos,  hebreo, arameo y griego y a lo largo de un periodo de aproximadamente 1500 años. Evidente esta asombrosa unidad solamente pudo ser posible al ser el Espíritu Santo el que inspiro a los autores bíblicos. Por lo tanto, la Biblia tiene un origen tanto divino como humano. 

Además, a lo largo de la narrativa bíblica se da respuesta a las preguntas fundamentales del ser humano usando la estructura de creación, caída y redención. La Biblia inicia con la historia de la creación y en los dos primeros capítulos de Génesis se da respuesta a cuatro preguntas esenciales, ¿Qué es la realidad?, ¿Dónde estoy?,  Quién soy?, ¿Por qué soy?

La metafísica es la rama de la filosofía que estudia la realidad. La historia de la creación comienza respondiendo a la pregunta básica de la metafísica, ¿por qué existe algo en lugar de la nada? con esta afirmación "En el principio, creó Dios los cielos y la tierra" (Gen. 1:1). Dios es el creador de todo lo que existe y El es la explicación y fuente del universo. Los capítulos 1 y 2 de Génesis describen la historia de la creación, en el primer capítulo con un enfoque cosmológico y el segundo capítulo con uno antropológico. Al finalizar la creación, Dios afirmó que lo que había hecho era bueno en gran manera (Gen. 1:31). Por lo tanto, los seres humanos nos encontramos en el mundo que el Señor creó y que además es bueno. 

Génesis 1:26-28 es conocido como el decreto de la creación y en él encontramos respuesta a las preguntas ¿quién soy y por qué soy?:

"Entonces dijo Dios: Hagamos al hombre a nuestra imagen, conforme a nuestra semejanza; y señoree en los peces del mar, en las aves de los cielos, en las bestias, en toda la tierra, y en todo animal que se arrastra sobre la tierra. Y creó Dios al hombre a su imagen, a imagen de Dios lo creó; varón y hembra los creó. Y los bendijo Dios, y les dijo: Fructificad y multiplicaos; llenad la tierra, y sojuzgadla, y señoread en los peces del mar, en las aves de los cielos, y en todas las bestias que se mueven sobre la tierra." 

Somos creados a la imagen de Dios y esto es la fuente de nuestro valor y dignidad. La imagen de Dios consiste en la investidura humana de la gloria divina y la capacidad moral de reflejar Su carácter mientras señoreamos la tierra como los representantes de Dios. Dios nos creó con un propósito spiritual, para relacionarnos con El, con un propósito social, para relacionarnos unos con otros y con un propósito cultural, para relacionarnos con el resto de la creación. 

Sin embargo, todos sabemos qué algo anda mal en el mundo. Qué las cosas no son como deberían de ser; que hay sufrimiento y maldad a nuestro alrededor. Génesis 3 nos da la respuesta a la pregunta ¿qué salió mal? al relatar la historia de la caída y el pecado. La desobediencia del ser humano a los preceptos divinos trajeron como consecuencia la separación del ser humano con Dios, con sus semejantes, consigo mismo y con la creación. 

A partir de la primera promesa de Dios en Génesis 3:15 para restaurar las consecuencias del pecado hasta el final en Apocalipsis 22, la Biblia se centra en la historia de la redención. De hecho, la parte central de la narrativa bíblica es la manera en que Dios nos atrae nuevamente hacia El y responde a la pregunta, ¿cuál es la solución? La primera sección de nuestras Biblias narra la promesas de redención por parte de Dios a través de diferentes pactos los cuales forman la columna vertebral de la historia de la redención. Es a través de Jesucristo que el cumplimiento de esos pactos se va logrando. Por lo tanto, a la promesa de redención le llamamos Antiguo Testamento y al cumplimiento le llamamos Nuevo Testamento. Jesucristo en su primera venida inicia la obra de redención y la culminará totalmente en su segunda venida. La Biblia termina con la promesa de la nueva creación. Así que, la historia bíblica se puede resumir con la creación, caída y redención del ser humano. 

A mi hijo Darío también le fascinan las historias. Cada noche leemos algunos cuentos e historias bíblicas. Sin embargo, la Biblia es una historia, pero no es como ninguna otra. En ella el Dios creador de todo lo que existe se revela de una manera majestuosa pero personal. La Biblia son claramente las cartas de amor del Padre celestial que desea relacionarse con nosotros y que a pesar de que nos alejamos de El, nos muestra su amor a través de Jesús y nos invita a disfrutar la plenitud de la vida para la que fuimos creados (Juan 10:10). A través de la páginas de la narrativa bíblica Dios nos recuerda que existimos para adorarle y que, como declaró Agustín de Hipona al inicio de sus Confesiones, podemos afirmar que nuestro corazón está sin descanso hasta que no encontramos nuestro descanso en El. 
--30--
Octavio Javier Esqueda es profesor en los programas doctorales en educación en Talbot School of Theology de la Universidad Biola en La Mirada, California. Es miembro de la iglesia bautista Green Hills en La Habra, California y ha tenido la oportunidad de enseñar en diferentes países, instituciones y niveles académicos.

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Apacible y delicado, Quietud
by Por Jorge Claudio
Date: February 17, 2012 - Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Desde pequeño recuerdo la temporada de huracanes en mi país. Son seis 'largos' meses de expectación por saber sobre cualquier fenómeno meteorológico que pudiera amenazar nuestro ritmo de vida. Con cada aviso de tormenta o huracán comienzan los planes de contingencia. La gente va a los supermercados para abastecerse de alimentos no perecederos, agua, baterías para linternas y gas, entre otras cosas. Hay que prepararse para lo peor, aunque realmente nadie quiere que lo peor llegue. Pero, en ocasiones llega.

Los huracanes pueden ser muy aterradores. La familia se protege dentro de la casa con el deseo y la esperanza de que todo pase pronto. El ruido del viento y la lluvia al golpear las ventanas despiertan un sentido de inseguridad que va en aumento. No se sabe mucho de lo que sucede afuera, pero la experiencia de años previos permite especular sobre los daños que habrá. Inundaciones, árboles caídos, interrupción en los servicios básicos, destrucción, pérdidas en la agricultura y hasta pérdida de vidas. Esta inseguridad genera un sentido de frustración porque en ese momento no se puede hacer algo para evitar los acontecimientos. Es el encuentro del ser humano con la naturaleza de nuestro Creador. Un encuentro que nos permite descubrir una vez más que, como seres humanos, estamos limitados y dependemos enteramente de Dios. Él es el que tiene control sobre la naturaleza y sobre nuestras vidas. Eso, sin duda, debe darnos paz.

Esa paz de Dios en cierto modo se manifiesta en la calma después de la tormenta. El silencio después de los vientos recios se "escucha" hermoso. La luz del sol se observa más brillante. Y a pesar de la destrucción, la gratitud de los corazones florece como las flores en primavera para reconocer la bondad y la misericordia de Dios. El Señor nos ha protegido una vez más porque tiene planes para nosotros.

¿Está usted pasando momentos difíciles? Medite en la experiencia del profeta Elías. Obedezca al Señor, "salga de la cueva" del temor para que pueda ver la manifestación del poder de Dios cada día.
--30--
Este escrito fue publicado originalmente por la revista Quietud® en el número correspondiente al otoño de 2012.


