Late-term abortionist George Tiller was killed at his church Sunday morning in Wichita, Kansas. Tiller was a controversial figure in the abortion debate. He was one of the few doctors to perform late-term abortions, and had previously been the victim of attempts on his life.
No doubt the murderer feels justified in killing Tiller because of Tiller’s actions in killing unborn babies. But he’s not justified. I agree with President Obama’s reaction to the killing:
Today Obama said he was “shocked and outraged” by the killing. “However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion,” he said in a statement, “they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence.
My mother always taught me that two wrongs don’t make a right. Killing an abortionist is not a justified response to the scourge of abortion on demand in this country. I still have hope that abortion will be abolished through peaceful, legal means over time through persuasion, the way slavery was abolished in England.
kcdad–“What is Wisdom that Proverbs and much of the Old Testament teachings are about? Does not Wisdom come [from] within oneself?”
Not according to Job 28, where he talks about all the amazing things men can do, but “though men can do all these things, they don’t know where to find wisdom and understanding. They not only don’t know how to get it, but, in fact, it is not to be found among the living. For it is hid from the eyes of all mankind. God surely knows where it is to be found. He knows where wisdom is and declares it to all who will listen. He established it and examined it thoroughly. And this is what He says to all mankind: ‘Look, to fear the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'”
Have you read what the mysterious Elihu has to say from chapter 32 on wisdom and God and man?
It is never a good idea to quote job… he is angry, and feels mistreated by both God and his friends. You have to realize that at the end of this book he apologizes and repents everything he said earlier.
Elihu said that being older doesn’t necessarily make you wiser and that it is God’s spirit, living inside us, that makes us wise.
Job repented for his haughty attitude, but he didn’t take back everything he said in the whole book. He apologized for denying God’s providence. I love the last several chapters of Job where God puts him in his place and shows him that God Himself is the source of all wisdom.
But if you like Proverbs better than Job, how about Proverbs 7? “How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord!”
Janel – I didn’t say that God couldn’t use our words to change somebody’s mind. I just meant that my arguments, in and of themselves, won’t change anyone’s mind. And I’m glad that God used C.J.’s words to you. Yes, Kcdad, I understand your questions about being born in the “right” place to hear the Christian message. That is the point of the great commission “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.” I know that you are smart enough and knowledgeable enough to “shoot down” any of our Biblican arguments. Also, I have a feeling that you know the Bible well enough that I don’t have to point out the verses to you. Also, I believe (again by faith) that God does seek out everyone (no exceptions–For God so loved the world) but for whatever reason gave Man freewill to decide whether our not to “be found.”
Elihu tells Job that he must LISTEN to what he has to say. That wisdom comes from hearing. It is only after listening to Elihu that Job is able to “hear the voice of God” out of the whirlwind.
(I am curious what version of The Bible are you reading… I prefer Young’s Literal or The Peshitta)
Each chapter of Proverbs begins with: “Son, listen to your father” or something similar.
You can not gain wisdom while talking, as Job learns, wisdom comes from listening.
Psychologically speaking, wisdom is the ability to apply new associations with old memories. It is the ability to see the connectedness in all things, the understanding that there are no coincidences, no accidents.