Reformed SHEology

One of the most important exchanges of dialogue in our April Film of the Month, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, occurs when Bruno's father tries to help Bruno understand why he needs to stay away from the Jews in the concentration camp, which Bruno, in his childhood innocence, thinks is a farm. In an attempt to help the boy understand why these people are shackled and living in a cage, Bruno's father explains, "The thing is Bruno, those people - well you see . . . they're not really people at all."

So many of us have looked at photos of the Holocaust and asked, "How could one human being do something like this to another?" The answer lies in Bruno's father's reasoning - they're not really people at all. Present within this statement is the admission that human life is sacred. In other words, if we were talking about humans, such acts would be unmistakably heinous, horrible, and downright evil atrocities. But if we are not talking about humans, then what is happening to them is not immoral. And since they are not really people, we can justify killing six million of these vile creatures and not feel the slightest guilt about it. In fact, we can feel good about ourselves for what we've done, i.e. "The Jews would have destroyed our country." This is not the most glamorous undertaking, however it must be done for the greater good of all mankind. Murder is wrong. But we're not committing murder. You see, they're not really people at all.

If we were talking about humans, such acts would be unmistakably heinous, horrible, and downright evil atrocities. But if we are not talking about humans, then what is happening to them is not immoral.The Holocaust was not the only time such rationalization was used to excuse human cruelty and genocide. For hundreds of years, American families owned, bred, and sold African slaves. Once again, looking back on history, we can shudder at the thought of these poor souls being packed together in slave ships, tight as sardines, with no food, water, or variation in movement for months on end. We don't understand how people could justify allowing these people to lie in a puddles of their own urine and feces as they made the trip from Africa to become their slaves, but they did. The white slave traders were full of the same rationalizations as the Nazis.

Some would argue that they didn't want to keep slaves, but it was a necessary evil. Their personal financial situation would not allow them the luxury of setting them free. "Who will work the crops?" They'd say. "My family could not survive without slaves! You don't understand my situation." Others would argue that slavery was more humane than freedom: "These people don't know how to read. They are incapable of problem solving. They would never make it on their own. As slaves, they are given food, clothing, and a roof over their heads. Making them slaves is the best thing we can do for them." Of course, the reason we got ourselves into this situation is simple: slavery is not immoral to begin with. These Africans are savage beasts, akin to apes and monkeys. To put them to work, beat them into submission, and discipline them harshly is not immoral. You see, they're not really people at all.
We can look at all these injustices throughout history and see the wisdom of the Bible. There is nothing new under the sun:

That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there anything of which it may be said,
"See, this is new?"
It has already been in ancient times before us. (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10)

A generation comes, and a generation goes. Each believes it is smarter than the last, yet because people are all depraved, none of it is new. It's just the same sin, recycled, repackaged, and put out into the world. We look back on the injustices that were committed during the American slave trade and thank God we are so much wiser now. We reflect upon the Holocaust and promise ourselves that we will never allow something like this to happen ever again. Oh, but there is nothing new under the sun.

Today, a young woman waits nervously for her appointment. As she fills out the paperwork detailing her medical history, she tries to drown out the voices calling out to her from outside. They are saying, "Come away from this place! Don't commit this wicked act!" She would much rather not go through with the procedure. But she doesn't have a choice. "I could never survive if I didn't go through with this. They don't understand my situation." She glances briefly out the window, and tries to read the poster signs they are holding. They are telling her she is about to commit murder, but she comforts herself in the fact that what she is doing is a necessary evil. "The child could grow up in an abusive family. This is the most humane thing I can do," she rationalizes. She knows she must go through with this now, before it grows any more. The people calling to her outside are telling her it is a human life. Judging from the pictures, it certainly looks human. But she sticks to her guns, and turns her back on those pleading with her to come out of the building and let them help her.

Really, those fanatics are just overreacting. After all, it is just a blob of tissue, is it not? Oh reader, atrocious as our past history has been, this time, it really is different. It is not immoral to kill these blobs of tissue we have labeled a "fetus." You see, they're not really people at all.


Click here to see signs from the Genocide Awareness Project, courtesy of www.abortionno.org. (Warning: graphic images.)

As a high school student you may have read Jonathan Swift's classic work of satire, A Modest Proposal, in which he suggested that the solution to ending poverty in Ireland was cannibalism. In his article, Swift proposes several benefits to society that would result if the poor would simply sell their children as meat to rich landowners. By placing children on the meat market, Ireland would combat social problems that contributed to poverty, such as overpopulation and unemployment. The sale of children would relieve the poor of the financial burden that comes with raising children while simultaneously providing them with a source of extra income. Naturally, the entire essay is intended to prove a point. Swift used the piece as a means of expressing his contempt for the British government which he deemed responsible for Ireland's predicament. The title itself is ironic in that his proposal is far from what one would call "modest." Yet, the entire essay reminds me of a similar but more recent scenario.

Since July of 2008, both local and national news stations alike have been closely following the case of Casey Anthony, the 22-year-old Orlando woman accused of killing her 2 year old daughter, Caylee. (For details on the case, including a timeline of events, click here.) Camera crews captured many of the locals who made it a regular practice to scream and yell accusations while standing at the edge of the Anthony property. The most frequent insult coming from the angry crowds was, "BABY KILLER!"

Watching the drama unfold night after night in front of the Anthony home was almost like watching a modern day witch hunt. It's not that I don't believe Casey is guilty. I believe beyond the shadow of a doubt that she killed her little girl. But what struck me was the dedication by which some of these people came out to proclaim their anger with this woman. It just didn't make any sense to me. Why would people be so angry with Casey Anthony? All she did was kill a child!

For the past 35 years, women have been killing their children by the millions through legalized abortion. No one is standing across the street from their homes, yelling, "Baby Killer!" Truly, the only thing separating Casey Anthony from all these other women is the age of the child when it was murdered. Had Casey Anthony simply aborted little Caylee when she was still pregnant, none of this would be an issue.

It just seems unfair, that poor Casey Anthony is sitting in prison right now, singled out for exercising her right to choose. But because of the age of the child at the time of the abortion, her choice is viewed as a crime. Does not anyone see what a crime has been committed against Casey? Does not anyone realize that we are discriminating against this young woman, simply because she chose to abort her baby after it had been born?

In considering this terrible injustice to a woman who is merely trying to exercise her right to choose, I have been inspired by Jonathan Swift to offer yet Another Modest Proposal, that being, that we legalize the performance of abortions on dependent children up to 16 years. Think of all the social problems we could resolve if we continued to abort children well into the third trimester, and even well into the third grade!

As Swift suggested in 1729, the consumption of children would eliminate poverty, control overpopulation, and alleviate unemployment concerns. Today, the same results could be achieved through legalized abortion. Between 1973 and 2005, an estimated 45 million children were murdered by abortion. Had those children been allowed to live, they'd be between the ages of 3 and 36 this year. I for one am grateful that these children were exterminated when they were, in light of the international economic crisis we are now facing. The right to choose has eliminated several million competitors within the job market, which is beneficial to us at a time when unemployment is at its peak. In the state of Florida, where Caylee Anthony was exterminated, there is a growing shortage of public schoolteachers. The abortions that were performed within the last three years alone have undoubtedly alleviated the pressure to accommodate these children in already over-crowded classrooms. Surely, thousands of dollars in federal financial aid have been spared as well, as none of these children will be going to college.

If we legalize abortion up to 16 years, we will essentially be eliminating all those in our country who are basically free-loading off hard working, productive adults. Adults like Casey Anthony, who can barely get anything accomplished, let alone have a little fun once in a while, because they are burdened with a needy child. Welfare would be greatly reduced, as single mothers would not have to stretch their monthly funds to cover the cost of raising these children. Finally, by allowing a woman to abort a child up to 16 years, the state of Florida itself would be saving millions of dollars because it would no longer have to pay to keep Casey Anthony in jail, as killing a two-year-old would no longer be considered a crime. The "search for Caylee" that cost us thousands would likewise never have occurred, because Casey would have been free to kill her child openly. She would not have had to go through all the trouble to mask her actions and hide her decision as if it were something to be ashamed of.

I realize others have tried similar attempts at population control by eliminating "undesirables" in society, however these previous attempts were not well received. The genius of Adolf Hitler, for example, is still sadly misunderstood decades after his tragic death. However, as a woman who writes a women's blog, I'd like to humbly request that my readers seriously consider this modest proposal, as it promises to open countless doors of opportunities for women everywhere. In closing, I'd like to say one final thing, in case it was not painfully obvious:

THE PRECEDING WAS A SATIRE.

I admit I'm no Jonathan Swift. But I'm no Hitler, either! Therefore, I have an alternate plan, and that is this:

He who is without sin, cast the first stone. The reason we love to hate Casey Anthony is because we love to compare ourselves to her. She makes the rest of us look like perfect little angels. Yet who among us is innocent before God? Which of us can say we have never murdered someone in our hearts out of hatred? Which of us can say we've never committed an act of malice out of pure, unadulterated selfishness? Truly, all of us are depraved. Deep down, we are no different than Casey Anthony.

Eduardo Verastegui is one of the most physically attractive men to ever be captured on film. Known to millions as "The Mexican Brad Pitt," Verastegui had it all. He began his career at age 18 as a model and also a singer for a boy band in Mexico. He soon starred in a series of novelas (Spanish soap operas) and then finally hit the big screen in 2003 as a triple-timing playboy in Chasing Papi. His star was on the rise. But Eduardo Verastegui was empty.

Today, Eduardo Verastegui is a changed man. He no longer works as a model and refuses to participate in any projects he feels are "offensive to God." Today, Verastegui is one of the leading celebrity spokesmen against the abortion industry. In this touching video, he tells of his first experience at an abortion clinic. (Warning: The first 60 seconds of this video contain mild sensual images of Verastegui during his early career.)



What would make a man like Eduardo Verastegui, who had the whole world at his feet, give up everything to save the unborn? In the following interview from The 700 Club, Verastegui explains without sugar-coating, and without watering down his conversion experience, his faith in Jesus Christ. (We especially like what he had to say regarding biblical masculinity and femininity:)



Truly, this is a changed man! We hope this story inspires you to seek God in 2009 and rejoice as He answers your prayer for change through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ!

Please note: Eduardo Verastegui is a devout Catholic. Both Jennifer and Geraldine of Reformed SHEology sharply disagre with Catholic doctrine, however, we truly believe that Eduardo Verastegui is a soundly saved, born again believer in Jesus Christ. Reformed SHEology's mission statement calls for women to encourage men, not tear them down. We disagree with Catholic doctrine but embrace Verastegui as our brother in Christ based upon his testimony of conversion and evidences of repentance in his life. Any comments from our readers with regard to his Catholic affiliation may or may not be published at our discretion. Thank you for respecting our desire and our Lord's desire toward unity within the body of Christ.

Happy New Year! We are kicking off 2009 with a theme of "Change". To illustrate what a changed life looks like, our Film of the Month is Bella, a contemporary story of faith, family, and friendship that is quite rare in today's modern cinema.

STATS
Year: 2006 (Rated PG-13)
Directed by Alejandro Monteverde
Starring Eduardo Verastegui and Tammy Blanchard
Setting: New York City, 2006.

Winner: Toronto Film Festival People's Choice Award, 2006.

Content warning: The story is centered around a woman who is considering having and abortion and this may be sensitive for certain viewers. Some images involving a car accident may be disturbing. Language is squeaky clean!

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
1. Very interesting Christian imagery and symbolism. There is an intriguing use of a headscarf in the film, as well as strong references to a butterfly. A blind homeless man holds a sign that reads, "God closed my eyes and now I can see." Some critics have commented on Jose's character as being a type of Christ figure. The film opens with the line, "My grandmother used to say, if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans."

2. Strong pro-life message. The script treats the subject with great sensitivity and wisdom. The arguments for abortion are presented by Nina (Tammy Blanchard) however, Jose (Eduardo Verastegui) is able to counter her reasoning not with words, but with demonstrations of love that make adoption a compelling alternative.

3. Vanity vs. Selflessness. Flashbacks tell us the story of Jose's vain and arrogant past, but now he is a changed man. It is interesting to see how our passions change when our perspectives change.

4. Beautiful portrayal of family, as well as Mexican culture!

TRIVIA
None of the music in the trailer is actually featured in the film. This almost makes the trailer a unique work in itself.

Eduardo Versategui had his own life changing experience as he was preparing for this role (we will highlight the life and work of Verastegui in a separate post this month).

The movie was produced by Metanoia Films. Metanoia is the Greek word for repentance.

This film was based on a true story.

Here is the official trailer:



Click here to visit Bella's official website.

!Warning: The following contains discussion of abortion that may be upsetting to some readers. Links are provided to websites containing extremely graphic images and video footage of actual abortion procedures. Reader/viewer discretion is advised.

Dan Hayden had planned to be a doctor. He worked briefly as a surgical technician but got the call to ministry just before attending medical school. God would later use the combination of Dan's medical background and his Masters in Theology to create the most compelling Bible study I have ever experienced in my entire life. (I say entire because I am confident I will not encounter another study like this in the future.) It's an eight part study given in one-hour increments called The Living Word, and it illustrates how the human anatomy is actually modeled after the Word of God.

I was introduced to the study in the Spring of 2005. A group of women I met with every Tuesday night decided to give it a try. As was typical of a women's Bible study, the evening began with incessant chatter and cackling. But at the end of each of Hayden's lessons, we were speechless. The study began with a discussion of the four gospels, and how they comprise four complete but different portraits of Christ as the head of the Church (Ezekiel 1:14, Revelation 4:7, 1 Corinthians 11:3, Ephesians 4:15, Ephesians 5:23). The idea that Christ heads the Church just as the head controls a human body is not an unusual concept. We see it all the time in Scripture. But as the weeks went on, I was stunned as Hayden revealed how the Book of Acts was the neck upon which the head rests. The Books of the Law correspond to the legs. The Epistles to the Gentiles and the Jews correspond to the arms. And to top it off, Hayden was using only one reference to prove his points: Scripture itself. This was starting to get freaky.

One night, I distinctly remember being mesmerized by Hayden's comparison of Paul's pastoral letters with the circulatory system. In 1 Timothy, Paul explains how the gospel is to be preached across ethnic, gender, and economic criteria by which we are undivided in Christ(c.r. Galatians 3:28). In 2 Timothy, Paul provides encouragement for the times of hassle (Ch. 1) and hardship (Ch. 2). He encourages Timothy to refresh himself with the Word (Ch. 3) and to live in godliness (Ch. 4). Hayden then went on to compare the book of first Timothy to the left ventricle of the heart. The Christian is sent out to deliver the gospel to a lost and dying world. After being spiritually depleted, the Christian must return to the Word of God and the church to be spiritually refueled. This correlates to the right ventricle of the heart, which takes in blood that is depleted of oxygen, and brings it back to the lungs where it can be filled again, and then flow into the left ventricle to be pushed into the body all over again.*

The correlation was unbelievable, yet so thoroughly researched I couldn't deny it. The similarity between the letters to Timothy and the circulatory system had become staggeringly obvious. I sat there after the DVD was turned off, pondering what I had just seen and heard. A verse came to mind: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). I had always wondered, how could Jesus actually be the Bible? With the help of Dr. Hayden's study, I was beginning to understand:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us . . . (John 1:14).

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness . . ." (Genesis 1:26).

I gasped. We are not just made in His image. We are made in the image of His Word - in the image of Jesus, the Word who became flesh. It was starting to make sense now. A deep sense of fear and awe came over me as I sat nearly paralyzed in my chair. I looked down to see my stomach rise and fall with every cycle of inhalation and exhalation. My Bible, which was on my lap, rose and fell with it, yet it seemed to be moving on its own: For the Word of God is living and powerful . . .(Hebrews 4:12).

I have never looked at my Bible in the same way again. I have never looked at the human anatomy in the same way again. Suddenly, I began to see why we are commanded not to sin against the body. An irreverance for the body is an irreverence for the very likeness of God Himself. This is why the devil hates the human body and seeks to destroy as many of these little images of Christ as He can, through alcohol, drugs, sex, eating disorders, suicide, and especially abortion.

Throughout history, Satan has twisted everything that God has decreed. God calls for the shedding of blood as a substitute -- a method of atonement by which the blood of a bull or calf is shed in place of the human. Satan has always demanded human sacrifice:

The Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. (2 Kings 17:31)

Today, we do not offer our children to the fire, but rather, we have been deceived into offering our children to the toilets. Every day, 4,000 innocent children are brutally murdered in the United States -- before they ever leave the womb. Consider some of the horrific ways in which abortion is performed. In the beginning stages of a pregnancy, a vacuum-like device is used to suction the baby out of the womb. In many cases, the baby is so tiny and fragile, it simply dissolves. Larger babies are grabbed with forceps and torn limb from limb. God declared that Christ would one day crush Satan's head. I think partial birth abortion - a procedure in which the baby's head is crushed - is Satan's response to God's decree.

Whenever I think of the brutal ways in which innocent babies are torn out of their mothers' wombs limb from limb, I get a visual of Satan tearing the Bible page by page. This really is his goal. He hates Christ, the Word who became flesh, and if he can't destroy the King of Kings, he will settle for merely destroying those made in His image. This is why the most evil method of abortion, and certainly the most symbolic, is what is called partial birth abortion. In partial birth abortion, the baby is near birth. Before pulling the baby from the womb, the abortion is performed by crushing the infant's skull. Is this coincidence? Consider Satan's fate:

The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:14-16)

God declared that Christ would one day crush Satan's head. I think "partial birth abortion" - a procedure in which the baby's head is crushed - is Satan's response to God's decree. The violent acts on the unborn are a deliberate assault of the evil one** against the only creatures on earth that bear a striking resemblance to the Creator who will one day crush him. Yet our society continues to tell us, "It's not a baby, it's only tissue." This is the physical equivalent to saying the Bible is only paper.

Satan hates woman and will do anything to destroy her offspring. I invite you to examine some of the "tissue" that he has managed to convince some women to have "surgically removed" from their bodies. Where words fail, these graphic pictures will illustrate the hatred he has for humanity:

Warning: These websites are very graphic. Viewer discretion is advised: THE CENTER FOR BIOETHICAL REFORM &ABORT 73.COM