Loaves & Lives

Lately I've been grappling with the idea of "intrinsic value" which seems to be, well, essential, to most thought provoking pro-life human value arguments. This idea escapes so many people - in argument after argument I've noticed that few seem to grasp what “intrinsic” means, offering instead their own interpretation. And it's not merely the pro-choice crowd that misunderstands the idea.

Stand to Reason's Greg Koukl, while interviewing Robert P. George (who, along with Christopher Tollefson wrote "Embryo:A Defense of Human Life") mentioned that radio host and columnist Dennis Prager, while understanding the pro-life position, also failed to grasp the meaning of "intrinsic value". (Listen to STR Podcast of 2/19/08 at 37:30 in)

Inspiration being what it is, the other morning I woke up with bread on my mind - how wonderfully diverse bread is, and yet so representative of humanity in terms of illustrating this idea of our intrinsic value.

Like people, bread comes in all sorts of shapes, sizes and different forms, from whole loafs to flat breads to rolls and biscuits. Sometimes yeast is added, sometimes it isn't. It also comes in various colors, textures and tastes based upon numerous ingredients, yet it all has one single thing in common: grain flour.

From a challah loaf to a pita pocket, without grain flour, there is no bread. It could be said that particular ingredient is intrinisic to bread.

The analogy to human beings is that our flesh and blood, the human cellular material which is the combined ingredients from both mother and father, defines us as humans - not any other ingredient that might be added after.

Our flesh and blood is intrinsic to our nature as human beings, to our very personhood as beings. Just as you can't remove the grain flour and still have bread, you cannot remove flesh and blood and still have a human being regardless of their concious state.

Disconnecting personhood from flesh and blood (dualism) undermines all bodily rights reasoning for abortion. How can you rightly claim it's your personal body, if you don't believe it has a coherent, intrinsic value as a whole?

When Christ lifted up the loaf, he may have been illustrating more about his relationship to humanity than what was immediately apparent.

Let the writing begin!

Well, I finally decided to spend time writing on my own blog as opposed to simply posting as comments on others. The thought occured to me that I was spreading seed in other's fields, but never in my own... how could I expect fruit if no one knew where to find me?

Over the last few months I've been learning XHTML, CSS, PHP, Joomla and JavaScript - (Look I speak in tongues!)

Anyhow, as I come up to speed, the blog will undergo some changes. Eventually, I'll have to move it to another location, because I definitely mean to get a full operation going.

This is the first real post, which calls for a blessing:

May God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, bless this blog, so that it brings Him glory, may He be forever praised! Amen.

Responding to Foolish Non-sense

Jay Watts over at the LTI Blog dives into a straw bale mountain by way of JivinJehoshaphat's link to an article on DailyKos but ends up hitting a wall of irrationality - in particular, when Jay reaches the repetitious secular argument that we're nothing but more-evolved primates.

That argument calls for a consistent, but thoroughly thought-provoking response:

When someone states that human life is no more precious than an animal species, then I say to that person "that their time is better spent arguing with that particular animal instead of me, for why do I matter any more to them than that animal, or for that matter a rock?" Follow that statement with direct action - leave. Eventually they'll get the idea that the humans they despise might be more interesting, and valuable, than their beloved animal. Even if they don't get the clue, your time is better spent elsewhere anyway.

If people insist on being non-sensical, simply show them they are, then leave them alone. It's no use arguing with an insulting fool/mocker.

God got my attention!

Why this blog? - because I recently went through something that was a fiery trial all around, for myself as well as many loved ones.

My experience is not unique - what I saw and felt was a kind of tiny smoldering spiritual hunger. It was like the remains of conflagrations of lives, after the roaring flames had consumed the vital fuel, leaving small glowing embers, darkened and blackened shells of people who still yearn for life and love and recall what their lives were or could have been, or hope for what they can be.

So I open this blog up to jointly share these kinds of experiences, To share what that time means to me, to us who have been through fiery faith trials.

Most of my conversation will be in essays, but I believe the better material will pop up in the comment threads. I'm inviting certain people to come in and read, because it records for them where I'm at and what I'm thinking. A lot of the conversation is going to be deep, heartfelt, and at times poignant and candid. I don't really want arguments in the abstract, but real stories peppered with illustrations and moral punctuations.

As a Christian, it's also about not using the cross as a cudgel to beat people, but as a bridge to lift people. Spilled blood is not a lighthearted topic but those who deny the cross still step in the blood, still love people who've shed it, still cry real tears, still look for love and affirmation from others and still want and need real Hope.

There's also a place where either you're hot or cold, either in the light or in the dark, so expect extremes, expect absolutes and reality where necessary and no held punches or love when required. We know real love when we feel it, even it's across the wires and the miles.

Names will be held to protect the innocent and irreverantly assigned to hamstring the foolish.

No one really knows what inspires writers to drag out these emotions, and so willingly share them. It's all very spiritual, individual, unique. Don't forget to duck the boots that seek to stomp out such inspirations, the small whispering of winds and breath that tend the glowing embers.

But don't get the wrong idea - this is not about consuming flames, the fires of hell or a mob ganging up to inflict wrath on someone who may be unashamedly, proudly wrong.

This is about the fire of the physical and the fire of the spiritual. This is about flammable human tinder, addictions, passions, lives and quenching life-giving living water.

I don't know all the answers, but I know where to look for them. What about you?

Do you want to look with me?