Letters From Grandpa #278
LETTERS FROM GRANDPA #278
Dearest grandchild,
Today’s letter will deal with “depraved minds”. The Bible uses this terminology to describe those who don’t like to think about God. Someone said that ungodly people don’t want there to be a God for the same reason a thief doesn’t want there to be a policeman. Touche! The book of Romans details the decline of human history from knowing God to not even wanting to think about God. Paul wrote: “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done” (Rom. 1:28).
When you don’t like to think about God, your mind becomes depraved and you do things that ought not to be done. Killing babies, for example, is one prime example of a depraved mind. Babies are the personification of innocence. They are totally defenseless. Only a depraved mind would want to kill a baby. Enter Andrew Cuomo. He is the governor of New York, and he apparently delights in killing babies. Over 60 million babies have been killed since the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade. Cuomo chose to sign his “Reproductive Health Act” on the 46" anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. Lawmakers and bystanders were so excited by this law that they stood and applauded the killing of more babies. To further celebrate the occasion Cuomo said: “I am directing that New York's landmarks be lit in pink to celebrate this achievement and shine a bright light forward for the rest of the nation to follow.” There was a time when abortion was supposed to be “safe, legal, and rare”. Now, the more abortions the better. Now, women are even encouraged to proudly “Shout Your Abortion”. Bragging about killing your own baby is a “depraved mind” doing “what ought not to be done”!
Ironically, the very people celebrating the killing of babies are often passionate about saving the lives of animals, birds, and fish. As in ancient times, these depraved minds worship and serve the creature more than the Creator (Rom. 1:25). For example:
m Under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act it is illegal to destroy an eagle egg. The first criminal offense is a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for an individual and $200,000 for an organization. The second offense becomes a felony with maximum penalty of 2 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for an individual and $500,000 for an organization. There is no penalty at all, however, for killing an unborn baby!
m Destroying a sea turtle nest or eggs is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to a $5,000 fine and/or five years in prison. Again, no penalty at all for killing an unborn baby!
m Remarkably, California Governor Gavin Newsom wants to stop euthanizing animals. In a press conference he laid out plans for a $50 million grant program for animal shelters. He opposes killing animals but is in favor of both abortion and euthanasia. The pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute estimates 95,000 abortions occur annually in California. At the other end of human life, in 2016 California became the seventh state to allow physician-assisted suicide.
m In 1993, ethicist Peter Singer shocked many by suggesting that no newborn should be considered a person until 30 days after birth and that the attending physician should kill some disabled babies on the spot. Singer is the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University, and a Laureate Professor at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at the University of Melbourne. Sadly, his “ethics” apparently come from a “depraved mind”!
Recently Americans Unite for Life reported that 31 states require some form of legal protection for babies born alive in abortions. 19 states, however, nearly half the country, basically allow infanticide.
The Washington Post (Sept 10, 2012) pointed out that when Barack Obama was a State Senator in Illinois, he voted four different times to deny basic Constitutional protections for babies born alive in a botched abortion.
On May 14, 2017 Dr. Joyce Starr pointed out that one billion people throughout the world are suffering from hunger, yet farmers in Fresno, California are denied water to irrigate their drought stricken fields. This is done to preserve the life of a small fish called the Delta Smelt. Star said that 45,000 jobs have already been lost in the area. Only a depraved mind would save a fish and let people starve!
Dr. Bernard Nathanson presided over more than 75,000 abortions. One of those abortions was his own child. Writing with deep regret in his moving autobiography The Hand of God (1996), Nathanson confessed his own heartlessness. The Bible word for “repentance” is “metanoeo” which literally means to change your mind. To his credit Dr. Nathanson “changed his mind” and became an effective pro-life advocate. His movie The Silent Scream (1984) is but one example of his efforts to end the depraved practice of killing babies. Dr. Nathanson passed away February 21, 2011. Thank God he changed his mind before he died!
Dr. Nathanson is not unique, in that God commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).
The Apostle Paul described himself to Timothy as the “worst of sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15). He once
persecuted Christians unto death arresting both men and women (Acts 22:4). Apparently he even tortured the followers of Jesus going from one synagogue to another forcing them to blaspheme (Acts 26:11). The “good news” is that Paul also “changed his mind” and become one of the most famous Christians of all time. He explained to Timothy that Jesus used him as an example of His unlimited patience (1 Tim. 1:16). In other words, if Paul could be saved, anyone can be saved.
Think of this the next time you come in contact with someone who has a depraved mind! I love you,
Grandpa Boyce