By Emmett Smith

An article titled, "The science of evil", in Thursday's Baltimore Sun presented an interesting history of the "science" of eugenics. The article was written to coincide with the opening of an exhibit at the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. This discussion of eugenics, "raises frightening issues", and, "The essential question is the same now as it was then: How will the science be used?", according to author Michael Ollove.

The exhibit examines the coining of the term eugenics by Sir Francis Galton in 19^th-century Britain. Galton was Charles Darwin's cousin, and undoubtedly embraced Darwin's racial theories. Most people these days are probably unaware that the title to Darwin's original printing was The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection — or The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. Actually, there was great excitement among the so-called "favoured races" during those early years of Darwinism.

Many prominent eugenicists lobbied for various government actions dictated by eugenics. Forced sterilization laws had been on the books of some U.S. states as early as 1907 (35 states had such laws by 1933), and were enforced into the 1970s. "Racial hygienists" proposed their theories about which cranial characteristics and skin colors represented the human ideal. The Nazis' policies were modeled on eugenics. Infanticide and euthanasia were intermediate steps leading to the infamous "final solution". And it should be lost on none of us that these policies were merely the logical end product of eugenics.

The article warns that the history of eugenics should inform the current discussions of genetic advancements and increasing medical costs. I would add that the current debates about abortion, cloning and stem cell research should also be so informed.

That eugenics is demonstrably false from a Biblical perspective is easy to establish. Paul told the learned crowd at Mar's Hill that God ".. hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;" (Acts 17:26). The KJV rendering of "one blood" simply reinforces the medical fact that, so long as the types are compatible, any of us could receive a transfusion from anyone of any "race".

Actually, a few unfortunately eugenics-tainted translations notwithstanding, the concept of race is not Biblical. The Bible is clear that all humankind sprang from one original pair, named Adam and Eve. Further, today's humanity all came from those "eight souls" who were "saved by water" (1 Peter 3:20). It's bad enough that so many non-Christians were taken in by Darwin's fraud. What's even worse are all the "Christians" who abdicated their belief in scripture because of perceived conflicts with "science"!

True science and scripture always agree. Science literally means knowledge.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)

By Michael E. Brooks

"…There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all" (Colossians 3:11).

People in Bangladesh honor the memories of deceased loved ones by taking out advertisements in newspapers on "death anniversaries". They may do this for several years, or even throughout the lifetime of a particular survivor. I first thought this practice unusual, though touching. After returning to the U.S. recently, however, I was at the worship assembly of my home congregation when a beautiful arrangement of flowers was placed in memory of one of our departed members, a few years after his death. I realized that we all have the same needs regarding the death of loved ones -- the same desire to remember and honor them, and the same regret at the necessity of "letting them go". The way we express and satisfy those needs varies by culture, and to some degree by individual, but the needs are universal.

People are in all fundamental respects the same. There is much individualism, expressed in physical differences and personality. Many of these are environmentally produced, while others are genetic. But beyond all these are the essential characteristics which define us as human, and as made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). Students of human behavior identify certain universal needs, shared by all people everywhere. The Bible certainly supports the view that we are all one, made by the same creator, saved by the same gospel (see Romans 1:16; 10:13; John 3:16, etc.). Once we realize that fact, whole worlds of relationships, opportunities and responsibilities open up to us.

It is obvious that our Christian responsibilities to "do good unto all men" (Galatians 6:10) and to "go…preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15) are universal in scope and not to be limited to any race, social class, or nationality. Opportunities vary, but many are open to those who will go or send (Romans 10:14,15), even in remote parts of the world. I wonder, however, whether the possibility of relationships with those of other nationalities, cultures, languages and races ever occurs to many of us.

Lately I have been putting on my visa applications under "purpose for traveling" the explanation, "visiting friends". Only after I had considered this response for a time did I realize just how true and appropriate it is. And then I realized how blessed and privileged I am to have so many close friends in so many parts of the world. Not just for the number (though I certainly cannot have too many friends!), but for the richness of the variety of relationships I enjoy. I benefit from exposure to those cultural and personality differences previously mentioned. But the relationships are possible because of the human characteristics we share. Indian, Bangla, Nepali, Bhutanese, Guyanese, Surinamese, or other –- it makes no difference in our ability to relate, to share, and to love one another.

Do you have "foreign friends"? Perhaps you think, "I cannot have foreign friends because I have never traveled." But there are many "foreigners" visiting among us (this is true in virtually any country, wherever you may live). Do you seek them out, try to get to know them? Doing so will broaden your experiences as well as helping them. In addition to those experiences there are opportunities to correspond with people in other countries through email, correspondence courses, and in many other ways. Open your eyes to other people in other places. God seeks and accepts people of every classification (Acts 10:34,35). So should we.

by Tim Hall

"If the Lord really loved me . . ." So begins a statement people sometimes make in response to bad things that come into their lives. From their perspective, the Lord ought to level the path before them. The presence of obstacles, however, means that the Lord said "No" to their happiness (they think). If He really loved them, shouldn't His answer always be "Yes"?

Mark recorded incidents in which Jesus did not grant what others requested. Considering those instances should give insights into why the Lord sometimes says "No".

A man of the country of the Gadarenes had been horribly enslaved by a legion of demons. Jesus blessed this man by casting out the demons, thus restoring his ability to lead a normal life. As Jesus prepared to leave, the former demoniac "begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him . . ." (Mark 5:18,19, NKJV). Why not? What could it hurt to allow this man who had been so stigmatized by his neighbors to leave those hateful people and travel with Jesus? But, no, the Lord would not permit it.

Jesus' reason for denying his request is given: "'Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.' And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled" (Mark 5:19,20). If Jesus had approved the former demoniac's request, many others would not have heard the good news about Jesus. Jesus had a higher good in mind, and that was accomplished by saying "No".

In chapter 6, Mark told how Jesus sent out the twelve to preach the good news of the kingdom. When Mark notes that "He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff -- no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts . . ." (v. 8), it was another instance of the Lord saying "No". To these disciples, the Lord's plan may have seemed unreasonable. "Lord, this will be a hardship. Why can't we take a little money for emergencies?" Yet the Lord was clear in His directions, and they set out on their journeys with virtually nothing in hand.

Why would the Lord refuse a reasonable request for these men to carry provisions on their journeys? The answer is found in Luke 22:35: "And [Jesus] said to them, 'When I sent you without money bag, sack, and sandals, did you lack anything?' So they said, 'Nothing.'" Obviously Jesus was teaching His apostles a lesson. They learned through this experience that God would provide all they needed as long as they kept their focus on the kingdom. By saying "No", Jesus was pointing to a higher good.

A favorite verse of many is Psalm 84:11: "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." What we must understand is that the "good thing" is determined from God's long-range perspective. My temporary discomforts and deprivations may actually be working for me a much greater good. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory," affirmed Paul (2 Corinthians 4:17).

When the Lord says "No", we should learn to give thanks to Him. We are confident He sees something better for us than what we have requested.

by Mike Benson

Speaking from personal experience, I know firsthand that preachers sometimes get discouraged when church members habitually miss the worship assembly.

Recently, I read a story about one particular preacher who had become so disheartened that he asked his secretary to compile a list of the ten members who were absent most often. He then asked her to mail each of these folks a copy of their attendance records in addition to a letter of admonition and concern.

After only a few days, the preacher received a letter from a doctor in the congregation. The physician confessed negligence in his life and even included a generous $1,500 check to cover the contributions that he had missed during his absence. He closed his letter with a promise to be more faithful in the future than he had in the past. Then at the bottom of the page, the MD wrote, "P.S. Please tell your secretary that there is only one 't' in dirty, and no 'c' in skunk."

It is difficult to know exactly what to say to a wayward brother, isn't it? There's a fine line between lovingly urging a man to repent and "browbeating" him. Certainly the words "dirty skunk" would not be appropriate, but something needs to be said. Something has to be said in the interest of his soul (James 5:19,20).

The Bible tells us,

"Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one IN A SPIRIT OF GENTLENESS..." (Galatians 6:1a; cf. Ephesians 4:2; Hebrews 10:24 - emphasis mine, mb).

Dear Christian, what do you need to say today, and to whom do you need to say it?

Barry Newton

In the 8th century B.C. a prophetic message rang out filled with hope about the future coming of God's Servant./1 Centuries later, Matthew's pen pointed out how Jesus had fulfilled this prophecy of Isaiah 42:1-4./2 However, one aspect of that prophecy continues to be fulfilled today, namely, "in his name the nations will put their hope."/3 What is it about Jesus that continues to cause people from diverse cultures to place their hope in him?

People from every point on the globe persist in fulfilling this prophecy uttered in the 8th century B.C. because they have found in Jesus a clear and future hope. As we look at Scripture, the center of their hope was announced by angels before his birth and became a reality with his death and resurrection.

To Joseph, the heavenly messenger had informed him that his wife to be, Mary, would have a son and he was to be called Jesus, which means Savior, because He would save His people from their sins./4 To Mary, an angel had announced that God would give her Son the throne of His father David. Furthermore, not only would He reign, but His kingdom would never end./5

While on earth, Jesus acknowledged and taught about His destiny, which had been foretold through the prophets/6 and heralded by angels. On the one hand, Jesus announced that He had come to free people of their guilt through being lifted up to die for them./7 On the other, He acknowledged that He was the King of the Jews./8

Although Jesus had taught about who he was and why he had come, with his death and resurrection this good news became a reality which has been offered to the world. Jesus' dying cry from the cross, "It is finished", epitomizes his obtainment of the reason why he was born. With his death, genuine freedom from guilt became a real possibility for our lives.

Regarding Christ's enthronement over an everlasting kingdom, Peter told those on the day of Pentecost that Christ's resurrection from the dead fulfilled God's announcement to king David that one of his descendants would be placed upon his throne./9 God has made Jesus both Lord and Messiah. Not only with his resurrection did Jesus begin to reign, and he must reign until the end, his resurrection also guarantees that those who belong to him will be raised to life to receive an eternal inheritance./10

Jesus' death and resurrection are the center of a clear and future hope. Because of what his death and resurrection mean for our lives the nations continue to put their hope in him.

1/ Isaiah 42:1-4 2/ Matthew 12:18-21 3/ Matthew 12:21 4/ Matthew 1:20-21 5/ Luke 1:32-33 6/ Isaiah 9:1-7; 52:14-53:12; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 9:7 7/ Mark 10:45; John 8:23-24 8/ John 18:36-37 9/ Acts 2:30-36 10/ 1 Corinthians 15:20-25