Blog
Q&A on IVF and Sin
QUESTION: Is it a sin for a single woman to have a child through in vitro fertilization simply because she wants to be a mother? ANSWER: The simple answer is “no,” but as you might have already guessed, it is a bit more complicated than that. Results and Methods...
Q&A on IVF and Sin
QUESTION: Is it a sin for a single woman to have a child through in vitro fertilization simply because she wants to be a mother? ANSWER: The simple answer is “no,” but as you might have already guessed, it is a bit more complicated than that. Results and Methods...
Impatience: The “Safe Sin” that Isn’t
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources “If not for impatience, I would have no patience at all!” As I review a career in sermon and article writing, I often use impatience because it is a “safe sin.” Nearly everyone admits to impatience....
A Thanksgiving Built on Contentment
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (Philippians 4:12) We easily underestimate the profound...
The Christian’s Call to Spiritual Warfare
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Every Christian is caught in a war between good and evil. The casualties of this war have included the most vulnerable: the unborn, the disabled, and the elderly. The wounded are the weary Christians...
Relationships and “I Believe”
CLAIM: I believe that a loving, committed relationship—regardless of whether it fits the traditional mold of a man and a woman—can be just as healthy and pleasing to God as any traditional family. REBUTTAL: On the surface, it is difficult to dispute this claim. After...
Relationships Require Work
CLAIM: A good marriage should be easy. If I must work so hard to be happy, I’d rather be alone. REBUTTAL: This claim is short and to the point. I am going to venture a guess that the problem here is a flawed understanding of happiness and how we achieve it. So, let’s...
Learning from Marriage Mistakes
CLAIM: My parents got divorced, and I had to suffer through their terrible marriage my entire childhood. Why would I put myself in that situation? REBUTTAL: Witnessing or experiencing something terrible tends to make us very anecdotal. That can lead us to greatly...
Divorce Reshapes, But Does Not Erase, Marriage
CLAIM: Half of all marriages end in divorce. If marriage worked, that wouldn’t be happening. REBUTTAL: Let’s first dispense with the terrible logic of this claim. If we approached everything in life this way, imagine how silly it would be: Approximately half of all...
Beyond “The One”: A Christian Reflection on Love, Marriage, and Polygamy
CLAIM: Humans aren’t naturally built for monogamy, and the idea of finding “the one” is just a myth. In a lifetime, men may end up having multiple wives. Even in the Bible, we see that men had multiple wives and sexual partners, sometimes at the same time. REBUTTAL:...
The Disposition of Human Remains
Globally, about 129 people die every minute. Six of those deaths occur every minute in the United States. In nearly all those instances, someone or some people must decide what to do with the remains of the deceased. We shall address that issue as it applies to...
Is a License Necessary to be Married
CLAIM: We don't need a legal document or government involvement to be truly committed to one another. Why let the state define what our relationships should look like? REBUTTAL: Correct, we don’t need a legal document or government involvement to be truly committed to...
Church Should Advocate for Childless Marriages
CLAIM: I value marriage and the happiness it brings. That being said, I wish the church spoke more positively about choosing not to have children, especially given today’s uncertainties and the harm caused when unwanted children face neglect or resentment. REBUTTAL: I...
Premarital Sex and Marriage
CLAIM: You need to sleep together before you get married to ensure you’re sexually compatible. REBUTTAL: The claim raises several questions. Does there need to be sexual compatibility to have a marriage? What happens if age or malady lessens the sexual compatibility...
Facing the End of Life as God’s Child
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources I have been actively involved in end-of-life decision-making for more than four decades. This process becomes more complex with the advancement of technology. The easy answer to the...
Christian Disparity in Marriage
CLAIM: All the men I’ve dated were Christians and either physically abused me or cheated on me. My ex-husband even had our marriage annulled by the Catholic Church so he could marry his mistress…how is this fair for people who genuinely love God, but others seem to...
Dating Outside of the Faith
CLAIM: I’m Christian and I don’t see the big deal of dating outside of my faith. Christians marry non-Christians all the time. You don’t have to fight about it. REBUTTAL: The claimant raises four points for us to consider: How Christians choose whom to date or marry,...
Has Marriage Become Obsolete?
CLAIM: Marriage isn’t necessary these days. It’s just a piece of paper. Why involve the government? REBUTTAL: The claimant nicely broke the matter down into three points, so let’s use them: Marriage isn’t necessary these days. The statement suggests that at one time,...
Pressed into Marriage
CLAIM: My hobbies and friends fulfil me, but I get a lot of pressure from my parents to get married. I just don’t feel the need. Why should I get married? REBUTTAL: You don’t have to get married, but before you stake your future on hobbies and friends, there are some...
Priorities Before Marriage and Children
CLAIM: I want to focus on my career and achieve financial stability. I don’t need to rush getting married or having kids. REBUTTAL: It is good to have priorities. It is better to have properly calibrated priorities. Calibrating priorities can be challenging and...
Why People Turn Away from Christianity
CLAIM: The rigidity and unwillingness of so-called “conservative” churches to accept the gender choices of people is exactly why so many turn away from Christianity. REBUTTAL: I think this can be a somewhat true statement, though I do not think the reason is directly...
Science and the Gender Spectrum
CLAIM: I feel trapped in a body of the wrong sex. If I were made this way, shouldn’t I be accepted for that reality? REBUTTAL: Navigating gender issues involves three disciplines: biology, psychology, and sociology. “Biology” refers not only to the physical traits...
Challenging Gender Ideology Does Not Disappoint Jesus
CLAIM: Really? Why not love everyone and let God deal with them in the end? Jesus would be so disappointed. REBUTTAL: Discussions about gender roles are often far more ideological than theological, even when attempts are made to spiritualize an unsupportable position....
Hope for Loved Ones When There Is a Suicide
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Circumstance Christians are not immune to great heartbreak in this life. This seems especially so when they receive the stunning news that a friend or family member took their own life. This document...
Who Are We to Judge
CLAIM: Jesus loved and accepted everybody. Who are we to judge or tell anybody what they can or cannot do? REBUTTAL: Especially evident in the “Christian” arguments for universal and undefined gender perspectives is that the “Christian faith” and the “Christian...
Freedom to be Authentic
CLAIM: The freedom to explore one’s identity—whether transgender or not—is a fundamental right that fosters personal growth and self-discovery. Allowing individuals the space to determine who they are, what they value, and who they want to become is not only...
Religious Beliefs vs Greatness Through Love
CLAIM: Embrace your religious and spiritual beliefs while understanding that not everyone shares the same views, and that’s perfectly okay. It’s important to love and respect others for who they are in this world and in this moment, without trying to impose your...
Q&A on Childless by Choice
QUESTION: I have two questions on your podcast episode Childless by Choice. Is it an actual sin not to have children if the couple is married and physically capable? It was not brought up in the podcast. In the Podcast, you also mentioned different situations when...
The Enduring Hope of Easter
Václav Havel, the last president of Czechoslovakia, wrote [Hope] is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out. (Vaclav Havel, “Disturbing the Peace”) This is easier said than...
The Tension Between Preserving Life or Prolonging the Dying Process
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The two most common questions I get about end-of-life care deal with resuscitation orders and obligatory care and treatment. You can read what I have written on resuscitation orders...
None of My Business
CLAIM: I simply don’t care what someone does with THEIR body. It’s none of my business. What I care about is how they treat others. REBUTTAL: The argument advocating for the right to self-identify with a chosen gender rather than the one you were born with is...
Extending Life or Prolonging Death
CLAIM: Assisted suicide should be considered an option when people cannot agree on whether treatment extends life or prolongs the dying process. REBUTTAL: Nothing gets us lost in the part like the ability to make decisions. We quickly presume to be masters of our...
Terminology to Advance an Agenda
Issue In proposing the state budget, a governor has chosen to replace “mother” with the term “inseminated person” in a nod toward gender-neutral terminology. Background Tony Evers was elected the 46th governor of Wisconsin in 2019 as a Democrat. His first Executive...
Assisted Suicide as a Practical Issue
CLAIM: Elderly people who are terminally ill have a duty to die and get out of the way. Like leaves which fall off a tree forming the humus in which other plants can grow, we've got a duty to die and get out of the way with all our machines and artificial hearts, so...
Assisted Suicide Can Be Safe
CLAIM: I agree that it is murder if the person doesn't consent to assistance in dying. Signing legal papers to be assisted in suicide is entirely legal in more and more places. Those people also have to be mentally evaluated several times and have to say yes several...
Assisted Suicide and the Christian
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Christians make mistakes. Consider these two quotes: When people’s sufferings are so great that they make repeated requests to die, it seems a denial of that loving compassion which is supposed to be...
Spectator Selfishness
CLAIM: I feel whatever the patient wants is best. Don’t be selfish and want them around for your sake. REBUTTAL: A few important points need to be understood with this claim or accusation: Sometimes It’s True A lifetime of relationships forms strong emotional bonds....
Abortion Pill Reversal: What You Should Know
What is Abortion Pill Reversal and How Does It Work? More than half of abortions in the U.S. are carried out using the "abortion pill," and this number is steadily increasing. The abortion pill consists of two medications and is approved for use within...
A Matter of Choice vs. Opinion
CLAIM: If you choose to die in excruciating pain, that's absolutely up to you. If you'd prefer to watch your loved ones die in excruciating pain, again, that's for you and your conscience. What I, or anyone else, chooses to do isn't your decision. But it is also the...
The Role of Suffering
CLAIM: The purpose of pain (suffering) is to tell you something is wrong. When possible, we fix the problem, and life goes on. When we cannot fix the problem, the merciful thing is to permit assisted suicide because suffering is only making life miserable. REBUTTAL:...
Quality of Life and the Argument for Assisted Suicide
CLAIM: Assistance in dying is a merciful way for people to hold on to dignity as they see their quality of life disappear. REBUTTAL: “If you are the Son of God,” he [Satan to Jesus] said, “throw yourself down. For it is written…” (Matthew 4:6) I have been involved...
Experience and Passing Judgment
CLAIM: People who have not personally faced terminal illness or severe suffering should not pass judgment on those who consider assisted suicide. REBUTTAL: Claims of absolute autonomy always need greater scrutiny. We value experience. We value the right to do our own...
We Euthanize Animals
CLAIM: While we mercifully euthanize pets to end their suffering, we deny humans the same right to a dignified death. Assisted suicide represents a humane option for those facing inevitable death, allowing them to exit life on their own terms with the same compassion...
A Right to Relief
CLAIM: Adults diagnosed with terminal illnesses or debilitating conditions like ALS have the right to seek relief from suffering in their final days. These individuals should be empowered to request assistance from medical professionals to facilitate a peaceful...
Fact-Checking With Truth
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The king of Israel [Ahab] answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad....
All This Technology
CLAIM: Technology has created these problems. I don’t want to be hooked up to tubes and wires. When it’s my time to go, let me go. REBUTTAL: In the early 1980s, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop commented on the news that parents in Bloomington, IN, refused to...
Laying the Groundwork
Dying Ends Life When we talk about dying, we must begin with the obvious because you do not wade far into this issue before the obvious is obscured by euphemisms and specious rhetoric. The result of dying is death. Death is the lack of life and is irreversible. Death...
Plan B: What You Should Know
What is Plan B? Plan B, often called the morning-after pill, is similar to typical birth control pills but contains a higher level of synthetic hormones. It is “effective” up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. How Does Plan B Work? Plan B is designed to suppress...
Losing Rights Because of Pregnancy
CLAIM: I have heard people argue that the time to choose not to have a child is before it is conceived, not after, so that I could use birth control or avoid sexual activity altogether. If I have those rights before getting pregnant, why do I lose the rights over my...
Using Body Without Consent
CLAIM: The issue is that a fetus cannot survive without using someone else's body. No one - not a baby, not an adult, not a cow or lizard or dog or dolphin - is allowed to use YOUR body to help their own body without your consent. No human gets to use someone else's...
Gratitude: A Christian Commodity
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15) Did you ever think that gratitude could be your greatest...
Let People Think for Themselves
CLAIM: I’m against abortion, but if the pregnancy is going to kill the mother and the baby, then the mother should be able to decide. The Bible says life begins with the first breath. I still would not have an abortion, but I’m not making that decision for her. That’s...
Forcing My Opinion on Others
CLAIM: "I’m pro-life but that does not give me the right to force my opinion or my beliefs on another individual. It also doesn’t give any government the right to impose laws that will govern my body or anyone else’s." REBUTTAL: You make two arguments. Look at your...
Not My Business
CLAIM: In my opinion, as a male, which is always secondary to the woman, the bottom line is the decision always needs to be made by the woman not any government law. This decision of life and death is very personal and involves many considerations: each persons...
Q&A on Unborn Baby with a Severe Brain Condition
QUESTION: I need a prayer for my 19-week gestation baby - doctors are telling me it has a severe brain condition and I may have to terminate, get an amnio test that has a risk for miscarriage, and that the baby will have very poor health outcomes. Please join me in...
God’s Pro-Life Testimony in Christ // Bible Study
Rev. Richard D. Balge God’s Son was there when human life was first created: John 1:3 “Through him all things were made” Colossians 1:16a “For in him all things were created” God created our first parents to live. He created them in his own image, and so they knew how...
Giving Women a Choice on Abortion
CLAIM: WHEN RESPONDING TO WOMEN WHO WERE ABUSED AND FORCED TO GET ABORTIONS TO COVER IT UP: Isn’t that the point of pro-choice? Women can choose if they want an abortion or not. You’re saying, isn’t it awful these women didn’t have a choice? Well, that applies to both...
IVF Blessings Do Not Outweigh Drawbacks
CLAIM: A truly pro-life stance would recognize that the lives created through IVF outweigh its potential drawbacks. REBUTTAL: The term “pro-life” is always intended and generally understood to define the desire to protect any human life that would be in danger....
Is It Okay if a Woman Dies?
CLAIM: Women are dying because they’re being refused the medical care they need. So, it’s okay if a woman dies? REBUTTAL: It is never OK for a life to be lost. It should trouble us all. It is difficult to imagine why medical staff would refuse care for someone who...
Abortion as a Necessary Evil
CLAIM: I'm a pro-life Democrat, but isn't early-term abortion a necessary evil until someone has an answer for what we're going to do with an extra one million plus unwanted children, considering most of those in our terrible foster system don't get adopted already?...
Comfort Through the Sorrow of Miscarriage
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Miscarriage is a deeply painful and often misunderstood experience that touches the lives of many families within the Christian community, including my own. As believers, we grapple with the profound...
Rebellion
Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7) King David’s sin with Bathsheba was lurid in its details but simple in what it was – rebellion! When people of faith know the truth and defy it, it is rebellion. Whether we are talking about legalizing...
Conscience of the State
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. (Titus 3:1–2) Ever since the Dobbs ruling, the Democratic party...
Abortion on the Ballot
Recent headlines highlight that abortion will be a significant issue in upcoming ballots. Traditionally, Democrats support abortion rights, while Republicans oppose them. Consequently, news stories often discuss how abortion referendums are being used as tools to...
The Choices We Make
“I have a right to do what I want with my body, and nobody is going to tell me otherwise.” Whether the issue is abortion, birth control, IVF, or euthanasia, we value our choices as election cycles illustrate ad nauseum. Scripture teaches us to value choices: But if...
Q&A on Medical Personnel Transitioning Patients
QUESTION: As a Christian and a medical professional, what am I to do when seeing patients who are going through methods to transition genders? My work in endocrinology has included procedures that aid transitioning. I may also need to train the patients how to inject...
More Abortion Referendums
So far, every state referendum proposed to either support access to abortion or restrict access went the wrong way for the pro-life community. It has happened five times since the Dobbs decision, and this November, nine more states have referendums on the issue. In...
Truth Endures
Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31–32) In April, Anthropic announced that its artificial intelligence product, Claude3Opus [Opus], can engage in debate. I...
Cherishing Life
I need to be regularly reminded that, as a Christian, the world and I are looking at things from two completely different directions (John 15:19). When I read the story of a nine-year-old child with Down syndrome bringing joy, all I could think of is the world’s...
Liberal or Progressive?
The line between conservatives and liberals in the United States is often drawn along social issues. Generally, conservatives are pro-life and pro-traditional marriage and accordingly believe in moral absolutes, typically rooted in the Bible. Liberals, on the other...
Abortion Politics
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 16:25) How can professed Christians support candidates who support abortion rights? It is one of our most polarizing issues. Human Life in the Image of God Human life is venerated...
Put Away the Sword
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled...
Be Strong!
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) Paul’s letter to Timothy calls all of us to courage. Humanly speaking, Timothy had cause to be timid: He was sensitive to being young. Paul told Timothy...
More than Earthly Purposes
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in...
Issues and Distractions
The recent presidential debate raised two important questions: Does President Biden have the mental acuity to rule competently for a second term, and does former President Trump’s propensity to exaggerate and lie make him a good politician or unqualified for office?...
Navigating Sex and Gender
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Today, opinion reigns supreme. Peculiar and rebellious opinions enjoy special veneration, fueled by the ubiquitous open-mic forum of social media. A strongly worded argument, flavored with emotion,...
Wrong Message
The headline read, “Louisiana Requires Classrooms to Display the Commandments.” As we witness a national implosion of morality, this is not the solution. God declared: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are...
Some Lives Are Expendable
On February 16, 2024, the Alabama State Supreme Court ruled that cryopreserved embryos created using IVF were children – not potential children, not property, not blobs of tissue, and not detached parasitical material of the woman’s body. [In case you are not familiar...
How You Define It
The New York Times email succinctly encapsulated a prevalent discourse: “Far-right activists have spread misinformation conflating birth control with abortion. But the vast majority of Americans support birth control access.” [6-5-24] Is birth control tantamount to an...
Where to Live?
Texas doubled down on protecting unborn life, and Delaware is doubling down on making abortions easier. Where would you live? The answer is harder than you think. Both sides of the abortion debate agree that a child’s life is lost. The abortion-rights argument creates...
One More Slip
“A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” (Galatians 5:9) It is often called the “slippery slope.” It is described this way: “If the camel once gets his nose in the tent, his body will soon follow.” The smallest step away from the will of God eventually...
Speaking Up When It Hurts
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (John 15:18) On May 11, 2024, Harrison Butker, placekicker for the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs, was the commencement speaker at Benedictine College in Atchison, KS. Benedictine College refers to...
Vigilance!
Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:14–15) I have used these commentaries each week to advocate...
The Truth Must Prevail
When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God…My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on...
Population and God
As our culture drifts further from objective truths, it wanders into calamity. Such is the population picture that is unfolding. The terminology can vary. It is sometimes called the “birth rate” or “fertility rate.” Technically it is called the “total fertility rate”...
Q&A on Trisomy 18 Spiritual Encouragement
Question: I have dear friends who have just found out that their unborn son very likely has a severe case of Trisomy 18. They have many questions and concerns about the future. They are also receiving a great deal of negative feedback and vibes from the medical...
Time Well Spent
8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in...
Conditioned by the Truth
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13) [NIV] I went to see the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic three times. I was blown away by the special effects and the emotional...
Clever Innocence
My co-podcaster on Life Challenges, Pastor Jeff Samelson, once said in an episode, “We all want to stand for something, but we don’t want to suffer for it.” How true! Jesus sent his disciples to do ministry with this advice, “I am sending you out like sheep among...
Escaping the Cold
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. (Luke 23:34) In 1948, General Omar Bradley observed in an Armistice Day address: We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the...
The Distracted Quest for Heaven on Earth
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Vulnerable The congregation in Laodicea thought things were great. They were God’s children, who enjoyed prosperity and contentment. It had to have come as a shock to be called out: You say, ‘I am...
The Easter Truth
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from...
Facing the Facts
These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; (Zechariah 8:16) Truth, in these progressive times, is taking a beating. Aldous Huxley, author of the famous dystopian novel, “Brave New World” once...
Realization, Regret, and Forgiveness
The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:61–62) When peer counselors in our pregnancy care...
Drugs, Death, and Drama
With access to surgical abortion now restricted in many states, the shift has been to chemical abortions. According to the latest statistics, 53% of all abortions are now chemical abortions. Danco Laboratories, a private Manhattan pharmaceutical supplier, distributes...
Public Wailing about IVF
The Alabama ruling declaring that IVF embryos are people and not property has created the expected public wailing. The lament casts the justices as cruel for having swiped from people the chance to have children. One headline used these provocative words: “Alabama...
Calling Out the Emperor
Hans Christian Anderson’s fable of the Emperor’s New Clothes concludes with a child stating the obvious – “he is naked.” That is what the Alabama State Supreme Court did on Friday, February 16, 2024, when it ruled that frozen embryos obtained by means of IVF are...
The Slippery Slopes in Life
Last week, I discussed sliding from temptation into sin. Let’s now illustrate that practically by looking at the slippery slopes in life. The late U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop observed, “It is a small leap in logic to go from taking life in the womb to taking...
Some Things Never Change
Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:14–15) Sinning is a process. It begins with temptation. Once...
Better Hearts Lead to Better Laws
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’” (Matthew 9:13) A representative form of government allows individuals to marshal collective strength to effect change. Adding my vote to many others brings in new leaders, adopts referendums, and, on...
The Mother of All the Living
Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. (Genesis 3:20) Sometimes, we miss it! In the heat of a debate, the point gets lost. I thought about that earlier this week when Vice President Harris came to Wisconsin to press for...
Choosing Death: Rethinking End-of-Life Choices
Richard and Helen Brown built a career nurturing young lives with their School of Broadcasting. Their legacy, however, was tarnished by their 1994 suicide, fueled by a desire to spare themselves future suffering and create a legacy within their United Church of Christ...
Look What We Can Do!
In 1984, U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop spoke at a Christian Life Resources national convention. He talked about rapid technology changes and the ethical challenges they bring. He gave this scenario: A mother births twins prematurely. Both require advanced...
How to Navigate the Abortion Issue
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The response to the Supreme Court’s overturning of its 1973 Roe v. Wade abortion decision in June 2022 has been fierce. There were acts of violence, protests, and blatant efforts to challenge any...
Heartbeat or Cardiac Activity? Yes!
There has been a language shift among abortion advocates. What they used to call a “heartbeat” is now being called “cardiac activity.” The shift in language serves two purposes: “Heartbeat” is historically understood as the evidence of life. When there is no...
Christian Life Resources Expands Reach with Two New Divisions and Welcomes Dedicated Pro-Life Advocate, Rachel Greiner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [Hartford, WI] – [January 2, 2024] – Christian Life Resources (CLR), a leading voice for life and family issues, is excited to announce its expansion with the launch of two distinct divisions: the CLR Center for Christian Ethics and CLR Bridge...
Bridge Opens in Time for Christmas
When we are called “social conservatives,” it means we are known for what we are against. We oppose abortion, euthanasia, promiscuity, same-sex marriage, and the list can go on. Those who walk outside of the guidance of Scripture characterize Christianity as a group...
Texas: Clearing Away the Clutter
A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart. (Proverbs 21:2) You would think Texas hates pregnant women facing health or life endangerment. CNN reported: …a Texas woman has been battling the state to terminate her high-risk pregnancy…her...
When Freedom Is Not Freedom
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” (2 Peter 2:19) In 1973 the American Humanist Association released the second iteration of its Manifesto. In it, was a call for freedom: We...
The Gender Issues
Gender issues have come front and center over the past couple of years with a force bordering on bullying. Some perspective is in order. Made This Way The “made this way” argument is conflated. On the one hand, the argument is that we are made binary – either male or...
Making the Right Stand
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Our Mission A representative form of governing has its insidious way of distracting us from our mission. We enjoy many freedoms. We take some for granted, embrace others with gusto, and are horrified...
One Little Thing // Bible Study
Rev. Jeffrey L. Samelson “It’s just one little thing. What are you getting so upset about? Why should we care?” That’s the way a lot of people – even many Christians – have talked about one of the hottest of hot-button issues in our society. They can’t understand why...
A Thanksgiving Thought
Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:19–20) We have grown accustomed to thanking God. Many of us have memorized the Doxology, which begins, “Praise...
Incompatible or Wrong?
The American Medical Association (AMA) recently affirmed its opposition to physician-assisted suicide. A portion of the statement states, Physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer, would be difficult or impossible to...
Abortion and Drawing the Line
One of the hardest truths to face in the abortion debate is the deception. Advocates of legalized abortion keep beating the “choice” or the “rights” drum. If you think about it, that is not the issue. After all, everyone likes to have the freedom to make choices....
Asexual Reproduction
Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” (Genesis 4:1) There are fundamental Bible truths about procreation: God is the predominant player. He is the one who is...
Abortions Are Up – How Can That Be?
For 35 years, I have traveled throughout North America, giving presentations and Bible Classes. Invariably, attendees try to pin me down on politicians and political issues, especially during election cycles. I always respond the same way, “None of the political...
Finding Value in Life
Curtis Means is the earliest delivered surviving baby. He was born 19 weeks into the pregnancy on July 5, 2020. His twin did not survive. Conversely, about 1% of all abortions occur at 20 or more weeks gestation. There were approximately 930,000 abortions in 2020....
IVF: A Blessing or a Problem?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources On July 25, 1978, the world learned of the birth of the first baby using a process called in vitro fertilization (IVF), or “outside the womb” fertilization. Quickly dubbed by the press as the world’s...
Unexpected Suffering
“I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” (1 Kings 19:14) Regardless of your...
Finding Purpose
I have been reading a book written by a gifted writer diagnosed with terminal cancer. He has faced his diagnosis with courage and insight. The problem, however, is his understanding of purpose. Not once throughout the book does he reference God, Jesus, sin, or...
Words and Meanings
Sometimes, we use words to communicate what we want others to know quickly and clearly. “Danger” is a clearly understood word. When shouted in a crowded room, it gets attention, and people run to safety. Sometimes, we use words to share larger realities and concepts....
Understand the Difference
When I became active in pro-life issues in the fall of 1976, I could not figure out what was so difficult about seeing that in abortion a child dies. I saw pictures of unborn children at rallies, fair booths, and in pro-life offices. What do we see that they do not...
Should We Do More?
In June 2023, the Center for a Biblical Worldview, a research arm of the Family Research Council, surveyed 1,009 adults who attend a worship service in-person or online at least once/month. The statistic that popped out for me was that 58% of those adults wanted their...
The Medical Profession and Abortion
On August 30, 2023, the Interim Chief Executive of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and the Interim Director of Advocacy and Public Affairs for the Society of Family Planning concluded a brief op-ed piece in the Washington Post with these...
No Heaven on Earth
There was a time when the mantra for abortion rights sounded like this: “Safe, legal, and rare.” My, how the times have changed. The new director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Mandy Cohen, said, “…we will support however we can the...
Elusive Contentment
The Apostle Paul wrote: I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the...
Q&A on Gay Pride Activism
QUESTION: As Christians, should we be protesting gay pride festivities as either individuals or churches – or both? ANSWER: Everything about Christianity centers on Christ. Specifically, that means witnessing to who he is, what he did, and what it means for us (Psalm...
Choices and Consequences
Having the freedom to make choices without interference feels like good public policy. It mitigates the ideological differences among the citizenries. Consider how it plays out: Advocates for drug legalization argue that individuals should make their own choices about...
Euthanasia and You
Canada continues to be an example of euthanasia out of control. Christians find themselves challenged and confused over what to do. I want to make four points: 1) Authorship. A Christian believes God is the author of life (Genesis 1:27; Colossian 3:10; Deuteronomy...
More Than an Opinion
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Mark Twain once said, “The difference between truth and fiction is that the latter must always be credible in order to work.” The same can be said about opinions. For an opinion to sound like truth,...
The Resurrection Anchor
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources We often experience what might be called “event despair.” Something happens unexpectedly in our lives, and it catches us unprepared. It could be a sudden death of a loved one, the loss of a job, the...
Time to Act
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning the infamous January 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide....
I Might Be Wrong
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources “I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken.” Admitting errors can be a tough pill to swallow. In the last book of the Bible, the church of Laodicea faced the harsh reality that they were wrong. We...
Postpartum Reflections of a Struggling, Surviving, and Saved Mother
Julie Straseske, LCSW Nestled among the many comforting promises in scripture is one of my favorites: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”...
Take a Deep Breath
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Sometimes a person just needs to take a deep breath, exhale slowly, and calm down. Let’s start there. On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court issued the Dobbs ruling overturning the infamous 1973...
WELS Statement on Roe v. Wade Ruling
On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling that overturned the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that assured a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion throughout the United States. This ruling struck down many state laws that had prohibited or...
STATEMENT ON OVERTURNING ROE V. WADE
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The formal release of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women‘s Health decision today (June 24, 2022) overturning Roe v. Wade marks a new chapter of challenges and opportunities for Christians long concerned...
Court Decisions on U.S. Abortion
Prior to 1967, abortion was prohibited in all 50 states except when the mother's life was in danger. Between 1967 and 1973, 18 states added further exceptions, mostly to allow abortion in the case of rape or incest, or for certain limited medical reasons, or on demand...
Churches on Abortion: Why We Differ
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources In early May 2022, a working draft of a majority opinion in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health was leaked. In it, the Court looked ready to severely weaken if not overturn...
STATEMENT on Leaked Draft Opinion by SCOTUS
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The leaked draft of the majority ruling on the abortion case before the Supreme Court has drawn the expected attention. The conclusion arrived by the Court majority is no surprise. Anyone who...
A Prayer for Mother’s Day
Pr. Jonathan Schultz Heavenly Father, we praise and glorify you as the Creator of all life. We praise you for the wonderful way you bring children into this world, fearfully and wonderfully made. Bless all mothers with the maternal love to nurture and care for their...
The Big Picture
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The complicated issues of our time can often be characterized as “matters of life and death.” The terminology we employ suggests we are in a crisis, and we must act – or all will be lost. Whenever...
Q&A on Ectopic Pregnancy
QUESTION: The doctor said I may have a tubal pregnancy. Is that human life? Is it possible to move it to the uterus? Or do they just have to kill off the egg in the tube? ANSWER: An “ectopic pregnancy” is when an egg, after fertilization, fails to make it to the...
They Don’t Know What They’re Doing
Rev. Jeffrey L. Samelson, Director of Ministry Advancement, Christian Life Resources Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) If you’ve been around Christianity very long, you’ve undoubtedly heard or seen someone take...
What If the Princes Are Right?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. (Psalm 146:3) Eight children have matured under my parental eye. Particularly memorable are the adorable early years of life; the...
How Do We Get the “Out of Step” in Step?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources “Out of sync.” “Not in step.” “Confused.” “Messed up.” Sometimes these terms might describe a Christian friend, relative, or fellow church member. When God’s Word speaks clearly yet someone close to...
Returning Home
Written by Rachel The Parable of the Lost Son 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got...
Talk About Abortion? Absolutely!
By Pastor Jeff Samelson, Director of Ministry Advancement, Christian Life Resources “Oh, no, I’m not really into politics, so I don’t get into or talk much about abortion. In fact, I feel it’s kind of inappropriate for Christians and churches to make such a big deal...
A Peace the World Cannot Give
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27) When I was growing up, my most enduring...
The Right Time – The Right Place
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to...
Christian Life Resources’ Position Statement on Vaccinations
Christian Life Resources Position Statement on Vaccination PREAMBLE A Christian demonstrates thankfulness to a loving and forgiving God by doing what is good and avoiding what is evil. The Holy Scriptures proclaim God’s will for what is to be done and what is...
Q&A on Caregiving and Diminished Quality of Life
QUESTION: My dad was recently diagnosed with ALS. We are all pretty devastated. He knows that his quality of life will diminish, and he will become totally reliant on us kids. The other night he asked, “Why is God doing this to me?” I didn’t know how to answer him. I...
As We Consider the 48th Anniversary of Legalized Abortion
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:5) On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court...
U.S. Abortion Statistics By Year (1973-Current)
National Right to Life Committee, 2024 THE CONSEQUENCES OF ROE V. WADE TOTAL ABORTIONS SINCE 1973: 65,464,760 Numbers 1973-2020 based on data reported by the Guttmacher Institute adjusted for GI projected “undercounts” and “missing providers” Calculations for 2021 and...
What a Year!
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10) Without a doubt, 2020 was a peculiar year. It was particularly challenging to stay focused on the...
A Christian Approach to Feeding Tube
A feeding tube generally comes in two varieties: a gastrostomy tube installed directly into the abdomen and a nasogastric tube which is installed through the nasal cavity and into the stomach. There are other types of tube-feeding, but these are the most common. A...
Statement on mRNA Vaccines
When imperfect people leverage imperfect resources, we should not expect them ever to arrive at a perfect solution. We’ve certainly seen this in the politicization of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has even made it controversial to wear a mask in some places. But my...
An Insidious Reality
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Don’t you hate it when people use unfamiliar words? Hear me out on this one – it will make sense to you in a moment. Dictionaries define “insidious” to mean something that has a gradual and...
The Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Conclusion
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann X. Conclusion End-of-life issues are complex in that they often call for the application of many different biblical principles complicated by the addition of strong and sentimental...
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Anxious for Death
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann VIII. Anxious for Death We live in a time where society seems almost anxious to terminate the life of anyone who does not seem valuable or needed. In response, we strongly instill in...
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Facing the Challenge of Suffering
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann VII. Facing the Challenge of Suffering Suffering, or the fear of suffering, is one important reason people have advocated the early termination of life. When I speak of suffering, I am...
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Facing the Fear of Death
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann VI. Facing the Fear of Death It is a reality that as death near, fear increases for many people. When Barbara Walters hosted that edition of Nightline I referenced earlier with Derek...
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Understanding the Purpose of Life
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann V. Understanding the Purpose of Life When counseling a family at a time of crisis a certain amount of spiritual building takes place. A challenge I face in these circumstances is...
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Facing the Changed Quality of Life
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann IV. Facing the Changed Quality of Life Perhaps the most challenging issue to face when counseling on end-of-life issues is the changed quality of life. It seems characteristic of the...
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Establish God’s Authority Over Life and Death
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann III. Establish God's Authority Over Life and Death In Deuteronomy 32:39 God says this about himself: "See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring...
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: The Christian Foundation for Life Decision-Making
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann I. The Christian Foundation for Life Decision-Making When we pastors are called upon to guide a family in making critical medical decisions, we must not desert our own foundation for...
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Introduction
Presented by Rev. Robert F. Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources In the early 1980s, I ran across an editorial cartoon depicting a minister standing in the pulpit of the Church of the Lukewarm. The caption read, "There is no the Christian position,...
When God Is Calling
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Margaret entered the intensive care unit by way of the hospital’s emergency room. For over two decades, Margaret, or “Maggie” as her friends call her, wrestled with cancer. It began as a lump in a...
The Essential Easter
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." (1 Corinthians 15:14) I am the early riser in the family. I am usually showered, shaved, and in my office by...
God’s Word – God’s Comfort
Comforting Bible Verses During Difficult Times Deuteronomy 31:6 // Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 33:27 // The eternal God is your...
Nothing to Fear
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources “I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” (Philippians 1:23) The Apostle Paul struggles with two desires when writing the Philippian congregation:...
Everybody But Me
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources We have a level of confidence in ourselves which blinds us to our own foibles. Jesus warned, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). Our impulse...
Not So Fast!
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources In 1993, a Wisconsin state senator introduced assisted suicide legislation, designed to give terminally-ill patients the right to ask a doctor’s assistance in ending their own life. It was a new...
Let Us Not Love With Words or Speech but with Actions and in Truth
By Pastor James Hein, Lead Pastor at St. Marcus Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1 John 3:11-18 11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And...
What Should I Do?
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources As life and family issues continue to expand, it’s often difficult to sort them out. Even church bodies differ on a particular issue though they claim to have the same Bible. On that point,...
Q&A on Donating Eggs
QUESTION: I'm interested in donating my eggs and I'm wondering if there is any way to ensure that they will not be discarded or used for science in a way that would not be God-pleasing. Do we have a Christian resource that accepts egg donations? Is it wasteful or...
Q&A on Witnessing
QUESTION: I have a friend who is a member of a WELS church, but is pretty liberal on the subject of transgender and other subjects. I would like to speak to her but I don't want to start an argument. I would appreciate a simple explanation and would like to know the...
Middle Ground
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Before I had children I was an expert on raising kids. After all, I had taken numerous college courses in human psychology. I understood the concepts of influence, incentive, and insistence. I...
Q&A on Abortion to Save a Mother’s Life
QUESTION: Is there ever a medical situation where it is necessary to cause an abortion in order to save the mother’s life? ANSWER: The most obvious, though relatively rare, example is any pregnancy that occurs outside of the uterus (ectopic). Most often that would be...
And So It Goes
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Pro-life Christians were appalled when Governor Cuomo signed New York’s liberal abortion law on January 22, 2019, the 46th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade abortion...
Focus // Women’s Bible Study
Study Passage: 38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the...
46 Years of Legalized Abortion in America
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources It has been 46 years since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled by a 7-2 majority that a woman should have the right to end the life of her unborn child. It has been a festering wound in the American...
Don’t Just Sit There!
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The legalized killing of unborn children through abortion has been a part of the American landscape since January 22, 1973. The death toll has surpassed 62 million babies. Now you know. You cannot...
Q&A on Egg Donation
QUESTION: One of my friends is considering using an egg donor, so she and her husband can have a baby. (She has no eggs due to pre-menopause). Do you have suggestions for how I can help them understand more about this or have resources to share? Am I correct that from...
Q&A on Euthanasia
QUESTION: What's the difference between voluntary euthanasia and non-voluntary euthanasia? ANSWER: Voluntary euthanasia involves a competent and stated desire for someone to have his or her life terminated. Non-voluntary euthanasia pertains to the termination of...
Embryo Adoption
What is Embryo Adoption? When couples use in vitro fertilization to achieve pregnancy, they will often have embryos remaining after they complete their family. One option available to them is to donate those embryos to another couple. Embryo adoption allows the family...
Q&A on DNR and Feeding Tube
QUESTION: My husband has had Parkinson's for 25 years, severe Alzheimer's, and other issues. He has taken a severe setback with a recent hospitalization. He is presently very weak, minimally mobile, with very low function cognition. He is now in rehab, but hoping to...
Transformed
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources “I sure miss kindergarten.” I know you have heard or read these words from me before. The older I get the more I miss the simplicity of life that I enjoyed in kindergarten. I enjoyed how my...
Whose Pain Is It Anyway? – A Look at Pain Management
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources A while back I attended an ethics seminar in which the speaker said that 50% of pain medication requests come from family members, not the patient. In another survey, nurses estimate that 80% of pain...
Tips to Prevent Elder Financial Abuse
Here are several important tips to help avoid becoming a victim of financial abuse: Involve people you trust in making important financial decisions. Use direct deposit for Social Security and other payments to prevent mail theft. Sign all of your own checks. Keep...
Curing Cancer
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources The simple definition of cancer is an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells within the body. The practical result is pain, heartache, and death. The dreaded C-word has haunted families for...
A Pro-Life Future?
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court at the end of July 2018. Kennedy was appointed to the Court by President Ronald Reagan and began serving in February...
Should I Baptize My Baby?
Why Baptize Babies? The Bible doesn’t tell us anywhere how old a person must be at the time of baptism. Jesus commanded us to baptize "all nations" (Matthew 28:19) and doesn’t make any mention of an individual’s age. The jailer at Philippi and all his family were...
Servant-Leadership in the Family [3-Part Series for Christian Fathers] // Bible Study
Bible Study [3-Part Series for Christian Fathers]: Servant-Leadership in the Family - Part 1 [Student's Guide] This is a 3-part Bible study series for fathers. In this series, we will examine what God says in his Word about a father's role in the family, how a father...
It Begins with Ants in the Pants – A Look at Christian Parenting
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, CLR The late humorist and author, Erma Bombeck, once wrote: "The inside of a house of worship must be the most confusing place ever to a child. There's water that you can't play with, books without pictures, and mysterious...
Today’s Media: Parental Discernment
Mr. Timothy Snyder dis-cern-ment [noun]: keenly selective judgment, good taste and judgment "Parents, it's 11:00 P.M. ... Do you know where your children are?" Are you old enough to remember local television stations broadcasting this public service announcement every...
Shepherding Your Teens to Adulthood
Mark Clifford Brunner Teen dating? Perhaps, it's time to assign these words to the dustbin of outmoded phrases. At least, if most 15 year-olds had their way, they would be happy never to hear these words again. We "get together" or "hang out." "Dating? What does that...
Would You Like to Go to a Movie?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Solomon Wrote (Ecclesiastes 1:9): "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." I think of this passage often as I counsel families facing...
AI on Our Side
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources When I speak about artificial intelligence (AI), I suspect I sound alarmist. Some of what I read about AI development is concerning. Yet, I have long felt that technological advancements are...
Q&A on Genetic Testing of Preborn Children
QUESTION: Is genetic testing of preborn children acceptable for Christians? ANSWER: The answer to your question requires some clarification, because there are many variables that come into consideration. Some parents are concerned about a genetic disease that could be...
God’s Life-Giving Love Is Active at Conception
Prof. Ryan MacPherson, Bioethics Professor at Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, MN When does human life begin? This question has perplexed our generation and divided our nation. The stakes are quite high. If a human embryo is a person, then abortion and human...
Charlie Gard Has Died
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources On July 28, 2017, one week before his first birthday, Charlie Gard died. Charlie was at the center of a controversy that resonated throughout the world when the British High Court ruled in April...
Carrying Burdens and Euthanasia // Bible Study
Rock of Ages Lutheran Branch, Madison, TN Importance of This Bible Study 1) Life issues are broadening or shifting to each end of the life spectrum: beginning of life through end of life. 2) Personally we are not victims of abortion, yet we are all going to have...
The Great Physician at My Bed // Devotions
Devotions: The Great Physician at My Bed On Entry "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) We go to doctors because we need help. Our bodies hurt. In our suffering, Jesus invites us to come to him. He is the Great...
Hospital Devotions
HOSPITAL DEVOTIONS: A compilation of 27 devotions for use in the hospital or related setting from the Health and Wellness Committee, WELS Commission on Special Ministries. Devotion #1 Luke 2:29-31 - Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in...
Q&A on Suffering
QUESTION: My mother has multiple sclerosis and has been given only a few years to live. Our family is concerned about Mom spending the last few years of her life suffering. What can we do? ANSWER: The fear of pain affects many decisions in life. As a loving...
Life Worth Living
By Ben Berger On June 22, 2015, Simona De Moor of Belgium was euthanized. She was a healthy 85 year old who saw her death as her only reprieve from the grief of losing her daughter several months before.[i] On September 11, 2015, California lawmakers passed bill...
Vote! You’ve Got to Be Counted!
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources On more than one occasion when I was growing up, in my youthful folly I questioned and challenged the wisdom of maturity and the authority of parenthood. Speaking for my three younger brothers, I...
Playing God: A Most Deadly Game
By Pastor Glen Schaumberg "If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman so that she delivers her child prematurely, but there is no harm to either the mother or child, the man should pay the fine her husband put on him with the help of the judges. If any harm follows,...
The Source of Eternal Life // Bible Study
The Source of Eternal Life (Student's Guide) Read the Following Passage: John 4:5-14 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down...
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
Hundreds of innocent people die in a plane crash. A man is struck down by cancer in the prime of his life. Tragedies such as these cause us to ask, "Why would God allow such terrible things to happen?" Bad Things In his holy Word, God answers that perplexing question....
Q&A on Pro-Life Activism
QUESTION: For years I’ve been rather quietly pro-life, but now I am more concerned about the abuse of human life. What can I do to help make a difference? ANSWER: You are not alone in your feelings. Here are some suggestions to consider: Volunteer at a local pregnancy...
Listening to Voices Unheard – How To Be A Part of the Pro-Life Solution
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources It is easy to identify errors and wait for other people to do something. By God‘s blessing, however, we can be part of the solution. Prayer Prayer acknowledges Him from whom all blessings flow. The...
Christian Citizenship
Mr. Tim Snyder cit•i•zen•ship: the quality of an individual's response to membership in a community (The Merriam-Webster Dictionary) What is your response to membership in the nation you call home? Are you a good citizen? Are you raising good citizens? As Christians,...
Christian Life Resources’ Euthanasia Position Statement
This Christian Life Resources Position Statement on Euthanasia was adopted by the organization's National Congress to state its position on issues that are addressed by CLR, in this case, on the subject of euthanasia. Christian Life Resources Position Statement on...
Burdens and Christian Optimism
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, CLR National Director Despairing elders may come to the conclusion to terminate their own lives. Their acts of self-killing are often shrouded in euphemisms about wishing to “die with dignity” and “ceasing to be a burden” on others. On the...
Reaching the Unreachable | Devotions for Alzheimer’s Patients and Their Caregivers
Robert Charles Van Norstrand, Pastor Emeritus WELS This devotional series is for all caregivers who want more meaningful and satisfying visits with their dear ones who are afflicted with Alzheimer's. Scripture passages in the devotions are quoted from the New...
Understanding the Difference | Alzheimer’s Disease vs. Dementia
As we become older, most of us will have some problems with our memory. We may forget where we placed the car keys, or have trouble remembering the name of someone we only met once or twice. But when does forgetfulness become something more? When do issues like...
Q&A on Spiritual Concerns of Loved One With Alzheimer’s Disease
QUESTION: My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease a number of years ago and is now inactive. He always said he was ready to die and go to heaven, but I wonder if I am prolonging his life and keeping him from his goal. ANSWER: As Christians, all of us desire the...
Drifting: A Look at Parenting and Alzheimer’s Disease
Linda Lawrence Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of articles written by Ms. Linda Lawrence that addresses the challenges and blessings in caring for an aging parent. Mom’s pinched face and fidgeting fingers catch my attention as I pass her sitting on a...
Hug Your Mother: A Look at Caregiving and Alzheimer’s Disease
Linda Lawrence Editor’s Note: This is second in a series of articles written by Ms. Linda Lawrence that addresses the challenges and blessings in caring for an aging parent. When Dad died, my husband and I invited my mother, who had Alzheimer’s, to live with us...
How Can I Be A Caregiver?: A Look at Caregiving and Alzheimer’s Disease
Linda Lawrence Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of articles written by Ms. Linda Lawrence that addresses the challenges and blessings in caring for an aging parent. I love my Lord, and I love solitude. But now the Lord was asking me to bring my mother –...
Alzheimer’s Became a Blessing? – A Look at Caregiving and Alzheimer’s Disease
Linda Lawrence Editor’s Note: This is fourth in a series of articles written by Ms. Linda Lawrence that addresses the challenges and blessings in caring for an aging parent. When asked what I most feared, I always answered: “Having my mother need to live with us, or...
Treasured: A Look at Caregiving and Alzheimer’s Disease
Linda Lawrence Editor’s Note: This is fifth in a series of articles written by Ms. Linda Lawrence that addresses the challenges and blessings in caring for an aging parent. Mom has lived in a nursing home since her Alzheimer’s progressed to the point that she forgot...
The Shepherd Restores a Soul: A Look at Caregiving and Alzheimer’s Disease
Linda Lawrence Editor’s Note: This is the sixth and final installment in a series of articles written by Ms. Linda Lawrence that addresses the challenges and blessings in caring for an aging parent. My mother was like a lost lamb, struggling with Alzheimer’s but...
Q&A on Cutting
QUESTION: A number of students at my high school are “cutters.” Why do they do that? ANSWER: “Cutting” has become a popular behavior among some of today’s youth, but few adults know much about it or understand it. “Cutting” is just one method of self-injury that is...
The Holy Grail of Medicine – A Look at Ethical Stem Cell Research
By Dr. Robert Balza Jr., Associate Professor of Biology, Wisconsin Lutheran College No one believed him. No one thought Dr. Shinya Yamanaka had managed to do the impossible. The 44-year-old physician/scientist from Japan had been encouraged to enter medicine by his...
Basic Terminology on Stem Cell Research
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources As with most professions, medicine uses many unfamiliar or complicated terms. The following is designed to help you understand some of the terminology used in discussions about stem cell research....
For It or Against It? – A Look at Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Stem cell research has been called the holy grail of modern medical research. With its “potential” applications in the cure of cancer, healing of spinal cord injuries, and reversal of neurological...
A Primer on Human Cloning
Cloning moved from the arena of movie-scripting to reality in 1997. It was in that year that Nature journal (Nature 385, 810-13, 1997) announced Scottish scientists had cloned a sheep named Dolly. The worldwide scientific, religious, political, ethical, and moral...
A Primer on Stem Cell Research
Stem cells are considered foundational building blocks for human beings. There are essentially four kinds of stem cells that scientists consider to hold the potential to ease human suffering: embryonic, induced pluripotent, umbilical cord, and adult stem cells....
Q&A on Non-Controversial Stem Cell Research That Does Not Harm Embryos
QUESTION: I’ve heard a lot of news stories about embryonic stem cells and how we don’t need them anymore. Is that really true? How should Christians respond to this news? ANSWER: You are right that many stories have been published on this topic. Very simply, the...
Q&A on Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) Cloning
QUESTION: I’ve heard people say they are opposed to human cloning, but they support somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). What is the difference? ANSWER: In simple terms, there is no difference. Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is the process used to produce a...
Q&A on Potential Success of Research Involving Adult Stem Cells and Embryonic Stem Cells
QUESTION: I know there have been recent successes with adult stem cell research but why do you say we should eliminate all embryonic stem cell research just because it hasn’t been as effective? I’m reading articles that say embryonic stem cells hold more potential...
Stem Cell Research – Boundaries, Blessings, and Peace
It is one thing to say embryonic stem cell research is morally unacceptable when we look at it from a purely academic point of view. The head knowledge is all there. We know the Bible passages that declare the sanctity of life. We can recite the passages that reveal...
At What Cost? – A Look at Medical Progress and Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources I live today because of medical progress. I was born prematurely in 1956 with a condition called "atrial septal defect." That means I had a hole in the heart. Not just any hole, mind you. By...
Q&A on Human Cloning and Embryonic Stem Cell Research
QUESTION: I’m opposed to human cloning, but I feel that embryonic stem cell research has great potential. Why are so many states trying to legalize both? ANSWER: There is a great deal of confusion on these points. Here are some facts that might clarify this issue:...
Q&A on Frozen Embryo Storage
QUESTION: I’ve heard people say there are hundreds of thousands of embryos currently being kept in frozen storage in the United States. I can’t imagine such a large number. What will be done with all those little ones? ANSWER: Most experts agree that approximately...
Stem Cell Types
Stem cell research focuses on embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic Stem Cells Embryonic stem cells, which come from the inner cell mass of a human embryo, have the potential to develop into all or nearly all of the tissues in the body. The scientific...
Embryonic Stem Cells Present Ethical Limits
David A. Kaufmann, Ph.D. What is stem cell research, and what is the Biblical Christian view of it? What is Stem Cell Research? Stem cells are living units that can grow and differentiate into multiple, different types of advanced, mature cells. There are four classes...
Mary Ann’s Story: A Journey of Faith (An Adult Stem Cell Success Story)
Mrs. Amy Schultz Editor’s Note: Much debate today about stem cell research should really be divided between (1) embryonic stem cell research and (2) adult or cord blood stem cell research. CLR has condemned embryonic stem cell research because in the process a human...
The Vaccination Quandary
Almost immediately after birth, the subject of vaccinations arises. Today, a multitude of vaccinations are available for a variety of illnesses. Along with those vaccinations come questions of safety, side effects, necessity, and the origins of the vaccine. Christian...
A Christian Look at the Fetal Tissue Issue
PERTINENT ISSUES: The morality of organ transplantation. The morality of abortion. Our obligation to care for our bodies. Effectiveness of Fetal Tissue Transplant Work I. The Morality of Organ Transplantation Principle: Truly right deeds and decisions can only be made...
The Moral Status of the Human Embryo
By Paul R. Boehlke, Ph.D., Wisconsin Lutheran College This paper will examine the moral status of the human embryo especially focusing on the current issue of dismembering them to obtain embryonic stem (ES) cells. ES cells are pluripotent, apparently able to make any...
Embryonic Stem Cell Research: People’s Arguments and A Christian’s Response
When People Say: "Embryonic stem cell research is necessary to further the work toward a cure for deadly diseases or injuries." All of us likely fear that one of those "deadly diseases" may strike someone we love or ourselves. We understand that medical research and...
Meet The First Snowflake! (Embryo Adoption)
Marlene Strege, First Adoptive Mother of a Snowflake Baby “A person’s a person, no matter how small.” -- Dr. Seuss Horton Hears A Who is among our daughter Hannah’s favorite books, and she revels in reciting its recurring theme, that a person’s a person, no matter how...
What the Bible Says About Organ Transplants
Bobby A. Howard, RN, BSN, MDiv In this era of rapidly advancing health care technology, on a daily basis Christian nurses are confronted with critical issues that result in questions and doubt concerning the relationship between Christian ethics and modern medicine....
Ethics and Fetal Organ Donation
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources [CLR NOTE: Following is a portion of a letter written to someone who directed the above question to Pastor Fleischmann. It is far from an exhaustive review of the topic but may provide some food for...
Cloning: Where Will It All End?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources On February 24, 1997, it rocked the scientific community and stimulated the exaggerated imaginations of sci-fi enthusiasts. Scottish scientists cloned a sheep and named it "Dolly." Fantasies fostered...
God’s Life and Death Principle
Rev. Wayne D. Mueller May a Christian couple consider in vitro fertilization a God-pleasing way to relieve their childlessness? Is it ever ethical to pull the plug on respiratory equipment attached to a lifetime faithful spouse? To what lengths must we go to preserve...
Stem Cell Research: Is There a Benefit?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Upon fertilization, life begins an amazing journey of cell division, differentiation, and finally maturation. Between fertilization and differentiation, life is in its embryonic stage. The cells that...
Q&A on a Christian’s Concern about the End of Life
QUESTION: What is the God-pleasing attitude I should have as I approach the final days of my life or that of a loved one? ANSWER: You have asked the right question when you ask about attitude. Even though God reveals his will in many specific ways in his Law, he also...
Do Not Resuscitate Orders (DNR Orders)
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources A number of years ago a woman for whom I was a legal guardian was placed in a nursing home. Among the many questions I was asked, one caught me unprepared. Specifically, the nursing home wanted to...
‘Why Wait?’ – A Look at Closure Before Death
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7) A speaker at one of our conferences indicated that he hoped for a lingering death. He knew people most...
Myths and Wisdom About End-of-Life Decisions
Sue Fink, Bereavement and Volunteer Coordinator for HFM Hospice, Manitowoc, WI Have you discussed your end-of-life preferences with your loved ones yet? A blessing that came from the Terri Schiavo tragedy is that end-of-life issues have led to better planning...
A Basic Understanding of Medical Directives
Along with a growing understanding and appreciation for medical directives are many practical questions that need to be addressed. This article is meant to help you understand and complete a medical directive. A medical directive, regardless of when it is signed,...
Q&A on Medical Directives and Patient Autonomy
QUESTION: I’m working on my medical directive, and my attorney asked me some questions about my end-of-life wishes. He said that, legally, I have total authority over my health care decisions. He used the term “patient autonomy.” How does that fit with my Christian...
Q&A on Importance of Signing a Medical Directive
QUESTION: Why is it important to have a medical directive statement? ANSWER: CLR recommends every adult sign a medical directive statement regardless of his or her current health situation or age. The first benefit of such a statement is that it allows a person to...
Gay Marriage and the Christian Response
Pastor Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Homosexual Practices Condemned Within the Jewish and Christian teachings, there have been strong judgments against homosexual activity. In the Old Testament, we have the account of Sodom and...
When Good Things Become Addictions
Tina Raines, Marriage and Family Therapist Innocent activities that initially bring pleasure can spiral into compulsions that are difficult to control and have devastating effects. Addictions consume energy. Problems exist when addicted persons abandon people and...
Father in Alcohol Recovery Gives Perspective to Those With Other Addictions
John Cook, Marriage and Family Counselor at Wisconsin Lutheran Christian Counseling, Milwaukee, WI A father in recovery writes to his wife and children. His perspective can be applied to those involved with other addictions. To My Family, Whom I Love... I know that...
The Crisis of Fatherhood: Has It Become a Biological Burden?
What does it take to be a father today? Biologically, it simply takes fertilizing an egg. Practically, being a father is so much more! Advances in reproductive technology are robbing fathers of an awesome responsibility and privilege. We cannot deny that God has...
Family Values
Rev. Gary P. Baumler "God sets the lonely in families." (Psalm 68:6) We have the challenge to promote the family and help build solid Christian families in our midst. Here is one inescapable fact: We all come from a family. We all were born of a mother and sired by a...
Caution: Bumps Ahead (Preparing for Adolescence)
James Dobson, Ph.D. A team of doctors decided to conduct an experiment to study the ways in which group pressure influences young people. To accomplish this, they invited 10 teenagers into a room and told them they were going to evaluate their "perception" in order to...
Sharing the Facts of Life
Pastor James A. Aderman I trusted him when he told me, "I love you." He trusted me when I said the same. We trusted our emotions when they said, "It's OK. Show each other how much you care." When our relationship died, so did part of me. Even now as I relive the...
Drug Abuse
Rev. Wayne D. Mueller Just say no. Sounds easy, doesn't it? A simple solution to a complex problem. Just say no and it all goes away. Unfortunately, drug and alcohol abuse can't be sloganed away. It continues to wreck marriages and families, steal efficiency from our...
Saying ‘Yes’ to Sex
Pastor Rolfe Westendorf Society has always had trouble with the subject of sex. Some societies like the Victorian have hidden the topic in a closet as if it did not exist. Sex went on as usual, including its rankest forms of abuse, but it was never mentioned in polite...
Choosing a Doctor Who Shares Your Faith
Janet C. Lindemann, M.D. In a Christian doctor-patient relationship, faith is the common bond. How good it is for patient and doctor to share the same faith. I love caring for patients of my own church - so many barriers are removed. When a woman in her early forties...
When Dad Hits Mom
Victor Vieth, Assistant County Attorney, Cottonwood County, MN Seven suggestions to make your congregation safe for victims of domestic violence. In my career as a prosecutor, I have worked with hundreds of victims of domestic violence. I have seen the toll that...
Saved Sex Is the Only Safe Sex
Ryan MacPherson As a teenager, I hear the media telling my peers and me about sex more than any other topic. I have to ask myself two questions: What are they telling us? And, are we listening? Overwhelmingly, they are telling us about “safe sex.” And it seems we are...
Decent Sex [5-Part Series]
Part 1: Man's Word on Sex The words people use to describe sex and sexual activity already betray much about the way they feel. On the one hand are words that reveal ignorance, confusion and hurt. We hear words like "dirty," "filthy," "disgusting," "sick," and the...
Children in Church: Trial-by-Diaper
Rachel Mendell One woman encourages those who brave the terrors of worship with children. I look around and count babies, and I feel a little envy. My youngest is four now. I look around and see the young, fussy children struggling to stay still in church, and I am...
WANTED: A Truly Beautiful Wife
Pastor Mark A. Paustian What to look for when choosing the woman you want to marry. I married the most beautiful woman I ever met. She was charming and funny, lively and loved by all. Her greatest personal gifts were with children -- an excellent sign. And her face I...
Reserving Sex for Marriage
Pastor Fredric Piepenbrink God’s precious gift of sex is only for those who publicly promise faithfulness to one another for life. Since the sexual revolution of the 1960s, the idea of reserving sexual relations for married couples has become utterly old-fashioned....
Marriage and Family Under God
Pastor Lyle J. Lindloff Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21). Which key unlocks the door? To find the key that unlocks the door of Ephesians 5:21 we must go to the beginning of the chapter. The opening verse reads, "Be imitators of God."...
Children Belong in Church
Laurie Biedenbender Is the sound of children disturbing or delightful? How children and adults benefit from children attending worship. "I wonder if it's worth it to bring him to church at all." Steve Bilitz, family ministry director at Christ, North St. Paul, Minn.,...
Two Halves of a Complementary Whole
Professor Mary L. Heins, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI What our God-given gender differences are and how understanding them can help you communicate better with the opposite sex. We don't have to read very far into Genesis before we learn that God created...
Breaking The Silence of Adam
Mark Clifford Brunner The Bible says that life is precious and that it needs to be guarded and held as sacred. The Lord told Noah: "And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting... And from each man I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow...
‘Til Death Us Do Part
Armin J. Panning Marriage has been instituted by God, and he continues to regulate it. The dream of many a young girl is to be a June bride. For reasons not entirely clear, June remains a popular wedding month. A couple's wedding is -- and rightly should be -- a big...
Gay Marriage Commentary
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Gay marriage is the moral issue "flavor of the month." We have had a few: abortion, assisted suicide (euthanasia), promiscuity, divorce, embryo destruction, cloning, gay rights, drug abuse, etc. For...
Parenting When Your Child Goes Down the Wrong Path
Susan Bondow When Things Go Wrong: What to do, and not to do, when your child goes down the wrong path. David and Dennis are brothers. They share the same Mom and Dad and grew up in the same household, but that is where the similarities stop. David is an above-average...
Sympathy: Feeling With Others, Not For Them
Pastor Fredric E. Piepenbrink When we sympathize with others, we are led into action, following Jesus' command to love one another as he loved us. "Sympathy is cold to the relation of distant misery," wrote Edward Gibbon. In contrast to this "cold" tendency in human...
Depression That Leads to Death
True or False? 1) Most people trying to cope with depression simply don’t have strong enough faith. FALSE. People in the church may jump to this conclusion because many depressed people push God away. They really suffer from a treatable chemical imbalance and are no...
Our Marriage Mechanic
Pastor James Aderman Determining, "Who's to blame?" requires spouses to be on opposing teams. Husbands and wives become teammates when they ask, "What exactly is wrong, and how do we fix it?" "You're late. We started supper without you." Ice-sickled words. I heard...
Empty Nesting Is for the Birds
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources This issue of Clearly Caring is arriving in the mail between Mothers Day and Fathers Day two really big family holidays. My writing assignment for this commentary came to me the morning after my...
The Purity Ring
Michael and Judith Hayes Most little girls dream of the day they will meet their Prince Charming. A young woman begins preparing to meet the real love of her life when she is still harboring her Barbie dolls, dress-up clothes and pop beads in her closet or old toy...
Love and Respect in Ephesians 5
Christianity Today, the largest evangelical Protestant periodical in our country recently conducted a major survey of 1,250 subscribers who were chosen at random. Close to 750 subscribers and/or their spouses (divided almost equally between the sexes) completed...
Today’s Media: Righteous Indignation
Mr. Tim Snyder Righteous indignation. You know the feeling. You find something so offensive you start to seethe inside. It’s a jumbled mix of emotions and souls are at stake. You hate the sin and at the same time feel compelled to speak the truth in love. When was the...
The Joy of Being a Christian Mother
Bonnie L. Wasser The kids tell me there are certain statements I make with definite regularity: "Whoever washed the dishes, get back down here!" "What happened to all of the food I bought yesterday?" They have even dared to suggest that I make a list, number each...
Is He the One?
Laurie Biedenbender Mom gives advice on what to look for when searching for "Mr. Right." Dear Daughter, Since you were a tiny baby, I've prayed for you: that you grow in your love for Jesus, that you find your niche in the body of Christ, that you stay healthy, and...
Keep ‘Em Talkin’ – A Look at Family Communication
Thad Jahns, M.S. Cutting wood was never my favorite thing to do. After all, there were better things for a pre-teen boy to do on a Saturday afternoontelevision shows to watch, friends to hang out with, midday naps to take. What a waste of a perfectly good weekend! Not...
Managing the Tough Decisions – Discussing End-of-Life Options with Loved Ones
Julie rushed to the hospital after hearing about her Dad’s stroke. Upon her arrival, Julie was greeted by David, the social worker, who immediately escorted her into a private room. David gave Julie a full update about her father’s condition and then said, “Your Dad...
Well, At Least I Wasn’t Adopted
Diane E. Schroeder, President, National Lutherans For Life This column is dedicated to the birth parents of my children and all the millions more who sacrificed to give life and love to their children through adoption. "Well, at least I’m not adopted." The hurtful...
Vaccines, Quinacrine, Other Birth Control Methods
This is an overview of the information in The Christian and Birth Control book, published by Christian Life Resources. To purchase the book click on the link at the bottom of this page. When the Christian considers the possible use of birth control the first desire is...
Natural Family Planning and Sterilization
This is an overview of the information in The Christian and Birth Control book, published by Christian Life Resources. To purchase the book, click on the link at the bottom of this page. The “ends-justify-the-means” mentality permeates the world and Christians are not...
Depo-Provera, Cyclo-Provera, Norplant
This is an overview of the information in The Christian and Birth Control book, published by Christian Life Resources. To purchase the book click on the link at the bottom of this page. Until now, this book dealt with what one might consider to be relatively certain...
Emergency Contraception and the IUD
This is an overview of the information in The Christian and Birth Control book, published by Christian Life Resources. To purchase the book click on the link at the bottom of this page. This chapter brings us to the halfway point in our discussion about a Christian’s...
Mifeprex, Methotrexate, Misoprostol
This is an overview of the information in The Christian and Birth Control book, published by Christian Life Resources. To purchase the book click on the link at the bottom of this page. There is a certain arbitrariness in our selected order of addressing various birth...
Barrier Methods and Spermicides
This is an overview of the information in The Christian and Birth Control book, published by Christian Life Resources. To purchase the book click on the link at the bottom of this page. Don’t read this chapter! If you haven’t read the first chapter in this book on...
A Trimester of Prayer // Pro-Life Prayer Suggestions
You can make a meaningful difference by including these thoughts in your daily devotion and prayer time. Week 1 - This week, pray for the unborn and their mothers. With the dawning of this day, thousands of women in America just became aware of the presence of a new...
Motive // The Christian and Birth Control
This is an overview of the information in The Christian and Birth Control book, published by Christian Life Resources. To purchase the book click on the link at the bottom of this page. For years the national office of Christian Life Resources has been wrestling with...
Is Sperm Bank Use Permissible?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources 1. A common method of sperm retrieval involves a violation of the sixth commandment (masturbation with the assistance of pornography). 2. Many ethical and practical issues are the same here as with...
Terminology of Assisted Reproduction Procedures
Abortion for Sex Selection: Abortion of a male or female unborn child solely because of its gender. Artificial Insemination - Donor (AID): Intravaginal or intraeuterine insemination of a woman with her husband's sperm (though intrauterine insemination is usually...
A Christian’s Questions and Answers about IVF
QUESTION: Does in vitro fertilization ALWAYS result in discarding (aborting) some embryos? Is this something a couple who had used this process would be aware of? ANSWER: No, the process doesn't always result in embryos being discarded -- although, often, a...
I Will Never Forget You: Finding Hope and Healing Following Miscarriage or Stillbirth
I will never forget you, my precious child. Just weeks ago, you were living inside me. I was more than a mere woman; I had tasted the sweet joy of motherhood. I had held the miracle of life in my womb. While no one even knew you at all . . . God knew you. My baby,...
When Life Seems to Have No Meaning
Pastor Bruce Wietzke Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb? We know such a question is not uncommon in our world. We live among people who not only may ask such a question concerning themselves but may also cut short the life of the unborn...
As God Wills: Understanding God’s Plan for Childless Couples
Mrs. Mary Schmal, Author, Christ-Light Curriculum Somewhere a young man longs to play for a professional football team. Another just hopes to see a live NFL game. Somewhere a young woman longs to be a star in the theaters of New York. Another just hopes to see a live...
A Scriptural Approach to Family Planning
Family planning decisions should be in harmony with God’s revealed will concerning marriage and children. God desires to bless those who enter marriage in three ways (not prioritized): Companionship: Genesis 2:18 - "The LORD God said, It is not good for the man to be...
Death in the Nursery
Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop once said, "Although infanticide (the killing of newborn infants) is being practiced in this country widely today, it is seldom given that appellation and unless you are privy to what goes on in some newborn nurseries or...
Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation
Ronald Reagan [NOTE: Ronald Reagan published the following essay in 1983 when he served as 40th President of the United States. It was written on the 10th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. His words articulated his strong pro-life convictions as president....
What Does God Say About the Beginning of Life? // Bible Study
What Does God Say About the Beginning of Life? // Bible Study (Student's Guide) READ THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES: A. Life Comes from God Genesis 2:7 The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man...
Is Abortion Just an Election Issue for Christians?
Dr. James I. Lamb, Executive Director, Lutherans for Life "I could never vote for anyone who favors the destruction of innocent life in the womb," Sam stated bluntly. Fred replied, "I'm opposed to abortion as much as you are, Sam, but there are other issues you know."...
On Assisted Suicide Laws – What You Can Do to Be Pro-Life
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources In 1997, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it did not find a constitutional right to assisted suicide. The Court allowed for the matter to be addressed individually, on a state-by-state basis. In...
What Is Post-Abortion Syndrome?
Mrs. Ann Warner Tolly Post-abortion syndrome (PAS) is the psychological aftermath of abortion. The victims are both women and men and the circle grows to include the siblings of the aborted child, the grandparents, friends, and other family members. PAS can occur...
I Am Personally Opposed, But…
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources I am sure you have heard it too. "I am personally opposed to abortion, but I don't think I can or should force my convictions on others." Get real! It's time we recognize the inconsistency and...
Symptoms of Post-Abortion Syndrome
Teri Reisser, M.S. 1. GUILT: Guilt is what the woman feels because she has violated her moral code. For the woman who has come to believe, at some point after the abortion, that she consented to the killing of her preborn child, the burden of guilt is relentless. 2....
The Value of Human Life
Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources It is becoming more difficult to know what to do in life and death situations. Advancements in medicine, challenges in the court, and changing opinions have raised questions about when life...
A Wrong Diagnosis Could Have Cost Me My Life
Shauna Bauer Abortion is a very controversial issue. It always has been and probably always will be. These days, the battle between pro-life and pro-abortion activists seems to be very intense. There is a great need for support of the pro-life movement. That is just...
How Would God Feel About an Abortion in the Case of Rape?
Professor John F Brug, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary QUESTION: How would God feel about abortion in the case of rape? Personally, I am strongly against abortion, yet I feel that it would be acceptable in this instance. I want to know if the Bible would agree with that....
Unborn Child’s Soul from Abortion or Miscarriage
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Question: What has become of the souls of the millions of babies that have died through miscarriage and abortion? Answer: The fact of an unborn child's soul is always in question. The reason for that...
‘Why the Tears? Why Not!’ – A Look at Partial-Birth Abortion
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources (Matthew 2:18 NIV) "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." It comes every year at the same...
How About the Quality of Life?
Richard D. Balge Didn't anyone tell Elizabeth that it was dangerous for a woman of her age to have a child? Didn't anyone remind her that a child born to her after the normal child-bearing years was a poor statistical risk? Didn't it occur to her that a little...
The Book of Jonah and Our Mission to an Ungodly Nation // Bible Study
Introduction Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, was rampant with wickedness. Although we do not have all the details of what went on in the city, it is enough to know that God’s patience toward the city began to wear thin. Therefore, he sent Jonah to warn...
Playing God — A Most Deadly Game
Pastor Glen Schaumberg "If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman so that she delivers her child prematurely, but there is no harm to either the mother or child, the man should pay the fine her husband put on him with the help of the judges. If any harm follows,...
Blessings of a Disability
Rev. Thomas Trapp An interview with Kenneth Schleef, a Christian with cerebral palsy. Q: Your appearance at a Life Chain told me you're concerned about life issues. I also know you have cerebral palsy. Tell me about your cerebral palsy first and then we'll talk about...
Fetal Pain: OK, What’s the Point?
Pastor Robert Fleischmann, CLR National Director Researchers claim they found a dramatic rise in fetal stress hormones when they inserted a needle into fetuses for blood transfusions. Already I hear some of my peers exclaiming, "I told you so!" The concept of fetal...
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) Position on Abortion
NOTE: At the July 1979 convention of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) meeting in Watertown, Wisconsin, the church body adopted this position against the killing of babies in the womb. This 1979 position on abortion is found below. On July 28, 2011, the...
Q&A on the Overturn of ‘Roe v. Wade’
Question: What's next now that Roe v. Wade is overturned? Answer: Roe v. Wade was the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling which legalized abortion across the nation. On June 24, 2022 the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Constitution of the United States does not confer any...
I Had an Abortion This Morning
It is January 22, the anniversary date of the Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion in the United States. Every year this date brings with it a mixed bag of emotions for me. I feel a need to recognize this anniversary date with appropriate soberness and...
‘I Knew You’ [God as the Author of Life] // Bible Study
The year was 628 B.C. The great Assyrian empire which had carried the northern kingdom of Israel into captivity was soon to be replaced by the Babylonian empire. Meanwhile, the days were fast approaching in which the Lord would send what was left of God's people, the...
One Couple’s Struggle with Abortion
Fred Minnick, Daily O'Collegian (Oklahoma State University) In December 1977, an 18-year-old woman was faced with the choice of life or death. It began when she met a boy at a hometown IGA grocery store. He was a sacker and she was the checker. A typical small-town...
The Cost of Abortion — Higher Than You Might Think
I recently received a letter from an attorney in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The contents were chilling. The lawyer is representing a 28-year-old man who has been charged with criminal homicide of his fiance. Here’s what happened. A young couple met in January of 1999....
Q&A on Abortion on Demand and Child Abuse
QUESTION: What do you say to the person who says that abortion on demand reduces child abuse? ANSWER: In response to pro-choice advocates, we can with Biblical conviction say to those who feel abortion on demand reduces child abuse: How very wrong they are, for...
Is It Time for Tolerance in the Pro-Life Movement?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources A strategy often used to win the public opinion for inauspicious moral positions is to refrain from arguing the position. Instead, the strategy is to argue for tolerance. In other words, you don't...
Abortion – Men Hurt in Silence
Karen Fifer, Pregnancy Crisis Center of Wichita, Inc. "I'm pregnant." These are powerful words that can evoke fear, anxiety, joy, and confusion in men. An unplanned pregnancy puts men in a peculiar place; on one side he is supposed to stand up for what is right, and...
Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod’s Resolution on Abortion
NOTE: At the July 1979 convention of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) meeting in Watertown, Wisconsin, the church body adopted this position against the killing of babies in the womb. This 1979 position on abortion is found below. On July 28, 2011, the...
Biblical References Regarding Abortion Legislation
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. Psalm 64:2-6 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from that noisy crowd of evildoers. They sharpen their tongues like swords...
Abortion Slogans // Bible Study
Lutherans for Life This study lists five statements often used to justify abortion and examines them in the light of God's Word. I. "A fetus is not a person Isaiah 49:1 Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me;...
God States Life Exists at Conception
When does life begin? We Christians often speak of life in the womb, yet fail to justify our position. It doesn't hurt to review why Scripture has convinced us that life exists at conception. The first point to make is that God declares that human life is an absolute....
The Need for Forgiveness // 6-Part Bible Study Series
Introduction Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Romans 3:20-23 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in...
Confusing Promises and Blessings // Bible Study
Story: Tommy is 7-years-old and has been told to clean up his bedroom. Instead, he finds his way to the family room, where he sits down and watches cartoons. He gets several warnings from his mother to clean his bedroom, but it is too late. He is already...
God’s Word on Life
The Bible teaches that life is a gift from God, our Creator. For example, Job says to God, "Your hands shaped me and made me...Remember that you molded me...Did you not...clothe me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews? You gave me life" (Job...
What Makes Godly Living Truly God-Pleasing? // Bible Study
The Parable of the Good Samaritan Read: Luke 10:25-37 What do we know about the characters of the story? Man who asks the question: Man who answers it: The man in the ditch: The first man to walk by: The second man to walk by: The man who helped: The man who...
Fight for Faith, Fight for Life // Bible Study
Fight for Faith, Fight for Life (Student's Guide) Little smiling cherubs have become a hot selling item in gift stores. Their happy angelic faces look radiantly heavenward with adoration. However cute they may be, they paint a rosy picture that masks a very sad and...
Ways to Handle Peer Pressure
Walk away from a bad/dangerous situation Make the decision for yourself as to what you do Think ahead about the outcome of your actions --- can you live with the consequences? Avoid those people who might lead you to do things you don't want to do Hang with friends...
Trouble During Holy Week // A Devotional Thought
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources "He became obedient to death, even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8) As I write this devotion, we are in the middle of Holy Week. I have come to see Holy Week a little differently since I have...
The Father and Issues of Life and Death // Bible Study
When abortion is marketed to the general public its advocates emphasize the autonomous right of the woman to make this decision. Society has so bought into that notion that in 1976 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the father of the child has virtually no say about a...
A Prayer Service
HYMN: "Lord of My Life, Whose Tender Care" (CW) #232 INVOCATION OPENING PRAYER READING: Psalm 139 PRAYER: Almighty and eternal God, who created this world and all of us in it, we thank you for the blessing of our life. And we thank You that You created us wonderfully....
Respect for the Lord’s Gift of Life
Family values become such only as they are owned and shared by husband and wife, passed along intentionally to children, reinforced by siblings and grandparents, applied to concrete issues and decisions, practiced in the life-style of the family. It is not enough to...
Who Needs the Counseling Here?
Sometimes It Is Not Just the Pregnant Woman Many of the women who come to the Pregnancy Care Center need a lot of sound Christian help. But sometimes they bring with them someone who is in much greater need of help than they are. Sometimes it is a husband, boyfriend,...
The Pro-Abortion Policies of the March of Dimes
The March of Dimes (MOD) is an organization that enjoys a positive public image. And while MOD has done much to eliminate birth defects, their methods of accomplishing that admirable goal and their vision of a brave new world run disturbingly counter to pro-life...
Abortion Timeline: A Chronology of Endangered Unborn Life
ca. 2000 B.C. Hittites (The Hittite Laws ss.17) "If anyone caused a free woman to miscarry if (it is) the 10th month, he shall give 10 shekels of silver, if (it is) the 5th, he shall give 5 shekels and pledge his estate as security." Later Version: "If anyone causes a...
Psalm 139 Says What Needs Saying
Pastor Joel C. Gerlach A noted Scottish churchman, Erskine of Linlathen, once said that Psalm 139 was one bit of writing he would choose to have on hand on his deathbed. Perhaps not your choice, nor mine either for that matter. But not a bad choice. Not because of...
Martin Luther on Life
Rev. Joel Gerlach (The following is taken from Pastor Joel Gerlach's address at the second annual Christian Life Resources' Convention.) We are here today (at the convention) because a gracious God has kept us, his adopted children, from being engulfed and overwhelmed...
Partial-Birth Abortion – An Accurate Description
Dr. J.C. Willke We are all aware of the semantic gymnastics used by the liberal press when describing Partial-Birth Abortion. They bend over backward obscuring what actually happens. We cannot control much of that. What we can control is our own description of this...
Remembering a Child Who Never Was
About five years ago, a young woman graduating from high school had a rather traumatic encounter. As she was in the hallway, lining up for the processional, a woman came up to her and tied a white ribbon around her arm. The woman asked her if she would wear it in...
It Sounds Like an Argument — I Don’t Think So!
Pastor Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Stanford University's John Donohue and University of Chicago's Steven Levitt used economic modeling to assert in a study that part of the decreased crime rate we have enjoyed these past years can,...
Bible Passages Relating to Abortion
Genesis 9:3,5 Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will...
Is There Any Hope of Salvation for a Child Who Has Been Killed Through Abortion?
John F. Brug Scripture does not answer this question directly. The same is true of the closely related question, "Can an unbaptized baby be saved?" Our answer must be limited to pondering four points that Scripture does make. All children are by nature sinful and in...
Abortion Must Be Labeled Murder
QUESTION: Can we call abortion murder? ANSWER: We answer YES for the following reasons: 1) The Scripture calls it murder. 2) It fits the definition of the word murder. Let us look at the second point first. MURDER is defined as the unlawful killing of another human...
The Abortion Pill and the Morning-After Pill: Are They the Same?
There is much confusion about the two drugs which are often called "The Abortion Pill" and "The Morning-After Pill." Surveys have shown that a majority of respondents are either misinformed or unaware of the differences between these two drugs.1 The Abortion Pill In...
A Chronology of Life in the Womb [Fetal Development]
Human Life Alliance Day 1 Fertilization The sperm joins with the ovum to form one cell. This one cell contains the complex genetic makeup for every detail of a new human life - the child's sex, hair and eye color, height, skin tone, etc. From that moment on nothing...
Q&A on Support for Women Following Abortion
QUESTION: Do you provide any help or support for women who have had abortions? ANSWER: Proverbs 31:8 tells us, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” so we defend the lives of the pre-born who are targeted by elements of our society. Yet we also care...
Thoughts and Prayers for Selected Scripture Readings on Life
David praises God for his all-seeing knowledge of us and for his marvelous creation of us. God is the Creator of life. All life is given by God, regardless of the circumstances (rape) or the condition (handicapped). All life is therefore sacred. Abortion is not...
Shall We Call It ‘Doublespeak?’
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources I don't really know if there is a word for it. There is a secondary definition for "double talk": Deliberately ambiguous or evasive language. Also called doublespeak. While some use this type of...
Q&A on Sudden Loss and Grief
QUESTION: My little girl was killed by a drunk driver a few months ago. I have continued suffering in the agony of the loss and can't understand this whole situation. Why did a loving God allow my innocent little girl to die? ANSWER: The question that haunts many...
Ascertaining the Will of God // Bible Study (3-Part Series)
Bible Study: Ascertaining the Will of God - Thy Will Be Done! (Part 1 of 3 Parts) We talk a lot of doing the will of God. In the Lord's Prayer we petition God that His will be done. When faced with whether to have an abortion, to pursue an experimental treatment for a...
God Is Pro-Life // Bible Study
Bible Study: God Is Pro-Life (Student's Guide) The title for this Bible study is both an overstatement and an understatement. It is an overstatement for us to say that God is pro-life, if we identify God's will with the political agenda of the pro-life movement. We...
The Problem is the Altar
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources (Leviticus 18:21) "Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God, I am the LORD." The story of children being sacrificed to Molek has...
He’s Always There
Pastor Mark Cordes He’s Always There – or – Thou, God, Seest Me In the name of Christ our Life, my dear Christian friends: I once received a postcard which read, Dear Clergy, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day present a crisis of faith for many couples who find themselves...
The 39 Major Pro-Choice Arguments and Their Refutations
Randy Alcorn, Eternal Perspective Ministries CLR Note: This is an excellent article in understanding the debate rhetoric of the abortion issue. The only difference Christian Life Resources has with what is referenced here is that CLR talks about life existing at...
All Stressed Out
As a Christian, you have an edge in coping with stress! You're stuck in traffic. Horns honking, motorists screaming. It's Monday. You worked all weekend, but you're still behind deadline. You have to run errands. Then the meeting at church. Then the football game--and...
The Value of Self-Esteem
Pastor Rolfe F. Westendorf We want to reject the misuse and the distortions of self-esteem, not waste the value that the concept provides. Some years ago, social scientists recognized what most have known for a long time people who are confident in their abilities...
Q&A on Birth Control Pills
QUESTION: I have heard that birth control pills do not prevent conception but really cause early abortions? Is this true? ANSWER: The history of the birth control pill has been controversial for several reasons. One point of debate has been whether the pill may induce...
Our Role as Shining Lights // Bible Study
Bible Study: Our Role as Shining Lights (Student's Guide) Read Passage: Matthew 5:14-16: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to...
Christian Apologetics // Bible Study
Prof. Steven Pagels, Used with permission Christian Apologetics - Part 1 (Student's Guide) I. Understanding Your Base II. Stating Your Case This is the first of a two-part Bible study on the subject of apologetics. The dictionary defines apologetics as "the branch of...
Bible Study: Surrogate Parenting
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Correct decision-making is determined by Scriptural principles. Some decisions are easy because some principles explicitly address a particular application. For example, it is easy to decide that not...
God Alone Has the Right to Initiate and Terminate Life // Bible Study
Read the Following Passages: Deuteronomy 32:39 See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand. 1 Samuel 2:6 The LORD brings death and makes alive; he...
A Biblical Look at Sperm Donation
Rev. Robert Fleischmann National Director, Christian Life Resources A common method of sperm retrieval (masturbation with the assistance of pornography) involves a violation of the sixth commandment (Matthew 5:28; Colossians 3:5; Exodus 20:14). Many ethical and...
Love by Proxy is Not Enough Anymore!
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources I suppose well-meaning Christians can differ with this title by arguing "love by proxy" is never enough. Be that as it may, the reality is that our society has steadily migrated to "supporting" love...
The Hidden Dangers of In Vitro Fertilization
Bradley Mattes, MBS, Life Issues Institute In vitro fertilization (IVF) is viewed as controversial technology within the pro-life community. Many have an ethical problem with how human life is created. The primary reason though is that most doctors who perform this...
Q&A on Miscarriage and the Childless Couple
QUESTION: Friends of ours have been married for a number of years and continue having miscarriages. Why doesn't God bless them with children? I'm sure they would be excellent parents, and they are strong and faithful Christians. ANSWER: Let's handle the second part of...
The Pill
This is an overview of the information in The Christian and Birth Control book, published by Christian Life Resources. To purchase the book click on the link at the bottom of this page. It is more than coincidental that this topic has been left for last in the book....
Birth Control Series [Part 1]: The Paramount Value of Human Life
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The following is the first in a series of articles exploring the topic of birth control and contraception from the Christian perspective. Christian Life Resources ran a similar series in 1998-1999...
Birth Control Series [Part 2]: Marriage and Children
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources This is the second installment of the CLR series addressing the Christian viewpoint of birth control and contraception. Married couples have at their disposal the ability to control childbearing. To...
Birth Control Series [Part 3]: Controlling Birth and Christian Life
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources This is the third installment of the Clearly Caring series addressing the Christian viewpoint of birth control and contraception. In 1998, I first tackled the subject of birth control in the pages of...
Barren – A Look at Infertility
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Barren: not reproducing as incapable of producing offspring A “desire” is not, in and of itself, wrong. When, however, someone is willing to commit sin in order to fulfill a desire, that desire then...
Q&A on the Morning-After Pill
QUESTION: I’ve heard conflicting stories about the morning-after pill possibly causing abortions. Can you please clarify? ANSWER: The morning-after pill, also marketed as Plan B, is similar to typical birth control pills but contains a higher level of synthetic...
The Facts Behind Assisted Reproductive Technology
An infertile couple is often tempted to consider assisted reproductive technology (ART) as a means to bear a child. Not surprising considering all of the publicity the procedure receives since the birth of the first “test tube baby” in 1978. Today, the delivery of ART...
Withheld Blessings – A Look at Childlessness
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, Christian Life Resources, National Director She grew up in a family with three sisters and one brother. He grew up with just a sister. When they married they never imagined they would not be able to have children together. Most of their...
Adopting a Snowflake
What should be done with 400,000 frozen embryos that are cryo-preserve after in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures? In some cases, those embryos are waiting to be thawed and transferred to their biological mothers with the hope they will implant and grow....
G. U. L. A. G. – A Look at Ethnic Cleansing and Abortion
Rev. Fred Toppe Do you know these initials? They stand for Glavnoe upravlenie ispravitel'no-trudovykh lagerei, the Russian words for Chief Administration of Corrective Labor Camps. The GULAG was in operation in the former Soviet Union from the early 1920s until the...
Q&A on Church-Attending Abortion Advocate
QUESTION: I know a WELS member who is actively supportive of abortion rights and am greatly concerned. What should I do? ANSWER: You have reasons to be concerned and should address this issue with an attitude of Christian love and concern. Some WELS members may favor...
Lord, You Saw Me Before My Birth // Pro-Life Hymn
(Sung to the tune of "Jesus! and Shall It Ever Be" - TLH 346) Lord, You saw me before my birth. Your Spirit gave my life to me. I praise You for Your deep concern; Your skill was wrought most wonderfully. You formed me in your image, Lord, Creation of such priceless...
Q&A on Witnessing Your Faith
Professor John F. Brug, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, WI QUESTION: I am recently employed. I'm a Christian and love the Lord dearly but have a hard time proclaiming him at work. As soon as someone mocks God, I do nothing to defend his holy name. Why is that? I...
Now Share the News // Pro-Life Hymn
(Tune: Behold a Host, Arrayed in White) Now share the news that we have heard. Salvation comes through Christ our Lord. In sin we come To hear what’s done That brings us all to LIFE. ’Tis Christ who lived so perfectly And paid the price that sets us free. For in the...
Christian Life Resources Abortion Position Statement
Preamble Abstract Background Terminology The Issues Section 1: What the Scriptures Say About Human Life Human Beings are Unique and Prized in All God’s Creation Human Beings Consist of Body and Soul Human Beings Exist in the Womb Protecting the Life of Human Beings is...
How Can I Say ‘I Care’?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The feisty side of me hates the phrase, "I care." Don't misunderstand. I am not against saying it. But I object to its use without meaning. It sounds more like a catchy bumper sticker than a genuine...
The Logic is Painfully Clear – A Look at Fetal Pain
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that an unborn child’s pain is not realized until 29 or 30 weeks into the pregnancy. Therefore, pain relief does not need to be provided for...
Bible Study: Our Relationship with God
Read the Following Passages: Galatians 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. Ephesians 2:3 Like the rest, we were by nature objects of (God's) wrath. Romans 8:15-17 You did not receive a spirit that makes you a...
Bible Study: How a Christian Makes a Right Decision
Bible Study: How a Christian Makes a Right Decision (Student's Guide) Read the Following Passages Isaiah 64:6 "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf; and like the wind our sins...
Gianna Jessen: I Was an Abortion Victim at Seven and a Half Months
Gianna Jessen My biological mother was seven-and-a-half months pregnant when she decided to abort me. I don't know why she made that decision. It was 1977. She and my biological father were 17 at the time and weren't married. She went to a clinic in Los Angeles and...
The End is Near // A Devotional Thought on Christ’s Return
Prof. John F. Brug, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Every age thinks that the end is near. Since at our death our fate is sealed, I have often wondered if the imminence of the Last Day has to do more with the day of our deaths, which we cannot know, versus only the final...
God Does Not Play Favorites
In Acts 10:34 Peter learned that God does not play favorites. He did not send his Son to die just for the Jews, or the Pharisees, or even just for his followers. God sent his son to die for the world (John 3:16). In our confirmation class days, we knew this was...
Bible Study Series: The Purpose of Life
Christian Life Resources The Purpose of Life - Part 1 (Student's Guide) Life has three purposes. This Bible study will address the first of those three purposes. Read the Following Passages: Matthew 25:1-13 - "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten...
Q&A on Abortion, Euthanasia Position Terminology
QUESTION: I've heard many different terms describing the positions of those who either oppose or favor abortion and euthanasia (pro-life, pro-choice, anti-abortion, death with dignity, etc.). What is CLR's position on all of these terms? ANSWER: The position of CLR is...
The Value of a Thanksgiving Tradition
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Thanksgiving is a great time of year for my family. First of all, it takes place in the fall. There is something warm and inviting about the colors of fall and the beauty of the trees as their leaves...
Hooked on Internet Pornography
Mr. Timothy Snyder He's a respected member of the community, a successful businessman, a loving husband, and a devoted father. He's a model citizen who hides a dark secret. In the dead of night, he goes to his den to work at the computer. There, behind closed doors,...
Where Do You Cast? – A Look at Anxiety and Worries
Kimberly M. Chastain, MS, LMFT Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). I dont know if you have ever been fly-fishing or maybe you have seen it on TV. When you go fly fishing you cast your bait way down the river and let it float. That way the...
Q&A on Post-Abortion Syndrome
QUESTION: Does CLR counsel women who are in despair because they’ve had abortions in the past, or do you just work with women who are considering an abortion? ANSWER: Your question deals with a special issue called Post-Abortion Syndrome (PAS) and is becoming more...
Your True Identity in Christ – Seeing Yourself as God Sees You
Susan Bilitz, MA, LPC and Laurie Smrz, RN It is important to know, remember, and live by your true identity in Christ. The following Bible verses will help you see yourself as God sees you. I am a child of God and I belong to Him. John 1:12 - Yet to all who received...
My Resolution: Change the World – A Look at Spirituality in the Everyday World
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Some of you likely participated in making the traditional New Year's resolutions. Most of those resolutions, I am sure, are praiseworthy. The top ten list of resolutions people make from year to year...
Lord, Why Have You Been So Good to Us? – The Gift of Adoption
FATHER: Two questions point to my major feelings about the adoption. Before the adoption, the big question was, 'Will I love an adopted child as I love my primary school age child?' After the adoption the big question has been, 'Lord, why have You been so good to us?'...
I’m Your Child
The following was written by Justin, a ten-year-old born in 1986 in Korea, who was adopted by Roger and Lynne Tews of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, when he was seven-months-old. To My Birth Mom and Dad, I hope you remember me. I'm your child. The reason I'm writing is because...
Adopted from China
Krista Preston The government of China wanted my baby dead. Was it because she was second born or because she was a girl? Because a political directive in China allows only one child per family, she could have been aborted or received a saline injection into her skull...
Open Adoption
Gloria Hochman and Anna Huston, National Adoption Center What is Open Adoption? Open adoption means that birthparents and adoptive parents have some knowledge about one another. The birthparents know something about the adoptive parents and may even help choose them....
Well, At Least I Wasn’t Adopted
Diane E. Schroeder, President, National Lutherans For Life This column is dedicated to the birth parents of my children and all the millions more who sacrificed to give life and love to their children through adoption. "Well, at least I’m not adopted." The hurtful...
Q&A on Pregnancy Options
QUESTION: A friend of mine faced an unwanted pregnancy but didn’t want to abort her baby. She didn’t know all of her options, and I'm not sure she made the right decision. Does CLR help with available options for these kinds of situations? ANSWER: Yes, we do. CLR...
God Sets the Lonely in Families – A Look at Spiritual Adoption
Adopt: to take by choice into a relationship; especially: to take voluntarily (a child of other parents) as one's own child (The Merriam-Webster Dictionary) The thought of voluntarily taking the child of other parents as their own can be pretty profound. In fact, it's...
An Adopted Child’s Perspective
Rev. Paul Prange, Michigan Lutheran Seminary President I was born to a single mother at an age when she was either a senior in high school or a freshman in college. She placed me with a Christian adoption agency, which then placed me six weeks later into the home of a...
Adopted Into God’s Family
Rev. Paul Prange When I was born, my parents could not take care of my spiritual needs. They certainly had faith of their own. But they knew that they could not pass salvation on to me by being my physical parents (John 3:6). So they brought me to the only living God...
Q&A on Adoption Options
QUESTION: My 16-year old niece announced recently that she is pregnant. Her boyfriend and parents are unwilling to step in to help. She has come to me for advice. I don’t want to encourage her to abort the baby, but I just don’t see any alternatives. ANSWER: You are...
Children Need You – A Look at Caring for Youngsters in Less Fortunate Circumstances
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27). It pleases...
The Discovery – A Look at Unexpected Pregnancy and Adoption
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The discovery of Ashley’s pregnancy came more as a disappointment than a shock. Despite all of the warnings to the contrary, Ashley’s relationship with her boyfriend became increasingly intimate so...
Blood Is Thicker Than Water – A Look at Arguments Against Adoption
Mr. Tim Snyder No doubt you have heard this old saying before – and maybe you’ve even used it yourself. It’s a way of conveying that the ties that bind us to blood relatives are stronger and more compelling than the ties that connect us to others. If that’s true, then...
A Model Family – Lessons Learned about an Adoptees Reunion with Her Birth Parents
Larissa Fasthorse I was brought to my parents’ home when I was 11 months old. My birth father delivered me to the house, and my birth mother was already long gone. After he left, my parents say they sat and stared at me. They were desperate to hold and love the child...
Adopted by My Parents… and God
Rev. Paul Prange Before a couple adopts a child, they may wonder how to tell the child that he or she is adopted. Do you wait until you think the child can understand the concept? What words do you use to explain it to a young person? The Adoption Connection in...
Counseling the Grief-Stricken
Catherine Lammert Grief is a strong and complex emotion. Here are some practical suggestions on how we may help others cope with a loss in their life. Supporting a Grieving Family HOW TO HELP: Be supportive -- visit or call to say, "I care and want to help." Treat the...
Abortion Limitations Definitions
Definitions of the major types of abortion restrictions, listed from most common to least common: Gestational Limits: Pertains to the abortion ban after a certain point in woman's pregnancy, usually at fetal viability. Parental Involvement: Includes terminology...
Talking About Abortion and God
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Some people are more concerned about their horizontal relationships (with others and with themselves) than they are about their vertical relationships (with God). To change hearts we must migrate...
The Blind Leading the Blind // A Look at the Self-Help Industry
The modern self-help industry is huge. Every year Americans spend millions of dollars on books, videos, and audio recordings in the hope of fixing their broken selves. There are websites and television and radio shows that promise to cure what ails you. In some...
Q&A on Abortion and Its Long-Term Effects
QUESTION: A friend of mine had an abortion a few years ago and never seemed bothered by it. Now she is concerned because she may be getting married but is hesitant to tell her boyfriend about her past. Why is she changing her attitude about her decision? ANSWER:...
A Primer on Partial-Birth Abortion
Description: An abortion technique used to kill second- and third-trimester unborn babies by removing the baby’s entire body, except for the head, and then sucking out his or her brains. Click here to view medical illustrations describing the abortion technique....
When Someone Says, I’m Homosexual
Rev. Thomas H. Trapp To witness to the truth, we must love unconditionally while we share God’s Word. How do you respond to a close friend or family member who is struggling with homosexuality? Or how do you answer a militant homosexual who calls you "homophobic" and...
Sodom: Inhospitality?
Rev. Thomas H. Trapp Many mainline Christian churches are defending the homosexual lifestyle, but God’s Word clearly calls homosexuality a sin. Never in the history of the Christian Church have avowed Christian congregations affirmed homosexuality as a God-pleasing...
Homosexuality: Sin or Orientation?
Pastor Thomas H. Trapp Our lifestyle is not judged on the basis of some genetic connection, but we are judged on the basis of God's commandments. In Letters to the Editor of a large university student newspaper, a man wrote, "Just this Sunday I was accepted as a...
Congregational Versus Institutional Parish Nurses
An ever-increasing number of hospitals are hiring RNs to serve as institution-based parish nurses. These programs usually offer quality services that provide wonderful benefits to the community through local congregations. Since this is a growing trend in our country,...
Abortion Can Hurt Women – One Woman’s Account
Jane Frantz, Freelance Write and Community Columnist for The Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wisconsin As we reflect on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I'd like to share a true story. I only tell it to help people understand that abortion can hurt women and usually causes...
CDACP – Ways to Care for Others
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources How equipped are you to help care for Mom or Dad as they age or when one or the other dies? Caring is more than emotion and good intentions. Careful forethought greatly helps make a transition in...
Bible Study: I Am Supposed to Care
The Root of the Problem Read Genesis 2:15-20 Besides the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, how could man have also sinned in the Garden of Eden? How did man display his love for God in regard to his other garden responsibilities? What responsibility did man have...
A Consistent Ethic
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The way in which people conduct their lives is often framed by their ethical standards --- whether in business, medicine, the justice system, and even their Christian living. The problem is people...
Not My Room – A Look at Caring for and Sharing with Loved Ones
Privacy can be a rare commodity for a family of eight. When I was a child, sharing a bedroom was a fact of life. It was a special day when my parents gave me a room of my own. Now I had privacy, and I zealously guarded it. I let my brothers and sisters know my room...
Training to Care
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Conditioning is a process by which someone trains and develops the mental and/or physical endurance to face a challenge. Intellectually, we take night courses and Internet classes, pursue college...
Position Statement of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod on Abortion
WHEREAS, All people are commanded by God to love their neighbor as they love themselves, and WHEREAS, The Scriptures teach that human life begins at conception (Matthew 1:20, Psalm 51:5, Psalm 139:13-15), and WHEREAS, Each Christian must recognize that abortion is the...
Devotion: Christmas Love
Pastor Aaron Mueller One of my members, in particular, loves the Christmas time of year. For him, it can't come early enough. Ask him to shop at a store that has early Christmas displays, and he'll even offer to drive. Walk with him through the aisles of endless...
It Does Not Matter – A Look at Post-Abortion Syndrome
Lynn Klammer Over the past years, I’ve seen the professional community grapple with the question of whether or not post-abortion trauma really exists. Scientific evidence seems to indicate that abortion does not increase the risk of psychological problems any more...
How Small Is Too Small? – Issues Surrounding the Low-Birth-Weight Infant
Linda L. Bellig, RN, BSN My first job as a new RN in 1969 was in the special care nursery at Babies Hospital in New York City. The environment was cutting-edge. We rigged adult ventilators for babies, grappled with the care of infants less than two kilograms and...
I Know the Plans I Have for You – Cassie Husby’s Journey
By Pastor Jeremy Husby UPDATE: On November 18, 2013, Cassie Husby received "the call" and surgeons performed a double-lung transplant. We thank the LORD of Life for this gift! Pills. Oxygen. Nebulizer treatments. IV antibiotics. Sit down and rest. Cough. Hack. Spit up...
Homesick for Heaven
Rev. Mark Braun Last summer I read Another Country: Navigating the Emotional Terrain of Our Elders, by psychologist Mary Pipher. It is probably similar to dozens of other such books. Many old people are living in a world designed for the young, she observed. They can...
Bible Study: All Dressed Up – Now What?
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." (Colossians 3:12) When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians about being clothed he was talking about much more than...
Q&A on the Modern Eugenics Movement
QUESTION: I’ve heard about the eugenics movement, but I thought that essentially ended with the atrocities of the Nazi regime. Does the eugenics movement still exist today? ANSWER: The eugenics movement is more comprehensive than most people realize. A review of the...
Eugenics Revisited
The 19th and early 20th centuries saw an emergence of the eugenics movement in which eugenic sterilization, anti-immigrant advocacy, and anti-mixed race marriage activism all played crucial roles in the goal of advancing social control by a small elite. This social...
Q&A on Friend Considering Abortion
QUESTION: A friend of mine is unmarried and pregnant. She confided in me that she is considering an abortion. She gave me a long list of reasons why, but I didn’t know how to answer her. Do you have any suggestions? ANSWER: You didn’t list her reasons, but I think I...
Eugenics and the Quality of Life
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love,...
Defending the ‘Defective’
In 1915 Dr. Harry Haiselden, the chief of staff at German-American Hospital on Chicago's near north side, made national headlines for his contribution to the eugenics movement. Haiselden gained front-page notoriety on the issue of eugenic euthanasia. In November of...
Cherish the Quality of Life
Rev. Paul Prange When I was a boy, my parents took me more than once to visit Bethesda Lutheran Home (located in Watertown, Wisconsin). When it was still operating, it was a home for the developmentally disabled. I recall being especially impressed with the kids with...
Love God by Loving Others
The following thoughts will be helpful to us as we teach our families to love God by loving others: Repentance. Daily repentance is an essential part of a Christian’s life. With Christ’s full and free forgiveness, we live to serve God by loving others. Discussion....
Evolution: A Fatal Equalizer
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, CLR National Director I have had the opportunity to visit the Creation Museum in Kentucky (www.creationmuseum.org) several times. If you have not seen it – go! It is an incredibly professional testimony to the creation account and to the...
My Body, My Choice – Really?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The idol of “my rights” continues to wreak havoc on our lives, our families, and our society. The sexual revolution of the sixties decimated social sanctions that rightly reflected the place of...
A Rescue Mission – A Look at Sin and Repentence of a Wayward Family Member
Mr. Tim Snyder, Media Services Coordinator for Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7) The sordid account of King David and Bathsheba is a familiar one (1 Samuel 11 and 12). In the aftermath God sent the...
We Are All Socialists Now?
Rev. Mark Braun For years I thought the worst thing you can be called is “fundamentalist,” but that seems to have slipped to second place. Now the worst thing you can be called is a “socialist.” Early this year, Newsweek magazine did just that. Its cover proclaimed,...
Abortion Affects All
Stefanie Cox Abortion affects everyone. This includes not only the aborted child and the mother, her family, and her friends, but also the entire country and world. Imagine if the mothers of people such as Thomas Edison, Abraham Lincoln, and Jonas Salk had decided to...
You Can Change the World! – A Look at Ways to Show Christian Concern for Others
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources When I turned 40, a friend of mine told me that a person reaches middle age when realizing he or she can no longer change the world. If that were true I suspect I might live well past 100 years!...
Living Large in Your Christian Home Life
By Mr. Tim Snyder, Media Services Coordinator for Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI Living Large – To live an extravagant or self-indulgent lifestyle. (Dictionary.com) Is your family living large? I'm not talking about a life of luxury. This is about a...
Tragedies, Statistics, and Making a Difference
Rev. Mark Braun In a conversation with U.S. ambassador Averill Harriman, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin allegedly said, “The death of one person is a tragedy; the death of millions is a statistic.” Stalin would seem to be an expert on that subject since his regime is...
A Child Dies – A Look at the Dehumanization of Life in Abortion
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, Christian Life Resources National Director In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the movement to legalize abortion focused on two primary arguments: 1. No agreement could be reached on when life begins; 2. Women should have “control” over their...
A Tiny Step – A Look at Quality of Life Arguments
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, Christian Life Resources National Director C. Everett Koop served as the U.S. Surgeon general from 1982-1989. He also served as a main speaker at an early Christian Life Resources convention. It was a tumultuous time in the pediatric health...
It Depends How You Say It
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources When the United States legalized abortion on January 22, 1973, the language changed. No longer was a little one growing and kicking in the womb referred to as a “baby.” Rather, the child was reduced...
CLR Resolution on Abortion Adopted by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)
CLR Resolution on Abortion (Memorial 2011-01U) Adopted by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod – July 28, 2011 WHEREAS 1) the Holy Scriptures clearly testify to a reverence for the life of the mother and the life of her unborn child as both being equal in value,...
What’s So New About Love? A Look at Christian Caregiving and Burden Sharing
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, Christian Life Resources National Director “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34,35) This...
The Legacy of Love
Mrs. Lynn Klammer One of the simplest, yet most profound, interactions I ever had with another human being came during the afternoon of an otherwise uneventful day. I had only been married for about a year, and my mother-in-law had just – as she did countless times...
No More Sermons – A Look at Family Values
Rev. Mark Braun, Wisconsin Lutheran College Professor of Theology If I never hear another sermon about “family values,” it will be fine with me. That may sound like an odd thing to read in this magazine. It may seem to contradict the theme of this particular issue of...
True Value
Mrs. Lynn Klammer The auction bill read, “Due to the tragic deaths of Bill and Edith Webber, the following will be sold to the highest bidders...” “How much do you think this is worth?” I asked my husband as I turned the china cup over. The delicate bone china felt...
The Acquiescence of Sin
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, Christian Life Resources National Director ac•qui•es•cence – [ak-wee-esuhns] – the act or condition of acquiescing or giving tacit assent; agreement or consent by silence or without objection; compliance. sin – transgression of divine law...
Our Unique Perspective – A Look at the Conflict Between Faith and Logic
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, Christian Life Resources National Director Are you afraid to speak up? Are you worried about being mocked because you are pro-life, pro-creation, pro-Scripture and pro-Jesus? Those who oppose us often mock us for our viewpoint. They suggest...
Is It Time Yet? – A Look at Pro-Life Activism and the Protection of Life
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, Christian Life Resources National Director I have adapted an old saying to pro-life work: being a pro-life activist is like watching a football game – with 22 men on the field in desperate need of rest, and 75,000 people in the stands in...
An Ironclad Guarantee – A Look at the Assuredness of the Resurrection
Mr. Tim Snyder There is no guarantee that you and your family will not face trouble in this life. In fact, it’s pretty certain that at some point you will face hardship of one sort or another. It has been this way ever since sin came into the world. Life Offers No...
With Great Patience and Careful Instruction // A Look at CLR’s New Beginnings Ministry
In this day and age, could you get by without a car? Would you be able to gather up all of your possessions and move in less than a day? Do you know how to get someone out of jail? For a vast majority of people, the overwhelming response to these questions is,...
Scripture on Life
GOD IS THE CREATOR OF LIFE “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” ~ Genesis 1:27 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully...
January 22: A Sad Milestone
On this date in 1666 Emperor Shah Jahan, a descendant of Genghis Khan died. Not a big deal for most of us except Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum for his third wife, Arjumand Banu Begum. Despite having multiple wives, Jahan was especially devoted to Begum. In...
Pro-Life Bible References
God is the creator of life Genesis 1:27 - "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them." Job 33:4 - "The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life." Psalm 95:6 - "Come, let us bow...
The Journey of Forgiveness – A Look at the Abortion Decision
Roe v. Wade seemed like a timely solution to a very big problem in young women’s lives, namely an unwanted pregnancy. What would one “do” with an unplanned baby? In my case, I was unwed and pregnant. At the time, the pregnancy seemed like a bad dream – not to mention...
Q&A on the Beginning of Life
QUESTION: When does life begin? I know that life begins at the time of conception. I say with the Psalmist, “Truly I was sinful from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived.” But when does conception take place? Is it at the moment the egg is fertilized, or is...
My Son, Maxwell
By Lisa Van Drese My son, Maxwell, was born on April 6, 2011. He was diagnosed with Down syndrome (DS) when he was two days old. I have since learned that Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is a chromosomal condition involving all or part of a third copy of...
Is An Objection on Religious Grounds Enough?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources “The path of least resistance is the path of the loser.” [attributed to H.G. Wells, 1866-1946] We have done it before, and it appears we are poised to do it again. The recent government mandate...
Why Me? Dealing with the Grief of Miscarriage or Stillbirth
Dear God, why me? There are children and babies and pregnant women all around me and now my womb is empty. Why did this have to happen to me? What went wrong? These haunting questions are normal. Your grief and your unexpected emotional trauma are all part of...
Protesting and Arrests: What’s a Person to Do?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources When protesters are arrested outside abortion clinics, pro-abortion advocates accuse the protesters of violating constitutional freedoms. The protesters claim they are compelled by their Christian...
Bible Study: The Christian and Governing Authorities
Bible Study: The Christian and Governing Authorities (Student's Guide) There is an inseparable yet distinct relationship between Christians (the church) and the governing authorities (the state). The relationship demands recognition and respect for their particular...
The Christian Responsibility of Obedience and Action
GOD-PLEASING OBEDIENCE IT BEGINS WITH MOTIVE Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the...
Sarah’s Story – A Look at a New Beginning After a Crisis Pregnancy
It was the day of my 18th birthday that I found out I was pregnant. At a time when I should have been young and hopeful and happy and free, I was terrified and lonely and angry and sad. And I felt that I had aged ten years overnight. It took me several weeks to tell...
Respect for Life: It Begins and Ends With You!
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources With every issue of Beginnings we wrestle with what is worthy to serve as the lead story. Often it is some dramatic development that hits the media regarding life issues. The subjects of human...
Abortion Clinic Killings Distort Issue
John Salvi, a 22-year-old hairdresser, from Hampton, New Hampshire, is the latest so-called "anti-abortion zealot" to be accused of committing murder at an abortion clinic. Salvi faces two murder charges in a shooting attack at two abortion clinics in suburban...
‘On Eagles’ Wings’ – A Look at Support During A Difficult Pregnancy
It all began innocuously enough. A phone call, a cry for help. That's what this ministry is all about. Help, love, support. Usually the call is from a distant place. The faces remain anonymous, the problems obscured by distance. But this time was different. Our help...
The Christian and Civil Disobedience
"Non-Violent Direct Action Rescue" (NDA) I. Human Government is a Blessing of God Romans 13:1-7 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established...
Is There a Right to Life?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources I never gave the phrase "right to life" much thought until I heard talk about a "right to die." For years I have considered myself to be "pro-life" and in the "right-to-life" camp. I think that the...
Biblical References Regarding Civil Disobedience
Romans 13:1-7 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against...
Calling All Parents! – A Look at Christian Parenting
Thad Jahns, M.S. Certain moments in life profoundly change us. Such moments redefine who we are and why we exist. For me, one such instance began on a warm, sunny day in July of 1994. That was the day that God alerted me to my special calling in life. God didn't speak...
Just Hold My Hand: Offering Support to a Loved One Who is Going Through Miscarriage or Stillbirth
Mrs. Amy Schultz When I was going through my first miscarriage some close friends sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers. For a while, they lit up my kitchen table while I wandered around the house in a saddened daze. It was a thoughtful touch of spring during a...
Q&A on Tube Feeding Removal
QUESTION: I’ve heard that Christian Life Resources states a feeding tube should never be removed. Why is that? ANSWER: Christian Life Resources does not state that feeding tubes should never be removed. We do state that it is critical that you ask questions and make...
Should I Baptize My Baby?
Christian Life Resources Why Baptize Babies? The Bible doesn’t tell us anywhere how old a person must be at the time of baptism. Jesus commanded us to baptize "all nations" (Matthew 28:19) and doesn’t make any mention of an individual’s age. The jailer at Philippi and...
Protection Coming for the Unborn
It appears that piece by piece the U.S. Supreme Court is dismantling its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. The most recent dismantling dealt with restrictions for agencies receiving Title X funding. Title X is the designation for federal money provided to assist agencies to...
How You Can Parent Your Teen
Gerald F. Kastens, former administrator of the Commission on Youth Discipleship Nine tips you can use to strengthen your family. Twenty years ago, being a father seemed rather easy--challenging, but not terribly complicated. Fairly regular devotions, rules about...
Prenatal Testing
1. Reasons for Testing (Motive) Enhance life to provide life-saving information and treatment Enhance death to eliminate children affected by physical deformity, wrong sex, or maternal preference 2. The Truth about Prenatal Testing (the search for the perfect baby) It...
Statement on the American Heart Association
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Obsolete Statement: When a loved one or friend struggles with a life-threatening ailment it is not uncommon to become desperate for a cure. In that desperation, however, a Christian will always take...
Our Role in Government
There are three realms of activity in government: the judicial, legislation and political. Christians enjoy various degrees of influence in each realm. In the judicial realm all you can hope for is to express your opinion and hope the judge is listening. In the...
How to Raise Godly Daughters
Mrs. Laurie Biedenbender Tips to help you raise a unique Christian women Raising godly daughters today is like flying a kite in a hurricane. The mighty winds of the world keep battering against us. Looking for examples Read the teen mags' headlines: "How to Flirt with...
Q&A on Miscarriage
QUESTION: A friend of mine just had a miscarriage. She seems okay on the outside, but I know she is hurting. What can I do to help her? ANSWER: Miscarriage is often overlooked as a painful event. You are very considerate and observant to recognize the loss and pain...
Helping Your Teen Say No to Sex
Josh D. McDowell Dear Mr. McDowell, Having premarital sex was the most horrifying experience of my life. It wasn't at all the emotionally satisfying experience the world deceived me into believing. I felt as lf my insides were being exposed and my heart left...
Rose’s Story (A Pro-Life Story of Hope Against the Odds)
Jean Cross A woman named Rose called one of our pregnancy care centers and asked if she could share her life’s story to help the pro-life cause. I had the opportunity to meet and interview her and would like to share with you her truly amazing story. “When you snuff...
Divorce is Not an Option
Rev. Walter F. Beckmann I just finished reading a book my family gave me for Christmas -- Tom Brokaw's best seller, The Greatest Generation. It's a series of interviews with members of that generation called to fight World War II. My family knew I'd appreciate that...
How Does a Christian Vote?
Mark Clifford Brunner Does God want me to vote? Is it ever proper to vote for a non-Christian candidate? How can I be sure that my vote is pleasing to God? Does the Bible give instruction on how to choose the right candidate when I vote? As Christians, we are...
Q&A on Divorce and Remarriage
Rev. John F. Brug QUESTION: When may a divorced person remarry in the church? ANSWER: Scripture does not treat in detail the moral propriety of remarriage after a divorce. Clearly, persons who have suffered wrongful divorces, inflicted by their spouses, are free to...
The Christian and Government (6 Parts)
The Christian and Government Series: Part 1 - Understanding the Christian By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources It seems that every 100 years or so the relationship between Christians and their government becomes strained. In the...
Comfort for Parents Grieving a Miscarriage or Stillbirth [A Pastoral Theology Brief]
John D. Schuetze, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, WI In his care of souls, the pastor faces many difficult situations, which like a sword can often pierce his own soul also. Few are as heart-wrenching as ministering to the mother or father who is faced with the...
What Actually is Pro-Life?
Cindi Sampe Squeak, squeak is the sound the park swing makes as children -- my children -- "fly high to the sky." As I listen to their squeals of delight and observe their exuberance, I can't help but reflect on the millions of tiny voices and faces that will never...
We Live Together as a Family
Rev. David J. Valleskey, Former President of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, WI We Live Together as a Family... To the Glory of God As a family, the first thing we do is love one another. We were not a family. We have become a family -- by the grace of God. Now...
‘From Generation to Generation’ – Parents Nurturing Their Children’s Faith
Laurie Biedenbender We're always passing the baton of faith -- sharing the promise -- to the next generation. It's been compared to a relay race. The most critical moment is when both runners are in the passing zone, and the baton is firmly placed in the hand of the...
Behind Every Athlete
Dan Peterson A friend of mine once said that coaching is teaching children to be the best they can be. Setting the Focus In both the public and private school settings, I have found an enormous advantage to coach athletes in Lutheran schools where I have the ability...
The Scriptural View on When Human Life Begins // Bible Study
A Brief Study on Psalm 51:5 The Background of the Verse The title: A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. (This incident is recorded in 2 Samuel 12:1-14.) A penitential psalm, vv. 1-3 David pleads for...
An Overview of Scriptural Principles as They Apply to Selected Current Life Issues
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources In the course of human history, various issues have risen to the surface of public consciousness. Oftentimes those are life-threatening maladies that victimize a population, such as war, famine, and...
Lessons from the Lawnmower – A Look at Parenting
Mr. Thad Jahns I have to admit it. I am one of those guys who takes great pride in keeping his lawn in pristine condition. Not that it is a total obsession with me. I don’t religiously follow the feeding schedule as outlined on the back of the fertilizer bag. Nor do I...
Witnessing a Miracle – A Look at Pregnancy and Life in the Womb
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13,14) This is a familiar passage in pro-life circles – maybe too familiar....
Pursuing the Marriage You Thought Was Only a Fairy Tale
Pastor David Thompson, Audubon, MN Once upon a time, as the story goes, a beautiful maiden was held captive by an evil sorcerer. A most daring man seeks to rescue her. Three times he falls; three times he rises again. Finally, he defeats the evil one, sets her free,...
The Preborn Child and Faith
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1) The biological argument for protecting preborn human life should be compelling enough. Arguing for...
Money vs. Life in Light of Life Issues
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources There is often a correlation between prosperity and immorality. That does not mean all who are prosperous are immoral or that all who are impoverished are moral. Rather, it appears that prosperity...
Understanding the Distinction Between ‘Agape’ and ‘Philo’ Love
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The Bible speaks of love in two ways. There is the family and friend type of love. It is the word translated in the Greek language as "philo." You perhaps know it well from the city name,...
The Christian and Government
Have you ever tried to walk two big dogs at one time? It's alright as long as both animals want to go in the same direction. But as soon as one dog sees a cat running east and the other dog sees a car he wishes to chase traveling west, you're in trouble. You find...
The Preborn Child and Biology
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13,14)...
A Family with Just Two – A Look at Marriage and Infertility
Mr. Tim Snyder, Christian Life Resources Director of Media Services There are numerous reasons why a married couple may be a family of just two. Either one or both may be unable or unlikely to have children for physiological reasons. Or a couple’s reproductive...
Defending Traditional Marriage Is an Act of Love
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources [The following is an adaptation of a bulletin insert created by Christian Life Resources for use by congregations everywhere. The insert can be downloaded here.] I offer the following arguments in...
Waiting for Baby Taeh – A Look at the Providence of God During a Premature Pregnancy
Ellen Kuber When my daughter, Johanna, suspected that she was pregnant, she went to a newly-degreed medical doctor. The doctor performed an ultrasound to determine how far along she was in the pregnancy. After detecting the amniotic sac, Johanna was told it appeared...
Born This Way!
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Are deviant sexual interests products of the will or organically programmed into people? In other words, are some “born that way”? I have read my share of medical papers to believe that brain...
The State, The Church, and Me
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources (Originally published in Lightsource, Vol. 29, Issue 2) "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of...
Our Baby’s Life Begins (Fetal Development)
Day 1: Today your life began. The egg from your mother was fertilized by the father’s sperm within one of your mother’s two fallopian tubes. You received 23 chromosomes from each parent. You are unique and individual. Days 5-9: From the moment of fertilization you...
Tell the Truth
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources Why Are We Here? Christian Life Resources (CLR) was never a ministry about convincing pro-life people to be pro-life. Though we serve all people, we are doctrinally aligned with the Wisconsin...
Q&A on Pornography and Divorce
QUESTION: I have been married nearly 30 years. Over those years I have caught my husband buying porn magazines. I told him I don't like it. I pay the bills and this past week I found a charge on our credit card for $81.46 for RachelleXXX through Paypal. I think it's...
What Does the Bible Say About the Beginning of Life?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, CLR National Director Whether one talks about pregnancy, abortion, embryonic stem cell research, in vitro fertilization or miscarriage, one question becomes pivotal, “When does life begin?” Because the question regarding the beginning of life...
Lily-Beth’s Miracle // A Look at Pregnancy Complications and God’s Love
Trey and I wanted to take the time to try to inspire others the way the Lord has inspired us. We are writing this to give credit where credit is due, show thanks to God, and to help others realize that miracles do happen. This story is sure to help you remember that...
Is the Decision Not to Vote Really an Option?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources In every modern political campaign, the hot-button issue invariably involves moral values. Issues such as abortion and assisted suicide confront every candidate. These are critical issues in which...
He Came to Share Our Vulnerability – A Look at the Humanity of Jesus Christ
Rev. Mark Braun For centuries Christians have celebrated the miracle of the Virgin birth of Jesus in late December or early January—and it is good and right for us so to do. Yet the real miracle occurred not on the day Jesus was born in Bethlehem but nine months...
Precious Life
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources In a Salon website article dated Jan. 23, 2014, Mary Elizabeth Williams made a shocking acknowledgment: “Here’s the complicated reality in which we live: All life is not equal.” With those words,...
Leave the Door Open – A Look at Approaching the Worldly View From a Christian Standard
By Lynn Klammer “Can you help me?” came the plea from the other side of the table. I was sitting in a college study area waiting for my kids to get out of class. As often happens when I’m just “hanging out,” students talk to me. I think it must be my “mom” appearance...
Speak Up!
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:8,9) There is probably...
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made – The Stages of Life in the Womb
The miracle of life – more amazing and awe-inspiring than any other part of God’s creation. What we have been able to discern from research in chronicling precious life in the womb is remarkable. The pictures of babies still in their mother’s bodies serve as a...
Life and Politics
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The American political structure forms public policy and, as such, moral issues often become political issues. For that reason, it is necessary, at times, for CLR to comment on political issues. In...
Lord of Life // A Pro-Life Hymn
(To the Melody of "Lord of Glory, Who Has Bought Us" - Christian Worship, Hymn #486) Lord of life, whose hand has made us, Formed us each with tender care. You have crowned us with your image, Not intending such despair. Yet through sin the glory faded, Death...
You Can Speak Up on Abortion
1. Some Basics of Good Communication in General The information you present is extremely important. You may talk and talk and speak up about the issues of abortion all your life and never do any good on anybody that you can see anyway. And yet, talk one mother out of...
Competing to Get Ahead
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources "They eat their young" is one phrase used to explain the ruthless nature of some people as they strive to get ahead in the world. Parents remind their children that it is a dog-eat-dog world" out...
My Wife, the Multi-Parent
Captain LeRoy Kiecker Being deployed is hard on the family. Like almost everyone deployed, I left behind family members, including my wife and two small boys, ages two and almost five. My wife and I often discuss which of the two of us has more difficulties while I’m...
A Family Tradition of Pro-Life Activism
Traditions create treasured practices in families. They tend to play a very important role in creating family ties and give family members special memories to carry throughout life and are passed on to the next generation. Here is a family tradition I’d like to share...
The Internet Predator
Pop Quiz: Where is your child safer? a) Walking alone down a dark alley in a rough part of town late at night. b) Sitting at home on their phone, tablet, or computer in the middle of the day. The obvious answer seems to be b—but in reality, it may be just as...
A Glimpse at a Blended Family
Let's talk about blended families. A blended family is what occurs when a man and woman marry, and one or both bring with them children from a previous marriage or relationship. They come with their own set of challenges and that is the focus of this article. I know...
Parenting Tips
Raising a child brings countless benefits, and many parents report that it is the most rewarding job they ever have. However, parenting also presents unique and very stressful situations which can be difficult to properly deal with. It can often be difficult to...
Q&A on Questionable Clothing
QUESTION: Many of my daughter’s friends are wearing outfits that I feel are inappropriate. I am very disappointed that my daughter is now wearing some of the same styles. How can I address this with her so she understands the seriousness of her decisions? ANSWER: You...
A Culture of Caring | A Look at Teaching Children to Care for Others
Tim Snyder, Media Services Coordinator, Wisconsin Lutheran College It's been more than one year since "Mrs. Marge" sold her home and moved in with her son. "Mrs. Marge," an elderly widow who lived alone, used to be our next-door neighbor. Her son would come by on a...
A Product of Their Upbringing – A Look at Children’s Values Reflective of Parents’ Attitudes
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources “The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” This proverb is quoted twice in Scripture (Jeremiah 9:14 and Ezekiel 16:44). It is modernized in such phrases as, “He is a...
Baby Talk – Teaching Children About the Value of Life as a Gift from God
Mr. Tim Snyder “Can you believe it? The Smith’s are pregnant again!” “That makes five. What are they thinking!?” “I know. They can barely take care of the ones they already have.” Does this conversation sound familiar? Perhaps you have been part of a similar...
Heaven Talk: A Parent’s Discussion about Death with Their Child
Many mothers and fathers who will do almost anything to avoid discussing death with their children. Perhaps they fear upsetting them, or worse, leaving them emotionally scarred. It can even be argued that an even more powerful deterrent is the simple truth that they...
Q&A on Aging Parents and Resistance to Living with Their Children
Q: My husband and I have talked about caring for our parents when they are unable to care for themselves. We have offered that they stay with us in our home rather than move to an assisted living facility, but they seem unwilling. In fact, they don’t even want to talk...
Bridging the Generations
"No cowboy was ever faster on the draw than a grandparent pulling a baby picture out of a wallet." - Author Unknown There is probably no image more heartwarming than a beaming grandmother tenderly holding her newborn grandchild. Equally appealing is the picture of a...
Making the Most of Family Time
Rev. James A. Aderman Expect that friends will not understand that you won't play softball every Tuesday night, in order to be at home with the kids. "I just don't have the time," I sighed in exasperation. "I dearly want to be a good father to my daughters, but...
Family Traditions That Cherish Life
Wonderful aromas are wafting in from the kitchen. A juicy turkey continues to roast in the oven, and the spicy scent of a baked pumpkin pie still lingers in the air. In the living room, the lights are dimmed, and the glow of the Christmas tree and the flicker of the...
A Fringe Family
“The anti-choice fringe is attacking Planned Parenthood like never before.” (www.plannedparenthood.org) Are you a part of the “anti-choice fringe”? Could your Christ-centered home also be called a “fringe family”? Among the definitions for “fringe” that the online...
Profound Thoughts About Mothers
A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. (Matthew 5:42) Some mothers...
Q&A on Abstinence/Teaching Teens about Birth Control
QUESTION: I’ve heard that teen pregnancy rates have increased. Is it time to teach our kids about birth control? ANSWER: The teen birth rate has been on a steep decline since the early 1990s. Yet, teaching about birth control is not the solution. Abstinence is still...
When Normal Is Not Enough
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources When her parents announced her birth, everyone knew life would become more complicated. Connie was born with a condition called “Down syndrome.” This meant she would look a little different than...
Is There a Place Within Christian Marriage to Use Birth Control?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Yes, but an explanation is in order. God is the author of human life (Deuteronomy 32:39), and man is a steward, caretaker, and guardian of human life (Genesis 9:5). A Christian may decide when to...
Q&A on Homosexuality
QUESTION: What is God’s view of homosexuality? Hasn’t research shown that homosexuality is a genetic predisposition and that as people cannot choose to be a certain race or gender, so also they cannot choose their sexual predisposition? ANSWER: God’s view on all...
Abortion: An Update
On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court legalized abortion in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories by permitting a mother to take the life of her unborn child at any time during the pregnancy. This “right” has been exercised more than 63...
How Are Your Priorities?
While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this...
How Can I Say I Care?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The feisty side of me hates the phrase, "I care." Don't misunderstand. I am not against saying it. But I object to its use without meaning. It sounds more like a catchy bumper sticker than a genuine...
Institutional Devotions
DEVOTION #1: "They’ve Taken Away My Identity!" John 13:23 - One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Jesus nicknamed John the apostle, along with his brother James, "Sons of Thunder," and for good reason. John was a hard-living commercial...
Burden Sharing // Bible Study (6-Part Series)
Bible Study: Burden Sharing - Part 1 (Student's Guide) This is the first of a 6-part Bible Study on Burden Sharing. The first 3 parts will define the critical terms of burden, sharing, and love. Read the Following Passages: Numbers 11:14 - I cannot carry all these...
Bible Study: Biblical Directives, Examples, and Applications of Burden Sharing
1. Understanding the Terms Burden: Something perceived to be beyond the ability to cope, not related to a desire to carry. Sharing: To willingly and happily assist others by giving from God's blessings or helping them lighten their load. Love: The attitude of the...
A Time of Testing
Dr. Mark Braun, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI Some [seed] fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. . . . Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They...
Q&A on Salvation and Heaven
QUESTION: My 93-year-old mother has been strong and healthy her entire life. I am afraid that she has a false confidence about going to heaven. She says that God must be happy with her, because he has given her a long and happy life. Should I be concerned about her...
The Compassionate Father
Mr. Tim Snyder A widower struggles to raise two young children in a small southern town during the 1930s. The town’s racist attitudes come to light as this man, who is a lawyer, faces the daunting challenge of defending a black man who is accused of raping a white...
Bible Study: Compassion
Pastor Aaron Mueller My wife and I just wanted to get home. Being gone for several days, suitcases, then a delayed flight on our already-late return made us long for our normal surroundings again. But the drive home was anything but typical. Shortly after leaving the...
Are You Ready? – A Look at Preparing for Death
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources A seminary professor once told his students, “Sometimes I can hardly wait to die, and sometimes I am scared to death to die.” This tension between the old and new man is what the Apostle Paul...
Q&A on Medical Technology
QUESTION: If medical technology gives us cures derived from taking lives, should Christians refuse that treatment even if it means possibly a shortening of our own life? ANSWER: Underlying your question is the suggestion that using such medical technology may imply...
The Whole Picture Needs the Full Gospel
By Rev. Forrest Bivens In early 2007 I was in Rio de Janeiro during a visit to our son and his family, while he served as a WELS missionary in Brazil. The view from Sugarloaf Mountain gave me a panorama that included Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches as well as the...
Boys, Girls, and Everything In-Between
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources It can be dangerous to express an opinion on the state of sexuality in today’s world. Once it is known, such expression on this contentious subject can result in dissension among loved ones. Your...
The Things I Have Learned – A Mom’s Look at the Potential of a Child with Down Syndrome
By Lisa Van Drese The things I have learned in the last four years are not written in any book. My son has taught me a world I never would have known without him. It is a world in which every person is celebrated for their strengths – rather than their weaknesses. It...
Looking Down the Road
In the Old Testament, Adam and Eve demonstrated shortsightedness when they ate the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). When Cain killed Abel (Genesis 4), he failed to consider the consequence of his action. Lot never considered possible negative...
A Challenge to Our Article: “A Christian’s Questions and Answers about IVF”
A challenge to our article here. “A Christian's Questions and Answers about IVF” On April 12, 2017, a reader contacted us with the following comment: “‘In general, of those who enter IVF programs, success rate is 8 percent.’ <- that is wildly inaccurate. See this...
When Working with Human DNA, It’s Best to Be As Accurate As Possible
By Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources This headline was actually a sentence buried in a July 28, 2017 article on gene editing of human embryos in the United States. For those of you who are new to this topic, the prospect of editing out...
Faith and Planned Parenthood
By Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources In 2015 The Center for Medical Progress secretly video recorded conversations with executives from Planned Parenthood. The topic was the gruesome practice of selling fetal body parts to researchers....
Does the Right to Life Include the Right to Die?
Let's take a look at the main arguments for or against assisted suicide: 1. Suicide is an inherent right or liberty. The rights to life, liberty, and happiness are assumed by our nation's founding fathers. But never did they intend that liberty to include suicide....
Bible Passages Regarding Suicide
Acts 17:25: “...[He) himself [God] gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” Deuteronomy 32:39: “There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life...” 1 Corinthians 10:13: No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And...
Q&A on Views Regarding Suicide
QUESTION: It seems that an increasing number of people, especially the young, see nothing wrong with suicide. What can we tell them? ANSWER: Before telling the person you’re talking to anything, try to figure out, or just ask, why this matters to him or her at this...
Suicide Warning Signs
What To Watch For: A major change in sleep or eating patterns Increased alcohol or drug use Major personality changes - becomes impulsive, rebellious or violent Violent or rebellious actions Withdrawal from family and friends Less interest in school - grades,...
Standing Between Life and Death
John C. Johnson, Ph.D. A Gospel-Law-Gospel Approach to Helping Christians Who Are Suicidal Introduction (1 Cor. 13) If I speak in the tongues of man and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and...
Q&A on Whether or Not a Person Who Commits Suicide Can Receive a Christian Burial
Rev. Armin Schuetze Question: Why is it we so completely condemn a Christian when he has committed suicide? Doesn’t Matthew 7:1 say: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged"? Answer: The Significance of Christian Burial What is the significance of Christian burial?...
Key Points for Debating Assisted Suicide
A request for assisted suicide is typically a cry for help. It is in reality a call for counseling, assistance, and positive alternatives as solutions for very real problems. Suicidal intent is typically transient. Of those who attempt suicide but are stopped, less...
How To Help Those Who May Contemplate Suicide
Sally Armstrong If someone confides in you that he or she is thinking of committing suicide or shows other signs of being suicidal, talk about it. Your interest may give your friend hope at a time when that is exactly what he or she needs. Here’s what to say, what NOT...
They Shoot Horses… – A Look at Compassion at the End of Life
Rev. Mark Braun True Confessions: Forty years ago I took a first date to see the movie, “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” Based on a 1930s novel, the movie was technically well done and received nine Academy Award nominations, but it was depressing from its opening...
Suicide Facts and Statistics
Most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization to compile the following list of suicide facts: General Statistics (USA) Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US for all ages. (CDC) Every day, approximately...
Q&A on Assisted Suicide and Quality of Life
QUESTION: Why are you so worked up about assisted suicide? If I don’t want to live when my quality of life is gone, why should you have the right to tell me I don’t have options? ANSWER: Your question indicates some misconceptions on your part. First, we do not convey...
Addiction!
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources It was a typical Saturday morning. Mark slept in because he worked late. Life had settled down since he finished jail time for drug possession. He liked his second-shift job. He was a single parent...
The Hospice Care Option
Mrs. Susan Fink, Volunteer Coordinator at Holy Family Memorial Hospice, Manitowoc, WI “When is he going to get to it? Someone has to talk to Mom about dying!” Such was a part of a conversation I recently had with a friend. No one (the patient, her daughter, spouse,...
Q&A on Life Support
QUESTION: My father had respiratory arrest. The doctors asked if my siblings and I wanted the doctors to put my dad on life support. My father is a very ill man. He already had cancer and suffers from extreme pain. Is it wrong to have my father on life support or...
The Complexities of Charlie Gard
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources Background Charlie Gard was born in England on August 4, 2016, to Chris Gard and Connie Yates. A few weeks after his birth Charlie was diagnosed with mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (MDDS),...
Fatal Flaw
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources The tenets of evolution and creation conflict on many points but none as significantly as on the reality of original sin. The Lutheran Catechism defines original sin as: “The guilt and...
Q&A on IVF and Genetic Embryo Testing
QUESTION: I am inquiring about information on IVF and embryo genetic testing. What is the Christian stance on both of these and how can I do IVF treatments and still uphold God's Truth? ANSWER: Scripture teaches that life exists already at conception (Psalm 51:5)....
AI on Our Side
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources When I speak about artificial intelligence (AI), I suspect I sound alarmist. Some of what I read about AI development is concerning. Yet, I have long felt that technological advancements are like...
Trained to Live Forever: End-of-Life Resuscitation Orders
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources People don’t want to talk about dying. In 2015, according to the Funeral and Memorial Information Council, 69% of adults over the age of 40 indicated they would prefer to pre-arrange their funeral...
Who Assists with Suicide
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources The exhausting effort to legalize assisted suicide is like so many other ill-conceived notions of our times. The persuasive forces of video and social media advocates for “aid in dying” not only...
Medical Decisions and the Heart
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources No, this is not an article about heart surgery and transplants. Rather, this article addresses the attitude of the heart when making medical decisions. Heart = Motive When difficult medical decisions...
Caregiving: Christian Helping and Coping
When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43:2) Daily life is abundantly stressful. There...
CLR’s Official Positions and Thoughts to Ponder on Life and Family Issues
Abortion Human life exists already at conception. It is a gift from God. He also reserves for himself the authority to take human life. Aborting an unborn child for any reason, other than to preserve a human life, is a practice condemned by the Word of God and...
‘With Friends Like These’ – A Look at Comforting Others in Crisis
Pastor Jon D. Buchholz When you are called upon to touch someone's life with comfort, share the genuine comfort of the cross. "When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come...
Who Will Take Care of Mother?
Rev., Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources In 1907 Anna Jarvis began a nationwide campaign for the observance of Mother's Day. In 1908 it began with a service at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, honoring the...
My Life: Not My Own But God’s
Rev. Michael Plagenz Physician-assisted suicide is a controversial topic. As confessional Lutheran Christians, we know that any kind of suicide or mercy killing is against God's will. Yet all the controversy prompts us to ask this question: "Whose life is this...
End of Life Terminology
Christian ethics: The only value system in which motive rooted in the Christian faith is the first determinant of right and wrong. Christian medical/ethical decision making: A way of approaching tough decisions with the question: is God still holding out the gift of...
Q&A on Medical Decision-Making
QUESTION: I am nervous about people making medical decisions for me. What are your thoughts? ANSWER: The need for medical directives is greater than many people realize in managing your health and making healthcare decisions. To answer your question, you need to fill...
Living Choices: Alternatives to Euthanasia
Life is full of choices that range from the trivial to the critical. Every day one must choose such things as what clothes to wear; or whether to buy the 87 octane or the super-charged gasoline. Is tartar control toothpaste really better than the kind that gives you...
Living Wills vs. Advance Medical Directive
A great emphasis has been recently placed on the need for medical directive statements. Yet, there is also a great deal of confusion regarding these legal documents. Here is a summary to explain the roles of these documents and to also show the differences between...
Suffering at the End of Life
Many fear the unknown, especially at the end of life. We do not know when the end will come. We will not know what loved ones will do without us. We do not know if we will suffer or not. The words of King David strike terror in the hearts of those who face the...
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues
Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Introduction The Christian Foundation for Life Decision-Making Begin with Faith Establish God's Authority Over Life and Death Facing the Changed Quality of Life Understanding the Purpose of Life...
Bible Study: Issues of Life and Death
Issues of life and death are often consumed with discussions and decisions involved with making correct medical decisions near the end of life. Amidst the confusion of tube feeding, ventilators, dialysis and a host of other medical care mechanisms we often overlook...
Dealing with a Euthanasia-Minded Friend
How do you deal with a euthanasia-minded friend or acquaintance? The issues are so emotional, and the arguments sound compassionate. Nevertheless, we are considering ending a person's life. Obviously, it is critical that you know the issues and how to respond to the...
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Begin with Faith
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann II. Begin with Faith The challenge of training fellow Christians in the way they should go is a life-long endeavor to create the Christian mindset. This mindset includes moral absolutes...
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Practical Matters in Counseling on Death
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann IX. Practical Matters In Counseling on Death I have outlined for you some of the basic principles that have helped me address death with fellow Christians. I believe strongly that it is...
Care, Not Suicide: Choosing a Medical Directive That Witnesses to Your Faith
You can choose a medical directive statement that will witness to your faith. Sooner or later you will face the question, "Do you have a medical directive statement?" Or more specifically, "Do you have a living will?" These are routine questions for anyone entering a...
Q&A on ‘Pulling the Plug’
QUESTION: Do you really consider “pulling the plug” to be euthanasia? ANSWER: Deuteronomy 32:39 tells us that God alone has the right to begin or end life. Exodus 20:13 and Genesis 9:5-6 command that we preserve and protect human life. We do not have the right to...
Q&A on Terminal Sedation
Question: What is terminal sedation? Is it the same as physician-assisted suicide? Answer: Physician-assisted suicide is defined as a physician's act that is meant to intentionally end the life of a patient. Terminal sedation is practiced when a patient is drugged...
Facing Eternity – Saying Good-Bye
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Clarence had been married 51 years when he lost his dear wife, Clarice. “It was cancer that took her,” he said, as he clenched his jaw and tears filled his eyes. Like a bitter enemy, cancer took from...
Facing Eternity – Ready and Willing
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Ellen began to experience the slow passing of a generation. Her father died when all three of her children were in high school. It was sudden – a heart attack while he slept. It was hard to believe...
Learning to Face Death
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources We are victims of our culture. Despite knowing better from God’s Word, we find ourselves sucked into the thoughts and practices of the world. This is evident when discussing death. On the one hand,...
Facing Eternity
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Although a first impression is certainly important, it is the last impression that sticks! Without a doubt, the first impression is important –in this world. Mind you, I said, “in this world.” Take,...
The Impression You Leave – A Look at Suffering and Burden Sharing
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources When abortion became legal in 1973, many called it the beginning of the slippery slope. In the middle 1980s then-U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop spoke at a Christian Life Resources convention...
Making the Most of Time in End-of-Life Matters
Mr. Timothy Snyder It’s a beautiful day. The sun is shining, and the temperature is in the upper sixties. Spring in Wisconsin can be unpredictable. Today’s taste of summer might be followed by a reminder that winter is still visible in the rear view mirror. How will I...
A Teen’s Thoughts on Euthanasia
Sarah Klammer I met Beverly two years ago. She sat slumped in a wheelchair by a hallway window in the nursing home where my sisters and I volunteer. Beverly, a frail and motionless woman, just stared off into space as people walked by her. When my mom approached and...
Deprived of the Chance – A Look at the Quality of Life and a ‘Duty to Die’
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources My travels throughout North America have given me countless opportunities to meet some rather incredible people. One of those people is Lisa Van Drese. Her attitude, optimism and unrelenting faith...
When Life Holds No Dignity
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Advocates for assisted suicide have often marched under the “death with dignity” banner, but what does that word, “dignity,” mean? When did we get it, and how do we lose it? Some say they lose...
A Primer on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
QUESTION: What’s the difference between voluntary euthanasia and non-voluntary euthanasia? ANSWER: Voluntary euthanasia involves a competent and stated desire of someone to terminate his or her life. Non-voluntary euthanasia pertains to the termination of someone’s...
Questions and Answers on Euthanasia
QUESTION: What's the difference between voluntary euthanasia and non-voluntary euthanasia? ANSWER: Voluntary euthanasia involves a competent and stated desire for someone to have his or her life terminated. Non-voluntary euthanasia pertains to the termination of...
Youth Corner: Dating
Cindy Ewings Dating. The words and images rush through everyone's heads. The first date. The movie that you saw, and the restaurant that you went to together. The jokes that you shared and the special moments that you spent together. Most dates bring back happy...
The Truth About Sex Before Marriage
What Is the Purpose of a Sexual Relationship? Companionship Genesis 2:18 - ”The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’ ” Children Genesis 1:28 - "God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in...
Talking to Your Kids About Chastity
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deuteronomy 6:6,7) Few parents find it comfortable to...
Sex Is Like Eating Popcorn
I Am Caught! Did you ever notice that a bowl of popcorn rarely sits half empty? Once you start eating it you don’t stop until it’s gone. Someone once said that having sex is like eating popcorn. Once you have become sexually active you can’t stop – or can you? Don’t...
Retransforming Transgender Views
By APH “We would pay for her breast removal surgery as a graduation present, she could take testosterone over the summer, and she could go to college as a boy. –Parents of a 17-year-old transboy.”[1] “He may refer to himself as a boy but says he wishes he were a girl....
Chastity’s Contagious
Rev. Thomas H. Trapp Chastity's contagious. Think of two people on a date. One insists on chastity; the other's going to practice it too. It's contagious! It's also 100 percent safe (as well as God-pleasing). But not everyone practices chastity. The result of unchaste...
Q&A on Teens and Chastity
QUESTION: My two children are approaching their teen years. I want to talk with them about chastity, but I made some mistakes when I was their age. Am I being hypocritical if I tell them to wait until marriage to enjoy sexual intimacy? ANSWER: All have sinned and...
