R.C. Sproul: Schiavo's Death Marks America's Move Toward 'Neo-Barbarism'

Agape ^ | Ap 5 05 | Allie Martin, Bill Fancher, and Jenni Parker

[churchillbuff]

A leading pastor and theologian says last week's state-sanctioned death of Terri Schiavo marks a turning point for America, and it is crucial for the Church in this country to wake up and mobilize against euthanasia and other signs of the times.

Author and Bible teacher Dr. R.C. Sproul is the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries. His teaching can be heard daily on the Renewing Your Mind radio broadcast on more than 300 radio outlets in the U.S. and throughout 60 countries. Recently his attention was focused, like that of much of the nation, on the tragic and disturbing events of the Terri Schiavo case.

After all that happened to the disabled Florida woman, particularly in the final weeks of her life, Sproul feels the Church in America needs to wake up and recognize the serious threat to life and liberty that is operating in the very midst of the nation's system of government.

"I think it's time to go back and read the Declaration of Independence again," the theologian says. "We have some serious problems with the fundamental structure of government in the United States, and there need to be some serious changes. And my prayer is that this is what happens."

What needs to take place, Sproul contends, is what often happens in the history of society faced with one or more pivotal occurrences like the killing of Terri Schiavo. "Cultures change, governments change, usually when a single event provokes a crisis," he says. "It brings matters to a head. But we have an ethical crisis in this country, one that's not going to go away, with respect to the sanctity of human life."

The Christian author and minister believes the manner of Terri Schiavo's death reflects changes that have taken place in American culture since the 1960s. He notes, "Many years ago, Harold Lindsell described American culture after the revolution of the 60s as a 'neo-pagan culture.' I think now what Terri Schiavo's death marks is the transition to a neo-barbarian culture."

Barbarians, according to various encyclopedia sources, are defined by sociologists as those social parasites who prey upon civilization, sometimes enslaving others or looting and plundering, in order to survive at others' expense. And according to Sproul, America's "civilization" is beginning to look more and more like that.

"I think that's where we are," the minister says. "We've become barbarians, because what we've just witnessed is the willful starving and dehydration of a living human being." And lamentably, he adds, even many Christians believed it was right for the state to sanction the brain-damaged Florida woman's death.

Sproul says the Church needs to rise to the occasion of this crisis and fulfill its role as the conscience of the nation, before it is too late. He is urging Christian citizens to take a stand against euthanasia -- against the barbaric "culture of death" that threatens to overwhelm the mainstream America's ethical sensibilities.

Taking Terri's Struggle Forward Take a stand -- that is exactly what many of those pro-life supporters who were involved in the fight to keep Terri Schiavo alive are trying to do now as they enter what they call "Phase Two" of their effort. At a Washington, DC, press conference last weekend at Capitol Hill, Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition said those who fought to prevent the court-ordered starvation death of the disabled woman have moved on from the first part of their campaign -- designated "Terri's Voice" -- and are mobilizing in a new direction.

"The next part of the campaign is 'Never Again," Mahoney says, describing the effort to raise awareness about euthanasia, disability concerns, and other sanctity-of-life challenges, and to ensure that all disabled people are treated with dignity and respect.

"We're going to address these issues," the pro-life spokesman says, "and begin to take those first steps from the struggling and painful death of Terri into moving this forward in a positive way."

And one of the ways the Coalition plans to do this, he adds, is by addressing misinformation about the amount of public support for the court-ordered starvation of the 41-year-old hospice patient.

A number of mainstream media outlets have cited polls claiming most people favored the removal of Schiavo's feeding and hydration tube and also that a majority, by a wide margin, opposed a law mandating federal review of her case. But later this week, Mahoney says the Coalition will be unveiling what the group contends is a more accurate poll of the nation's views on the Schiavo case.

Now that Terri is gone, the Coalition members are concentrating their attention on the fight to honor Terri's memory by safeguarding against any similar tragedies in the future. "We must now work to ensure that this never happens again," Mahoney says, "that Terri's legacy will be remembered, and to ensure that all those with disabilities -- all the weakest in our society -- are protected."

Meanwhile, Terri's family and the volunteers of the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation have vowed to focus the efforts of the Foundation that bears her name on assistance to other desperate families seeking to protect similarly vulnerable loved ones.

[Frumanchu]

you are not on any ping list.

[Austin Willard Wright]

I stand corrected. It was thelastpatriot who apparently said it in the original post.

[MEGoody]

"What a crock - she was dead 15 years ago."

Dead typically means when your vital organs shut down. Based on that, Terri was very much alive. How do you define 'dead'?

[RnMomof7]

Indeed all events like Terri's death was ordained of God . it was for His purpose and His glory. Yet the ones that made the decisions and preformed the action will be held fully responsible.

Now before you jump on that as inconsistent I will point you to the scriptures .

Act 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Act 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Luk 22:22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

Mat 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

[ThelastPatroit]

The mispelling of my 'handle' is intentional to see how many liberals will seize on the obvious rather than deal with the issue. You obviously speak before you really know what you're talking about..

As to your claim about Terri's condition, you'd be wrong
for a number of reasons. First, there is the matter of sworn
testimony by impartial witnesses, rather than the complicit testimony of one's relatives.

“In a stunning sworn affidavit, Carla Sauer Lyer, a registered nurse who was employed at Palm Garden
of Largo Convalescent Center in April of 1995 to July of 1996, while Terri Schiavo was a patient there
testified, ‘Michael Schiavo was focused on Terri’s death ....’when is that bitch gonna die’? – NewsMax.com 9/23/03.

“William Hammesfahr petitioned by the Schindlers testifies that Terri shows cognitive function and would benefit from a treatment known as vasodilatation...” similar to that proposed by another expert.” World Net Daily 3/24/05

Judge Greer assumes that contravening witnesses are mistaken, irrelevant or unreliable, which is a serious breach of ethics and due process. Likewise, Greer dismissed Iyer's testimony as "not credible." - WND 3/24/05

So, if Greer's decision isn't state sponsored euthanasia, then what qualifies? I would sure hate to be a Florida Senior Citizen in a hospice right now with Greer on the bench....Brrrr!

[Revelation 911]

you are not on any ping list.

well...ok... you can be cheeky, lovely

let me be specific then - please refrain from pinging me to whatever you have to say, as in post 71

thank you kindly

[Frumanchu]

I wasn't being cheeky. connectthedots posted to several people, including yourself. My inclusion of you (as well as the rest of the recipients) in the response was as a courtesy.

I'll make sure it doesn't happen again.

have a nice day

[Revelation 911]

have a nice day

thank you - you too

[Frumanchu]

For anyone not yet convinced of what Dr Sproul was talking about, consider that someone who is neither comatose, vegetative, nor terminal is being starved to death RIGHT NOW in Georgia.