“No Good Deed Goes Unpunished”

By Starla J. Halbrook

This phrase may prompt you to hum a familiar Broadway tune in your head or it may have you scratching your head instead. But for a married 46-yr old man in Kansas, it has him in an uproar over $6,000+ he owes in child-support to a lesbian couple to whom he donated “life” for the conception of a little girl, now age 3. “William Marotta, 46, donated sperm… under a written agreement that he would not be considered the father of the child nor liable for child support… but in October, the state of Kansas filed a petition seeking to have Marotta declared the father of the child and financially responsible for her after the couple encountered money difficulties.”

For me personally having someone I dearly love choose a similar path in their life, this news article came as no surprise, and frankly, made me rejoice in some amount of justice being served. What I could not help but notice is the absurdity that this man would choose not to be considered the father of this young girl and that the two women are now fighting for him to take on the responsibility. How ironic it is that in a society filled with equal rights for homosexual couples, we find this female couple begging the courts to declare this man the father of their child. What a novel idea—a father is necessary in the birth and life of a child!

From the beginning, God’s plan has been for one man and one woman to live together in faithful marriage under His guidance (Gen. 2:18, 24). I need not give an anatomy lesson for us to realize that the one man/one woman combination is the only way to physically bear children. It all seems so clear, as God has designed it to be. In fact, it is so clear, that this female couple had to seek help in having a child. It is so clear, that now that they are in dire financial straits, they are in some ways willing to submit themselves to the truth that a father is needed for the child. How strange and befuddled a route to coming back to true principles.

Now, please do not be so impressed by the state of Kansas that you are ready to pack your bags to move there. Unfortunately, the state permits this type of donation under certain laws by which these three did not abide. Thus, the donor’s reaction- “This was totally unexpected. The very first thing that went through my mind was that no good deed goes unpunished."

Old Merriam-Webster may gives us a plethora of definitions for the word “good,” but of a favorable character or tendency, suitable or fit, and deserving of respect all lend themselves to be consistent with God’s definition of good. In the beginning, God saw His marvelous works through Creation and pronounced them good. David and the people worshiped God, acknowledging Him as good (1 Chron. 16:34). The rich young ruler recognized Christ as the Good Teacher (Mk. 10:17), and He taught us to do good works so that others may glorify our Father in heaven (Mt. 5:16). Is this man’s donation of life to an unauthorized couple and parenting unit in any way good? Does it bring any glory to our Father in Heaven? By no means!

King Solomon requested wisdom to discern good and evil (1 Kings 3:9) and desired that God would teach the people the good way in which to walk (1 Kings 8:38). God is the author of what is good and His Word shows us how to walk in the good path. In His Word alone, we learn how to have a wonderful marriage that pleases Him (Eph. 5:22-33), how to be both a father or a mother that raises children with true love (Eph. 6:4; Titus 2:4-5), and how to do good deeds that will not be punished, but rather rewarded at the end of this life (2 Cor. 5:10). While Mr. Marotta and his wife feel that they are presently being punished for what they see as good, we can open God’s Word and learn that homosexuality will be eternally punished and those abiding in and enabling wickedness will be as well (Rom. 1:28-32).

My hope and prayer is that we might all depart from evil and do good (Ps. 34:14). Also, that this court ruling will open the eyes of these three and many others who think they can go about marriage and parenthood their way. It is possible that some slight good may result from this wickedness after all- “Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said "It is unfortunate and unfair" that Kansas is seeking money from a sperm donor. “It certainly might have a negative effect on other men's willingness to help couples who need a donor, which would be harmful to everyone.” Certainly it would be of no harm, only a blessing if this case would turn eyes towards Heaven and feet to the path of righteousness. &

The Effects of Apartheid in South Africa

By Paul K. Williams

Gary Eubanks sent a challenging question. "He wrote: I'm wondering; aside from the moral aspects of apartheid, would you say that, on average, for you, things were better before, or after, it? (I know blacks and colored’s would say "after.") For instance, since you speak of governmental corruption and how its problems trickle down, did you not experience these problems while the apartheid system was in place?"

This question has set me to thinking, and I find the issue very complex. Apartheid was like segregation in the South of America, when a black man was not allowed to park his car on the main street of Poplarvillle, Mississippi, a black man could not look a white woman in the face, and a black person could not approach a white man's house by the front door. It led to terrible abuses. Isaiah Mngadi came to my house shaking with rage. The traffic policeman pulled him over for a routine check and said, "Ja, bobejaan." (Yea, baboon.) Of course Isaiah could say nothing back.

Whites were privileged. We lived in a whites-only town where the only blacks allowed to stay at night were servants of families. Our sons went to very good schools where they received a basic education superior to what they would have received in America. Helen rode to work in Johannesburg in a whites-only railway coach, and we sat on whites-only benches in parks.

Because I was preaching among Africans, we were privileged to know them in a way that South African whites could not. We saw them as leaders in their families, church and community. We learned to appreciate many of their ways, and were able to argue with them on an equal basis about customs, etc. Our sons, therefore, grew up without the prejudices which were common to other white boys.

We found that we could not trust the radio newscasts to give a true picture of things. The government lied about its involvement in wars in Angola and South West Africa, and in other things. Police torture was routine, and we sometimes heard of detainees jumping out of the eighth floor of the Johannesburg police headquarters, evidently to escape more torture.

All white boys were required to serve two years in the armed services when they got out of high school, or turned 18. For this reason we sent our sons back to America as soon as they finished high school.

Apartheid ended in the early 1990's, and its demise has made a big difference in the lives of all South Africans. There are many things I wish I could change in this country, but I can only thank God that apartheid has ended.

May God be with you all. &

Confessing the Good Confession

By Ron Drumm

Timothy was encouraged to "fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses" (1 Tim. 6:12). Our daily lives in Christ are pictured as fighting the good fight of faith which involves upholding the name of Christ in everything we do, and in so doing we can lay hold of eternal life (Heb. 12:1,2). Our confession states that Jesus Christ is Lord and is the Son of God, the One in whom we believe and for whom we live (Gal. 2:20).

We know the requirement of confessing the good confess- ion is no easy task. We are challenged everyday to stand up for Jesus and the faith He has given us. Like Timothy we must flee what is evil and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness (1 Tim. 6:11). We are admonished to keep the commandments of Christ without spot and blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing (1 Tim. 6:14).

How do we approach confessing the good confession? Humility is the spiritual trait that will keep us ever seeking to plea- se our Lord Jesus and our Father in heaven. We know we can fall from grace (Gal. 5:1-6), and we know that we can return to live in sin again (1 Cor. 10:1-13). So, we need to approach our daily walk in Christ humbly, knowing our weaknesses. The power of a good confession is the realization of how much we need the strength that comes from knowing Jesus and walking with Him.

How do we continue confessing the good confession? Hope is the spiritual anchor to fighting the fight of faith every day The apostle Paul described the meaning of hope for us: "For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance" (Rom. 8:24, 25). We have this wonderful and magnificent promise of eternal life. The hope of receiving that promise keeps us living our good confession continually.

The Hebrew writer offered this admonition: "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession" (Heb. 4:14). God's Word, particularly the whole New Testament, was written to assure us that we can fight the fight of faith, daily confess the good confession, and lay hold on eternal life! &