Yesterday morning, Dr. George Tiller was shot dead in the foyer of the church he attended as he was serving as an usher. Tiller, for those who do not know, was one of a very small group of physicians who performed late term abortions, even in the third trimester of pregnancy. He justified his action by saying that nearly all of those abortions involved a fetus with severe abnormalities. Even if that is true, Dr. Tiller was taking human lives. Reports say that a 51 year old man who has a history of rebellion against the government, calling himself a ‘sovereign citizen,’ shot the doctor. Other reports label the man as being part of the ‘pro-life’ movement. I say he is a deluded fool. Delusion is a huge risk to everyone who rejects accountability to God, government, and Church. A man who becomes a law to himself is loose cannon. I would like to ask him what logic made him believe that one kind of murder justifies another? Tiller’s killer is not pro-life!
The whole news story is a tragic one, with no bright spot, nothing I can find as redeeming. Our ‘me-first’ culture has sanctioned an awful curse called abortion. It is an issue of deep concern to me now and it has been for years. Back in the mid-1980’s I was a co-founder of a ministry that offered help and hope to pregnant women. Our philosophy was that we would not use fear or graphic pictures to inflame emotion! We determined would always be truthful and demonstrate real compassion, to help women make the right choice in a desperate situation. The ministry survives today, though I am no longer involved with it, and I still believe that love the response the Lord asks His people to adopt when dealing with sin!
That said, I am not deceived about the hideous nature of abortion. It is a sin against humanity and God, one of the ongoing acts in our country that invites His judgment. Any nation that sanctions the destruction of the life of the least and the helpless is a nation in danger of God’s correction. Despite the propaganda of the industry, almost all abortions are done for the convenience of those who had sexual intercourse without thinking of the consequence of conception. The flags of incest and rape are waved constantly as a justification for abortion, but even a generous accounting allows that less than 2 or 3 out of 100 abortions involve those circumstances. It is a national tragedy of unbelievable proportion, when one considers that just over 1 million lives end each year in doctor’s offices and clinics in America. That has continued since abortion was legalized in the United States in 1973 by the infamous Supreme Court decision known as Roe vs. Wade.
The Word stirs God’s people to action on behalf of those who are powerless saying, "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." (Psalm 82:3-4, NIV) The ethics of life and justice, however, do not allow any one person to become judge and jury, exacting a mistaken justice with a handgun in a church lobby! Nor should our concern for the life of the pre-born cause us to forget compassion for the woman bearing the child.
Serving God in a sinful world is not an isolated act of righteousness here and there. It is a way of life encompassing all of our choices. We cannot fulfill our high and holy calling without cost. We must be wise, patient, and loving; never allowing our choices – individually or corporately to be fueled solely by emotional fervor. We must remain in submission to God and keep strong ties with all of His people to avoid the deceptions that will twist our best service into a caricature of godliness and holy living.
"How can I stand up before God and show proper respect to the high God? Should I bring an armload of offerings topped off with yearling calves? Would God be impressed with thousands of rams, with buckets and barrels of olive oil? Would he be moved if I sacrificed my firstborn child, my precious baby, to cancel my sin?
But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously— take God seriously." (Micah 6:6-8, The Message)
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