A CHRISTIAN WITNESS AT ABORTION CLINICS
J. Grant Swank, Jr.
Olympic bomber Eric Rudolph is calling for more violence against abortion clinics. It's time then for Christians to understand what truly is the believers' tack on such baby killing facilities.
There are those claiming to be Christian who put bullets into doctors working at abortion clinics.
There are those who claim to be followers of Jesus who burn down clinics.
There are those who carry the banner of the Cross and scream at women going into abortion centers.
None of this is Christian. This is not the example that Jesus set.
The only time that Jesus "got physical" occurred in the house of His own religion. He turned over the money tables and sent doves flying because the place of prayer had been turned into a place of cheating.
Yet when Jesus left the sanctuary for the marketplace, He refused to knock into anything with fist or raised arm.
Even when His cousin, John the Baptist, was beheaded for scolding Herod for sleeping with a woman not his wife, Jesus did not stage a revolution of armed might. Instead He went into the next village to heal the sick.
Why did Jesus act this way? Because He would never have underwritten violence as a mode for building His kingdom. His weaponry was truth in love. Period.
Jesus knew that judgment would come from heaven upon those doing evil. In the meantime, He would leave the vengeance with heaven while continuing His mission of compassion.
This is the approach on mission stations globally. Missionaries would never think of burning down another religion's temple or putting a bullet into the devotees of another teaching.
Christian missionaries, working against awesome odds, go forth with truth in love. They win converts to Christianity by godly example and compassion.
How can those who represent Christ in America do anything other than what their counterparts are doing around the world? It is the same gospel, the same Cross, the same message.
Some within the pro-life movement are condoning violence. They work up the emotions to take vengeance into their own hands. They encourage one another to let loose with more hurt and maiming.
Of course, they conclude that this is right, since killing is going on in the abortion clinics. Yet two wrongs do not make a right. Jesus never confronted violence with more violence. He confronted violence--even His own death on the Cross-with truth in love.
Other pro-lifers conclude that truth in love is not combative enough, strong enough, forceful enough. In so thinking, they are playing the part of God.
Let God be God! Let Him bring the condemnation. Let Him see through his eternal vengeance. His way is far superior to any human, carnal battling. All that Christians are called to do is love our enemies, do good to those who would malign us, and pray for those who despitefully use us (see Matthew 5:44).
Wimpy? Try it! It takes all the strength you can muster. It is far more courageous than simply walloping the foe in the teeth.
How can antiabortionists express their opinions outside abortion clinics?
They can stand in prayer. They can sing forth the songs of deliverance. They can hold signs of light, life and love.
They can invite dialog with those entering the clinics.They can distribute literature.
Is this all? This is enough. Let the power of God settle upon such a witness. Let God carry the heavier weight of the cause. Let eternity honor your efforts.
When Christians act like Christ, then they can truthfully label themselves "Christians." However, when people who call themselves "Christians" act in any un-Christlike manner, they forfeit the title.
For more: http://conservativeposts.us/ <http://conservativeposts.us/>
Olympic bomber Eric Rudolph is calling for more violence against abortion clinics. It's time then for Christians to understand what truly is the believers' tack on such baby killing facilities.
There are those claiming to be Christian who put bullets into doctors working at abortion clinics.
There are those who claim to be followers of Jesus who burn down clinics.
There are those who carry the banner of the Cross and scream at women going into abortion centers.
None of this is Christian. This is not the example that Jesus set.
The only time that Jesus "got physical" occurred in the house of His own religion. He turned over the money tables and sent doves flying because the place of prayer had been turned into a place of cheating.
Yet when Jesus left the sanctuary for the marketplace, He refused to knock into anything with fist or raised arm.
Even when His cousin, John the Baptist, was beheaded for scolding Herod for sleeping with a woman not his wife, Jesus did not stage a revolution of armed might. Instead He went into the next village to heal the sick.
Why did Jesus act this way? Because He would never have underwritten violence as a mode for building His kingdom. His weaponry was truth in love. Period.
Jesus knew that judgment would come from heaven upon those doing evil. In the meantime, He would leave the vengeance with heaven while continuing His mission of compassion.
This is the approach on mission stations globally. Missionaries would never think of burning down another religion's temple or putting a bullet into the devotees of another teaching.
Christian missionaries, working against awesome odds, go forth with truth in love. They win converts to Christianity by godly example and compassion.
How can those who represent Christ in America do anything other than what their counterparts are doing around the world? It is the same gospel, the same Cross, the same message.
Some within the pro-life movement are condoning violence. They work up the emotions to take vengeance into their own hands. They encourage one another to let loose with more hurt and maiming.
Of course, they conclude that this is right, since killing is going on in the abortion clinics. Yet two wrongs do not make a right. Jesus never confronted violence with more violence. He confronted violence--even His own death on the Cross-with truth in love.
Other pro-lifers conclude that truth in love is not combative enough, strong enough, forceful enough. In so thinking, they are playing the part of God.
Let God be God! Let Him bring the condemnation. Let Him see through his eternal vengeance. His way is far superior to any human, carnal battling. All that Christians are called to do is love our enemies, do good to those who would malign us, and pray for those who despitefully use us (see Matthew 5:44).
Wimpy? Try it! It takes all the strength you can muster. It is far more courageous than simply walloping the foe in the teeth.
How can antiabortionists express their opinions outside abortion clinics?
They can stand in prayer. They can sing forth the songs of deliverance. They can hold signs of light, life and love.
They can invite dialog with those entering the clinics.They can distribute literature.
Is this all? This is enough. Let the power of God settle upon such a witness. Let God carry the heavier weight of the cause. Let eternity honor your efforts.
When Christians act like Christ, then they can truthfully label themselves "Christians." However, when people who call themselves "Christians" act in any un-Christlike manner, they forfeit the title.
For more: http://conservativeposts.us/ <http://conservativeposts.us/>
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