Recently, a doctor was murdered in cold blood on his way into the abortion clinic where he worked. Those who are in the militant anti-abortion movement may see this as justified considering the number of babies this doctor had murdered, but the man who killed this doctor is wrong and two wrongs only multiply the problem, not correct it. This man is now a murderer and in the same condition as the doctor whom he murdered.

All true Christians are and should be alarmed at the number of innocent children killed every day by the surgical procedure known as abortion. The present rate is 4,383 per day, seven days a week, 365 days a year for a total of 1,600,000 per year. This action is whole-heartedly supported by our government. Our president and vice-president sup-port a woman's right to choose. The term "right to choose" is political double-talk for abortion. The Surgeon General that has been appointed is pro-abortion. The newly appointed Attorney General is for abortion and has stated that she will do all she can to see that women have free access to abortion clinics ("Reno Pledges .. ," The Tennessean, Nashville, TN, March 13, 1993, p. 9-A). Our president now has the opportunity to appoint someone to the Supreme Court, and he has stated that the man or woman he nominates will be pro-abortion.

There have been many actions taken by this administration that will lead the way for more abortions. (1) Lifting the gag rule on federally funded clinics to allow abortion counseling, (2) lifting the ban on fetal tissue research, (3) allowing abortions at military hospitals, (4) funding for overseas population programs, and (5) pledging to review the ban on the abortion pill RU-486 are several such actions recently taken ("Clinton Lifts Abortion Curbs. " The Tennessean, Nashville, TN, January 23, 1993, p. 1-A). Not only these, but the Surgeon General supports a policy that will guarantee more unwanted pregnancies in the future. She supports teaching sex education from kindergarten up. The rise in sex education classes in the past has only resulted in a rise in unwanted pregnancies. There is no reason to think that new programs taught at earlier ages will be any better. They will likely result in more pre-teen children getting pregnant and then making the trip to the local abortion clinic to have their babies severed from their wombs. This abortion holocaust is indeed a dark blot on our nation.

What does this mean for Christians? Do we rebel against our government? Do we cease paying taxes in protest? No, in both instances! We continue to live as quietly and peaceably in this world as possible (Rom. 12:18). We abide by the laws of the land and pay our just taxes (Rom. 13:1-7). We pray for our rulers as they are mere men and need our prayers (1 Tim. 2:1-2). As Christians, we know that "righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" so we continue to live righteously amidst sin and teach others to follow our example as we follow Christ (Prov. 14:34; 1 Cor. 11:1).

The man who murdered the abortion doctor is wrong. The action may have been spurred on by the thought that he was rescuing innocent children from the slaughter, but still, it was wrong.

In the first century many Christians were persecuted and killed just for the "crime" of being a Christian. God's order for their day was the same that it is for our day. They were not commanded to kill those who executed Christians or plot against the government in any way. As we have seen in the previous paragraph, change was to be brought about by living the same type of life that our Saviour lived and behaving toward those who revile us in the same way as he. "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" (I Pet. 2:23).

Atrocities involving children happen every day. Some are beaten, cursed, burned, slapped around, and/or sexually abused. Others suffer from neglect by seemingly good parents. Some come into this world with illnesses like AIDS or drug addiction caused by the sins of one or both of their parents. Most children are not taught God's will as they grow. Are these militant anti-abortionists as concerned about these children as they are about those who are aborted? If they could do something to eliminate some of these abuses, there would probably be fewer abortions in the future. Sadly, they will not likely do the right thing when it comes to ending these abuses or abortion.

Why will they not do the right thing? Because, they have rejected God in so many other parts of their lives. A few illustrations should help to prove this point. For example, they do not believe what God says about social drinking or drunkenness, and their children pick up on this and carry it one step further to other mind-altering drugs (1 Pet. 4:3).

They do not believe what God says about lasciviousness and reveling (Gal. 5:19-21). They send their children to the beach, pool, or grocery store in scanty attire. They allow them to watch filth produced by the entertainment industry. They encourage, by allowing to attend if nothing else, their children to dance in school and attend the prom. Then, when Junior gets some teenage girl pregnant or Sis comes home and announces that she is with child, they are astounded and cannot understand how this could happen.

These are people who rejected God years ago. They would not submit to his plan of salvation (Matt. 7:21). They would not follow his truth in worship (Jn. 4:24). They do not restrict themselves to the pattern he has revealed for the work of the church. Seeing they have rejected his will in these areas, it's no wonder they do not restrict themselves to God's law on morality. These sins seemed so small years ago, but they simply paved the way for larger departures in the future; which is where we are now.

These apparently small departures led the way for them to reject God's will in other parts of their lives as well. These departures have brought our nation to the place where homosexuality is accepted or at least tolerated, abortion is winked at, drunkenness is considered an illness with no cure, pure filth is called art, and women are running rough-shod over men. Let us not leave out of this list the filthy language that spews forth from the mouth of both men and women and the practice or acceptance of divorce among most of society.

That is why these people cannot fix the problems. They do not recognize God as supreme in every part of their life. They will not get to the root of the problem and that is where it must be fixed.

Someone might ask, "What about the economy? Let's focus on that for now and worry about the moral health of our country later." We need to get our priorities straight first. If we are able to get our nation on the right moral ground, the economy would likely take care of itself. Study the rise and fall of nations in the Old Testament; especially notice the morality of the nations that fell. Morally strong countries were not destroyed.

Others may say, "You can't legislate morality." Laws,

"Brethren, we must use every
opportunity we have to teach the gospel. Hand out tracts,
bulletins, or Bible correspondence courses. Invite friends,
neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances for a Bible study in
their home or yours. Let these people know that you are a
Christian and that you are interested
in their soul."

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 9, p. 16-17
May 6, 1993