As of tonight, #Gosnell is one of the highest trending topics on twitter. Is it because we all saw the story on the nightly news and now need to share our collective gut reactions? Or maybe we’re venting our disbelief over at those shocking new revelations that came out during today’s court proceedings?…
No, as of right now, the collective national outrage is focused on a target other than Gosnell himself. Right now, the masses are disgusted with the likes of @CBSnews, @ABC, @NBCnews, @nytimes, and the rest of the mainstream media for completely ignoring the most horrific homicide case currently unfolding.
Kirsten Powers writes in USAToday:
We’ve forgotten what belongs on page one.
Infant beheadings. Severed baby feet in jars. A childscreaming after it was delivered alive during an abortion procedure. Haven’t heard about these sickening accusations?
It’s not your fault. Since the murder trial of Pennsylvania abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell began March 18, there has been precious little coverage of the case that should be on every news show and front page.
Well thankfully, the pro-life community is making up for the media’s serious lack of coverage; and here at S4U we too want to raise our voice for the victims of 3801 Lancaster Street.
Don’t let the media bias keep you from being informed. Here’s a round up of some of today’s outstanding articles that tell us the hard to hear truth. We can’t ignore this tragedy. We can’t forget these victims. Speak for the born and the unborn – the precious lives slaughtered by Dr. Gosnell.
Philadelphia Abortion Clinic Horror – Kirsten Powers, USA Today
8 Reasons for the Media Blackout on Kermit Gosnell – Trevin Wax, Gospel Coalition
9 Things You Should Know about the Gosnell Infanticide and Murder Trial – Joe Carter, Gospel Coalition
A 15-Year-Old Allegedly Helped Kill Live Babies at Philadelphia’s Nightmare Abortion Clinic – Erin Fuchs, Business Insider
Krauthammer Explains Why News Outlets are Ignoring Infanticide – Denny Burk, dennyburk.com (multiple articles)
Gosnell Trial Coverage – 9 Articles, World Magazine
Worker at Gosnell Clinic: Baby’s Chest Moved After Neck Snipped - Steven Ertelt, LifeNews (ongoing coverage daily)
Or if you’re on twitter, I suggest following @MZHemmingway since she is constantly posting updates on the trial and its coverage (or lack thereof).
We’re hoping to see more mainstream articles released in the coming days especially as the social media outrage continues to grow. Do you want to help get the media’s attention? Be a part of getting the news out and show them how valuable news reporting is done. We wholeheartedly agree with @OwenStrachan’s advice:
“I vote for every evangelical who has a Twitter account to Tweet about the Gosnell horror tomorrow. Social media is powerful, right?”
Few words are able to describe the evil that goes on behind closed doors, and it is nothing less than grace when that evil is exposed. A video has recently been circulating documenting the grotesque story of a West Philadelphia abortion clinic, a case that certainly is difficult to stomach. Yet, it is a reminder of the unspeakable horror of abortion.
Doubtlessly, pro-choice advocates will defend abortion rights by agreeing that this clinic was indeed an unfortunate case. What is needed is not the abolition of abortion on demand, what is needed is “safer” abortion clinic facilities and procedures. But this entirely misses the point. What videos like this show is not just the horrendous condition of certain abortion clinics; what this video exposes is the gruesome reality of abortion itself. The arms that are being dismembered are human arms. The spines that are severed are those of human beings. How can you deny what the photographs make so clear? How can we justify the disturbing reality of abortion? Watch the video and answer that question for yourself.
[Warning: this video contains disturbing images and content]
“This is our first task, caring for our children. It’s our first job. If we don’t get that right, we don’t get anything right. That’s how, as a society, we will be judged. And by that measure, can we truly say, as a nation, that we’re meeting our obligations?”
- President Barack Obama
“Can we honestly say that we’re doing enough to keep our children, all of them, safe from harm?
Can we claim, as a nation, that we’re all together there, letting them know they are loved and teaching them to love in return?
Can we say that we’re truly doing enough to give all the children of this country the chance they deserve to live out their lives in happiness and with purpose?
I’ve been reflecting on this the last few days, and if we’re honest with ourselves, the answer’s no. We’re not doing enough. And we will have to change…
[There have been] almost daily reports of victims… in small towns and in big cities all across America, victims whose — much of the time their only fault was being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
We can’t tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change.
We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and that is true. No single law, no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society, but that can’t be an excuse for inaction. Surely we can do better than this.
If there’s even one step we can take to save another child… then surely we have an obligation to try…
…Are we really prepared to say that we’re powerless in the face of such carnage, that the politics are too hard?
Are we prepared to say that such violence visited on our children year after year after year is somehow the price of our freedom?”
- President Barack Obama, Dec. 16, 2012, Newtown, Conn.
We could not have said it any better.
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.””
(Romans 12:19 ESV)
I remember it like it was yesterday: a dark snowy day darkened when the officer seated in his car, scouring the sidewalk for someone to make an example of, took action. Without a word, he got out his car, approached David H., a friend of mine, and arrested him. And what crime afforded David a ride downtown and a series of legal battles that has spanned the last several years? Well, the answer differs depending on who you ask.
The official report of the incident has been summarized in a recent new article, stating that David, “a former semi-pro basketball player” (doubtlessly a necessary detail to slant the story), pushed a clinic escort, leaving a pair of bruises on her arm. Yet, the story makes clear that the only reason that David could do such a terrible thing is because of his relentless determination to “confront a woman before she entered [the abortion clinic].” All the clinic escort was guilty of was showing compassion to the client by standing in his line of fire. If it were not for the escort, the story intimates, that violence could very well have belonged to the woman walking in for the abortion. In the end, the abortion clinic escort is a hero of sorts, or so we are told. But is that how the story really goes?
I have known David for a number of years, and the thought of him getting violent flies in the face of everything I’ve ever known about him. I’ll never forget the kind of things he would say to women walking in the abortion clinic, describing the depth of his concern and care for them. Words like, “We care about you,” or, “We are here for you,” resounded from David week after week. Relentless? Indeed. But his resilience was to display the love of Christ in restraining evil, and making the gospel known to those in need. What was clear that morning was that the police officer came to the clinic for one reason, and one reason alone: to make an example of a pro-life protester, showing that any degree of public disturbance would not be tolerated. I watched him as he sat in his car, eagerly looking for the first one to slip. Unfortunately, that was David.
I can tell you as one standing right there, these charges always have been, and still are, bogus. But, in our system of “justice,” that is increasingly hostile to obedience to the law of Christ, the ground for righteous living is slowly shrinking beneath our feet. Speaking out for the weak and helpless in our society is a criminal offense. Standing on biblical principles is damnable. Freedom of religion is fine as long as your freedom does not make a moral judgment on another. We are told to “coexist” with all. But that is not how biblical Christianity began, and certainly not how the gospel has spread. There are volumes in libraries that recount the persecution of those entrusted with the gospel, many of whom gave their lives to further its reaches. In the eyes of the world, these fools gave their lives for an even more foolish cause. But God would care to disagree with their assessment.
The Bible makes clear that there will be trials for Christians in this life (John 16:33; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12), but these troubles are not the final word. Rather, God has said that there is day a judgment, where all the wrongs in this life will be made right; all injustice will be met with recompense. Though David is required to pay the wicked to bring an end to this trial, there is a day coming where God himself will be the one to pay everyone according to their works. And for the unrepentant who stand against his redeemed people, that day will be a day of wrath, and ultimately, of the true justice of God.
Russell Moore has recently responded to an article in Time magazine on the success of the pro-life movement. He offers a much needed word of caution to those who would prematurely celebrate a victory in the pro-life camp.
Though in one sense the pro-life cause has gained a significant amount of ground, Moore warns that the complicated situation in America does not allow for such a cut-and-dry conclusion. Though we have the assurance of ultimate victory in Christ, we need to be realistic about where we really are now.
You can read the whole thing here.
Friday morning it was raining where I live in Dallas, TX and I was at an eye doctor appointment. The news was on but I ignored it so I could respond to some emails on my phone. But when I heard that there was a gunman that came into an elementary school and started killing children at close range–I was glued to the TV. I watched in horror with the rest of the waiting room as we were told that gunman Adam Lanza shot 20 children and 7 adults point blank. How do you look a 5 year old in the eye and shoot them in the head? How do you see them bleeding and writhing in pain and then do the same to another 5 year old? I cried. Everything in me wanted to know why he did this. Everything in me cried out to the Lord to avenge the lives of these children. I thought about my own children and about how I would feel if they were shot and killed like the children in Sandy Hook Elementary School. I felt sick. I wanted justice. I wanted answers.
At this point I did not know that the gunman had killed himself and I saw burly police officers in bullet-proof vests walking up and down the streets with large weapons in hand. Yeah, I thought to myself, justice is coming. The coward that boldly shot defenseless little children will now come up against a more worthy opponent and he will be brought to justice. On a rainy Friday morning I genuinely cared about, prayed, cried and longed for justice for the children of Newton.
And then I realized that I had not shed a tear for the other children who were massacred on 12/14 at abortion clinics all across the country. In fact, I have been living as if children were not being systematically killed every day. I have been letting the media determine what I should and should not grieve over. They do not cover the mothers that bring their babies into abortion clinics to be massacred and so I have not grieved for the loss of their precious lives. And this is wrong. It is wrong for a child to be killed and there to not be a tear shed for this injustice. Our grief over their death, in a sense, validates their lives and acknowledges that they are human and their murder is an affront to the God who made them.
My mind went further.
Maybe coverage of this atrocity in Newton, CT is meant to wake us up to the other children that are victims of pre-meditated murder. Maybe it’s to remind us that killing is wrong, no matter what the size of the human: college students at Virginia Tech, families at a movie theater in Aurora, CO, high school students at Columbine, elementary school students in Newton, CT, or unborn children that are endangered all across our nation. Maybe it is to open our eyes to the fact that:
In 2011, 12,615 children were aborted in CT. If an average kindergarten class is made up of 20 students, this means that 630 kindergarten classes were destroyed last year. On 12/14 one kindergarten class was touched by murder and will never be the same. However, last year, what amounts to 630 kindergarten classes were victims of murder and were completely obliterated just in the state of Connecticut.
If 12,615 children were aborted in CT in 2011, and we assume that number for 2012 is the same, then if we divide this number by 365 days in a year, we get 34 children a day that are aborted in CT. So, we can say with confidence that there was a lot more than just 20 children that were massacred on 12/14 in CT. If 34 children a day are killed in that state, then we should grieve the loss of 54 children, not only 20.
And where were the men with guns defending the lives of the other 34 children that were killed on 12/14? Where were the laws protecting their lives? Where were the news cameras? Why are people not asking “how could this happen?” Why were there no mothers crying? Why were there no pastors reassuring people of the goodness of God in response to these lives that were taken?
The truth is that we are a lot more like the gunman Adam Lanza than we would like to admit. He was clearly desensitized to human life just like we are. Our hearts are growing dull to the horrific nature of taking a human life just like Adam Lanza had no problem taking a human life. We are getting used to the systematic killing of children just like Adam Lanza seemingly felt no tension as he systematically ended children’s lives. We are indifferent to their cries just like Adam Lanza heard them crying and kept on shooting. We defend the rights of one individual even if it means the ending the life of another just like Adam Lanza felt he had the right to use his body to kill children.
Today, let us grieve for these awful murders, but let us also allow this incident open our eyes to how Adam Lanza is not the only one with blood on his hands. When we are silent about abortion, when we vote pro-choice, when we participate in abortion in any way, we too have the blood of children on our hands. May this incident open our eyes to what we are doing to our children and may it be the beginning of the end of abortion in America.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 55:7
Let’s be clear. I don’t like spending my Saturday mornings at an abortion clinic. I don’t like sidewalk counseling. And I’d prefer not to confront another abortion-minded woman or pro-choice advocate for the rest of my life.
But you know what I don’t like more? I absolutely can’t stand that little babies are tortured, dismembered, and tossed away like trash in my own community. I am horrified that there are local businesses that actually charge money to murder children and call it “healthcare.” How can I wake up each morning and enjoy my baby girl while I let hundreds of her would-be classmates and best friends and playground buddies be wiped out without a word of concern?
And so, here I am this morning, moved yet again by Proverbs 24:11-12: “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?”
I’ve been away from sidewalk counseling a year now, but am compelled to once again take to the streets.
When my family moved away from Louisville, Kentucky last year one of the things I knew I wouldn’t miss was sidewalk counseling. To be honest, I was actually excited to know that for the first time in 2 years, I could wake up refreshed and ready to enjoy my Saturday mornings. Before our move, Saturday mornings meant waking at 6:00am with knots in my stomach and sorrow in my heart dreading the next 2-3 hours outside the local abortion clinic. Without a doubt, those hours were well spent; but they were no less difficult to endure.
When we first moved here, I know I had many legitimate reasons to hold off jumping back into sidewalk counseling. My family has had some major life adjustments that have demanded the majority of my attention and I don’t regret that worthwhile priority. But at this point, I think I’m more tempted to remain in my happy Saturday morning routine more out of comfort than necessity.
So with no small amount of trepidation, I am today committing to take my first steps back into sidewalk counseling. This ministry will look much different here and in many ways I feel that I’m starting from scratch. We have no established sidewalk counseling ministry and I have very few resources to even research the way our abortions clinics operate. But in many ways, I know that the Lord had a good plan placing me in this situation. Specifically, I hope to share my step-by-step experience so that you readers can have ideas for how to start similar ministries of your own.
So, here is your official invitation: Will you join me as I journey out to the sidewalks for the sake of the unborn and the cause of Christ’s gospel?
This is an invite for those who’ve considered sidewalk counseling, but not known where to begin. It’s for those burdened for the unborn, but fearful to step out in this radical ministry. For those of you who always have a “reason” you can’t do sidewalk counseling, but know that now really is the time to get involved.
Be on the lookout for future posts as I share resources and ideas based on my Missoula experience. And please join me in praying for the closure of the abortion clinics in my town and yours. Please pray for the spread of the gospel of hope to the abortion-minded in our neighborhoods and pray for courage to communicate it clearly in each encounter. And please let me know if you decide to join me in this effort!
This makes me sad (and sick) for so many reasons. A discount at Planned Parenthood is not the same as going to Target at 9pm to snag a deal on your favorite DVD. But that is exactly what Planned Parenthood and our culture want us to believe. Planned Parenthood wants us to see their “special discount” on equal terms with online shopping, shoes, and electronics. This is a direct lie from Satan himself.
Abortion cannot be returned or exchanged. It permanently hurts and haunts women, and it has stolen over 50 million lives in the United States. May we stand vehemently against this scheme of the devil.
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.–Ephesians 5:11
[HT: reader Anne at Jill Stanek]
So, it has been quite a while since I have written anything for the S4U blog; I am glad to be back. There are 2 things that the Lord has continually brought to mind almost on a daily basis for a few weeks now. One is that the Lord in his abundant kindness has blessed me with another unborn life inside of me. My husband and I are very excited and very thankful. Ephesians 3.20 has proven itself yet again to be true in my life. His kindness even in our miscarriage this past summer was abundant. A few weeks ago, I had my first ultrasound. And unlike the ultrasound from my previous pregnancy I heard and saw my child’s heart beat. I simply cannot express the thankful joy and tears that welled up inside me. It will forever be one of the most poignant moments of my life. I will never forget the sight, the sound, or my feelings in response to it. The creation of life inside of me is so wonderfully mysterious. We certainly serve an amazing God.
Onto to my second reoccurring thought, which is slightly more controversial. Because of the election, I was faced with believers who said they were pro-life but did not consider life something to be fought or voted for. And my initial and ongoing response to them is, “If you are not willing to act or vote in accordance with your pro-life stance, you are really just pro-your-life.” You may ask or wonder, “act? what do you mean act?” Believer, it is no longer enough for you to sit quietly in your own home or church pew and claim to be something you have never been willing to act on. Proverbs 31.8&9 clearly encourages us to “open our mouths for the mute and destitute, and to defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Are there any of those in our society who are in more need than those who are being killed by the thousands? I think not. Again you may wonder at what action you can take. PRAY. First and foremost you, brother and sister, can and should pray. Pray daily that abortion would end in our nation. Pray that doctors would ardently refuse to kill the unborn. Pray that parents’ hearts would love their unborn children and not seek their death. PRAY. VOTE. Vote as if lives depend on it, because they do. VOTE pro-life. GIVE. Give to your local or not-so-local pro-life clinics. Most of the time, these clinics are in need of diapers, baby clothes, housing for needy moms, and of course money. So, GIVE. LOVE and COUNSEL. Be aware of the people around you at work, in your neighborhood, or even in your church. There is bound to be a woman facing a hard and maybe even unwanted pregnancy. LOVE her. COUNSEL her. Another way to love and counsel is to head down to your local abortion clinic and gently and lovingly seek to talk women out of killing their own children. GO PUBLIC. Again, it is not enough to live a quiet pro-life life. It is time to take a hard stance for life. I imagine most of you have some sort of social media outlet you participate in. Does it reflect your life and beliefs? Well, go public and be unashamed. Share the truth of abortion on your facebook page. GO PUBLIC. CHALLENGE. Challenge other people or believers you know who are pro-choice. Especially in regards to believers, challenge them. How can you be a believer and be okay with sin, i.e. abortion? CHALLENGE. These are a few actions you can take to make your pro-life stance real and not confined to the recesses of your mind.
I feel certain that the Lord has put these two things on mind to share for the glory of his name. Praise be to God!
The following is an excellent video of Dr. Voddie Baucham, pastor of Grace Family Baptist Church in Houston Texas. In the first few minutes of the interview, he speaks to the issue of abortion in the cases of rape, incest and other difficult circumstances from a very personal vantage point. Many who identify themselves as “pro-life” seem to take a detour at these important junctures, but Dr. Baucham addresses them with clarity and conviction.
