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]
“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.
In his recent book “Tempted and Tried”[i], Dr. Russell Moore searches the depths of Jesus’ resistance to the temptations of Satan in the wilderness. In his third attempt to get Jesus to give in to temptation, Satan takes Jesus to the top of a high mountain where all of the kingdoms of the world could be seen, and tells him that all of this could be his, if he would just fall down and worship him. Thankfully, Jesus faithfully declines the offer.
Dr. Moore searches into what exactly was going on here. What could have been? What if Jesus had accepted the offer? Satan would have relinquished his evil influence on the world, handing it over to Jesus. Think of what could have been: no abortions, not even one, in the last 2000 years. Listen to how Dr. Moore puts it:
Think about the implications of this offer. If Jesus had accepted it, Satan would have surrendered his reign of terror. Jesus could have directed the kingdoms of the world however he wanted. No more babies would be miscarried. No more women would die in childbirth. Ended immediately would be all human slavery, all genocide, all disease, all poverty, all torture, and all ecological catastrophes… There would be no world of divorce courts and abortion clinics and electric chairs and pornographic images. Whatever is troubling you right now would be gone, centuries before you were ever conceived. This sounds like paradise.[ii]
And indeed it does. It sounds like paradise. So why not do it? Why didn’t Jesus take up Satan on his offer and bring peace and righteousness into this world that is wallowing in sin? To answer that question, it will be helpful to answer this one first: Why would Satan be willing to give it all up? Again, hear Dr. Moore:
Satan was willing to give all of this up because he doesn’t fear Christianity. He certainly doesn’t fear “Christian values.” Satan fears Christ. Remember that Satan holds power only through accusation and condemnation. As long as there is no atoning sacrifice for sin, Satan is quite willing to allow conformity to the external law, even to the law of Christ ruling visibly over the nations from Jerusalem. The accuser simply wants his opportunity to indict his human would-be supplanting powers before the judgment seat, with no shed blood to redeem them back.[iii]
Wow! Thank God that it was Jesus who was being tempted and not one of us. Jesus could not be tricked into taking a short cut from suffering, a short cut from evil, a short cut that would have eliminated the 50+ million babies killed since Roe v. Wade in the womb of their own mother. Jesus chose the way of the cross, the way of suffering, the way by which it looks like evil has the upper hand. And so when challenged by jeers from the crowd to come down off the cross to vindicate himself and all his claims, Jesus still refused. He chose suffering and death for the present, knowing that he would be vindicated by his Father after the pain and humiliation was over. And so he was. On the third day, he arose from the dead.
So what? What does this mean today for the life of children?
Everything.
Jesus is alive! This world is the stage which reveals the incomprehensible glory of the never ending kingdom of everlasting pleasures in the presence of the almighty power and holiness of the ascended, once-dead, resurrected God-man who will rule supremely forever in righteousness, and justice, and purity, and joy, and peace, and glory, and delight, and inexhaustible, unfathomable love for all. This glorious reality has been birthed in this world, on this little earth, in our very own history. It was not in up in the clouds that baby Immanuel (God with us) was born to a virgin and laid in a manger. It was not up in the clouds that this baby grew in favor with God and man. Somewhere out in the universe is not where Jesus healed a man born blind, nor where he calmed a raging sea with the simple command, “Peace. Be still.” There is no hill in the heavens where a wooden cross was lifted with the full grown body of this man of righteousness affixed to it, with nails driven through his hands and feet, where the innocent life blood of the Son of God was willingly shed in sacrifice, atoning for the sins of sinful people.
This world is the stage where God’s story of glory unfolds. Jesus was born in this world. Jesus died in this world. Jesus rose from the dead in this world. It was from this world that his disciples watched him ascend into the heavens. And he remains with us, by his Spirit, here in this world until the end of the age. This dying world has been invaded by the never-dying life of the resurrected Christ. This is a present reality! Though, to be sure, it will unfold into a much more glorious reality in the future. But the days of pregnancy and birth and new little additions to this everlasting kingdom are these days. This world is the perfect place for babies to be born into. It is a story that begins in the womb of a mother and ends in the eternal life of the resurrected Christ. This is a beautiful story. It is reason enough to speak and pray for the unborn. It is reason enough to embrace adoption and to have children of our own, maybe even reconsider your 3-4-5-6 child limit.
Jesus could have accepted Satan’s offer, and there would have been no abortions over the last 2000 years. But every one of those babies born would have had to bear their own rightful judgment of condemnation for disobeying God. Everyone, each and all of us, would be lost forever to endure an eternal death outside of this glorious story of redemption. Eternal life has begun in this world in the resurrected Christ. Eternal life is thriving in this world in the power of the life giving Spirit. Let us bring newly made little people into it, and speak and pray for those who are wrongfully and prematurely being taken out of it. And let’s bring them into the glorious eternal life of Jesus; where nothing is less and everything is better…forever.
Many American’s think that abortion is wrong in the third trimester because it kills a baby, but that it is permissible in the first trimester because it only eliminates a clump of cells. This video educates and defends the humanity of first-trimester fetuses…
As the video said, “At any stage of pregnancy, abortion kills a rapidly developing, genetically-distinct human being.” And, as we say again and again, every human being is unique and made in God’s image and thereby has intrinsic value no matter their size or development. Therefore, every human facing murder and oppression is worth defending. Let’s pray harder and speak louder!
Live Action has gone undercover again, and this time with even more shocking footage of at least two Planned Parenthood staff giving approval to women seeking abortions only because their babies were girls. Seeking an abortion for this reason is called female gendercide, and it is absolutely heart-breaking.
You can watch the first video here:The War on Baby Girls: Part 1 – Undercover in Texas
And the second video here: GENDERCIDE IN AMERICA: Undercover in NYC
Live Action is hinting that there is more to come, stay tuned by checking their Facebook Page, and feel free to share these videos.
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. Galatians 5:11
I wanted to post this to give encouragement to the saints and praise to the Sovereign Lord of mercy. This clinic was shutdown mainly due to unlawful practice. We have seen that many clinics disregard the laws in general thanks to the undercover work of “Live Action” (video can be seen on youtube; Kentucky Abortion Center Fails to Report Child Sex Abuse) At the clinic in Alabama two women died in the same day due to an overdose of medication. The clinic stated that they were unable to rush the women out of the clinic on gurneys because they hallways were too small. Upon further investigation, the claim of the hallways being to small were untrue. Sadly, abortion is dark. Since abortions is run by people who are sinners in need of Gods grace (the Bible makes clear this is every human being), their deeds are dark. However, God promises what is done in the dark will be brought to the light. Every person, in time, will have their sin exposed. This may happen for the world to see, but will be seen by God himself, from which nothing is hidden. Jesus is anyone persons only hope of salvation, of forgiveness, of payment for their dark deeds.
Here is the link to the Jay Sekulow show in which I heard about this clinic in Alabama. The clip about the clinic is around the 12 minute area, however, the whole show is worth listening to. Obama’s Pro Abortion Policies – Abortion Clinic Shutdown
Saints, our labor is not in vain and we still have work to be done. Continue to pray to the Lord that he would put an end to abortion in Louisville as well has nationwide and worldwide. Also continue to pray that while we labor, we would see the fruit of labor. That God would save mothers and families and rape victims and young girls and parents and grandparents and clinic escorts and abortion workers, etc….
Andrea Bocelli, a very famous tenor, tells the story of how his mother was advised by doctors to abort him because he might be born with some disability. Daneille Bean at the National Catholic Register comments:
I always think, when people argue for abortion in the “hard cases” of disability, that they ought to ask the baby’s opinion …
Do you want to live? In spite of being disabled and perhaps suffering quite a bit throughout the course of your life, do you want life?
Because the human response is always YES. Here, Bocelli’s response is a beautiful, joy-filled YES. And the world has been blessed many times over by his mother’s choice for life.
HT: Joe Carter
180 Movie is a 33 min documentary done by Ray Comfort. He compares the Holocaust of Jews in Germany to the Holocaust of abortion in America. It is amazing in two ways. The first way in how many people are ignorant to who Adolf Hitler even was. Secondly, how many people contradict themselves about their viewpoint on how valuable life is.
Ray touches on this towards the end of the documentary, that ultimately people hate God and his commandments. The hatred of God leads to man creating a god of his own liking who is okay with whatever they feel is right. Even if it means killing a human life, in or out of the womb. Only God himself can change corrupt mind. A mind that loves evil, loves murdering innocent people (even babies) can be changed 180 degrees to a mind that actually knows love, cares for those afflicted, sees injustice and longs for God to bring his perfect justice, and finally a mind and heart that knows and loves God!
Following yesterday’s podcast, Dr. Mohler offers additional comments concerning Katrina Efferts’ murder of her baby. He writes on his blog today:
The case emerged from the Court of Queen’s Bench in Alberta, where a judge faced the fact that a woman had been convicted of strangling her newborn son and then throwing the baby’s body over the fence into her neighbor’s yard.
As CBC News reported, the woman was given a three-year suspended sentence and will spend no time in jail for the killing of her baby. Katrina Efferts “will have to abide by conditions for the next three years but she won’t spend time behind bars for strangling her own son.”
Justice Joanne Veit, whose name should now go down in legal and moral infamy, tied this woman’s act of infanticide to Canada’s lack of legal restrictions on abortion. The judge’s decision stated that “while many Canadians undoubtedly view abortion as a less than ideal solution to unprotected sex and unwanted pregnancy, they generally understand, accept and sympathize with the onerous demands pregnancy and childbirth exact from mothers, especially mothers without support.”
She continued: “Naturally, Canadians are grieved by an infant’s death, especially at the hands of the infant’s mother, but Canadians also grieve for the mother.” She also stated that the Canadian approach is a “fair compromise of all the interests involved.”
Two juries had found Effert guilty of second-degree murder, but an appeals court had reduced her conviction to infanticide.
More:
The moral dishonesty of the entire tragedy comes down to the fact that, in legalizing abortion, liberal societies claimed to be making a bargain. We will not protect unborn life, but we will defend all those who make it to birth. Of course, the dividing line was always dishonest. Are we seriously to believe that human personhood is a matter of mere location, inside or outside the womb?
The entire article is worth a read.
