Defund? Or Defend?

In the past year there has been an outcry to DEFUND Planned Parenthood.

Prolife leaders are demanding it!

Prolife citizens are demanding it!

Prolife politicians are demanding it!

Some are calling for Planned Parenthood to be defunded because they were selling body parts of babies they had slaughtered.

Other more right-minded people are calling for Planned Parenthood to be defunded because they are killing the babies, period.

Some brothers and sisters in Christ have asked for my thoughts about whether we should go for the DEFUND button, and as Paul said before Agrippa, my response is, "I think myself happy...because I shall answer for myself this day..." (Acts 26:2).

The ProLife Movement has made much of the tactic, over and over raising the banner of this endeavor of taking government funding of the organization that commits about a third of the reported abortions in our country.   This has been sought in various states and federally as well.

Before his presidency, Donald Trump sent a letter to Prolife leaders, making an attempt to get them to back his candidacy.  In it, one of the things he promised to do is to "defund Planned Parenthood as long as they continue to perform abortions, and allocate the funding elsewhere."

This strategy is attractive.  It sounds really good.  We really don't want to give money to fund the murder of the innocent.  

BUT wait a minute!

This is treating abortion like an undesirable form of healthcare, rather than MURDER.  It is like saying we are not going to fund this group because they insist on using faulty pregnancy tests, which are not reliable.  We will not give them funds until they buy quality products.  

Abortion is NOT faulty healthcare!  

It is Homicide in the worst degree!  

People, image-bearers of our God, are being murdered by the thousands every day!  

These are the MOST innocent and MOST vulnerable people in all our society!

And they are being murdered in the place where they should be the MOST safe!

CONSIDER:

If it became “lawful” in the States, for bearded people to be seized and hacked in pieces, I would be horrified if... 

-those in civil authority 

-fellow American citizens 

-good American Christians made their rallying cry: 

“Not with my money!”  

“Don’t make us pay for it!”  

“No Federal funding!”

"DEFUND the slaughter of the unshaven!"

I would want them to demand that the murder of bearded people be ABOLISHED!  That justice be done!

The answer is not to defund Planned Parenthood.

The answer is to defend the innocent, and deliver them from the hands of the oppressor.

Jeremiah 22:1-3

1 “Thus saith the LORD; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,”

2 “And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates:”

3 “Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.”

The government has the responsibility before God and man to punish the guilty, and protect the innocent. Planned Parenthood has murdered more than ISIS, the KKK, and the death camp of Auschwitz combined.  Their murderous activity must be made to cease.

We should NOT be saying, "Naughty Planned Parenthood, we are withholding allowance till you behave better."

We should be saying "Murder is evil.  We must repent of our apathy, cry mightily unto God, and return our laws to reflect justice, mercy, and equity for all.  We will not be silent until child sacrifice, the murdering of over 3,000 Americans EVERY DAY is removed from being protected "under color of law"!  That is, we will protect the lives of all the innocent!

The total and immediate abolition of abortion.

[As a side note, Trump’s motion in the letter made it sound as if Planned Parenthood is the only killer of babies.  According to the Guttmacher Institute, only 27.5% of all abortions in the United States are committed by Planned Parenthood.  There are many other abortion providers who would not be affected.]  

Moreover, the fact is that if government funding ceased for Planned Parenthood, there are enough liberals and pagans (business moguls, Hollywood celebrities, etc.) in America with millions to donate and keep it afloat with private funds, so that the murder could continue with even more impunity.

Those celebrities and billionaires will be happy to give and be thought of as champions for women's health.  What needs to be done is for abortion to NO LONGER have protection under "color" of law, and rather to protect humans (no matter their age) under the law FROM MURDER.  Prosecute Planned Parenthood and others who will practice or procure preborn premeditated killing with HOMICIDE, just as we would for anyone else's murder.

Treat Abortion like what it is.

Be not content with DEFUNDing Planned Parenthood.  

DEFEND the Innocent!!!

Demand the Abolition of Human Abortion!

Abortion must be ABOLISHED, not Privatized. 

There is still time to win a battle before the sun goes down.

The Towers Fell and We Feel It Not.

September 11th...9/11...The World Trade Center...The Twin Towers...

                                            

This day forever is imprinted on those who were old enough to remember the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center crashing, which, along with other attacks that day, killed almost 3,000 people. 

Each year, on this day, millions of Americans pause to recall, shudder, and talk about the events that took place that morning back in 2001, have told family, friends, or even strangers about where they were or what they were doing when they first heard of the attacks.

I was in Iowa with my family, en route to Kansas City from Minnesota, to take part in a church missionary fair.  We were at a gas station when a man came over and knocked on the window, saying, "The second tower just fell!"  We had no idea what he was talking about.  After hearing a bit more from him we ran over into a nearby Walmart and watched the horrific news in their TV department.  

The nation wept brokenly over the tragedy.  There were great cries and mourning.  People gathered together in grief.  And understandably so, at the immense loss of life on that one day!  

Much has been said, reported, claimed, and blogged about 9/11.  But I would like to put out an observation that I have not heard ANY ONE else mention, whether in person, on TV, radio, or the internet.

I must confess that as a young man, before that 11th day of September, I had never even heard of the Twin Towers.  But just weeks after, I found a little souvenir book that had a picture of those buildings as well as a lot of other photographs in the cover, simply entitled 1973.  Curious I bought it and read it.  It was chock full of little possibly unknown facts of things that were accomplished, came into fashion, or got invented in that specific year.  

The Twin Towers were completed on April 4th of that year.  

It was also the same year that all airlines became required to begin screening passengers and their carry-on baggage as a measure of security at airports.  

Interesting.

There were many other items mentioned, including fashion trends, economic hiccups, and popular toys. 

But the ONE THING that struck me the most? On January 22nd, 1973, our nation's Supreme Court ruled on Roe v. Wade, making it "legal" to murder people in the womb.  OUR Supreme Court declared that it was their opinion that to have an abortion was a constitutional "right".  

The U.S. Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to say that any type of murder "is now okay".  

God is the Author of Life (the Author of Marriage too), and ONLY He has the authority to dictate when life should be taken away.  And He has made it CLEAR,  

"Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place." (Jeremiah 22:3).  

We are NOT to do violence toward the weak and the vulnerable, neither are we to shed the blood of the innocent.  And yet in abortion the most vulnerable of people are suffering violence and their innocent blood is shed.

Our founding fathers stood squarely on this truth when penning our nation's founding documents.  Abortion is contrary to God's Law which is higher than man's law.  The Supreme courts "ruling" that day was (and still is) a violation of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence.  Thus it is a perversion of just law, God's and man's (which is based in God's), and is truly unlawful.  

As the psalmist said, "Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?" (Psalm 94:20).  

In 1973, not only were twin towers constructed changing the landscape of New York City, but twin towers were toppled for the sake of convenience.  Those were the towering pillars of Justice and Equity.  The barbarous abomination of child sacrifice to the god of SELF became a "right" to be protected, promoted, and pursued.  Mischief was indeed framed by a law.  That was the day THE TOWERS FELL.

Abortion is not a right.  Abortion is a WRONG.  And the verse above says "DO NO WRONG".

Yet our country has functioned for OVER 40 YEARS as if it is now permissible to commit murder if your victim is a certain age, size, and in an accepted location.  Since 1973 our nation has slaughtered over 60 million babies where they should have been the most safe.  That is 2 every minute, over a million each year.  

Which means that from the year that the World Trade Center Towers were finished, we have been butchering, poisoning, and burning to death over 3,000 baby girls and boys every day.  That is the equivalent of a 9/11 attack DAILY for 28 years up to the attack on the Trade Center!  AND that number of murders has continued unto this day.  

Where are the tears?  The mourning?  The gatherings to grieve?  

A nation weeping brokenly over the innocent lives radically snuffed out?

Where are the memorial services?  Where is the outcry?  

Where are the demands for justice and equity?

Where are the heroes to warn the wicked and rescue the weak?

Tragically we are unmoved.  As a nation, and even the church of Jesus Christ at large, we are often too busy with work, with play, with entertainment, with education, with religious activity, to mourn over the murders in our midst.  Why are we so callously blind, so willingly ignorant, of this National tragedy? 

We have become selfish, and don't want to be inconvenienced.  For much of the country, and most grievously, much of the body of Christ, we are content to do little or nothing in the cause of the voiceless, those appointed to destruction, the poor and the needy (Proverbs 31:8-9).  

We are NOT demanding for the total and immediate abolition of this evil. As we stand boldly to remember and rehearse the horrific injustice that was enacted on fellow Americans ON September 11th, 2001, but feel it radical to stand boldly and decry the horrific injustice on fellow Americans being enacted every single day through the murder of preborn babies. And yet we are quick to say, "God bless America?" 

 "And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter" (Isaiah 59:14).  THE TOWERS FELL long before 9/11 and we FEEL IT NOT.

Hear the rebuke that God had the prophet Micah deliver to the nation of Judah: 
3:9 "Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity."
3:10 "They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity."
3:11 "The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us."

Shall we simply say that the LORD will just ignore what we have allowed?  

That God will simply continue to "bless America"?

That He will not bring judgment, nor withdraw His hand of protection?

As Ezra declared, thus far He has "punished us less than our iniquities deserve" (Ezra 9:13).

We must REPENT!

We MUST repent!

WE must repent!

Abortion must be abolished.

Do The Math

I don't know how often I have heard it said in various ways by fellow believers:

"Unfortunately, at this time the church does not have the people, the power, nor the funds, to make an impact on the evil of abortion in this country." 

"We cannot really do anything but vote, give to pro-life groups and crisis pregnancy centers, pray, and hope for the best.  There is nothing else we can do that will make a difference."

I for one, want to counter this sentiment with truth.  Let's take into consideration a very practical use of numbers.  

There has been a campaign across this nation for Christians to gather and pray at their state capitols.  Franklin Graham has spearheaded it, and thousands of churches, families, and individuals have turned out to hear exhortation and pray together in public squares.  Pastors and Christian leaders have encouraged these gatherings, and they have been well attended.

In Nashville, Tennessee, it was reported that about 9,000 gathered to pray in that state's capitol city on May 3rd of this year.  Let me repeat that.  That is NINE THOUSAND believers who intentionally took time out of their busy lives that specific day!  They organized, and went and stood in a multitude to pray.

Incidentally, just one mile from where those 9,000 gathered to pray about the sins and needs of this country, stands a building where the murder of innocent and helpless babies is committed.  That is an altar of human sacrifice to the god of Self.  Babies are butchered there six days a week.  Just eight miles away from that prayer gathering in another direction  is another murder mill, where four abortionists murder babies on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.  

And yet on most days there is NO ONE standing regularly, or even occasionally, to bring the Gospel into conflict with those who are committing the gross sin of homicide (in the worst degree, on the most vulnerable victim)!  NO ONE standing to declare God's truth and mercy to those who are shedding innocent blood.  

There is a problem with this.

Especially since there are over 600,000 people living in the city of Nashville, and nearly 1,000 churches in the Nashville area!  

Those few Christians who do make it a point to go to those specific Tennessee abortion mills are abolitionists who drive 45 minutes to several hours to stand for Christ and those made in His image. 

Again, there is a problem with that.  

I well remember the morning in Pensacola in 2006, out in front of a baby butcher shop, when a police officer looked at me and my friend, and said "This must not be a real issue for the church, since you two are the only ones here."  In the middle of a conservative Christian "stronghold", surrounded by hundreds of churches, and only two Christians were standing as emissaries for Christ at the Gates of Death.  What message is the church sending the world by our silence and absence from the field? 

The watchword of the Decision America Tour campaign has been "Pray.  Vote.  Engage."

I would like to put some focus on the word "Engage."  What effect would it have if we did?

Since 9,000 individuals were able to schedule several hours out of their very busy lives to gather and pray (and I am sure that abortion was possibly one of the prayer targets), let's just take that number and play with it for a while.  Consider the impact if 9,000 Christians chose to love their neighbors by showing up when they were scheduled to be killed.

Taking one mill into consideration: If just 24 of the 9,000 went to that abortuary on one day, and then a different 24 went the next day, and then another 24 went the next day, and on, and on...you would have 24 Christians at the mill EVERY SINGLE DAY of the YEAR without ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL having been there twice. 

Imagine, 24 Christians, exercising various roles at the Gates of Death—

• Preaching the Gospel. 
• Pleading for the lives of little image-bearers. 
• Praying fervently on site for God to work in hearts.
• Providing help, information, and resources at the entry.
• Provoking with signs, etc.

What if they chose to take on both mills?  If each person in the multitude of 9,000 committed to stand, representing Christ and pleading the cause of the poor and needy (as Scripture commands) outside the Gates of Death one day a month, that would mean that each of those two abortion mills would have 145 Christians outside it EVERY DAY with each person only giving one day a month to plead for the lives of the innocent and provide truth to all who enter (and that is if every month had 31 days; 5 months have fewer).

This by itself would have a HUGE impact on the business that sheds innocent blood.  This would clearly showcase the Gospel to the lost deliver numerous babies from slaughter, and shut down both mills!

For sake of clarity, I must state that I am not at all against Christians gathering in small or huge numbers, privately or publicly to earnestly and fervently pray for revival and a turn in this nation.  I am merely using that example to show what can happen when national Christian leaders and local area pastors encourage the church to "show up!"  They show up!

Why is there not a greater cry for action?  A greater plea to engage?  

Why is the plight of the unborn and the Christian biblical response not campaigned for every Sunday from behind the pulpits of our churches?

The reality of this post is that thousands are gathering for an event to pray about the sins and needs of this country, and yet one mile away from that crowded site, almost no one is gathering to regularly or even occasionally "engage" those who are committing this crime against God, their own children, and their own conscience.  Oh, that after everyone bowed in prayer at that Nashville rally to beseech the Almighty God, those 9,000 had then been directed to march down to Planned Parenthood and actively love their neighbors who were being murdered that very day—some to preach, some to pray, some to plead, some to provide help, and all to provoke as God's word commands, calling to repentance, and seeking the abolition of abortion.

Francis Schaeffer said that every abortion mill should have a sign out front that says, "Open by permission of the church." Please let that quote hit hard!

I saw a billboard in Arkansas that said, 
"When 1% of the church shows up to stand at the abortion mill, Abortion will cease in Arkansas."  That would be true in any state of the union.  Darkness cannot stand the presence of Light.  

God has commanded us to "love our neighbour as ourselves", "visit the fatherless in their affliction", to "open our mouths" and "plead the cause of the poor and needy", to do "justice and equity".

But even though God has made Himself clear, and has given us all we need to make a huge impact simply by assembling as His ambassadors at the Gates of Death (not to mention all the other ways to effect abolition of this evil), it is not enough, nor honest, neither is it "Christian" for us to say, "All we can do is pray."

Prayer is never meant to be a substitute for obedience.  Imagine if Isaiah said in prayer, "Here am I; send someone else!" (Isaiah 6).

I would that the thousands upon thousands of believers in every city would learn about, get involved, and then engage for their pre-born neighbors being slaughtered!  I would that they would take God's command to "Open thy mouth for the dumb in the case of all such are as appointed to destruction" (Proverbs 31:8) at His word.  I fear that it is far easier to go to an event then it is to do the inconvenient thing.  

"Some want to live within sound of church and chapel bell. I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of Hell."  C.T. Studd

[Note: the 9,000 number used as an example in this post is simply taken from the number of attendees at that one city event.  If we took instead the real number of Christians and Bible believing assemblies in Nashville, or another major city (like the Kansas City region), the number of Christians activated could easily be larger, and have even more impact.]

[Note also: Going to the abortion mills is ONLY ONE way that Christians can engage justly on behalf of our preborn neighbors.  There are many areas in which we are to seek to be active in doing justly, as God requires.  Seeding the culture with literature, declaring truth and destroying misinformation, exposing the holocaust to the public in various forums, social media interaction, starting the conversation, exhorting the brethren, utilizing your car as a vehicle of agitation, putting the symbol and message of abolition out to be seen on clothing, products, etc.  Right at the top must also be prodding our elected leaders to abolish the murder of abortion instead of simply regulating it!]  Imagine if 9,000 Christians in the Greater City Area chose to do all those things as well!

The church MUST take right ground, and engage.

Abortion must be abolished.

Let Their SHOCKING INDIFFERENCE Make an Impact on YOU!

Lamentations 1:12 "Is it NOTHING to you, all ye that pass by?"

I recently saw a surveillance video clip filmed in another country of a person on a motorcycle being hit by a car, and being left in the intersection of two busy streets.  For the entire rest of the clip, cars, buses, bicyclists, and pedestrians pass right on by, not pausing to see if the man is okay or even alive.  It was really shocking and chilling. 

Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6KnqNePBl0

Was it "NOTHING" to those people, that they could just "PASS BY"?

Makes me think of the apathy of most Christians and people in general, concerning the murder of our society's weakest citizens who are slaughtered every day.  Only to make the parallel fit better, there should be multiple people hit and lying prone in the road, 3,000+ by the end of the day.

We can shake our heads at the indifference of those passing this intersection, AND YET in our OWN nation, in many of our OWN cities, innocent human beings are being murdered DOWN THE STREET from our OWN homes and churches.

How many of us paused this week and went to the local abortion facility, stretching out our hands to warn the wicked and rescue the man on that Jericho road (babies being sacrificed in our cities)?  

And how many of us turned our eyes, and passed on by because we had things too important, more important than putting aside a portion of the day to endeavor to see lives and souls saved?

These are lives that we KNOW are in danger of being killed intentionally.  We KNOW WHEN and WHERE the crime is taking place too!

Yet, how many of us went about our business...
As if those image-bearers of God were not REALLY people?  
As if the shedding of their innocent blood was not REALLY murder?
As if God does not REALLY see this murder and our inaction?
As if He does not REALLY hear their blood cry for justice?
As if He will not REALLY judge individuals and nations for how they treat the vulnerable fatherless?

REALLY?

Psalm 94:
8 "Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?"

9 "He that planted the ear, shall he not hear?  he that formed the eye, shall he not see?"

10 "He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct?  he that teacheth man wisdom shall not he know?"

Some of you may think harshly concerning the people who drove, biked, and walked past this individual lying in the street, and rightly so.  What they did was unjust, calloused, and evil.  Let's just say that some of them were Christians.  Do you think it would be enough if they said, "Well, I am praying for that guy"?

GOD FORBID!  That is NOT loving your neighbour.  You would be right to rebuke them, pleading with tears and calling them to REPENT and HELP the wounded man!  If you did not warn those passing Christians, you would not be loving THEM!

Why do we Christians in America excuse our own inaction at the plight of over a million children intentionally butchered every year?  

Why do we think that we are okay, to merely say, "Well, I am praying for them"?

Prayer is good, but NOT when it is the substitute for OBEDIENCE.

Lamentations 1:12 "Is it nothing to YOU, all YE that pass by?"

Let us hear the rebuke of Christian brothers who love us and desire for us to engage!  To bring the light of the Gospel in the face of this evil darkness!  To awaken others to the abomination and call to repentance! To rescue the perishing and pluck them from the jaws of the wicked!  TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOUR!

To HEAR and HEED the warning of our Father in Heaven:

Proverbs 24:
11 "If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;"

12 "If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it?  and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it?  and shalt not he render to to every man according to his works?"

Here is an EQUATION:

Bystander Effect = Depraved Indifference = Pathetic Apathy = SIN

Pretty much SUMS it up.

The SOLUTION?  REPENTANCE before God and OBEDIENCE to His word 
(You know, that commands us to love our neighbours, preach the Gospel that saves, visit the fatherless in their affliction, open our mouths for the dumb, lift up our voice like a trumpet, speak truth in a world that loves lies, stand in the gap, be salt and light, cease to do evil, learn to do well, rescue the perishing, do all things to His glory, deliver the spoil from the hand of the oppressor, do justly, and to love mercy, and walk humbly with our God)!  

Thus, the opposite of Indifference is seen - Godly Fear, Love, and Zeal.  Then there will be a DIFFERENCE, in our lives, and in the fruit that God produces IN us, to the praise of HIS Glory, and the turning of this world UP SIDE DOWN.

 This is a matter of LIFE and DEATH, TIME and ETERNITY.  

Let US ALLOW the SHOCKING INDIFFERENCE in that video to make an impact, a DIFFERENCE on OUR WAYS.

There is still time to win a battle before the sun goes down. Abortion must be abolished.

Active Application of AGAPE to Annihilate Apathy

Take a look at the front driver door of this Mitsubishi.  It has words that are derived from I Corinthians 13, the passage in the Bible known around the world as the "LOVE Chapter".

Describing LOVE, the sticker says---
"Is not easily angered, ALWAYS protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres: LOVE Never FAILS."

This is evidently a car of those who are willing to profess Christ out in public, to let it be known that they are Christians.  I think that having bumper stickers on one's vehicle, etc., with Scripture, and messages that represent our Lord, the Gospel, and righteousness is a good way to provoke thought in passersby, start conversations, and spread truth.  It is part of being a testimony for Christ wherever you go.  I personally make it a practice to have Christ-honoring messages on my car, and have many brothers and sisters in Christ who do the same.    

Now, you may ask, "Why is Kevan showing us this picture?  We've all seen similar stickers and know their purpose.  What is the point or the problem?"

HERE'S THE PROBLEM...That picture was taken as the family in that car drove into an abortion mill in order to have one of their children ABORTED.  BUTCHERED.  MURDERED.

[It happened in Nashville a week ago, on Saturday, February the 6th, 2016.  The photo was taken by a grieved abolitionist who was there to represent Christ at the gates of death.]

Think of it, a car with words from the Love Chapter went to a child sacrifice center to do the exact OPPOSITE of what LOVE is to their child!

(Sadly this is NOT a rare occurrence.  I have myself seen cars with fish symbols and Christian logos entering these places to murder the innocent.  Dear friends of ours have seen cars with bumper stickers representing local churches down the street, driven by those claiming to be Christians.  We have heard people say, "I will be in church tomorrow!"  More professing evangelicals will go to these baby butcheries as customers this week than as representatives of Christ for those made in His image!)

Please mourn with us over this murder, over the abominations of our people.
Pray for God to bring that family to repentance.
Pray for all professing Christians who participate in or are apathetic to the slaughter of their preborn neighbour.

Christians may be troubled at hearing this, but feel helpless.  But what can we do?  We can do what is right.

What is really needed is for the church of Jesus Christ to awaken from the slumber of ease and compromise, repent, arise, and be present at the gates of death. We are ambassadors for Christ, are we not?   SO, let us be "speaking the truth in LOVE" as He commanded, loving as He loved, demonstrating that LOVE in embracing the "least of these".

The LOVE that is found in I Corinthians 13 is CHARITY (agape LOVE).  We find it described in the passage.  Let us take just a portion!

I Corinthians 13:4-8
4 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,"
5 "Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;"
6 "Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 "Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
8 "Charity never faileth..."

Here is the incredible description of Agape love, selfless intentional love, which gives to others needs without motive of personal reward.  The Bible in this passage (as in some others) uses the English word charity, which denotes giving, not in a weak, insipid way (that it may be thought of today, as many words have become shallow in our understanding), but the TRUE meaning of CHARITY.

The Latin root of the word carries the meaning of giving something "dear, costly, and beloved".  The Greek word charis is the word often translated grace in the Bible, giving with kindness to need.  This CHARITY love is not merely a feeling, but an action!  It is the lovingkindness extended to another.  This CHARITY is the love of heroes, who will put aside their own agendas, their own comforts, even their own lives, to take the hit for someone else, to rescue the weak and poor in their distress.  This is compassion with clout.  This actually makes a difference.

This love is the love which God so loved us with, that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16).  
It is the love wherewith Jesus Christ loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5).
It is the love that a husband is to demonstrate toward his wife, in giving up himself for her (Ephesians 5:25).
It is the love with which we are to love both our God (in response to His great love for us) and our neighbour (Mark 12:30-31; I John 4:19).

Notice the denial of selfishness in the passage: CHARITY does NOT envy, does does NOT "vaunt (boast) itself" or get "puffed up".  It does NOT allow itself to behave "unseemly" or be "easily provoked", but is humbly harnessed to the task.  NOR does it think evil.  CHARITY "seeketh NOT her own".  Love is not demanding or following "my own way", but holding onto that which is right and true for all.  Another word for selfishness, or going my own way is "iniquity".  See that love "Rejoiceth NOT in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth".  

I fear that one reason that most Christians are not showing this powerful love to the unborn in distress by confronting the culture of child sacrifice with the Gospel, and standing at the gates of death to deliver the weak with our mouths (Proverbs 12:6; 31:8-9), is because we are allowing our own selfishness (iniquity) to abound in our own lives.

The Scripture says, "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Matthew 24:12).  Thus, our compassion in action to the littlest among us grows shallow and cold.  Oh, we care (at some level), but we don't charis.  We don't stop, and stoop over, and weep, and lose sleep at night in begging God to use us the next day outside Planned Parenthood to rescue lives and souls.  Our love (as the church) for the poorest, most needy, and most vulnerable people has grown cold.  And millions and millions of little ones have been slaughtered as a consequence.  Chilling, isn't it? 

It is called APATHY.  DEPRAVED INDIFFERENCE.  Because we have our own plans for the day, our own cares, that don't include the inconvenience of pleading for our neighbour who is getting murdered down the street.  Being Apathetic is PATHETIC.  

The question is: Will we remain in our selfishness?  Or will we turn from it, and say, "Down Self, Christ is my King!"  Will we cast off our Cowardice?  Our Callousness?  Our Comfortlovingness?  To do what?  To take up the burden for the little ones!  To do as Job, and search out the cause we know not, to rescue the innocent from the jaws of the wicked!  To open our mouths in this generation, and speak for those who have no voice!  To bring the truth of Life and the Gospel with the Clout of CHARITY!  As the church of Jesus Christ, we must repent of loving our own ways, our own building projects, and our own pet peeves over the needs of others.  We must rise and engage for the abolition of this great evil!  This abomination, which is a bomb in our nation, bringing destruction and the judgment of God!

Let us NOT condone this evil by our silence!
Let us be shaken and awakened and go to the battle with the Gospel on our lips!
Let us forsake the slack hand of laziness and be diligent with all our might!

LET US PUT APATHY TO DEATH!

Consider two more characteristics of CHARITY: "Charity suffereth long, and is kind"

What is "SUFFERING LONG"?  To patiently bear a burden for a long time; to persevere in the face of offense and insult for the sake of another or a righteous cause.  To incorrigibly endure till the task is completed.

Suffer long?  That is not quite the description of the aspiration of the American church at large today (I must admit, it's not my greatest aspiration either).  We naturally want to avoid suffering, to get fast food, short checkout lines, easy living, comfortable situations, quick fixes, and answers to prayer right away.  Patience for us is often waiting without complaining for the popcorn to finish in the microwave.

Let us CHOOSE to "suffer long", to TAKE TIME to go to the child sacrifice center, to see the need ourselves.  To INTENTIONALLY do what may be INCONVENIENT, to hold out our hands to offer help and hope as our neighbours are being carried away to slaughter, even when it is cold outside or hot outside, even when those we call to choose to ignore, curse, or mock us.  Why should we not learn to be longsuffering, seeing that God is longsuffering (Isaiah 65:2; II Peter 3:9), and calls us to be as well (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 1:11; 3:12; II Timothy 4:2).  Let us choose to spend and be spent, showing this LOVE, as Paul did, no matter the response: "And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved" (II Corinthians 12:15).

What about the other characteristic of CHARITY love?

"and is KIND"  What does it mean to be kind?  To put others before oneself; disposed to do good to others, supply needs, and assist in distresses; to see and act.  It was first used in this way during the age of chivalry (circa AD1300), and conveyed the idea of being courteous, doing noble deeds, righting wrong, and aid those in danger.  The word kind is connected to the word kindred, as in family, giving the concept of treating someone, even the stranger beaten on the road and left for dead, "like family."  Being kind is not minding your own business.

How would you pray and plead for the unborn child if he or she were YOUR own flesh and blood? Would you stand idly by if someone was going to kill YOUR child under protection of the "law"?  Or would you plead for their lives as if your own life depended on it?

O, LORD!  Let us not slumber while the weak are destroyed!  Let us not fail to visit the fatherless in their affliction!  Let us not remain apathetic!  Let us win battles for You before the sun goes down on this generation!

Rather than merely having the words of Charity on our cars and in our mouths while we continue our own selfish ways, let us show the world true CHARITY in our lives, by engaging our culture in society and on site for the sake of Jesus Christ and those who bear His image, till human abortion is abolished.

CHARITY "Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

"CHARITY never faileth"

Abortion must be abolished.

Those Who Use Words Without Knowledge Need to Know the Word of God

On January 12th, I saw a clip of a CNN news panel (aired the 11th), in which an individual made a shocking statement uncovering her complete ignorance of the Christian faith.  The statement troubled me, especially as there was no rebuttal to her words from anybody else on the interview.  You can watch the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=nS3fuu5aSz0&app=desktop-

Immediately, I was concerned on a number of levels, and sought find out who this person was and discovered that Kathleen Parker is a top correspondent and a Pulitzer prize winner.  I was amazed not not only that she made this blunder, and that she seemed confident of her understanding of "religion", but that none of the three others involved called her out on this blunder, or sought to clarify the actual meaning for the audience.  

Before I wrote this post, I wanted to reach out to her (and her staff), in order to declare the truth and give her opportunity to correct herself. It has been a few weeks, and I have received no word in reply.

Here was my communication to her:

Hello.  My Name is Kevan Myers.  The following segment from CNN was brought to my attention (here I supplied the link). 

You said, "I don't think there's any chance Ted Cruz can win a general and here's why...He said...'It's time for the body of Christ to rise up and support me.'  I don't know anyone who takes their religion seriously who would think that Jesus should rise from the grave and resurrect Himself to serve Ted Cruz.  I know so many people who are offended by that comment."

I am unaware with which, if any, religion you identify yourself.  I am concerned that you do know seem to know what Ted Cruze was meaning when he spoke of the "body of Christ".  If I can help clarify the Christian perspective, I would be delighted to be a blessing in this way.  

[Now it could be that you misspoke, and didn't mean to say what you did, and it came out wrong.  That would be completely understandable.  If this is the case, feel free to let me know.  But for now, I must assume that you believe what you stated on CNN.]

The "body of Christ" is a very common term for those who are believers in Jesus. It is title of the church--Christ's "body" is made up of local bodies, called churches, assemblies, fellowships.  This term, used widespread all over the world by Christians, is based in the Scriptures:

Romans 12:4-5 

4 "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:" 

5 "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."

I Corinthians 12:12-14 12 

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ." 

13 "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." 

14  "For the body is not one member, but many."

Calling the church (those saved by faith alone in the payment of Jesus Christ on the cross) the "body of Christ" has been done from the infancy of the church throughout the centuries and up to today.  

Ted Cruze did not mean that it was time for Jesus Christ's physical remains to rise from the death and join his presidential campaign.  He meant that he desires for those who know and believe in the Gospel, to rise and support him and his campaign--as he believes that his stands and proposed policies are in line with the beliefs and values of Christianity. 

This brings up another error in which I cannot forget to mention.  One reason why Ted Cruze could NOT be saying that Jesus' physical body needs to come out of the grave now, is because Ted Cruze knows that Jesus has already come out of the grave.  It happened about 2,000 years ago, the third day after His crucifixion.             
                                

I Corinthians 15:3-4

3 "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;" 

4 "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"  

That grave was left empty, for the Saviour Jesus Christ is ALIVE.  Christ's physical body is already risen.  The resurrection is a central part of the Gospel, and understood by Christians.  

                                    

It not only concerned me that you did not seem aware of this, but also that the other three on the panel did not correct the mistake.  Perhaps they did not know it themselves.  I am further alarmed that many friends of yours, according to your statement, were offended at his words and interpreted them the same way as you did.   

Please understand that I am endeavoring to help make clear some points of the Gospel and Christianity.  I also desire for you to come to know Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour from sin.  Perhaps you consider that you are a good person, and don't need to be saved (here I supplied a link to a gospel to a presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ).

Have a good evening, Kathleen.  Please feel free to respond.

Brothers and sisters, let us consider the two points that I tried to make clear in my message to her. 

First, she does not know that the body of Christ is referring to  believers in Jesus Christ--the church.  Not only is this the biblical term, it is an international reference for the Church worldwide. As the Apostle Paul states, this is not "done in a corner" (Acts 26:26) making anyone who would agree or be offended along with her, ignorant of basic understanding.

Second, she thinks that Ted Cruze means that the physical body of Jesus Christ needs to rise and support him.  Christ's physical body is already risen.  The grave is empty!  Does she not know the great message of the Gospel, that Christ arose the third day?  That He is not in the grave, "but is risen, as He said?"  How has she missed the glorious declaration of the RESURRECTION?                                 

I marvel at the ignorance and folly of a civilized society historically influenced by Christianity, but recognize that it is the fruit to be expected when a people... 

1-forget the true God (Psalm 9:17), 

2-glorify Him not, neither are thankful (Romans 1:21), 

3-cast God behind their back (I Kings 14:9), 

4-forsake His wisdom for their own (Proverbs 1:7; 3:7), 

5-and seek after their own way (Psalm 4:2). 

I sincerely hope that hundreds of thousands watching the news that night recognized the error, and were standing up and shouting the correction at their screens.  However, it is a sad reality that most Americans are Gospel illiterate and probably didn't catch the error.  

Although Christians certainly should know these things, I wonder how many watch or listen to media/entertainment with attention, and test all things by the truth of the word of God.  These things are basic, and I do mean BASIC!

But, then again, maybe we who do know better are not doing our job, the ministry of reconciliation in the name of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to represent His kingdom, proclaiming His message, and modeling His life before them.  

Perhaps this and the many other examples of Biblical illiteracy in our culture is reflecting the lack of impact upon the culture by the people of God.  

Are we out about our father's business, to preach the Gospel that saves?

Are we loving our neighbors--born & unborn, clean & unwashed, saved & lost? 

Are we bringing the truth to bear in our society?

Are we standing for righteousness and living consistently with our said beliefs?

Are we digging into the word of God for ourselves and sharing with others?

Are we working to clarify truth & correct misconceptions about God & His Book?

Are we training our youth to not only know truth, but to know, fear, love, and serve God?

What are we Christians to do?  We need to repent of our sin, our laziness, our cowardice, our loathing of inconvenience, our callousness, and FOLLOW Christ!  We need to hear and heed the call of our God to be SALT and LIGHT!  

I Corinthians 15:34 "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."

We need to study to shew ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, and then live and preach it in OUR generation, being willing to speak the truth in a lost/rebellious/foolish world that loves lies.