For anyone to miss the latest ocean of controversial news in the media lately would imply you should crawl out from under that rock! And I don’t mean all that scandal stuff about President Clinton. I’m talking about the bombing at an abortion clinic, the execution of Carla Tucker and the potential bombing of Iraq.
I was greatly saddened by the death of an off duty police officer and the injury to a abortion clinic worker when an explosive package blew up. An anti-abortion (not pro-life) group calling itself the Army of God claimed responsibility. They have declared war on the abortion industry – literally. They have ignored the scriptures that teach us to “never return evil for evil” and “never take revenge beloved.” Rm. 12:17-19 If they really wish to fulfill the laws of God, they should love their neighbor and enemies, but then again that would cost them more.
Violent anti-abortion groups should understand that God’s remedy for the darkness of this present age is found in the loving, courageous and godly lives of His people. Simply put, Christ on earth investing in the lives of others. All too often, though, many of us have tied His hands through fear of man, the fear of failure, and the fear of losing our lives (i.e., comfort, self and effluence). By the way, there is an Army of God, called the church. When the church is activated and motivated to intervene on behalf of the unborn, abortion could become a rarity.
I was also saddened by the execution of Carla Tucker. There was no question that she deserved to pay for the heinous crime that she committed, but it would be wrong for me to demand that she die for that crime. The government has that right, just as we expect them to defend us with the police and military, even to the point of using deadly force. But as a pro-life Christian, I must plead for every life to be spared so that they may be saved from their sins and may provide fruitful service to others. This principle is applicable to abortionists and any enemy that comes into our lives. Remember that Jesus was pleading on our behalf while being killed on a cross. Our hearts should be the same because eternity is demanding sobriety, not levity, when a persons life is on the line.
Lastly, there is Iraq’s capability to use weapons of mass destruction which is fueling the resolve of the U.S. to use military force against it. But according to U.N. sources, at least 4,000 Iraqi children a month are dying from the conditions that were created in the last war with U.N. forces. Coincidentally, at least that many die by abortion each day in this country.
It would not surprise me if the Iraqi government is willing to sacrifice these children on the altar of so-called military superiority. But I believe that we should try to find a way to resolve the tragedy of the Iraqi children while getting Iraq to comply with our demands for inspections. We might be able to pressure the Iraqis by offering them a sizable amount of food and medical supplies, thus showing the Iraqi people that we are serious about resolving this crisis peacefully. Possibly, by extending humanitarian help, the Iraqi government will look like the unreasonable one instead of the U.N. to the rest the world. See Romans 12: 20,21b.
We could make our demands on who should live or die, but the heart of Christ is to seek and save that which was lost. “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” (Luke 9:55) So what kind of spirit do you have?
Phil Magnan of Chula Vista and his wife Diane represent Life Source, (619) 426-9960.
