June 29, 2022

I stared at the headlines in the paper a couple of days ago that announced that some abortion clinics were closing due to the Supreme Court ruling and was frankly amazed that this day had come. I used to run with a brother from the church past a local abortion clinic and prayed for it to close down, not knowing if that day would ever come. Now, we are a step closer. But as I looked at the headlines I did not have as much joy as I thought I would have. It felt like closing the gates of Auschwitz wondering how a nation, supposedly civilized, could turn on its own and justify the killing of so many millions of little people. At the same time, the struggle is hardly over. Pregnancy Centers are being targeted even more. A friend of mine pastors a church in a large city in the Northwest. His church was targeted for violence because they host the central offices of the local Crisis Pregnancy Center. Yesterday he sent out this note about what happened this past Monday night.

“About 8 PM, a crowd of between 150-200 people assembled at a park near our church. They marched to our office building two blocks away and marched around the block chanting the sort of slogans you've heard on the news since Roe was overturned. There was a heavy police presence in the neighborhood, as this had been openly organized. As the crowd approached, the company contracted to board up all the windows withdrew, with only half the building finished. After circling the block, a group of well-prepared and fully masked individuals broke off. Using umbrellas and masks to shield their identity from security cameras, they smashed every ground floor window on the side of the building that had not yet been boarded up, and covered that side of the building in vile graffiti aimed specifically at Christians. They then jumped in prepositioned trucks with all of their equipment and fled. The damage was done in just moments. The rest of the marchers, whose mass largely shielded the vandals from view from the street, then marched back to the park, shedding their black Antifa style clothing on the way, got in their cars, and left. The level of organization and coordination was striking.

One reporter covering the event was assaulted by several in the crowd with umbrellas and mace, but was not seriously hurt, though the police did tell us that it was a felony assault. A few window A/C units were damaged, and there's a lot of glass to replace and graffiti to remove. But, in answer to prayer, there was no fire, no serious injuries, and no further attempts to damage the building. The entire half block was behind police tape and Pinkerton security was present throughout the night.

This morning, clean-up continues. Our community coffee shop was able to open, and many of our non-Christian neighbors and regulars have expressed real sympathy. Our staff is praying for gospel conversations and opportunities to come out of this. The back side of the block is housing owned by the church and filled with members and staff. Last night the backyard of one of our staff pastors was filled with non-Christian neighbors who were shaken up by the event.”

He goes on to ask for prayer that this would result in the spread of the gospel, the safety of the staff and members of the church, and that they would continue to have a gracious and hospitable spirit to the community. I want to point out three things that we need to take to heart:

1)    We don’t fight fire with fire.

That is worldly wisdom that only advances the agenda of the Evil One. I say that because we have witnessed an increased militancy on the part of Christians in recent years who confuse political battles with gospel sanctification and the kingdom of Christ. It is right and good to utilize the freedoms afforded to us as citizens of this country, but not with a spirit of hatred or malice. When we use violence in heart or deed to voice our position, we are helping the wrong cause. When we use a good cause as an excuse to break the law or be deceitful, we are helping the wrong cause. Our hope is in Christ. Our secret superpower is the gospel and therefore, gospel-driven humility and faithfulness.

2)    Abortion is a political and deeply personal issue.

A friend of mine who is convictionally pro-life was in a conversation with some girls who told her some of their stories and abortion experiences. My friend realized that when she said things like, “I can’t imagine anyone ever killing a baby” that while that was true, it only added to the weight some of her friends carried. She couldn’t imagine it, and now, they couldn’t imagine that they had done it. However, how we discuss this needs to be done giving gospel-grace space in our hearts for those whose past has been forgiven and who may have been in situations that we need to show more empathy toward.

3)    Be prepared for more open hostility.

This is what Jesus said would happen and the long history of the church has born this out. We are just now starting to experience what many of our brothers and sisters go through daily in other regions and what many of our forefathers experienced for hundreds and hundreds of years. It is hard. It is weighty. It will likely have a winnowing effect, but it will help us discern whether our faith is rooted in our love for Christ or just an infatuation with his gifts.

I am not an alarmist, just a captain reminding the troops that we are on deployment, not vacation. Our hope is in Christ.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Sunday’s text: 1 Samuel 18:17-30