|
God always presents the shedding of innocent blood to His people
as a matter of the highest priority. It comes to us in a way
that knocks us off stride (or ought to). It messes with our
schedules. It is arresting. It interrupts our normal patterns,
at least temporarily. When life-saving actions are required to
prevent the shedding of innocent blood, it falls particularly
upon us, who believe, to suffer the imposition and take whatever
preventive steps are necessary, lest innocent blood be shed and
bloodguilt stains us all. [11]
The cross is God’s primary means of accomplishing everything in
history. All of God’s purposes find their holy impulse emanating
from the cross of Christ. Even the goodness and mercy of God
that is extended in no small measure to all of creation (that is
what theologians call common grace) flows from the cross. All of
God’s purposes regarding the weak, the innocent, and the
oppressed are connected to the cross and flow from the
cross—even if the weak, innocent, and oppressed aren’t
Christians and will never become Christians. [21]
When we talk about human
rights, we mean that there is an inherent dignity of
personhood, that those created as image-bearers of God have an
inherent right not only to exist but to be treated justly,
completely apart from matters of wealth or talent or pedigree.
[41]
The fact that over 6,000 pregnancy-help centers and maternity
homes have been established—all by charity in just the last
forty years since abortion was legalized in most
countries—suggests that many Christians have decided not to make
peace with death. They have paid for rent and staff and
ultrasound machines in order to help mothers and their babies
escape the agony and violence of abortion. It is noble, it is
honorable, and it is nothing less than the Underground Railroad
of this generation. [57]
As horrific and wicked as abortion is in itself, for the enemy
of our souls it is primarily a means to a greater end—the delay
of the spread of the gospel. [97]
TOP
|
