ABORTION AND THE LAW
There are those in our society today that attempt to defend the
rights of the unborn child by practicing civil disobedience.
These Pro-Lifers claim to be Christians carrying out the will
of God. However, many of their actions and words seem to be in
direct conflict with the Word of God.
The Bible is very clear on the subject when it proclaims,
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for
there is no authority except that which God has established. The
authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently,
he who rebels against the authorities is rebelling against what
God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment upon
themselves" (Romans 13:1-2 NIV).
As Christians we must obey the "Laws of the Land." Ours is NOT a
Christian nation, it never was and never will be. We can expect
that it will pass laws in keeping with the wishes of the majority
of the people who are unsaved. We have laws that make
pornography, gambling, drinking, and abortion legal. These are
valid "laws" of the land and anyone who would want to change
these laws must also stay within the law. For example, it is
legal in this country to demonstrate against certain practices
and laws. However, one must be sure to follow the prescribed
"laws of demonstration."
We as Christians have no right to "break" the law in order to
protest against the law. In fact, we are only authorized to
disregard man's law when it requires that "WE" must break God's
Law. For example, if a country would pass a law stating that
families could not have more that two children and if any woman
was "caught" pregnant with a third child then she must have an
abortion, then as Christians we can disobey that law (Acts 4:18-
20). But we must be aware that when man makes a law that would
cause us to violate God's law then when we disobey it we can
fully expect to pay the consequences. If man said it was illegal
to share the Gospel of Christ in this country, then as Christians
we must violate that decree and "spread the Good News," but be
prepared to go to prison for "breaking the law," as the Apostles
themselves did.
The current law regarding abortion is wicked but legal. It does
not require anyone to have an abortion, but only protects the
right of the woman (at the expense of the child's rights) to have
an abortion if she wants to. Christians have no right to break
the law in trying to stop the abortions. They must "stay within
the law" while demonstrating their protests.
Here is what I believe is the cause of the illegal protests:
1. Most of the demonstrators are not Christians. This is
evident in the very fact that they are lawbreakers. Notice how
much of the protests lack the element of Love. God says that we
must speak the truth in Love. What a poor testimony of
Christianity when protesters scream hateful remarks to the
doctors, nurses and patients involved in the abortions.
2. Many, if not most of the protesters would probably claim that
they are Christians but are from the Christian Cult variety, i.e.,
Catholics, Mormons, JWs, Christian Science, etc. They are blind
to the real truths of God's Word and are being used by the evil
one to bring disrespect to true Christianity.
3. Some of the protesters are truly Christians who are simply
committing sin. They have not been taught what obedience to the
authorities is all about. For example, most Christians today do
not consider "driving over the speed limit" as disobedience to
authority and therefore sin. They see the 55 mph signs and go 60
or 63 because they know they can "get away" with it. This is
basically the same sin as illegal protests. I have been in many
Evangelical Churches that actually joke about speeding or laugh
when someone "gets a ticket."
What should a Christian do about the sin of abortion?
1. Pray for the doctors, nurses, and those women who are
involved in abortions. And when you pray, "Go into your room,
close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your
Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you"
(Matthew 6:6 NIV).
2. If you must protest publicly then do it legally and in love.
Get a permit for a demonstration and be sure all signs and
statements are in perfect Christian love. Be sure to avoid
including the non-Christian in your "group" for they do not have
the Spirit of God within them to guide and control their actions.
God tells His children to do everything without arguing and
complaining, and I believe that applies to the subject at hand.
We must be sure that our society will not see Christians as those
who want to argue and complain about the Government, but rather
as Loving, Concerned Americans who care very deeply about the
life of the unborn child, and the Spiritual lives of the Doctors,
Nurses, and the Parents of the aborted children. God will honor
us when we honor Him.
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