Much ink has been spilled on the ethics of civil disobedience, and whether it is ever justified. People of various belief systems have struggled with the question – both Christian and non-Christian. I have already weighed in on the debate in an earlier article: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2008/11/02/christians-and-civil-disobedience/
Since I there cover most of the biblical material, I will not repeat it here. But I do want to discuss the issue further, especially in regard to the issue of abortion. How much should believers engage in civil disobedience to save the lives of unborn babies headed for the slaughter?
We have various biblical passages which emphasise standing up for the defenceless and the innocent. A classic text is Proverbs 31:8: “Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless”. The KJV renders this passage this way: “Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction”.
And of course the Sixth Commandment clearly teaches, “You shall not murder”. So what obligation do believers have when we are aware of the murder of the innocent? This is not a new question by any means. Martin Luther wrestled with this nearly 500 years ago. He said this about the Sixth Commandment in his Large Catechism:
“This commandment is violated not only when a person actually does evil, but also when he fails to do good to his neighbor, or, though he has the opportunity, fails to prevent, protect, and save him from suffering bodily harm or injury. If you send a person away naked when you could clothe him, you have let him freeze to death. If you see anyone suffer hunger and do not feed him, you have let him starve. Likewise, if you see anyone condemned to death or in similar peril and do not save him although you know ways and means to do so, you have killed him. It will do you no good to plead that you did not contribute to his death by word or deed, for you have withheld your love from him and robbed him of the service by which his life might have been saved. Therefore God rightly calls all persons murderers who do not offer counsel and aid to men in need and in peril of body and life.”
Very interesting thoughts, which certainly have direct application to the abortion debate. If we know that unborn babies are being killed at the abortion clinic down the road, what is our response to be? Do we have an obligation to stop the slaughter? Should we be willing to violate human laws if need be to rescue the dying?
There are no easy answers to these questions, and pro-lifers are split on the issue. Some see any such activities as counterproductive and harmful to the prolife cause, while others argue that we must take radical action such as this, or the babies’ blood will be on our hands. I cannot here resolve this important and complex debate.
But let me focus on one more aspect of this. We know that during the US civil rights struggle of the 1960s, various public actions were undertaken to fight unjust discrimination. Usually non-violent means were used, but often protestors were willing to violate the law – and suffer the consequences – in order to stand up for the civil rights of Black Americans.
Martin Luther King, Jr., for example put it this way: “An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.”
One leading pro-lifer in the US, Randall Terry, has very much been involved in direct action against abortion. He has often cited the example of the civil rights workers. He was just recently arrested as he protested over the decision of Notre Dame to award President Obama with an honorary law degree. The university of course is a (at least nominal) Catholic university, and many Catholics are outraged that this university should give such honours to arguably one of the most pro-abortion Presidents ever.
Terry says this about his actions: “We are following the example of Dr. King and the civil rights movement. They deliberately created social tension in order to expose the grave evil of segregation. Obama’s promotion of killing the innocent is far more evil than segregation; therefore, how can we react with less clarity, valor, and tension?”
And he has challenged those who dislike his tactics: “I fear for ‘pro-life Catholics’ who condemn our actions; I fear for lukewarm clergy who look askance at our measures; I fear for ‘Catholic press’ that lacks the courage or integrity to even cover our activities, is embarrassed by our tactics, ashamed at our boldness, and seduced to silence by the fear of men. Yes: we will stand trial for ‘trespass;’ but the arrogant and the fearful in the Church Militant that ‘trespass against us’ by denigrating what it means to be militant are on trial as well.”
Strong words indeed. And bear in mind that for the moment I neither condemn nor condone such thoughts and actions. But they do raise many vital questions which all biblical Christians must carefully and prayerfully ponder.
Indeed, an appeal to the earlier American abolition movement is also often made by pro-lifers. They remind us for example of what abolitionist Frederick Douglass said a century and a half ago: “If there is no struggle, there is no progress”. They remind us of John Brown and the Underground Railroad. They remind us that in times of moral crisis sometimes extreme actions are needed.
Another pro-lifer is also in the news, and he likewise is urging people to be willing to stand up for their convictions, even if it means facing jail terms. This is how one news release puts it: “Dr. Alan Keyes, who ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004 against Barack Obama, has announced plans to come to Notre Dame to be arrested for protesting Obama’s address and honorary doctorate at Notre Dame’s graduation. Dr. Keyes urges pro-life compatriots around the country to join him, as a witness against Notre Dame’s betrayal of the babies, and in the hope that President Obama will be cancelled.”
This is part of what Keyes has said about his actions: “I will go to South Bend. I will step foot on the Notre Dame campus to lift up the standard that protects the life of the innocent children of this and every generation. I will do it all day and every day from now until the Master comes if need be, though it mean I shall be housed every day in the prison house of lies and injustice that Obama, Jenkins and their minions now mean to construct…
“If this be trespass, then forgive us our trespasses and join us in trespassing until the South Bend jail is filled to overflowing with witnesses to truth; filled beyond capacity; filled until we break the most onerous shackles of all – the ones that bind the heart and mind to evil and our nation to the path of its destruction…
“I ask others who all these years have prayed and labored for the unborn to join us. I know you are there. I have broken bread with you at dinners for crisis pregnancy centers and right to life groups. I have marched with you to proclaim the sanctity of innocent life, and decry the laws that sanction its destruction. I have been uplifted by your faith, your perseverance, your love of God and His Son. The forces of evil mean to lay final claim to a place supposed to be within the precincts of our God and Lord. Come what may, we must come forth now to occupy and hold it against them.”
Stirring words, and a resolute call to action. Again, I have not even fully made up my own mind as to what is the right way to approach these matters. As I mentioned, some Christians abhor all lawbreaking, while others argue that it is the duty of every Christian to resist unjust laws.
In my earlier article I laid out some of the biblical ground rules about such things. But it still takes much contemplation, prayer and seeking the face of God to determine how we must act in such situations. However, at the very least, we can commend people like Terry and Keyes for the courage of their convictions, and we can certainly keep them covered in steadfast and fervent prayer.
And may the Lord grant all of us both courage and wisdom as we each ask ourselves, “How do you want me to respond Lord to this grievous evil of abortion?”
If I may be allowed to begin this thread, it of course should be obvious that it is not just Catholics who are concerned about abortion in general and Notre Dame in particular. Christians of all stripes are concerned and getting involved. Seconds after I wrote this article I received an email speaking about Protestants who also will make public protests, even risking arrest: http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/2424910281.html
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Dear Bill,
I have just one comment. And that is – you are doing a job with a passion that the Lord has placed in your heart. I have always looked forward to seeing your articles and enjoyed reading them. I’m sure many, if not all, your readers would share my feelings. On behalf of everyone that you write for, we want to encourage you to continue writing as many articles as the Lord places in you heart. You are called to be the watchman on the wall, therefore you really need not apologise even if you write 10 articles a day. May the Lord continue to bless you powerfully in this very important ministry.
Eddie Sim
Many thanks for the kind words Eddie. Glad to know that I am not getting too carried away here. For every article I write I could probably do a few more – there is never a shortage of things to write about. So many issues, so little time…
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
My vote is for civil disobedience in this case. After all, we must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29
Ewan McDonald.
The saddest thing in the whole abortion debate is while people think they’re fighting for the rights of women to “choose”, I dont see them actually asking such women how it affects them afterwards? Or if they’d “choose” differently had they realised what they were doing or what it would feel like. I have many, many friends (Both Christian and non-Christian) who are traumatised and in deep deep grief from the abortions they have had performed. A friend just a few nights ago was crying on the phone with me and saying she had a scare that she was pregnant again… and she couldnt bare to go through an abortion again, but she didnt want a baby yet. Turned out she wasnt pregnant, but she went through this whole grief cycle and freaked out at the thought of having to terminate another child. Some friends, now some 10yrs later, still grieve and wonder “what if”. Bill, why is it that it is so prevalent in society (esp amongst my younger peers) yet noone seems to care about the after-effects? We surely should stand up for the rights of the unborn… but also the breaking hearts of these young girls who are told by society that its normal, that its an option to consider… then left to work through all the grief and guilt alone. Ive seen my friends weeping, curled up in a little ball, for in their hearts they know they have killed their child. Its only after they have done it, that they decide they’re against abortion. Sure, we all understand people’s reasons & tough situations… but only after you have had one, do you realise that no situation could have been as bad as how you now feel. Surely in speaking about “women’s rights”, their “right” is to know whats really at stake, what they’re really doing & how they will feel because of it, for the rest of their lives. We do need to stand up, for the lives of both the unborn and their mothers, for the babies are dying physically – but the mothers are dying emotionally and mentally at the same time.
Catherine Pym
Many thanks Catherine for your heartfelt insights and observations.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Just to make this clear, I don’t support abortions and I never will.
One question that i have is how do the non-Christians view all of this? I know that the people who make these decisions to protest have their reasons and who am I to judge whether it is the call of God or not, but when we’re so busy ranting and protesting and there’s so much bad media already on this, what do the non-Christians understand from all of it? Do they understand why we think it’s wrong? Do they understand where we’re coming from? Do they understand why they should stop abortions?
I don’t know whether I read this from an article of Bill’s or somewhere else, but to truly change these problems we need to start changing the culture and society, through the church. Just because there are laws against abortion in place, or abortion clinics are closed down, it doesn’t mean people won’t do it illegally. My pastor always says, we are given the role of Joseph during the famine. When people came to look for an answer from Pharaoh, he said to go ask Joseph. The church is Joseph. When people in this world are crying for a way out of their problems and complaining against God, God’s put the church here to help them. God is love, grace and compassion. Have we displayed it to these people? Have we tried to understand where they’re coming from and tried to show them the true way? Without them understanding the true evil of abortion, they’ll never stop. Maybe I’m wrong, but we live in a very hurt world that can’t see God and only sees what they need. When they see Christians protesting, does that help them manage their pain of living in this world? When we are locked up or jailed, did we make any headway in changing the view of society? (But i do think that everyone has their own calling, maybe God wants some to be locked up?). One thing Jesus did very well was that he healed people and he approached them where they were at. I don’t think the Samaritan woman thought Jesus was unapproachable or judgmental. When the world can’t come to Christians for help because they think we’re all crazy in our belief, or don’t understand them or think we’re unapproachable, then that is a serious issue.
Instead, we should be putting things in place to support these people who are getting abortions so that they no longer want to. Orphanages, counseling, aid, help, jobs, support, education for teenagers who are pregnant, childcare, whatever that is needed. People should be able to enter these centers and feel loved and accepted, and above all else they need to meet God. We need to display to the world the hope and the life that Jesus gives us, the chances of redemption from wrong. Our actions speak louder than our words. People are hurt by us because they think we hate them. With our mouths the christians preach love, but our actions – do they truly display a love for souls? maybe for the unborn fetus in our protest, but what about their mother and the situation she’s facing? If the state suddenly decided to make a law so that we can’t have these centers, then I’ll happily go to jail for trying to help people.
On another note, our church does city evangelism every week, and apparently we’re not actually allowed to share the gospel in any covered areas or private-public areas but we still do, because there’s a soul there who wants to hear about God and Jesus. It’ll go directly against the commandment in Matthew 28:18-20 if we don’t.
Emily Chen
Thanks Emily
You offer some important thoughts. And yes you are quite right about the importance of practical alternatives to abortion, and the need to provide a range of services and help to pregnant women.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
I am on the side of PEACEFUL civil disobedience, a tactic Gandhi, an exponent of non-violence, adopted.
Also, I admire Alan Keyes tremendously. I met him in Nairobi in 1985 when he was shepherding Maureen Reagan, daughter of the President. She was pro-choice, Reagan pro-life, so Keyes had a difficult task as she was leading the US delegation to the mid-decade conference of women. He did a fantastic job and persuaded her to vote right.
Babette Francis
Thanks Babette
Yes it is a pity he didn’t get the nod as the Republican contender instead of McCain.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Thanks Bill for yet another wake up call. I’m not sure what you did this time, but this article really struck home, in my heart, on this issue in a greater magnitude than before. I’ve got to do my own part on this issue of abortion and I have to do it quick, where ever and whenever I can.
Please continue the good work, and no, I am not sick of reading your thought provoking articles of issues of our day.
Blessings
Nigel Onamade
Emily said, “Just because there are laws against abortion in place, or abortion clinics are closed down, it doesn’t mean people won’t do it illegally.” But with respect, this is one of the commonly repeated lies of the pro-death advocates. If something is illegal then not only is its occurrence greatly reduced but it also sends a powerful message to society that said practice is wrong. Several decades ago before abortion was made legal, the number of abortions was minuscule compared to today.
Of course the church/Christians should be offering practical help and understanding to mothers with unplanned pregnancies (and a great many Christian based groups do exactly that), but I see the issue as separate and not dependent on our role to lobby and protest to make this evil practice illegal. If we were talking about the ‘right’ of women to have their born children murdered how many would care one iota about the possibly that our protests might be seen in a negative light by the media or by non-Christians?
The fact is that even if no Christian or church group anywhere offered any support for mothers with unplanned pregnancies, then we would still be entirely justified in protesting by any means possible what is in reality mass murder of innocents.
Ewan McDonald.
Thanks Nigel
Yes I sometimes worry that I write too much. But there is so much to write about, and so little truth is getting out into the public arena, so I will keep plugging away at it.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Thanks guys
Its times like this when I wish I was back in America, so I could go to Indiana and join in the protests. Kinda brings me back to my old hippy days protesting in the late 60s. OK, I reveal both my age and my dark past here.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
RE: Emily comments, “My pastor always says, we are given the role of Joseph during the famine. When people came to look for an answer from Pharaoh, he said to go ask Joseph. The church is Joseph.”
Emily, please understand that the church today is not Joseph. Never has been, never will be. I apologize for being so direct, but this kind of application from Scripture mishandles the text.
To understand why the application you mention is an improper application of the story, just follow that idea a little further. Joseph was given political authority in Egypt. So if the church is Joseph, than all Christians should be seeking to hold political office and direct the country–is that what we should apply to our lives? If not, why not? Maybe these questions will help you understand why “the church is Joseph” is a subjective, arbitrary application that has nothing to do with the actual story.
Perhaps all Emily intended to mean was that when the world is in times of deep crises, it will turn to God’s people for some answers. If so, then she seems to be sharing a valid point.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Bill,
I disagree with you on abortion. I could argue it but if I did that I would start using my own blogs.
However, your right about civil disobedience. It is part of the prophetic role of the church. The Unitng Church attempted to codify the role of Minister. In the code,, article 6.2 says a Minister must not break the law with the exception of political risistance or civil disobedience. I have a link to the code below.
As Bill states at the beginning of his article there are different views on how pro life people should respond. Personally I would not go to the University to protest in order to be arrested. If it was an Institution that I supported then I would write objecting, and failing any appropriate response stop sending cheques, and if a church institution, support/initiate action to remove the leadership of the offending institution.
Regarding civil disobedience, I see this more in response to anti discrimination legislation infringing my right to freedom of conscience, thought and religion.
At this point in time there are medical practitioners in Victoria who are engaging in civil disobedience in respect of the law’s requirement that they must refer for an abortion. These practitioners right now are risking the loss of their registration and prosecution by the State.
Again, much nearer home than Notre Dame, the Victorian Government’s Scrutiny of Acts and Regulation Committee has now received Prof Beth Gaze’s report on options for removing/restricting the exception clauses in the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act (I believe to be made public on Monday). Without being too melodramatic, there is every potential for Christian institutions (schools, hospitals, welfare provider’s, etc – the Churches themselves will be left alone) and individuals to face the prospect of whether or not to engage in civil disobedience. (And not to, may mean withdrawing their services as some Catholic adoption agencies have been forced to do so in America). We know that action can be taken against Christians by looking no further than to the UK where so called “equality and diversity” provisions are leading to action against Christians.
These are not “glory” situations; these will cost. The church and her people have been here before. Will our nation regress in this way? Time will tell. In the meantime we have every right and obligation to fight coercive legislation (and proposals for the same) respectfully but with determination and a clear, informed, cooperative strategy.
David Palmer
After the horrible Victorian bushfires and Danny Nalliah, I am just about ready to setup a table at the local shops on Sat morning with the body-parts of the 20 unborn babies that were killed that week in our fair city (1,100 each year in Canberra) complete with names and dates of death etc.. What would my charge-sheet read at the local police station? Creating a public nuisance? Affront to the community’s sensibilities? Theft of hospital waste?
When are we going to get fair dinkum in this?
On the other hand, the early Christians didn’t change the World by marches and civil action with petitions etc. – the Christians went out at night to gather in the babies which were left out to die and raised them. They visited the terminally ill to minister mercy to them, not fearing for their own safety. No wonder the World took notice of them. Maybe we need both “hands” in this upcoming revolution.
God bless you Bill – keep up the good work.
Ian Brearley
The current mindset of society needs to be changed on how they view unborn children. At the tender gestation of 8 weeks a baby is fully formed. The baby has a personality, a spirit and a mind. What we fail to recognise in society is that this is a little person, inside his/her mother for the next 32 weeks just grows, puts on weight, muscle, fat etc. Society says its a foetus not a person. Society tells this lie to women to have them believe they are not really getting rid of person but a rather a piece of matter. I can tell you at first hand experience that a baby born at 20 weeks is a person with a personality, a mind and a spirit. It is our current society mindset that is deluded in this matter and deceived by the evil one. We are told that it is better to get rid of something that seemingly will cause us inconvenience that to see it through. My other thought is society goes on about women’s rights but what about the rights of men? Bill, I went to the protest prayer day on the steps of Parliament House in Victoria and the fellow who protested for a long time outside Parliament House against the legalising of abortion, said I have no rights as a father if my wife decides to have an abortion. She could go ahead and have the abortion even if I want the child. Society does not consider men when it comes to having babies. This is a feminist lie. Another hypocrisy is our current health system – on one floor of the hospital you have NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit) and on the very next floor terminations being done. One floor is saving babies, the other one is getting rid of them. Is this a world gone mad? Who gets to pick and choose who lives and who dies?
The scripture that comes to mind while I am writing this is 2 Chronicles 7:13-15:
“When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer [made] in this place.” (NKJV)
Our mindset in society needs to be changed and whilst protesting is an excellent call to bring attention, we need to also consider that our fight is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and the dark rulers of this place and spiritual wickedness in the high places. Prayer is our weapon of warfare and we have a voice which we should let the Holy Spirit use. Far too long Christians have been complacent about such matters – have we decided that comfort, prosperity and ease is our calling?
Francesca Collard
The church I go to did not raise a voice when the abortion law reform was passed. I protested to the bigoted Greens MP Colleen Hartland,who did not have the manners to respond.
At our Bible study group one of our members – a scientist – felt that we as a church should have done more. Yes we are involved with a soup kitchen, we help schools in East timor, we have a opp shop, we do backyard blitzes for non-Christians with no strings attached, and generally busy in other projects but, these issues around life and death – not a word as a church community!!
Wayne Pelling
I haven’t yet made up my mind about whether or not I should be involved in civil disobedience over abortion. It is an intensely personal and difficult question to resolve.
In 2007 I had a job which required me each morning to bicycle past a group of committed Christians who maintained a vigil outside an abortion clinic in East Melbourne. I had to think hard abut whether I stopped and joined them or simply kept cycling and ignored them.
In the 5 months I went past them I never once stopped to pray with them. However I either rang my bell or waved to them each morning and as I went past I would say a simple prayer for them and for the victims of abortion, both the unborn child and the mother.
My passing them was often acknowledged by one of the group.
Even though I haven’t yet resolved the question about my personal involvement in direct civil disobedience I can see the very real value in giving support, even indirectly, to those who are prepared to engage in civil disobedience.
At the very least those who engage in civil disobedience against the legalised abortion pogrom warrant our prayers and acknowledgement. In praying for them and in acknowledging that they are acting in answer to Gods call we hopefully will come to an understanding of what God calls us to do – and it may or may not be be the same call.
As always, Bill, your articles keep me thinking and help in my personal search for understanding as to what God wants of me.
John Ryan
Hi Bill,
Thanks for your articles; I don’t agree with everything you write but at least they provoke me to think!
On this topic I think it’s important to remember that those who don’t know the truth will live without doing what is right and it’s unlikely that through protest we will stop the evil progression of abortion.
Education of the truth is the only way we can do this. We need to understand that while civil disobedience sounds great in other contexts; it has only worked because the greater public opionion is with those protesting, however on our case (through deceit) the public opionion is against us and would only drive us further into a “loony protestor” category.
That’s just my 2 cents anyway
Peace
Jay Rusty
Thanks again, Bill,
OK. Not to discount the need for strong convictions and ‘Putting your money where your mouth is”, but I’ll be the first to admit the pragmatic considerations on such civil disobedience. As a father of young children, paying off a mortgage to house them, is it wise for me to risk imprisonment that would effect those who depend on me?
It’s something I consider regularly and much more could be said about practical implications, but I think we need some lateral thinking here. We have just seen the generosity of Victorians and Australians in response to the fires. What could we do to give practical support to those who suffer financially from such civil disobedience? Do we need to create a fund to help support such people? Any other ideas?
Jeremy Peet
Just a couple of points
If Bible based Christians were truly being ‘salt’ we would have many more Christians in our western parliaments being ‘light’ to the world. Then the sort of action Bill talks about in this article would not be necessary.
It is because the Christian church has gone soft on reading and following the Word that we see, in both the US and Australia today, those who promote themselves as Christians to get elected passing very un-Christian laws once elected!
Emily is right, people should be able to turn to the church for help when things get tough, but to which part of the church do they turn? Some in the church are opposing abortion and some, like the Anglican women who wrote the Melbourne Anglican submission to the Law Reform Commission last year, are offering compromise rather than truth.
Trying to make bad government proposals slightly better still means we get bad laws – asking for ‘exceptions’ for Christians (or ‘religious’ people) means we are simply covering our own backsides and not caring for those in the world, many of whom share our moral concern. Only when the church separates itself from the ‘ideas’ of the world and fully understands a true Biblical worldview will the world be able to turn to the church for help.
Lastly, Emily’s confusion over the true meaning of the Scripture text is no doubt due to an almost total lack of good Bible based teaching from the pulpit.
Peter Stokes
Thanks for raising this very important subject again, Bill. The issue of civil disobedience in relation to abortion is one I struggled with (and continue to!) for many tears.
My conclusion is that I believe it is a right and necessary thing that members of the Christian community do make an uncompromising stand on this issue and non-violently place themselves between the unborn children and those who would end their lives.
A small group of us in Brisbane have been engaging in such actions over the last seven years and it has resulted in many arrests, court cases, fines and time in jail. When you find yourself in a prison cell for a few months it is certainly a good way to help you refine what you believe!
I have put down a few thoughts about all of this in a number of articles on the website http://www.protect-life.info which readers may like to look at.
I would also highly recommend the books, Is Rescuing Right? by Randy Alcorn, and Shattering the Darkness by Joseph Foreman, and the booklet, No Cheap Solutions, by John Cananagh-O’Keefe, all of which are very helpful on this subject. Copies can be obtained from me.
Graham Preston
Bill, we all appreciate what you are doing and how you can use words so eloquently to say what we all are thinking so keep up your good work.
I agree that the issue of abortion is the most unjust issue in our world today and a society that allows the innocent and helpless to be killed is no decent society.
What to do about it is problematic as I would like to see pro-life people, and the churches, much more active but so many leave it to someone else to lobby for change.
Your article was very thought-provoking about what each one of us is doing to change our own country and area to promote a pro-life society. I do think we should be pushing abstinence education more as it seems to be very effective in countries where it is promoted.
Cheers and thank you, Bill.
Nola Drum
Emily asked “One question that i have is how do the non-Christians view all of this?”
When the changes to the abortion bill was being discussed here in Victoria I made it a point of asking non-Christian men what their attitude was. Out of 20 men I talked to 20 had this answer: “It should be the womens choice if she is raped”. When I challenged that thought with the fact that most abortions were not the result of rape they did not want to continue the conversation. Somehow they all had the same mind set. When I tried to discuss it at church I was also met with a wall of resistance. They were reluctant to discuss it. I found it so frustrating. People are reluctant to face hard truths like the one in this article. I want to do something but I am tied down with the responsibility of a business so I am praying about it. In church we sang the words “suffering Children are safe in His arms” from the chorus “There is none like you” and I just started to cry.
Thanks for a stirring article Bill and may it motivate us into fruitful action.
Keith Lewis, Ballarat
We have our own knight-in-shining-armour here in Australia. Thank you Graham Preston. He has already spent much time in gaol as a result of protests outside abortion clinics, and produces a newsletter ‘Protect Life’.
Dunstan Hartley
Bill, Like Eddie Sim, I don’t mind how many articles you write. I thank God for you and your writings, and pray He will give you the strength to keep on keeping on. I would also like to commend Babette Francis who has been a faithful soldier for many years on this issue. I received her fighting material more than 30 years ago. And Bill, I love your quotes.
Dawn McGregor
Keith, I symphathise with you in relation to the attitudes at your church. For too long the abortion issue has been viewed primarily as a “Catholic” thing and used as a vehicle to pedal bigotry against the Catholic Church. I just look at the speeches of the Greens MP Colleen Harland, who I have no compunction in labelling as a bigot. However when a large number of Protestant churches – like yours and mine – say and do nothing, then we have to say “Thank God that it is the catholic church that speaks out”.
Wayne Pelling
As some would now be aware Kate Marsh of the Children by Choice yesterday released a Press Statement equating the situation in Queensland with that of the Third World labelling the existing legislation as lagging behind Cambodia where an abortion can be procured at any time during a pregnancy.
This is a salvo over the bows of Pro-Lifers signalling the commencement of a campaign to wage war on the innocents by decriminalizing abortion in Queensland.
John FG McMahon
This might sound really silly, but I would do it if there were large numbers, I think I would feel safer somehow. I think others might feel the same. The idea of going alone, or with 2 other people to a clinic to block the doors in peaceful protest is pretty daunting, but what if there were 100 others? Maybe there needs to be a “I’ll go if you go” campaign, where everyone commits to go as long as another person goes too. I think this would increase numbers.
And yes, I think it is perfectly valid to do; there are people alive today because of what Operation Rescue have done in the States. Perhaps many more that we don’t know about, what about people who don’t even stop but just keep driving?
Kelly Williams
The articles on the website for the group Graham Preston is involved with are well worth reading:
Graham and others make the case for why civil disobedience is right with regard to opposing abortion. The articles also address whether civil disobedience creates more problems than it solves, why our culture does not seem to be greatly impacted and the cost those involved with such action must be willing to pay etc.
I highly recommend reading through these as they expand upon a lot of the issues Bill raises on this topic.
Two of the points which I found particularly powerful were:
Christians are not making an impact on society with regards abortion because non-Christians sense the lack of consistency in saying abortion is murder, but then acting in a way completely inconsistent with this fact.
Christians should be aware of the danger when using the democratic process to oppose abortion lest we implicitly legitimise the idea that abortion is just another issue which should be decided by a majority vote.
Mansel Rogerson
Our every waking moment is governed by the question from our Lord “WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?”.
How we answer that question, determines whether we are really representing Him on this earth, or whether we are still in unbelief.
In this heartbreaking and so, so important issue of abortion, the question is being boomed at us “WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?” …. many, or most of us, are trying hard not to hear His voice – or it will demand of us a very strong answer.
By our apathy and lack of courage, by our lack of prayer on the issue, by our lack of seeking and searching for all the resources and people we are meant to connect with (both for and against) on this issue, we are indeed answering our Lord and Saviour – who died on a Cross, such a horrible, horrible, death, that we might live.
We need to pray for one another on this issue, that the veil be taken away, that unbelief be removed, that by the grace of God, we will fully understand and have the strength and courage to do whatever it is He calls us to do.
It begins and ends with prayer – with prayer in between…. above and below. But it can never be ignored!
People’s lives are at stake. Time is short.
Not by might, not by power but by my Spirit, says the Lord.
Sue Pollock
Well done to Alan Keyes, Randall Terry and others who are protesting against Obama speaking at Notre Dame.
May the protest be really really BIG! It is time for political protests on this issue – the left has always been good at that.
Graham, your actions have challenged many – so thank you for your courageous stand.
Jenny Stokes
If Government decree becomes the criterion by which Medical practitioners must act, Hippocratic medicine comes to an end. I know there are currently not a majority of Hippocratic practitioners; but many still regard Medicine as a covenantal rather than a contractual profession. The simplified difference is that one does what is best for the ‘weaker’ participant, while in the latter one does what one is paid to do. Once Governments interfere to the extent that a doctor is told & then paid to do a certain procedure, the ramifications are frightening. As an anaesthetist slips a needle into a vein it is not a reassuring thought that someone or some organisation might be paying enough to insure the ‘patient’ does not awaken. Unlikely? One best not believe that, human nature being what it is.
“Atta boy” Bill. Keep up the good work. Greetings & Blessings.
Arthur Hartwig
Thanks for your indications of support and encouragement Dunstan, Mansel and Jenny.
I mentioned above our website. If anyone wants to receive our irregular Protect Life reports about our actions you would be most welcome to receive them. (These reports are not put on the website as they sometimes give the dates of the next action, etc and we don’t want to give advance warnings.)
Those who promote abortion on demand are vociferous in their demands for their “right to choose”. Their mantra is “it’s my body & I can do what I like with it” when the real, but hidden truth, is “it’s my life & I’ve made a mess of it so now this innocent child must die so I can get my life back!” It is not reasonable, fair or morally justifiable that the child should pay the price for someone else’s recklesness! There are actions and there are consequences and if your actions are ill-considered there will often be undesirable outcomes. The great problem therefore is the irresponsibility of the couple who thoughtlessly and selfishly indulge their urges which results in the pregnancy. The “right to choose” was forfeited the moment these people “chose” to have this relationship when the possibility of pregnancy was very real. The “right to choose” was instantly negated the moment the child was conceived. From that moment on the child has as much right to live as the woman carrying it. And if the woman was to ask the child what they would choose, who could doubt that this new creation would choose LIFE! The childs “right to life” is equally important as her “right to choose”, perhaps even more so because the child was willingly created by this person. Once you decide to indulge in behaviour that produces a totally undesirable effect nobody has the right to ask someone else to pay the price!
John Burgess
Rather than civil disobedience, how about a positive campaign. For example, encouraging women to have ultrasounds. Or imagine an advertising campaign or web site that had well presented facts/video etc about a foetus development. How early the nervous system develops, when thumb sucking and other “baby” behaviours start.
Something akin to the approach of the life education van.
It so easy to be blase about abortion when the victim is unseen.
Andrew Zahra
I’m all for peaceful civil disobedience, just don’t expect that the general public is going to receive our protest as Godly action. The media in particular is always watching and ready to report good as evil and evil as good. And the entertainment industry gets a lot of mileage out of making fun out of us ignorant Christians. Motivation must be our love for God and those still in the womb created in His image.
Nino Suraci
Thankyou again Bill for keeping hold of this issue. I have found http://www.lifesitenews.com/ helpful to my thinking and and encouraging to get involved as I can. One of the keys they recognize is the need to change people’s minds. I like the way they avoid euphemisms and use terms that describe actually what is happening such as “abortion mills”. I like the way they have kept the heat on about Notre Dame so that that event may now become one of the biggest pro-life events in recent years. I was impressed by the 40 Days for Life campaigns that were organized in North America. I am impressed by the ongoing campaigns at abortuaries aimed at rescuing babies and the reports of successes along the way. I like the way they report on all these issues and keep the pot stirring. The campaign to ban abortion is a huge issue and we all need to be mobilized and fight on many different fronts.
Tas Walker
Where were you good people when you could have voted for life, eg. the DLP, at the 2006 Legislative Council election? Many of you show no sign of learning from experience, and now discuss anything except solving the problem.
Gerard Flood
Bill, I am extremely grateful that you have raised this debate on, “Abortion and Civil Disobedience”.
As many are aware the laws surrounding abortion are getting more severe. It is not just a matter of someone sitting in the doorway of an abortion clinic that is illegal anymore. In South Australia it is now deemed a criminal offence to simply offer a pregnant woman, even on the footpath, information – pertaining to foetal development, and/or personal support as she is about to enter an abortion clinic. (My wife and our minister have been fined by one particular council for doing this, and whilst neither are prepared to pay the fine, for them it is not a question of what others are doing or not doing. They believe, like Graham Preston – who has spent many a long month in prison, and others who go to abortion clinics, it may be the last opportunity possible to save a baby’s life. They are prepared to risk the verbal and physical abuse and ridicule, and the potential fines and imprisonment, for at the end of the day, it is a matter of conscience with regards to what they are personally are going to say to God when they meet Him face to face.)
For me, I have been wrestling earnestly with the question of what should I do about abortion, and have been especially praying for more courage and wisdom in this area for the past year. In short: it has been heavily on my mind everyday.
I have become aware of this:
Firstly, I know, beyond doubt, that the killing of a tiny innocent life is wrong. Severely wrong. Moreover, it is a form of treason, an attack on the Almighty King Himself … an attack on God’s personal sovereignty and His precious gift of life: a life made in His remarkable image.
Secondly, I know that the killing of the unborn is not an “issue”. I know we lack the words to use to describe what is happening here, but I have never heard the Jewish holocaust being reduced to something of an “issue”. Nor have I heard that the murder of millions of Cambodians in the time of Pol Pot described as an “issue”. Abortion is a monstrous atrocity, a horrendous evil, murder, bloody massacre, but never simply an “issue”.
Thirdly, many of us are rather content to share Proverbs 24:11, where we are instructed to:
“Recue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward the slaughter.”
Yet somehow we tend to miss the strong warning given in the following verses of Proverbs 12:12-13. Unless I am mistaken this warning is for those of us who make up excuses when we fail to rescue those being led away to their death:
“If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’
does not He who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not He who guards your life know it?
Will He not repay each person according to what he has done?”
These are indeed very unsettling words. We may wish to over-ride this with the verse “There is now no condemnation for those is Christ …” (Rom 1:8a), but should we really being using this as our “get out of jail” card? Or said another way, to absolve us from responsibility to do good when we can?
Fourthly, we are aware God is incredibly amazing – in so many ways! In the area of sacrifice, we have observed throughout history (and I am sure amongst those who we have known personally) that those who have given over their lives, and that of their families, to God, He has always … always been faithful and has brought much fruit and blessings from their sacrifices. I have seen again and again that those who have been selfless, and prepared to lose reputation, time, health, popularity, security, money, liberty and life, for God’s sake, have had these replaced with something much richer (but of course, the full extent of this I/we will not know until the other side of the grave).
We often think of missionaries who ventured to far way countries knowing that they were to face certain death from famine, diseases, or hostile inhabitants, rather noble but peculiarly ‘God’ obsessed. But were they? When we dig deeper, we find they often had desires for maybe material comforts, family, ambitions, etc, but their primary yearnings, like the prophets of old and the disciples, and even our Lord Himself, were to do the will of the Father, their Father.
The bottom line is, if we call ourselves Christians, surely we have an obligation to our fellow neighbours, no matter how small and vulnerable they are, to love and protect them at all cost.
For those who have questions surrounding abortion, I have created a website attempting to highlight what abortion really is, and what it does to unborn children and women (bear in mind it is still in the early stages of development): http://abortsa.com/
Trevor Grace
Thanks Gerard
But I don’t think attacking others here who are actively seeking to be prolife is all that helpful.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
I am a little miffed by Gerard Flood’s seemingly accusatory statement asking “Where were you good people when you could have voted for life, eg. the DLP, at the 2006 Legislative Council election?” Well for a start I would have thought that the vast majority of those regularly reading and commenting at this blog are politically informed and already voting for Christian candidates or pro-life Parties whenever possible. It’s not those Christians who are commenting here who are the problem but those who remain ignorant and who most likely have never heard the name “Bill Muehlenberg” or “Culture Watch”.
And secondly, the DLP is not the only pro-life party. I stood as an endorsed CDP candidate for the Legislative Council at the 2006 Victorian State election, running primarily on a platform of opposition to abortion and specifically in opposition to State Labor’s then threat to decriminalise abortion. One thing that is very clear to me is the negligent lack of support Christian candidates receive from the churches. I’m sure this was Gerard’s intended main point and I agree with him and note a couple of others above who also bemoaned the lack of action from their respective churches when it comes to opposing abortion.
The responsibility for allowing abortion to have become such a prevalent and acceptable thing in society really rests with the church for failing to be the ‘salt and light’ we are commanded to be. It is the responsibility of the church to now wake up and try to take back some of that lost ground.
Ewan McDonald.
I know at least a few of us are saddened when we have to break our nation’s laws in order to protect and promote human life. When laws favour those who walk the road that leads to destruction and death, it shows how twisted our culture has become. Unfortunately, none of this is new. We seem to be devolving into the Roman Empire.
Emily, I certainly appreciate your comments and support what you do as a street evangelist. That’s inspiring and truly shows your desire for people to know the King of Kings. I understand the concern that you and others have toward people who are more vocal in their opposition. Does this hurt the efforts of those who love through their “actions”?
Just as the body has many parts, there is room for many ways to stand for life and “rescue those who are being led away to death”. I can assure you that many “vocal” pro-life Christians are just as active in dispensing love and compassion through providing homes for young mums in crisis (particularly when their “choice” to let their baby live is being met with venom and hostility from family and doctors), adopting infants, giving baby gear and other necessities to mothers struggling to provide for their children, etc… This follows the example of our brothers and sisters in second and third century Roman Empire who did the same for abandoned infants and infants damaged by attempts to abort them as Ian Brearley pointed out in an earlier comment.
There must also be room to preach/proclaim to our government and society just as Cicero and Tertullian did in the Roman Empire. All Christians should encourage those who use words against the words and laws that our culture proclaims to us all the time. When people follow the teaching of Plato and Aristotle that women submit to abortions so that the state does not become too populous, it is necessary for Christians to answer, “Because of the grace of God through our Lord Jesus, we can take care of all people.” When our society promotes killing disabled babies because they will cost too much for society to care for them, it is necessary for Christians to answer, “Because of the grace of God through our Lord Jesus, we can all live together no matter what our abilities and gifts.”
Following the example of our Lord Jesus, those who speak truth must do so in love. But, make no mistake Emily, just because truth is offered in love doesn’t mean the truth will be accepted or even appreciated in love. Jesus was despised, rejected and ultimately killed by those who insisted on following their own kingdom, yes? And those who provide actions of love, grace and compassion must do so without enabling those who go are walking down the road that leads to destruction and death.
May all brothers and sisters become united under the King of kings as we proclaim to our neighbour through word and deed the magnificent Kingdom of God.
Lance Macormic
To Emily Chen, I am of non christian tradition, I oppose the taking of life as that can only be at His command. To Andrew Zahra, yes education is very good tool to use but I must reckon that more often than not the women who do it already know the different stages of the foetus.
To Nino Suraci, when we do something good, there is no expectation of return, we do it unconditionally to fight evil. Whoever twists any deed that is good it is upon God to judge them, we must still not waver and be steady in our fight against evil.
Dear Bill, thank you once again for bringing something so tragic to our attention. I cannot even read without being choked up and wondering what I can do. You pose a challenge to us all to face the mirror and look at the person reflected and look deep within our self and what we are made of. For God did say, if you say you are courages and will fight evil, He will test us on that declaration. But as John Ryan so rightly out it it is so intense and personal an issue that we have to deal with. Perhaps the issue is not only the horror of abortions but also how do we measure up to being good and doing the right thing, our choices in this life. Perhaps this is the real test when these tragic situations play out before us.
Siti Khatijah
The way the West is moving in unison away from the Christian heritatge and taking upon itself the roll of god it reminds me of Epesians 6:13-18. Paul here reveals that the true enemy of God and His believers is a spiritual enemy. What/who else can make such a mass changes in mindsets across so many peoples? This is first and foremost a spiritual battle that must be won through prayer and then action according to God’s direction. I think that this mindset over the West has effected many believers making the Church sleepy and sluggish with respect to these important moral issues and there needs to be a call to prayer across her bows. I have never felt such evil covering our nation as I have seen over the last 20 years and the Church needs to make her stand against it no matter what.
Keith Lewis, Ballarat
If we read the book of Daniel we can see that king Nebuchadnezer changed the law on Daniel several times. We need to understand that God has his own laws in our handbook and that these higher laws (kingdom laws) have absolute dominion over man made laws. Gods laws required Daniel worship no other God than the God of Israel. Daniel was not worried about his so called civil disobedience as he was following a higher set of laws and that his God would deliver him just as he will deliver us as long we stay determined to do whats right in Gods sight rather than mans. The Church is too comfortable by and large. Its worried about how the world may see it (if you havent been delivered from men you want be able to deliver men). We need to recall that most of the new testament was written from prison by Paul. He said he had unspeakable joy (you try having joy in that enviroment).
This victory over abortion will be won by devine revaltion from God himself. God knows how to defeat this lot. Some of which has already been given to a girl in the U.S.. (I know this sounds weird) She was refered to a book called Horton “hears a who” by Dr Seuss. The main catch phrase of the book is a persons a person no matter how small. I find this quite poignant as the fetus is considered persona non grata. Another issue that this book raised was that not enough people were making enough noise about this issue (one politician said, before the passing of the bill in victoria that unless he saw 10,000 people protesting he would vote in favour of the bill) 3000 of us turned up. The rest of the church like horton the elephant (at the start of the book) were enjoying themselves in their own persuits (where were the other 200,000?). God gave a similar vision to general William booth founder of the salvation army.
Paul asked the congregations to pray that he would be bold so as to speak the word of God as he ought. I am a nurse I have already told and printed in our news paper that I will not as a nurse not be complying with the this new law because I will not have God accuse me as a murderer on judgement day and that if Mr Brumby and his parliament want to go to hell they will be going without me. Quote: The fear of the Lord is the begining of wisdom. Lets stop pussy footing around and tell like it is. God will not allow murderers into heaven unless they repent and then God promisses to forgive (as long as we forgive). Its our job to them its the Holy spirit’s to convince them. Yes lots of people may be offended but we’re to tell the truth arent we?
Benjamin Veitz
In response to Andrew’s suggestion that we should be working towards providing free ultrasounds for women considering abortion- there is an Australian organization already working towards that goal, and they are assisting my Perth-based crisis pregnancy agency to install a 4D ultrasound machine with doppler heartbeat detection as soon as we can raise the needed funds:
We’d very much appreciate donations towards this project- our agency (which usually runs on the smell of an oily rag) is working hard to raise the funds and train our volunteer staff to make this a reality.
US agencies report that prior to ultrasound, one in three women considering abortion chooses life for her baby after counseling and assistance is offered. After ultrasound, that number jumps to four out of five- four out of five babies otherwise destined for abortion saved, four out of five women spared a lifetime of regret and torment.
If you can help us, please contact me at pph.la@iinet.net.au Donations $2 and over are tax deductible and every bit counts.
Thanks, Bill! Those of us on the “coal-face” do deeply appreciate it every time your thoughts stir the Body to action.
You’re awesome bill, I am truly your biggest fan!
As you know i believe abortion is to believers today as was slavery, womens rights, care for the disabled and workers rights for the believers of the past.
I saw this morning that we will soon see the release of an over the counter test for the sex of a child as young as 8 weeks. The first right of a women is the right to life, and it looks like Australia is introducing its own form of the one child policy.
I wonder if anyone is interested in a sister protest at the Perth campus of Notre Dame?
Richard Blake
In 2 Corinthians 10:4 it says “The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.”
From this we deduce that God has given us the weapons we need to defeat the enemy. All we have to do is to use them.
What is probably the greatest weapon we have as sons of God?
Lots of singing?
Powerful preaching?
Enthusiasm?
A college degree?
Good leaders?
Maintaining the status quo?
Saying that we believe the bible is the Word of God?
The fact is, it is none of the above. Our greatest weapon is prayer. Through prayer we can accomplish victory over Satan, which is why he doesn’t want us to do it. Meeting once a week for an hour to pray is not prayer.
The New Testament Church met daily to pray. One hour a week!! Makes me feel ashamed.
Satan has many strongholds in society such as the education system, homosexuals, feminism, alternative families, child abuse, and the biggest one of all, the murder of millions of babies in the womb. Governments are frantically running around trying to cope with the onslaught. The end result is zilch. Moral degradation is happening every day and is going to get worse because the church does not pray.
When we pray, we are saying we don’t have the answers. We are asking God to equip us for the battle. Most prayer meetings we tell God our problems but rarely listen to his answers. We certainly don’t want to know his plans for his kingdom. It seems that the fact that we have met for prayer is sufficient. Whether anything happens seems irrelevant.
We seem to treat prayer as just one part of our religious programme, instead of making it the most important part of our gathering together. The part that should take priority over everything else.
I know of one church where the leadership prays for 10 minutes a month when they meet together. Is the church growing? Is the church fulfilling its commission? Not a hope in hell, or heaven.
You can go to jail for injuring or killing a dog. The government pays you to kill your baby. That will not change until the church takes up its most powerful weapon of prayer, corporately, until it hurts. That will save more babies lives than any other activity.
One final point, people say “well, I pray at home for these things.” Fine, keep doing it but you cannot escape that most of the prayer in the New Testament Church was corporate. Why is this? Simple. The scripture teaches there is power in numbers and even more when they are in unity.
Roger Marks
Thanks for the kind words Richard.
Yes I was interviewed this morning about the IntelliGender test. I said it would not only lead to more designer babies, but would result in more abortions for perfectly healthy unborn babies who are of the “wrong” gender. It is just another step to a Brave New World.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Roger is right about the importance of prayer and that it is greatly underused in much of the church today, but more prayer shouldn’t necessarily mean less protesting (against abortion). In fact if the church were to pray more what should happen is that the church comes into closer alignment with God’s will and would more clearly see things from His perspective which would then lead to more action.
Remember also the words of John Wesley, “Pray as if it all depends on God, and work as if it all depends on you.”
Ewan McDonald.
Amen Roger Marks You have hit the mark. Like you said its ok to pray ie for us to do the talking. But we have to recognize that were are talking to the man who knows everything and the outcome of everything. God knew this was going to happen and he knows how to stop it. We need to stop long enough to hear what he has to say about this issue then be obedient to what he says. When we read about joshua God had already developed a plan to defeat Jericho. Running around a city seven times with a bunch of priests doesnt make a lick of sense and is something that they dont teach at pukapunyal military school. But then were not following worldly knowledge but Godly wisdom. The bible says that wisdom is the principle thing. I sincerely believe that just one believer has the ability to change the entire outcome of the abortion issue if he or she will faithfully follow God step by step. Yes backed by corporate prayer daily.
Benjamin Veitz
For Thirty years my wife and I struggled to get churches (really THE CHURCH) to work together, to Stand Up and Speak Up. As I understand it, we are supposed to be the Body, with Christ the Head. We have found few who could see the picture of what could happen if we really believed and acted. The early apostles counted it joy to be imprisoned or die for standing up for the Truth. Christ is the Way, the Life and The Truth.
Tom Wise
Ewan, I am sorry if I gave the impression that civil disobedience was not acceptable as that was not my intention. I have found time and time again that the secret to all action is to first find out the will of God and that won’t happen unless we get serious about prayer.
I would love to see at least a monthy time of prayer for everyone who wants to get serious about praying for God’s direction about the murder of the unborn. I would like to see one in every town and city, because THIS IS SERIOUS!!! and we need to get angry (righteous of course).
If we had a central administration where every meeting could pass on what they felt God was saying and then have it sent out via an eletter to everyone involved.
Roger Marks
The world needs the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We need to make disciples.
Abortion is the single biggest social issue today, with somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 little Australians being killed every year. One of the reasons we need to keep this issue before us is to become true disciples ourselves and thus enabling us to be able to make more disciples. We must never become accustomed to this evil in our midst. In this way we can stay fired up. We must, of course, do all that we possibly can to help the defenceless and for some of us it may mean civil disobedience, but most of us are just not in that position yet. The healthcare workers in Victoria *are* in that position and if I were in their shoes, I ought to be prepared to go to gaol for refusing to partake in an abortion procedure. I’m not in that position, so it’s a bit academic.
Suffice it to say that if the Media were not so completely in favour of abortion, it would have been essentially defeated years ago. That’s a big part of where the battle lies.
But it’s a both/and scenario – we need to fight for just laws (and remember, most of these evil laws are passing by very narrow margins) AND look to change hearts and provide help to pregnant women etc.
Louise Le Mottee, Hobart
Probably most of the present adult generation regard abortion as part of life and many are compromised by having had abortions or been part of another’s decision to do so. At the mention of abortion they determinedly shut their eyes and ears to protect their hearts and, in some cases, their sanity.
Our best hope is to educate the next generation. We need to create in them a sense of wonder about life in the womb which leads them to regard abortion as a dreadful thing.
I suggest high quality portable displays showing the first days of life, displays with the ‘wow’ factor, a joy to visit, especially for children. Abortion would not feature in the display.
Suitable for public spaces like shopping centres and schools, they should be managed by bright young adults. I am aware that this idea is not new, but done Australia wide, it could be powerful.
But let me focus on one more aspect of this. We know that during the US civil rights struggle of the 1960s, various public actions were undertaken to fight unjust discrimination. Usually non-violent means were used, but often protestors were willing to violate the law – and suffer the consequences – in order to stand up for the civil rights of Black Americans.
If I may be allowed to begin this thread, it of course should be obvious that it is not just Catholics who are concerned about abortion in general and Notre Dame in particular. Christians of all stripes are concerned and getting involved. Seconds after I wrote this article I received an email speaking about Protestants who also will make public protests, even risking arrest: http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/2424910281.html
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Dear Bill,
I have just one comment. And that is – you are doing a job with a passion that the Lord has placed in your heart. I have always looked forward to seeing your articles and enjoyed reading them. I’m sure many, if not all, your readers would share my feelings. On behalf of everyone that you write for, we want to encourage you to continue writing as many articles as the Lord places in you heart. You are called to be the watchman on the wall, therefore you really need not apologise even if you write 10 articles a day. May the Lord continue to bless you powerfully in this very important ministry.
Eddie Sim
Many thanks for the kind words Eddie. Glad to know that I am not getting too carried away here. For every article I write I could probably do a few more – there is never a shortage of things to write about. So many issues, so little time…
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
My vote is for civil disobedience in this case. After all, we must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29
Ewan McDonald.
The saddest thing in the whole abortion debate is while people think they’re fighting for the rights of women to “choose”, I dont see them actually asking such women how it affects them afterwards? Or if they’d “choose” differently had they realised what they were doing or what it would feel like. I have many, many friends (Both Christian and non-Christian) who are traumatised and in deep deep grief from the abortions they have had performed. A friend just a few nights ago was crying on the phone with me and saying she had a scare that she was pregnant again… and she couldnt bare to go through an abortion again, but she didnt want a baby yet. Turned out she wasnt pregnant, but she went through this whole grief cycle and freaked out at the thought of having to terminate another child. Some friends, now some 10yrs later, still grieve and wonder “what if”. Bill, why is it that it is so prevalent in society (esp amongst my younger peers) yet noone seems to care about the after-effects? We surely should stand up for the rights of the unborn… but also the breaking hearts of these young girls who are told by society that its normal, that its an option to consider… then left to work through all the grief and guilt alone. Ive seen my friends weeping, curled up in a little ball, for in their hearts they know they have killed their child. Its only after they have done it, that they decide they’re against abortion. Sure, we all understand people’s reasons & tough situations… but only after you have had one, do you realise that no situation could have been as bad as how you now feel. Surely in speaking about “women’s rights”, their “right” is to know whats really at stake, what they’re really doing & how they will feel because of it, for the rest of their lives. We do need to stand up, for the lives of both the unborn and their mothers, for the babies are dying physically – but the mothers are dying emotionally and mentally at the same time.
Catherine Pym
Many thanks Catherine for your heartfelt insights and observations.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Just to make this clear, I don’t support abortions and I never will.
One question that i have is how do the non-Christians view all of this? I know that the people who make these decisions to protest have their reasons and who am I to judge whether it is the call of God or not, but when we’re so busy ranting and protesting and there’s so much bad media already on this, what do the non-Christians understand from all of it? Do they understand why we think it’s wrong? Do they understand where we’re coming from? Do they understand why they should stop abortions?
I don’t know whether I read this from an article of Bill’s or somewhere else, but to truly change these problems we need to start changing the culture and society, through the church. Just because there are laws against abortion in place, or abortion clinics are closed down, it doesn’t mean people won’t do it illegally. My pastor always says, we are given the role of Joseph during the famine. When people came to look for an answer from Pharaoh, he said to go ask Joseph. The church is Joseph. When people in this world are crying for a way out of their problems and complaining against God, God’s put the church here to help them. God is love, grace and compassion. Have we displayed it to these people? Have we tried to understand where they’re coming from and tried to show them the true way? Without them understanding the true evil of abortion, they’ll never stop. Maybe I’m wrong, but we live in a very hurt world that can’t see God and only sees what they need. When they see Christians protesting, does that help them manage their pain of living in this world? When we are locked up or jailed, did we make any headway in changing the view of society? (But i do think that everyone has their own calling, maybe God wants some to be locked up?). One thing Jesus did very well was that he healed people and he approached them where they were at. I don’t think the Samaritan woman thought Jesus was unapproachable or judgmental. When the world can’t come to Christians for help because they think we’re all crazy in our belief, or don’t understand them or think we’re unapproachable, then that is a serious issue.
Instead, we should be putting things in place to support these people who are getting abortions so that they no longer want to. Orphanages, counseling, aid, help, jobs, support, education for teenagers who are pregnant, childcare, whatever that is needed. People should be able to enter these centers and feel loved and accepted, and above all else they need to meet God. We need to display to the world the hope and the life that Jesus gives us, the chances of redemption from wrong. Our actions speak louder than our words. People are hurt by us because they think we hate them. With our mouths the christians preach love, but our actions – do they truly display a love for souls? maybe for the unborn fetus in our protest, but what about their mother and the situation she’s facing? If the state suddenly decided to make a law so that we can’t have these centers, then I’ll happily go to jail for trying to help people.
On another note, our church does city evangelism every week, and apparently we’re not actually allowed to share the gospel in any covered areas or private-public areas but we still do, because there’s a soul there who wants to hear about God and Jesus. It’ll go directly against the commandment in Matthew 28:18-20 if we don’t.
Emily Chen
Thanks Emily
You offer some important thoughts. And yes you are quite right about the importance of practical alternatives to abortion, and the need to provide a range of services and help to pregnant women.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
I am on the side of PEACEFUL civil disobedience, a tactic Gandhi, an exponent of non-violence, adopted.
Also, I admire Alan Keyes tremendously. I met him in Nairobi in 1985 when he was shepherding Maureen Reagan, daughter of the President. She was pro-choice, Reagan pro-life, so Keyes had a difficult task as she was leading the US delegation to the mid-decade conference of women. He did a fantastic job and persuaded her to vote right.
Babette Francis
Thanks Babette
Yes it is a pity he didn’t get the nod as the Republican contender instead of McCain.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Thanks Bill for yet another wake up call. I’m not sure what you did this time, but this article really struck home, in my heart, on this issue in a greater magnitude than before. I’ve got to do my own part on this issue of abortion and I have to do it quick, where ever and whenever I can.
Please continue the good work, and no, I am not sick of reading your thought provoking articles of issues of our day.
Blessings
Nigel Onamade
Emily said, “Just because there are laws against abortion in place, or abortion clinics are closed down, it doesn’t mean people won’t do it illegally.” But with respect, this is one of the commonly repeated lies of the pro-death advocates. If something is illegal then not only is its occurrence greatly reduced but it also sends a powerful message to society that said practice is wrong. Several decades ago before abortion was made legal, the number of abortions was minuscule compared to today.
Of course the church/Christians should be offering practical help and understanding to mothers with unplanned pregnancies (and a great many Christian based groups do exactly that), but I see the issue as separate and not dependent on our role to lobby and protest to make this evil practice illegal. If we were talking about the ‘right’ of women to have their born children murdered how many would care one iota about the possibly that our protests might be seen in a negative light by the media or by non-Christians?
The fact is that even if no Christian or church group anywhere offered any support for mothers with unplanned pregnancies, then we would still be entirely justified in protesting by any means possible what is in reality mass murder of innocents.
Ewan McDonald.
Thanks Nigel
Yes I sometimes worry that I write too much. But there is so much to write about, and so little truth is getting out into the public arena, so I will keep plugging away at it.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Thanks guys
Its times like this when I wish I was back in America, so I could go to Indiana and join in the protests. Kinda brings me back to my old hippy days protesting in the late 60s. OK, I reveal both my age and my dark past here.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
RE: Emily comments, “My pastor always says, we are given the role of Joseph during the famine. When people came to look for an answer from Pharaoh, he said to go ask Joseph. The church is Joseph.”
Emily, please understand that the church today is not Joseph. Never has been, never will be. I apologize for being so direct, but this kind of application from Scripture mishandles the text.
To understand why the application you mention is an improper application of the story, just follow that idea a little further. Joseph was given political authority in Egypt. So if the church is Joseph, than all Christians should be seeking to hold political office and direct the country–is that what we should apply to our lives? If not, why not? Maybe these questions will help you understand why “the church is Joseph” is a subjective, arbitrary application that has nothing to do with the actual story.
For more on correctly handling the Word of Truth, see Walt Russel’s article: “Indians Slay Tigers” at http://www.summit.org/resources/tc/2009/04/indians-slay-tigers-and-brakin.php.
Hope this helps!
Chuck Edwards, USA
Thanks Chuck
Perhaps all Emily intended to mean was that when the world is in times of deep crises, it will turn to God’s people for some answers. If so, then she seems to be sharing a valid point.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Bill,
I disagree with you on abortion. I could argue it but if I did that I would start using my own blogs.
However, your right about civil disobedience. It is part of the prophetic role of the church. The Unitng Church attempted to codify the role of Minister. In the code,, article 6.2 says a Minister must not break the law with the exception of political risistance or civil disobedience. I have a link to the code below.
http://nat.uca.org.au/images/stories/Regulations/ethicscode.pdf
Michael Boswell
As Bill states at the beginning of his article there are different views on how pro life people should respond. Personally I would not go to the University to protest in order to be arrested. If it was an Institution that I supported then I would write objecting, and failing any appropriate response stop sending cheques, and if a church institution, support/initiate action to remove the leadership of the offending institution.
Regarding civil disobedience, I see this more in response to anti discrimination legislation infringing my right to freedom of conscience, thought and religion.
At this point in time there are medical practitioners in Victoria who are engaging in civil disobedience in respect of the law’s requirement that they must refer for an abortion. These practitioners right now are risking the loss of their registration and prosecution by the State.
Again, much nearer home than Notre Dame, the Victorian Government’s Scrutiny of Acts and Regulation Committee has now received Prof Beth Gaze’s report on options for removing/restricting the exception clauses in the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act (I believe to be made public on Monday). Without being too melodramatic, there is every potential for Christian institutions (schools, hospitals, welfare provider’s, etc – the Churches themselves will be left alone) and individuals to face the prospect of whether or not to engage in civil disobedience. (And not to, may mean withdrawing their services as some Catholic adoption agencies have been forced to do so in America). We know that action can be taken against Christians by looking no further than to the UK where so called “equality and diversity” provisions are leading to action against Christians.
These are not “glory” situations; these will cost. The church and her people have been here before. Will our nation regress in this way? Time will tell. In the meantime we have every right and obligation to fight coercive legislation (and proposals for the same) respectfully but with determination and a clear, informed, cooperative strategy.
David Palmer
After the horrible Victorian bushfires and Danny Nalliah, I am just about ready to setup a table at the local shops on Sat morning with the body-parts of the 20 unborn babies that were killed that week in our fair city (1,100 each year in Canberra) complete with names and dates of death etc.. What would my charge-sheet read at the local police station? Creating a public nuisance? Affront to the community’s sensibilities? Theft of hospital waste?
When are we going to get fair dinkum in this?
On the other hand, the early Christians didn’t change the World by marches and civil action with petitions etc. – the Christians went out at night to gather in the babies which were left out to die and raised them. They visited the terminally ill to minister mercy to them, not fearing for their own safety. No wonder the World took notice of them. Maybe we need both “hands” in this upcoming revolution.
God bless you Bill – keep up the good work.
Ian Brearley
The current mindset of society needs to be changed on how they view unborn children. At the tender gestation of 8 weeks a baby is fully formed. The baby has a personality, a spirit and a mind. What we fail to recognise in society is that this is a little person, inside his/her mother for the next 32 weeks just grows, puts on weight, muscle, fat etc. Society says its a foetus not a person. Society tells this lie to women to have them believe they are not really getting rid of person but a rather a piece of matter. I can tell you at first hand experience that a baby born at 20 weeks is a person with a personality, a mind and a spirit. It is our current society mindset that is deluded in this matter and deceived by the evil one. We are told that it is better to get rid of something that seemingly will cause us inconvenience that to see it through. My other thought is society goes on about women’s rights but what about the rights of men? Bill, I went to the protest prayer day on the steps of Parliament House in Victoria and the fellow who protested for a long time outside Parliament House against the legalising of abortion, said I have no rights as a father if my wife decides to have an abortion. She could go ahead and have the abortion even if I want the child. Society does not consider men when it comes to having babies. This is a feminist lie. Another hypocrisy is our current health system – on one floor of the hospital you have NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit) and on the very next floor terminations being done. One floor is saving babies, the other one is getting rid of them. Is this a world gone mad? Who gets to pick and choose who lives and who dies?
The scripture that comes to mind while I am writing this is 2 Chronicles 7:13-15:
“When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer [made] in this place.” (NKJV)
Our mindset in society needs to be changed and whilst protesting is an excellent call to bring attention, we need to also consider that our fight is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and the dark rulers of this place and spiritual wickedness in the high places. Prayer is our weapon of warfare and we have a voice which we should let the Holy Spirit use. Far too long Christians have been complacent about such matters – have we decided that comfort, prosperity and ease is our calling?
Francesca Collard
The church I go to did not raise a voice when the abortion law reform was passed. I protested to the bigoted Greens MP Colleen Hartland,who did not have the manners to respond.
At our Bible study group one of our members – a scientist – felt that we as a church should have done more. Yes we are involved with a soup kitchen, we help schools in East timor, we have a opp shop, we do backyard blitzes for non-Christians with no strings attached, and generally busy in other projects but, these issues around life and death – not a word as a church community!!
Wayne Pelling
I haven’t yet made up my mind about whether or not I should be involved in civil disobedience over abortion. It is an intensely personal and difficult question to resolve.
In 2007 I had a job which required me each morning to bicycle past a group of committed Christians who maintained a vigil outside an abortion clinic in East Melbourne. I had to think hard abut whether I stopped and joined them or simply kept cycling and ignored them.
In the 5 months I went past them I never once stopped to pray with them. However I either rang my bell or waved to them each morning and as I went past I would say a simple prayer for them and for the victims of abortion, both the unborn child and the mother.
My passing them was often acknowledged by one of the group.
Even though I haven’t yet resolved the question about my personal involvement in direct civil disobedience I can see the very real value in giving support, even indirectly, to those who are prepared to engage in civil disobedience.
At the very least those who engage in civil disobedience against the legalised abortion pogrom warrant our prayers and acknowledgement. In praying for them and in acknowledging that they are acting in answer to Gods call we hopefully will come to an understanding of what God calls us to do – and it may or may not be be the same call.
As always, Bill, your articles keep me thinking and help in my personal search for understanding as to what God wants of me.
John Ryan
Hi Bill,
Thanks for your articles; I don’t agree with everything you write but at least they provoke me to think!
On this topic I think it’s important to remember that those who don’t know the truth will live without doing what is right and it’s unlikely that through protest we will stop the evil progression of abortion.
Education of the truth is the only way we can do this. We need to understand that while civil disobedience sounds great in other contexts; it has only worked because the greater public opionion is with those protesting, however on our case (through deceit) the public opionion is against us and would only drive us further into a “loony protestor” category.
That’s just my 2 cents anyway
Peace
Jay Rusty
Thanks again, Bill,
OK. Not to discount the need for strong convictions and ‘Putting your money where your mouth is”, but I’ll be the first to admit the pragmatic considerations on such civil disobedience. As a father of young children, paying off a mortgage to house them, is it wise for me to risk imprisonment that would effect those who depend on me?
It’s something I consider regularly and much more could be said about practical implications, but I think we need some lateral thinking here. We have just seen the generosity of Victorians and Australians in response to the fires. What could we do to give practical support to those who suffer financially from such civil disobedience? Do we need to create a fund to help support such people? Any other ideas?
Jeremy Peet
Just a couple of points
If Bible based Christians were truly being ‘salt’ we would have many more Christians in our western parliaments being ‘light’ to the world. Then the sort of action Bill talks about in this article would not be necessary.
It is because the Christian church has gone soft on reading and following the Word that we see, in both the US and Australia today, those who promote themselves as Christians to get elected passing very un-Christian laws once elected!
Emily is right, people should be able to turn to the church for help when things get tough, but to which part of the church do they turn? Some in the church are opposing abortion and some, like the Anglican women who wrote the Melbourne Anglican submission to the Law Reform Commission last year, are offering compromise rather than truth.
Trying to make bad government proposals slightly better still means we get bad laws – asking for ‘exceptions’ for Christians (or ‘religious’ people) means we are simply covering our own backsides and not caring for those in the world, many of whom share our moral concern. Only when the church separates itself from the ‘ideas’ of the world and fully understands a true Biblical worldview will the world be able to turn to the church for help.
Lastly, Emily’s confusion over the true meaning of the Scripture text is no doubt due to an almost total lack of good Bible based teaching from the pulpit.
Peter Stokes
Thanks for raising this very important subject again, Bill. The issue of civil disobedience in relation to abortion is one I struggled with (and continue to!) for many tears.
My conclusion is that I believe it is a right and necessary thing that members of the Christian community do make an uncompromising stand on this issue and non-violently place themselves between the unborn children and those who would end their lives.
A small group of us in Brisbane have been engaging in such actions over the last seven years and it has resulted in many arrests, court cases, fines and time in jail. When you find yourself in a prison cell for a few months it is certainly a good way to help you refine what you believe!
I have put down a few thoughts about all of this in a number of articles on the website http://www.protect-life.info which readers may like to look at.
I would also highly recommend the books, Is Rescuing Right? by Randy Alcorn, and Shattering the Darkness by Joseph Foreman, and the booklet, No Cheap Solutions, by John Cananagh-O’Keefe, all of which are very helpful on this subject. Copies can be obtained from me.
Graham Preston
Bill, we all appreciate what you are doing and how you can use words so eloquently to say what we all are thinking so keep up your good work.
I agree that the issue of abortion is the most unjust issue in our world today and a society that allows the innocent and helpless to be killed is no decent society.
What to do about it is problematic as I would like to see pro-life people, and the churches, much more active but so many leave it to someone else to lobby for change.
Your article was very thought-provoking about what each one of us is doing to change our own country and area to promote a pro-life society. I do think we should be pushing abstinence education more as it seems to be very effective in countries where it is promoted.
Cheers and thank you, Bill.
Nola Drum
Emily asked “One question that i have is how do the non-Christians view all of this?”
When the changes to the abortion bill was being discussed here in Victoria I made it a point of asking non-Christian men what their attitude was. Out of 20 men I talked to 20 had this answer: “It should be the womens choice if she is raped”. When I challenged that thought with the fact that most abortions were not the result of rape they did not want to continue the conversation. Somehow they all had the same mind set. When I tried to discuss it at church I was also met with a wall of resistance. They were reluctant to discuss it. I found it so frustrating. People are reluctant to face hard truths like the one in this article. I want to do something but I am tied down with the responsibility of a business so I am praying about it. In church we sang the words “suffering Children are safe in His arms” from the chorus “There is none like you” and I just started to cry.
Thanks for a stirring article Bill and may it motivate us into fruitful action.
Keith Lewis, Ballarat
We have our own knight-in-shining-armour here in Australia. Thank you Graham Preston. He has already spent much time in gaol as a result of protests outside abortion clinics, and produces a newsletter ‘Protect Life’.
Dunstan Hartley
Bill, Like Eddie Sim, I don’t mind how many articles you write. I thank God for you and your writings, and pray He will give you the strength to keep on keeping on. I would also like to commend Babette Francis who has been a faithful soldier for many years on this issue. I received her fighting material more than 30 years ago. And Bill, I love your quotes.
Dawn McGregor
Keith, I symphathise with you in relation to the attitudes at your church. For too long the abortion issue has been viewed primarily as a “Catholic” thing and used as a vehicle to pedal bigotry against the Catholic Church. I just look at the speeches of the Greens MP Colleen Harland, who I have no compunction in labelling as a bigot. However when a large number of Protestant churches – like yours and mine – say and do nothing, then we have to say “Thank God that it is the catholic church that speaks out”.
Wayne Pelling
As some would now be aware Kate Marsh of the Children by Choice yesterday released a Press Statement equating the situation in Queensland with that of the Third World labelling the existing legislation as lagging behind Cambodia where an abortion can be procured at any time during a pregnancy.
This is a salvo over the bows of Pro-Lifers signalling the commencement of a campaign to wage war on the innocents by decriminalizing abortion in Queensland.
John FG McMahon
This might sound really silly, but I would do it if there were large numbers, I think I would feel safer somehow. I think others might feel the same. The idea of going alone, or with 2 other people to a clinic to block the doors in peaceful protest is pretty daunting, but what if there were 100 others? Maybe there needs to be a “I’ll go if you go” campaign, where everyone commits to go as long as another person goes too. I think this would increase numbers.
And yes, I think it is perfectly valid to do; there are people alive today because of what Operation Rescue have done in the States. Perhaps many more that we don’t know about, what about people who don’t even stop but just keep driving?
Kelly Williams
The articles on the website for the group Graham Preston is involved with are well worth reading:
http://protect-life.info/articles.html
Graham and others make the case for why civil disobedience is right with regard to opposing abortion. The articles also address whether civil disobedience creates more problems than it solves, why our culture does not seem to be greatly impacted and the cost those involved with such action must be willing to pay etc.
I highly recommend reading through these as they expand upon a lot of the issues Bill raises on this topic.
Two of the points which I found particularly powerful were:
Christians are not making an impact on society with regards abortion because non-Christians sense the lack of consistency in saying abortion is murder, but then acting in a way completely inconsistent with this fact.
Christians should be aware of the danger when using the democratic process to oppose abortion lest we implicitly legitimise the idea that abortion is just another issue which should be decided by a majority vote.
Mansel Rogerson
Our every waking moment is governed by the question from our Lord “WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?”.
How we answer that question, determines whether we are really representing Him on this earth, or whether we are still in unbelief.
In this heartbreaking and so, so important issue of abortion, the question is being boomed at us “WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?” …. many, or most of us, are trying hard not to hear His voice – or it will demand of us a very strong answer.
By our apathy and lack of courage, by our lack of prayer on the issue, by our lack of seeking and searching for all the resources and people we are meant to connect with (both for and against) on this issue, we are indeed answering our Lord and Saviour – who died on a Cross, such a horrible, horrible, death, that we might live.
We need to pray for one another on this issue, that the veil be taken away, that unbelief be removed, that by the grace of God, we will fully understand and have the strength and courage to do whatever it is He calls us to do.
It begins and ends with prayer – with prayer in between…. above and below. But it can never be ignored!
People’s lives are at stake. Time is short.
Not by might, not by power but by my Spirit, says the Lord.
Sue Pollock
Well done to Alan Keyes, Randall Terry and others who are protesting against Obama speaking at Notre Dame.
May the protest be really really BIG! It is time for political protests on this issue – the left has always been good at that.
Graham, your actions have challenged many – so thank you for your courageous stand.
Jenny Stokes
If Government decree becomes the criterion by which Medical practitioners must act, Hippocratic medicine comes to an end. I know there are currently not a majority of Hippocratic practitioners; but many still regard Medicine as a covenantal rather than a contractual profession. The simplified difference is that one does what is best for the ‘weaker’ participant, while in the latter one does what one is paid to do. Once Governments interfere to the extent that a doctor is told & then paid to do a certain procedure, the ramifications are frightening. As an anaesthetist slips a needle into a vein it is not a reassuring thought that someone or some organisation might be paying enough to insure the ‘patient’ does not awaken. Unlikely? One best not believe that, human nature being what it is.
“Atta boy” Bill. Keep up the good work. Greetings & Blessings.
Arthur Hartwig
Thanks for your indications of support and encouragement Dunstan, Mansel and Jenny.
I mentioned above our website. If anyone wants to receive our irregular Protect Life reports about our actions you would be most welcome to receive them. (These reports are not put on the website as they sometimes give the dates of the next action, etc and we don’t want to give advance warnings.)
You can contact me at prestonlife@optusnet.com.au
Graham Preston
Those who promote abortion on demand are vociferous in their demands for their “right to choose”. Their mantra is “it’s my body & I can do what I like with it” when the real, but hidden truth, is “it’s my life & I’ve made a mess of it so now this innocent child must die so I can get my life back!” It is not reasonable, fair or morally justifiable that the child should pay the price for someone else’s recklesness! There are actions and there are consequences and if your actions are ill-considered there will often be undesirable outcomes. The great problem therefore is the irresponsibility of the couple who thoughtlessly and selfishly indulge their urges which results in the pregnancy. The “right to choose” was forfeited the moment these people “chose” to have this relationship when the possibility of pregnancy was very real. The “right to choose” was instantly negated the moment the child was conceived. From that moment on the child has as much right to live as the woman carrying it. And if the woman was to ask the child what they would choose, who could doubt that this new creation would choose LIFE! The childs “right to life” is equally important as her “right to choose”, perhaps even more so because the child was willingly created by this person. Once you decide to indulge in behaviour that produces a totally undesirable effect nobody has the right to ask someone else to pay the price!
John Burgess
Rather than civil disobedience, how about a positive campaign. For example, encouraging women to have ultrasounds. Or imagine an advertising campaign or web site that had well presented facts/video etc about a foetus development. How early the nervous system develops, when thumb sucking and other “baby” behaviours start.
Something akin to the approach of the life education van.
It so easy to be blase about abortion when the victim is unseen.
Andrew Zahra
I’m all for peaceful civil disobedience, just don’t expect that the general public is going to receive our protest as Godly action. The media in particular is always watching and ready to report good as evil and evil as good. And the entertainment industry gets a lot of mileage out of making fun out of us ignorant Christians. Motivation must be our love for God and those still in the womb created in His image.
Nino Suraci
Thankyou again Bill for keeping hold of this issue. I have found http://www.lifesitenews.com/ helpful to my thinking and and encouraging to get involved as I can. One of the keys they recognize is the need to change people’s minds. I like the way they avoid euphemisms and use terms that describe actually what is happening such as “abortion mills”. I like the way they have kept the heat on about Notre Dame so that that event may now become one of the biggest pro-life events in recent years. I was impressed by the 40 Days for Life campaigns that were organized in North America. I am impressed by the ongoing campaigns at abortuaries aimed at rescuing babies and the reports of successes along the way. I like the way they report on all these issues and keep the pot stirring. The campaign to ban abortion is a huge issue and we all need to be mobilized and fight on many different fronts.
Tas Walker
Where were you good people when you could have voted for life, eg. the DLP, at the 2006 Legislative Council election? Many of you show no sign of learning from experience, and now discuss anything except solving the problem.
Gerard Flood
Bill, I am extremely grateful that you have raised this debate on, “Abortion and Civil Disobedience”.
As many are aware the laws surrounding abortion are getting more severe. It is not just a matter of someone sitting in the doorway of an abortion clinic that is illegal anymore. In South Australia it is now deemed a criminal offence to simply offer a pregnant woman, even on the footpath, information – pertaining to foetal development, and/or personal support as she is about to enter an abortion clinic. (My wife and our minister have been fined by one particular council for doing this, and whilst neither are prepared to pay the fine, for them it is not a question of what others are doing or not doing. They believe, like Graham Preston – who has spent many a long month in prison, and others who go to abortion clinics, it may be the last opportunity possible to save a baby’s life. They are prepared to risk the verbal and physical abuse and ridicule, and the potential fines and imprisonment, for at the end of the day, it is a matter of conscience with regards to what they are personally are going to say to God when they meet Him face to face.)
For me, I have been wrestling earnestly with the question of what should I do about abortion, and have been especially praying for more courage and wisdom in this area for the past year. In short: it has been heavily on my mind everyday.
I have become aware of this:
Firstly, I know, beyond doubt, that the killing of a tiny innocent life is wrong. Severely wrong. Moreover, it is a form of treason, an attack on the Almighty King Himself … an attack on God’s personal sovereignty and His precious gift of life: a life made in His remarkable image.
Secondly, I know that the killing of the unborn is not an “issue”. I know we lack the words to use to describe what is happening here, but I have never heard the Jewish holocaust being reduced to something of an “issue”. Nor have I heard that the murder of millions of Cambodians in the time of Pol Pot described as an “issue”. Abortion is a monstrous atrocity, a horrendous evil, murder, bloody massacre, but never simply an “issue”.
Thirdly, many of us are rather content to share Proverbs 24:11, where we are instructed to:
“Recue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward the slaughter.”
Yet somehow we tend to miss the strong warning given in the following verses of Proverbs 12:12-13. Unless I am mistaken this warning is for those of us who make up excuses when we fail to rescue those being led away to their death:
“If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’
does not He who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not He who guards your life know it?
Will He not repay each person according to what he has done?”
These are indeed very unsettling words. We may wish to over-ride this with the verse “There is now no condemnation for those is Christ …” (Rom 1:8a), but should we really being using this as our “get out of jail” card? Or said another way, to absolve us from responsibility to do good when we can?
Fourthly, we are aware God is incredibly amazing – in so many ways! In the area of sacrifice, we have observed throughout history (and I am sure amongst those who we have known personally) that those who have given over their lives, and that of their families, to God, He has always … always been faithful and has brought much fruit and blessings from their sacrifices. I have seen again and again that those who have been selfless, and prepared to lose reputation, time, health, popularity, security, money, liberty and life, for God’s sake, have had these replaced with something much richer (but of course, the full extent of this I/we will not know until the other side of the grave).
We often think of missionaries who ventured to far way countries knowing that they were to face certain death from famine, diseases, or hostile inhabitants, rather noble but peculiarly ‘God’ obsessed. But were they? When we dig deeper, we find they often had desires for maybe material comforts, family, ambitions, etc, but their primary yearnings, like the prophets of old and the disciples, and even our Lord Himself, were to do the will of the Father, their Father.
The bottom line is, if we call ourselves Christians, surely we have an obligation to our fellow neighbours, no matter how small and vulnerable they are, to love and protect them at all cost.
For those who have questions surrounding abortion, I have created a website attempting to highlight what abortion really is, and what it does to unborn children and women (bear in mind it is still in the early stages of development): http://abortsa.com/
Trevor Grace
Thanks Gerard
But I don’t think attacking others here who are actively seeking to be prolife is all that helpful.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
I am a little miffed by Gerard Flood’s seemingly accusatory statement asking “Where were you good people when you could have voted for life, eg. the DLP, at the 2006 Legislative Council election?” Well for a start I would have thought that the vast majority of those regularly reading and commenting at this blog are politically informed and already voting for Christian candidates or pro-life Parties whenever possible. It’s not those Christians who are commenting here who are the problem but those who remain ignorant and who most likely have never heard the name “Bill Muehlenberg” or “Culture Watch”.
And secondly, the DLP is not the only pro-life party. I stood as an endorsed CDP candidate for the Legislative Council at the 2006 Victorian State election, running primarily on a platform of opposition to abortion and specifically in opposition to State Labor’s then threat to decriminalise abortion. One thing that is very clear to me is the negligent lack of support Christian candidates receive from the churches. I’m sure this was Gerard’s intended main point and I agree with him and note a couple of others above who also bemoaned the lack of action from their respective churches when it comes to opposing abortion.
The responsibility for allowing abortion to have become such a prevalent and acceptable thing in society really rests with the church for failing to be the ‘salt and light’ we are commanded to be. It is the responsibility of the church to now wake up and try to take back some of that lost ground.
Ewan McDonald.
I know at least a few of us are saddened when we have to break our nation’s laws in order to protect and promote human life. When laws favour those who walk the road that leads to destruction and death, it shows how twisted our culture has become. Unfortunately, none of this is new. We seem to be devolving into the Roman Empire.
Emily, I certainly appreciate your comments and support what you do as a street evangelist. That’s inspiring and truly shows your desire for people to know the King of Kings. I understand the concern that you and others have toward people who are more vocal in their opposition. Does this hurt the efforts of those who love through their “actions”?
Just as the body has many parts, there is room for many ways to stand for life and “rescue those who are being led away to death”. I can assure you that many “vocal” pro-life Christians are just as active in dispensing love and compassion through providing homes for young mums in crisis (particularly when their “choice” to let their baby live is being met with venom and hostility from family and doctors), adopting infants, giving baby gear and other necessities to mothers struggling to provide for their children, etc… This follows the example of our brothers and sisters in second and third century Roman Empire who did the same for abandoned infants and infants damaged by attempts to abort them as Ian Brearley pointed out in an earlier comment.
There must also be room to preach/proclaim to our government and society just as Cicero and Tertullian did in the Roman Empire. All Christians should encourage those who use words against the words and laws that our culture proclaims to us all the time. When people follow the teaching of Plato and Aristotle that women submit to abortions so that the state does not become too populous, it is necessary for Christians to answer, “Because of the grace of God through our Lord Jesus, we can take care of all people.” When our society promotes killing disabled babies because they will cost too much for society to care for them, it is necessary for Christians to answer, “Because of the grace of God through our Lord Jesus, we can all live together no matter what our abilities and gifts.”
Following the example of our Lord Jesus, those who speak truth must do so in love. But, make no mistake Emily, just because truth is offered in love doesn’t mean the truth will be accepted or even appreciated in love. Jesus was despised, rejected and ultimately killed by those who insisted on following their own kingdom, yes? And those who provide actions of love, grace and compassion must do so without enabling those who go are walking down the road that leads to destruction and death.
May all brothers and sisters become united under the King of kings as we proclaim to our neighbour through word and deed the magnificent Kingdom of God.
Lance Macormic
To Emily Chen, I am of non christian tradition, I oppose the taking of life as that can only be at His command. To Andrew Zahra, yes education is very good tool to use but I must reckon that more often than not the women who do it already know the different stages of the foetus.
To Nino Suraci, when we do something good, there is no expectation of return, we do it unconditionally to fight evil. Whoever twists any deed that is good it is upon God to judge them, we must still not waver and be steady in our fight against evil.
Dear Bill, thank you once again for bringing something so tragic to our attention. I cannot even read without being choked up and wondering what I can do. You pose a challenge to us all to face the mirror and look at the person reflected and look deep within our self and what we are made of. For God did say, if you say you are courages and will fight evil, He will test us on that declaration. But as John Ryan so rightly out it it is so intense and personal an issue that we have to deal with. Perhaps the issue is not only the horror of abortions but also how do we measure up to being good and doing the right thing, our choices in this life. Perhaps this is the real test when these tragic situations play out before us.
Siti Khatijah
The way the West is moving in unison away from the Christian heritatge and taking upon itself the roll of god it reminds me of Epesians 6:13-18. Paul here reveals that the true enemy of God and His believers is a spiritual enemy. What/who else can make such a mass changes in mindsets across so many peoples? This is first and foremost a spiritual battle that must be won through prayer and then action according to God’s direction. I think that this mindset over the West has effected many believers making the Church sleepy and sluggish with respect to these important moral issues and there needs to be a call to prayer across her bows. I have never felt such evil covering our nation as I have seen over the last 20 years and the Church needs to make her stand against it no matter what.
Keith Lewis, Ballarat
If we read the book of Daniel we can see that king Nebuchadnezer changed the law on Daniel several times. We need to understand that God has his own laws in our handbook and that these higher laws (kingdom laws) have absolute dominion over man made laws. Gods laws required Daniel worship no other God than the God of Israel. Daniel was not worried about his so called civil disobedience as he was following a higher set of laws and that his God would deliver him just as he will deliver us as long we stay determined to do whats right in Gods sight rather than mans. The Church is too comfortable by and large. Its worried about how the world may see it (if you havent been delivered from men you want be able to deliver men). We need to recall that most of the new testament was written from prison by Paul. He said he had unspeakable joy (you try having joy in that enviroment).
This victory over abortion will be won by devine revaltion from God himself. God knows how to defeat this lot. Some of which has already been given to a girl in the U.S.. (I know this sounds weird) She was refered to a book called Horton “hears a who” by Dr Seuss. The main catch phrase of the book is a persons a person no matter how small. I find this quite poignant as the fetus is considered persona non grata. Another issue that this book raised was that not enough people were making enough noise about this issue (one politician said, before the passing of the bill in victoria that unless he saw 10,000 people protesting he would vote in favour of the bill) 3000 of us turned up. The rest of the church like horton the elephant (at the start of the book) were enjoying themselves in their own persuits (where were the other 200,000?). God gave a similar vision to general William booth founder of the salvation army.
Paul asked the congregations to pray that he would be bold so as to speak the word of God as he ought. I am a nurse I have already told and printed in our news paper that I will not as a nurse not be complying with the this new law because I will not have God accuse me as a murderer on judgement day and that if Mr Brumby and his parliament want to go to hell they will be going without me. Quote: The fear of the Lord is the begining of wisdom. Lets stop pussy footing around and tell like it is. God will not allow murderers into heaven unless they repent and then God promisses to forgive (as long as we forgive). Its our job to them its the Holy spirit’s to convince them. Yes lots of people may be offended but we’re to tell the truth arent we?
Benjamin Veitz
In response to Andrew’s suggestion that we should be working towards providing free ultrasounds for women considering abortion- there is an Australian organization already working towards that goal, and they are assisting my Perth-based crisis pregnancy agency to install a 4D ultrasound machine with doppler heartbeat detection as soon as we can raise the needed funds:
http://www.pregnantalternatives.com.au
We’d very much appreciate donations towards this project- our agency (which usually runs on the smell of an oily rag) is working hard to raise the funds and train our volunteer staff to make this a reality.
US agencies report that prior to ultrasound, one in three women considering abortion chooses life for her baby after counseling and assistance is offered. After ultrasound, that number jumps to four out of five- four out of five babies otherwise destined for abortion saved, four out of five women spared a lifetime of regret and torment.
If you can help us, please contact me at pph.la@iinet.net.au Donations $2 and over are tax deductible and every bit counts.
Thanks, Bill! Those of us on the “coal-face” do deeply appreciate it every time your thoughts stir the Body to action.
Michelle Macormic
Thanks guys
The number of Catholic Bishops publicly opposing Notre Dame’s honouring of pro-abortion Obama continues to climb. Now there are a total of 71. Go Bishops! http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050815.html
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
You’re awesome bill, I am truly your biggest fan!
As you know i believe abortion is to believers today as was slavery, womens rights, care for the disabled and workers rights for the believers of the past.
I saw this morning that we will soon see the release of an over the counter test for the sex of a child as young as 8 weeks. The first right of a women is the right to life, and it looks like Australia is introducing its own form of the one child policy.
I wonder if anyone is interested in a sister protest at the Perth campus of Notre Dame?
Richard Blake
In 2 Corinthians 10:4 it says “The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.”
From this we deduce that God has given us the weapons we need to defeat the enemy. All we have to do is to use them.
What is probably the greatest weapon we have as sons of God?
Lots of singing?
Powerful preaching?
Enthusiasm?
A college degree?
Good leaders?
Maintaining the status quo?
Saying that we believe the bible is the Word of God?
The fact is, it is none of the above. Our greatest weapon is prayer. Through prayer we can accomplish victory over Satan, which is why he doesn’t want us to do it. Meeting once a week for an hour to pray is not prayer.
The New Testament Church met daily to pray. One hour a week!! Makes me feel ashamed.
Satan has many strongholds in society such as the education system, homosexuals, feminism, alternative families, child abuse, and the biggest one of all, the murder of millions of babies in the womb. Governments are frantically running around trying to cope with the onslaught. The end result is zilch. Moral degradation is happening every day and is going to get worse because the church does not pray.
When we pray, we are saying we don’t have the answers. We are asking God to equip us for the battle. Most prayer meetings we tell God our problems but rarely listen to his answers. We certainly don’t want to know his plans for his kingdom. It seems that the fact that we have met for prayer is sufficient. Whether anything happens seems irrelevant.
We seem to treat prayer as just one part of our religious programme, instead of making it the most important part of our gathering together. The part that should take priority over everything else.
I know of one church where the leadership prays for 10 minutes a month when they meet together. Is the church growing? Is the church fulfilling its commission? Not a hope in hell, or heaven.
You can go to jail for injuring or killing a dog. The government pays you to kill your baby. That will not change until the church takes up its most powerful weapon of prayer, corporately, until it hurts. That will save more babies lives than any other activity.
One final point, people say “well, I pray at home for these things.” Fine, keep doing it but you cannot escape that most of the prayer in the New Testament Church was corporate. Why is this? Simple. The scripture teaches there is power in numbers and even more when they are in unity.
Roger Marks
Thanks for the kind words Richard.
Yes I was interviewed this morning about the IntelliGender test. I said it would not only lead to more designer babies, but would result in more abortions for perfectly healthy unborn babies who are of the “wrong” gender. It is just another step to a Brave New World.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Roger is right about the importance of prayer and that it is greatly underused in much of the church today, but more prayer shouldn’t necessarily mean less protesting (against abortion). In fact if the church were to pray more what should happen is that the church comes into closer alignment with God’s will and would more clearly see things from His perspective which would then lead to more action.
Remember also the words of John Wesley, “Pray as if it all depends on God, and work as if it all depends on you.”
Ewan McDonald.
Amen Roger Marks You have hit the mark. Like you said its ok to pray ie for us to do the talking. But we have to recognize that were are talking to the man who knows everything and the outcome of everything. God knew this was going to happen and he knows how to stop it. We need to stop long enough to hear what he has to say about this issue then be obedient to what he says. When we read about joshua God had already developed a plan to defeat Jericho. Running around a city seven times with a bunch of priests doesnt make a lick of sense and is something that they dont teach at pukapunyal military school. But then were not following worldly knowledge but Godly wisdom. The bible says that wisdom is the principle thing. I sincerely believe that just one believer has the ability to change the entire outcome of the abortion issue if he or she will faithfully follow God step by step. Yes backed by corporate prayer daily.
Benjamin Veitz
For Thirty years my wife and I struggled to get churches (really THE CHURCH) to work together, to Stand Up and Speak Up. As I understand it, we are supposed to be the Body, with Christ the Head. We have found few who could see the picture of what could happen if we really believed and acted. The early apostles counted it joy to be imprisoned or die for standing up for the Truth. Christ is the Way, the Life and The Truth.
Tom Wise
Ewan, I am sorry if I gave the impression that civil disobedience was not acceptable as that was not my intention. I have found time and time again that the secret to all action is to first find out the will of God and that won’t happen unless we get serious about prayer.
I would love to see at least a monthy time of prayer for everyone who wants to get serious about praying for God’s direction about the murder of the unborn. I would like to see one in every town and city, because THIS IS SERIOUS!!! and we need to get angry (righteous of course).
If we had a central administration where every meeting could pass on what they felt God was saying and then have it sent out via an eletter to everyone involved.
Roger Marks
The world needs the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We need to make disciples.
Abortion is the single biggest social issue today, with somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 little Australians being killed every year. One of the reasons we need to keep this issue before us is to become true disciples ourselves and thus enabling us to be able to make more disciples. We must never become accustomed to this evil in our midst. In this way we can stay fired up. We must, of course, do all that we possibly can to help the defenceless and for some of us it may mean civil disobedience, but most of us are just not in that position yet. The healthcare workers in Victoria *are* in that position and if I were in their shoes, I ought to be prepared to go to gaol for refusing to partake in an abortion procedure. I’m not in that position, so it’s a bit academic.
Suffice it to say that if the Media were not so completely in favour of abortion, it would have been essentially defeated years ago. That’s a big part of where the battle lies.
But it’s a both/and scenario – we need to fight for just laws (and remember, most of these evil laws are passing by very narrow margins) AND look to change hearts and provide help to pregnant women etc.
Louise Le Mottee, Hobart
Probably most of the present adult generation regard abortion as part of life and many are compromised by having had abortions or been part of another’s decision to do so. At the mention of abortion they determinedly shut their eyes and ears to protect their hearts and, in some cases, their sanity.
Our best hope is to educate the next generation. We need to create in them a sense of wonder about life in the womb which leads them to regard abortion as a dreadful thing.
I suggest high quality portable displays showing the first days of life, displays with the ‘wow’ factor, a joy to visit, especially for children. Abortion would not feature in the display.
Suitable for public spaces like shopping centres and schools, they should be managed by bright young adults. I am aware that this idea is not new, but done Australia wide, it could be powerful.
Pat Gartlan