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I think the
answer to this provocative question is yes. I offer this opinion at some
risk of offending some of our readers and their pastors. But unlike so
many of our American churches that are moving their congregations toward
the “seeker sensitive” methodologies of doing church, I know that when I
tell the truth as I am commanded to do by Scripture, I will probably
offend some…Jesus did..
Since l992 I have
been standing on the sidewalks outside of the Sacramento and Roseville
area abortion mills. I have also traveled to these houses of child
sacrifice across the nation. My presence and those of our Sohlnet
volunteers at these mills is not missed by the “clients” frequenting the
mills or the general public who may stop to speak with us as they happen
to be passing by. The “clients” frequenting the Planned Parenthood’s and
other “clinics” often engage us in conversations. By their own
assertions, and the bumper stickers frequently displayed on their
vehicles, they are Christians. Here are some of the
statements we frequently hear from professing Christians.
“I am a Christian (and sometimes they identify their
local church and pastor) and I am angry and offended that you are
out here!!” “You are Pharisees!” “We are not under the Law!” “Jesus
loved people, He did not condemn them.” “I know that I am killing my baby
and that it is wrong but God is a loving God and He has forgiven me.”
(This on their way into the mill and without a hint of remorse)
“God has given us choice.” “All sin is sin and there is not difference
in abortion or any other sin.” “I agree with your purpose but you should
not be out here but in church. You can not do anything to stop this but
pray.” “You are giving Christians a bad name and people will not accept
the gospel of Christ when they see what you are doing.” “I talked to my
pastor and he said that it (abortion) was my personal decision, which I
would have to find out what was best for me.” “Look, all these aborted
babies are going to heaven and that’s a good thing.” (Bud’s
note: At Sohlnet, we value
humility and graciousness. We always try to exhibit these qualities but
are often judged by those who do not know us as being otherwise.)
It has become clear
to me that in the last 25 or so years American Christians are being taught
and are embracing a gospel that is not found in the Bible. This gospel
reads something like this: “Christ died for my sins and now I am saved.
It matters little how I live as a Christian because I am under grace and
not under the law. God wants me to be successful and He is here to meet
my needs.” Some of you are saying, “Come on Bud, these folks are only
professing to be Christians.” Well, perhaps some are. God only knows,
but I can tell you that many are bold enough to tell me about their
Christian experiences and I find that many are coming out of our very
large churches that have adopted the seeker friendly approach to Sunday
worship. Does that mean that these churches are overtly pro-choice?
Absolutely not and many of them will cite their support of the local
crisis pregnancy center as proof of their prolife position. I applaud
this support but these usually meager contributions will serve more to
salve guilty consciences than to save a young mom in their own
congregation from killing her child. Time and time again we talk to the
young abortion-seeking girls and their boyfriends who tell us that they
have never heard a sermon in their church talking about abortion. This
silence is not accidental. Seeker churches do not want to offend anyone
that may come into their sanctuary…. and talking boldly about sin breaks
that cardinal rule. Sermons in these churches will most often be topical
on such themes as “Repairing Your Broken Marriage”; “Ten Steps to
Financial Responsibility”; “Growing Together in Family Love” and other
such homilies that are practical in meeting the “felt needs” of the
congregation. The theological pabulums being served up are killing our
children. The greatest judgments of God against His people Israel were
caused by their rejection of His Law and their embracing the sins of their
pagan neighbors they had failed to destroy. The shedding of innocent
blood; child sacrifice, had become an accepted practice for Israel.
But they mingled
with the Gentiles and learned their works;36 They
served their idols, Which became a snare to them.
37 They
even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, 38 And
shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and daughters, whom they
sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood.
Psalm 106: 35 - 38
NKJV
Everyday
in America about 4000 innocent boys and girls are sacrificed at
a pagan altar now called a “clinic.” More than half of these sacrificed
babies will come from moms who are professing Christians. At least twenty
percent of those moms will identify themselves as “born again” or
“evangelical” Christians. Commentators speaking about Israel’s
involvement in child sacrifice reflect that the numbers of children
sacrificed during Israel’s rebellious times would not come close to the
millions that we have sacrificed here in America. How long will God be
patient with us?
As
great and terrible as our national sin of abortion is, it is not our
greatest sin. As Christians, our greatest sin is our rebellion and desire
to conform in ways that will not offend and this conformity results
in another gospel. This gospel does not bring conviction or Godly sorrow
to the guilty that would lead to genuine repentance and salvation.
Lethargy and blindness have set in much of the American church, especially
those attempting to woo unbelievers with a gospel that avoids the clear
and confrontational claims of the authentic Gospel.
And you will know that I am the LORD, for you have not followed my decrees
or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around
you. Ezekiel
11:12
James tells us
that "God chose to give us birth through the word of truth that we
might be the kind of firstfruits of all He created.”
James 1:18 NIV Truth will grow the church, not
conformity. Truth, God’s truth, will prevail but many are missing it
because it is not being preached. I started out this note by asking the
question: “Are Church Growth Methods Contributing to the Abortion
Holocaust?” Yes. Not confronting sin promotes death. “After
desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is
full-grown, gives birth to death.”
James 1:15
It is time for
targeted prayer by true believers that the American church will awaken,
repent, revive and grow in ways and means proscribed by God, not by well
meaning advocates of numerical growth at the very real expense of
authentic individual and corporate Christian growth and maturity.
Thanks
for standing with us. Please pray and help us financially if you can.
Bud Reeves
SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE NETWORK
Sohlnet, P.O. Box 342, Fair Oaks, Ca 95628
(916) 481-8926 - Incorporated as a
non-profit educational organization in l994.
All contributions to Sohlnet are tax deductible as allowed by law
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