An INDICTMENT on Many Churches

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An INDICTMENT on Many Churches 1

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“When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.” Ezekiel 33:8

 

Unplanned is a powerful film on the testimony of Abby Johnson, the youngest Director of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic, who actually even received Employee of the Year Award from Planned Parenthood. Abby’s conversion from Abortion director to Pro-Life activist, is a stirring and inspiring story.

 

Unexpected

 

Abby Johnson’s story, the Unplanned book and the dramatic film, Unplanned, are a stinging indictment on all too many churches. According to the Movieguide review, “Abby comes from a very Christian family who are very pro-life.” Yet she was recruited by a Planned Parenthood representative at a volunteer fair at her university! Despite identifying herself as from a pro-life family and against abortion, she allows herself to be talked into volunteering to escort women into the Planned Parenthood abortuary and then progressively further and deeper into the organisation, counselling women for abortions, promoting abortions, selling abortions and finally into Director of the Planned Parenthood clinic in Bryan, Texas. “For ‘the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you…” Romans 2:24

 

 

An INDICTMENT on Many Churches 2Unbelievable

Abby reports that when she worked at Planned Parenthood, “it was pretty common for women to be lying on the abortion table while holding a rosary!” She reports on members of the Planned Parenthood staff talking about how they were convinced that they were “doing God's work.” At one point Abby even told her husband how she was praying that God would only let her get the job, of director, of the Planned Parenthood clinic, if it is “His will.” Her husband questions: “But haven’t you applied for the job?” When Abby responded: “Yes.” He asked, “So you are asking God to intervene in a process that you have set in motion?” “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7

 

Unwelcome

Shockingly, when Abby finally left Planned Parenthood and became pro-life, “members of the vestry and the minister at the Episcopalian church asked me not to come back!” What does this tell us about the state of all too many churches today? “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” Matthew 23:13. “Deliver those who are drawn toward death and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, ‘Surely we did not know this,’ does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” Proverbs 24:11-12

 

An INDICTMENT on Many Churches 3Unknown

When Shawn Carney, campaign Director of 40 Days for Life, commented to Abby that they often wondered if their praying at the fence outside Planned Parenthood was achieving anything at all, Abby Johnson reported that it is was well known within Planned Parenthood that whenever there were pro-lifers praying on the sidewalk outside, their clients kept on driving past and “the no-shows soared up to 75%!” “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing!” “Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die.” Proverbs 31:8

 

An INDICTMENT on Many Churches 4Faithful Perseverance

Praise God for those who have been faithful in pro-life prayer vigils, sidewalk counselling, Life Chains, Marches for Life, placard protests and 40 Days for Life initiatives, crisis pregnancy counselling, adoptions and so many other vital aspects of pro-life and abolitionist ministries. “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His Name, in that you have ministered to the saints and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end.” Hebrews 6:10-11

 

Prevention is Better than Cure

However, prevention is so much better than cure. If only Abby’s family and church had adequately prepared her to see through the lies of Planned Parenthood, to understand the times and to know what God's people ought to do in this wicked, defiled and apostate generation. Imagine how much better it would be, if some time in each calendar year, every Christian church invited a pro-life speaker to deal with the issues, explain when life begins, what the Bible teaches concerning life beginning at conception and our Christian duty to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, to rescue those being led away to death and to hold back those staggering towards slaughter. Imagine if Sunday schools and youth groups were all diligent in education and discipling young people so that they would recognise the lies, traps and temptations of the Planned Parenthood abortion industry. “…Woe to the shepherds… The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost… So they were scattered… My flock became a prey… Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against the shepherds and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.” Ezekiel 3:2-10

 

Outrageous Scandal

It is bad enough when pagans kill their children. It is a completely outrageous scandal that so many millions of Christians have had abortions. Even while I was studying at Baptist Theological College, I came across students whose girlfriends had had an abortion, even though that was completely illegal in South Africa in the 1980s. One wife of a student described to me how “something died” within her when her father (a deacon of the church) took her to the airport, to send her off to England to have an abortion and how he “prayed to God for Journeying Mercies as he sent me to kill his grandchild!” To say that there is criminal complicity and cowardice within the Christian church on the subject of abortion, would be a gross understatement. “They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons 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. Thus they were defiled by their own works and played the harlot by their own deeds. Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people, so that He abhorred His own inheritance. And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles and those who hated them ruled over them. Their enemies also oppressed them and they were brought into subjection under their hand.” Psalm 106:37-42

 

An INDICTMENT on Many Churches 5Apostates for Abortion

It is bad enough that there are apostate denominations like the PCUSA and United Methodist Church, whose so-called ministers conduct prayer services at Planned Parenthood abortion clinics thanking God for the facility and praying for their protection from pro-life protestors while serving the community – with abortions! United Methodist Church apostate false ministers have conducted cheerful blessing services outside these abortuaries wearing t-shirts proclaiming: “Thank God for abortion!” So-called Christians have sprinkled rose petals around abortuaries, praying for God to protect “all those who come to the facility for reproductive health services!”

 

“He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.” Proverbs 17:15

 

Criminal Complicity of Churches

Then there are abortionists who are not only members of so-called churches, but even deacons and elders! George Tiller was an American abortionist from Wichita, Kansas, who gained national attention as the Medical Director of Women’s Healthcare Services, one of only three clinics in America providing late-term abortions, meaning third-term, virtual infanticide of viable babies who could have survived if they had been born at that time. Tiller served as an usher during Sunday morning worship services at the Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita. On 31 May 2009, Tiller was assassinated at his church. “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him… hands that shed innocent blood.” Proverbs 6:16-17

 

Abortion Supporting Abominations

In the United States of America, religious denominations which support abortion include: The United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist Association, Metropolitan Community Church, Presbyterian Church USA, Evangelical Lutheran Church and the United Methodist Church. “For both prophet and priest are profane; yes, in My house I have found their wickedness… and caused My people Israel to err… They also strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns back from his wickedness… Profaneness has gone out into all the land.” .Jeremiah 23:11-15

 

An INDICTMENT on Many Churches 6The Sin of Silence

Shocking though those examples of apostasy are, what can we say about Bible-based churches, Evangelicals and Pentecostals who are so silent on the issue and so derelict in adequately preparing their members to understand the issues involved, ignoring the world war of worldviews, ignorant of the battle for the heart, passive in the battle for the mind, forgetting the battle for the family, fleeing from the fight for life, that some of their own members not only seek abortions during a crisis pregnancy, but actually work for Planned Parenthood, or Marie Stopes, abortion clinics and even perform abortions! “His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.” Isaiah 56:10. As Reformer John Calvin, commenting on this verse, said: “A minister who fails to preach against evil is worth less than a barkless dog.”

 

Love in Action

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. We are to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and love our neighbour as ourselves. Christ’s last command should be our first concern, to make disciples of all nations, teaching obedience to all things that the Lord has commanded. We have to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Jesus said that we are to be like the Good Samaritan, “go and do likewise.” How can we walk past on the other side of the road while babies are being killed in our city?

 

“But if they had stood in My counsel and had caused My people to hear My Words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings.” Jeremiah 23:22

 

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them (Ephesians 5:11).

"Who will rise up for Me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for Me against the workers of iniquity?" Psalm 94:16

 

Alerted to the Abortion Agenda

The first time I attended a pro-choice meeting, it was in the Rondebosch United Congregational Church. Dr. Marge Dyer, of the Abortion Rights Action Group, was aggressively promoting abortion, in the church hall! This was while abortion was illegal in South Africa. At the time, 1990, my wife was pregnant with our first child Andrea. For us it was shocking to hear the callous remarks of, not just Marge Dyer, but some of her supporters speaking during the discussion time. One woman said, that 21 years ago, she had wanted an abortion, but the laws of South Africa prevented it. Now her daughter is 21 and there is not a day that goes by that she does not regret that she did not have her aborted! “Can a woman forget her nursing child and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.” Isaiah 49:15

 

An INDICTMENT on Many Churches 7Africa Christian Action

The same week that my daughter Andrea, was born in February 1991, I launched Africa Christian Action and started planning the first pro-life actions. Since 1991, we have been co-ordinating and conducting annual Life Chains throughout South Africa. I have led over 100 pro-life protests, marches, prayer vigils and sidewalk counselling outreaches at abortuaries, mostly in and around Cape Town, but also throughout Southern Africa. On far more than a thousand occasions, I have lectured, preached and dealt with the abortion holocaust and what the Scriptures teach concerning our responsibility to love our neighbour and rescue the perishing. However, important as the work of pro-life protesters, sidewalk counsellors, adoption agencies, crisis pregnancy centres and lobbyists are, of far greater importance is the discipleship ministry of the Church. It is a complete and utter disgrace that churchgoers seek abortions and that church members are involved in the abortion industry.

 

“…Another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done…” Judges 2:10

 

The Battle for the Heart

That is why films like Unplanned are of great importance. We need to see that this film, as well as Gosnell and other pro-life films, are shown at local schools, churches, youth groups and on university campuses, especially at Medical schools!

 

The Battle for the Mind

Even more important, are Biblical Worldview Seminars and Summits, so that our people may understand the times and know what God’s people should do. In this world war of worldviews, every one of the Ten Commandments are under relentless attack. Every Christian doctrine is being undermined. Every family is facing unprecedented pressures. There is a war against the womb, a war against children, a battle for our minds, a battle for our hearts and a battle for the family itself, the basic building block of society. As goes the family, so goes the nation.

 

An INDICTMENT on Many Churches 8Education Has Become a Battlefield

Classrooms have become battlegrounds. The philosophy of education in the classroom in this generation will inevitably become the philosophy of government in the next generation. Parents must ensure that their children are brought up in the fear of God and thoroughly discipled in the Faith.

 

The Culture War

The cinemas are a major battleground. Praise God for Christian filmmakers like the Kendrick brothers and in South Africa, Frans Cronje. We certainly need more of them. Praise God for Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman, who directed the Unplanned film. We need Christians who will be involved in the cultural battle. Radio presenters, editors of community newspapers and magazines, Sunday school teachers, school teachers, pastors, youth leaders, missionaries and Evangelists all have a vital role to play in Evangelism and Education.

 

Discipleship

This includes discipleship, to ensure that Christians are not gullible and naïve, as Abby Johnson says that she was when she entered Planned Parenthood. It is a stunning indictment on all too many churches that the subjects of morality and ethics seldom receive sufficient attention in sermons or Sunday school lessons. “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:2

Unprepared Young People are Easy Targets for Humanists on Campus

Statistically, over 75% of children from a church background stop attending church within four years of entering a secular university. If any army was to lose 75% of their men in battle, it would not be considered a defeat, but a catastrophic disaster! Evidently most churches are not adequately preparing their young people for the challenging realities, pressures, temptations and threats in the real world. Praise God for Answers in Genesis, Focus on the Family, Way of the Master and other cutting edge ministries which are preparing young people.

 

The World War of Worldviews

That is why we have been organising Biblical Worldview Summits since 1991. Our goal is to equip, encourage and empower Christians to know what they believe, why they believe it and how to defend it in argument and how to lead people to Christ. The next Biblical Worldview Summit near Cape Town will be 3-9 January 2020. “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

 

School Ministry

Guest speakers from Africa Christian Action have presented Traffick Proof, Fight the New Drug and Pro-Life presentations at school assemblies wherever we have been invited. We have driven throughout the country and continent conducting services and outreaches in schools, at churches and in communities. However, the vast majority of schools do not invite pro-life, pro-family guest speakers to address their school assembly. So how can we reach them?

 

Ammunition Designed for the Battle for Hearts and Minds

We have produced books like The Ten Commandments – Gods Perfect Law of Liberty (also Die Tien Gebooie); the Old Testament Survey and the New Testament Survey; Make a Difference – A Christian Action Handbook for Southern Africa; Porndemic – How the Pornography Plague Affects You and What You Can Do About It; The Rise of the GayGB and the Pink Inquisition; Practical Discipleship (also Praktiese Dissipelskap); Answering Skeptics; Putting Feet to Your Faith; Reforming Our Families; Fantastic But True – A Manual for Working in Children’s Ministries; Biblical Principles for Africa (also Bybelse Beginsels vir Afrika and Principles Bibliques pour l’Afrique); Renaissance or Reformation; The Power of Prayer Handbook; Discipleship Training Manual and many other resources to help equip and empower Christians to understand the times, rightly divide the Word of truth and be effective in making disciples and teaching obedience.

 

Audio Visual Resources Available Online

We are averaging over 1,400 meetings a year, but recognise that we need to also use modern technology to reach the multiplied millions throughout Africa. Africa for Christ! Many videos, audios, sermons and lectures are now available on our www.FrontlineMissionSA.org website. Every week we are attacking these issues on our From the Frontline podcast, as well as new initiatives, such as Firm Foundations series, organised by John and Hunter. Salt and Light (Radio Tygerberg 104FM), overseen by Abrie. Radio Cape Pulpit (729AM) gives me an opportunity every Friday morning at 7:30am, to give a 10-minute Christian Perspective on the News. In addition we receive numerous other radio and TV opportunities on a weekly basis. I average 450 meetings each year. Many of the lectures, sermons, PowerPoint presentations and radio interviews are recorded and available online on our various websites.

 

We Are at War

But far more needs to be done. The world’s media, government schools and the debased Hollywood entertainment industry are pumping out vast quantities of disinformation, distortions and distractions, defiling, degrading and destroying entire generations. The situation is desperate. The need is urgent. Every Christian needs to recognise that we are involved in a world war of worldviews. This cultural clash is more serious than all other wars combined, because the lives and eternal destinies of literally billions of people and future generations are at stake. My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6).

Support this Unplanned film and start a discussion in your church, school, work place, or home, over what we can do to ensure that none of our members, family, or friends, could say: “I never knew. No one warned me.”

 

What are you doing to fulfil the Great Commission?

Can you not do something more for God?

Be informed. Be interceding. Be involved.

May God make us more bold and brave for Him.

Yours for the fulfilment of the Great Commission

 

Dr. Peter Hammond

Livingstone Fellowship

P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725

Cape Town South Africa

Tel: 021-689-4480

Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.livingstonefellowship.co.za

www.hmsschoolofchristianjournalism.org

 

To listen to a related radio interview on From the Frontline, click here.

See also:

Hypocrisy

Compromise and Cowardice

Abortion is Murder

Christian Action P.O.Box 23632 Claremont 7735 Cape Town South Africa [email protected] - 021-689-4481 - www.christianaction.org.za
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