Thinking Cap # 25

Thinking Cap # 25 - Killing the Baby Killers

You've read about it in the newspapers. You've watched the media go crazy. You may even have felt (at least in the flesh) that some justice was being served. But, is it right. Just how far should a Christian go in stopping abortion? Pray about it only? Perhaps write a letter to the editor? Maybe be so bold as to walk in a protest march? If you are really feeling incensed, perhaps you would even chain yourself to the front doors. But, would you kill the perpetrators. Would you kill the "doctors" who are killing the babies in their mothers wombs? Just how far are we Biblically justified in going in our political activism?

Before you respond too quickly, let me toss out a hypothetical parallel. Assume that you are walking down the street and see a mugger jump out of the bushes across the street and grab a 12 year old girl. You then see the mugger begin to rape and attack the girl. To what extent would you go to stop this mugger? Pray only? Write a letter to the newspaper condemning muggers and rapist? Or, would you, if there were no other option available, take the life of the mugger to stop his attack?

Should we kill the baby killers? What does the Bible say? Responses are welcome (with supporting Scriptures of course). until Friday, April 19,1996

This is a volatile issue and I don't think that I would tend to quickly condemn Christians on either end of the spectrum. This is just my opinion, but here is how I would approach the topic.

As Christians we are directed by God to obey secular authority in our lives (Ro.13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-15). Thus, we are to obey the laws of the land. If they prohibit peaceful protesting, then legally, we should not protest. If they prohibit murder, then we should not commit murder.
It is important that we, as Christians (Christ-like-ones) set a proper example and not react as the world does when faced with conflicts (Matt. 26:52-55; 1 Pet. 3:15-16). I shudder to think of how often we have become our own worst enemy by our actions and mean-spiritedness. Doug MacLaughlin makes an excellent point in his book "Reclaiming Authentic Fundamentalism" when he states, "We have lost more people to the cause of Christ due to our disposition than by our position."
No matter what the circumstances (excluding the situation of war), it is not the prerogative of the individual to take the life of another (again, self-defense is not a consideration here). Capital punishment is the responsibility of the government (Ge. 9:6). I must not kill another (Ex. 20:13; Ro. 2:1; Matt. 5:21).
However, when we see God's Word being violated (and make no mistake, abortion is in violation of God's Word), we must speak out (Eph. 5:10-11). This can take the form of verbally confronting the employees of abortion clinics, those who go to them, the owners of the property, writing letters to the editor, peacefully protesting and providing alternatives to abortion to those in need (when was the last time you sent a check to support an alternative group?).
If you feel that you are being asked to violate God's higher law by sitting silently or by tacit participation (through taxes or public funds), then you have a right to rebel against the law of the land (Acts 5:29). This is basically what the Hebrew midwives did regarding the baby Moses (and we should all thank God that they did rebel against the unjust law of the pharaoh). Ex. 1:17-21. Daniel was another good example of "civil disobedience" as seen in Daniel 6:10.
If and when you decide to break the law in an act of civil disobedience, you should also be prepared to accept the punishment exacted by the government with a Christian spirit and testimony (1 Pet. 3:17)
In general, it is a good idea to leave judgment of evil doers to God. In His timing and in His way, He will not forget iniquity, nor allow the evil-doer to go unpunished (Ex. 34:7a; Rom. 12:19-21)

Pleasant Thinking,

Kent Haralson
Berean Baptist Church
West Palm Beach, FL

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