James MacDonald on June 2, 2009
OK, so what did you think when you heard that abortionist George Tiller was shot and killed by a pro-life fanatic this past weekend? Did you even know who George Tiller was? Only the most prolific late-term abortionist in America. “Abhorrent evil for financial gain” kind of summarizes his life.Tiller is the poster child for a seared-conscience- pseudo-Christian. He has aborted tens of thousands of babies moments before their birth. (Abortion is murder any time after conception, but even many pro-abortion Americans shudder at illegal late term abortions.)
Only recently, Tiller was accused on 19 counts of illegally aborting viable babies in violation of a state law that requires a second physician – without legal or financial ties to the abortionist – to sign off on the procedure once the unborn child reaches a state in which it could survive outside the womb. He has an actual incinerator inside his ‘factory’ and destroys the murdered baby parts even as the mother exits the building. Youtube has many videos of Tiller announcing his confidence that he is doing nothing wrong.
“Some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons . . . seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron” (1Timothy 4:1-2).
The Wichita Eagle reports Tiller was shot just after 10 a.m. Sunday at Reformation Lutheran Church, where he served as an usher. (That pastor has a lot to answer for.) The Associated Press reports the suspect arrested is named Scott Roeder, a known fanatical foe of abortion.
Is this murderer a Christian? Is the murderer he murdered at a Christian church a Christian? How wrong is the wrong is using murder to stop the wrongdoing of another wrongdoer? Answer: very wrong! This question is on the edge of what we discussed last week: the difference between the personal ethic Jesus requires of his followers (Matthew 5-7), and the protection/punishment ethic the Lord has entrusted to civil governments (Romans 13:1-7) that frequently FAIL to do their job.
Inside each of us is a God given longing for justice. If we focus exclusively on a particular injustice in society or in our own lives we will become bitter and eventually irrational. Nowhere is this more common than on the front lines of the fight against abortion. How difficult to see up close the greatest injustice of our day unrelenting and increasingly undeterred. Where the injustice is greatest, the greatest faith in the ultimate wrath of God is needed.
Romans 12:19 ” Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.
Gerald, (also posting here on Straight Up) just reminded me that the command to leave place for God’s wrath is followed immediately by the Romans 13 passage describing the government as “an avenger carrying out God’s wrath.” (v.4) Surely if our government would do its job in dealing with these murderers there would be less temptation for people to take matters into their own hands. However this clearly does not in any sense justify taking matters into our own hands.
Where government authorities fail in their job, we are to wait on the ultimate justice of God Himself. Of course Tiller deserved death, but in God’s time and according to the means God has ordained. NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TRY AND DO GOD’S JOB FOR HIM!! That is always wrong and a set back for the countless faithful people who war against the evil scourge of abortion with patient reason and Christ honoring, law abiding resistance. We are to focus by faith on what is promised in the future:
Revelation 19:11-15 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire . . . from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations . . .and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of Almighty God”
Every abortionist and every elected official who supports their slaughter will answer to God for their failure to protect the most innocent life among us, the unborn. We are commanded, COMMANDED! by our Master to WAIT for that day.
Dr. Al Mohler rightly summarizes on his blog: “Murder is murder. The law rightly affirms that the killing of Dr. George Tiller is murder. In this we must agree. We cannot rest until the law also recognizes the killing of the unborn as murder. The killing of Dr. George Tiller makes that challenge all the more difficult.”