Showing posts with label George Tiller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label George Tiller. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

The Roll of Tiller's Pastors

I know this is a long article, but I think it's an important article. God has ordained pastors to speak the truth to those under their authority. When they don't do what God has called them to do, terrible things like this happen. May this be a warning to all of us who have been called to the pastoral office.

from: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=99830

A headline you will not read in the mainstream media is "Dr. Death Meets Death" – however, that describes the end of Dr. George Tiller's life precisely.
His murder is tragic in a number of ways, beginning with a life created by God that was misspent on the destruction of life. The blood on his hands cried out for justice that could only lawfully be applied through civil authorities and only mitigated eternally through Another's blood shed for his sins. Neither of those was accomplished for Tiller.
The first element of this tragedy is that unlike serial killers who "unlawfully" took innocent lives, Tiller "lawfully" committed what God calls murder against babies who met the standard of viability outside the womb as his trademark. He operated within the confines of the law as defined by five U.S. Supreme Court Justices in 1973 and which still stands today.
Those justices and every citizen who has voted for politicians who appointed judges like them, as well as who support "abortion rights," are equally guilty of being an accessory to the murders of tens of millions of defenseless children. Tiller was an opportunist who profited hugely from an industry born of evil laws propagated by evil rulers chosen by citizens who rejected God's authority and design of life.
The next critical point in the brutal end of this doctor who made millions by tearing apart babies limb by limb is the location of his demise. The frequency of shootings in or at churches has increased as the moral fabric of the nation unravels and the reverence for the sanctuary of the church does as well. Tiller should have faced justice through due process rather than at the hands of a lone gunman who violated the laws of man and God by taking them into his own hands.
The incredible irony of this cannot be lost, however, that the most notorious abortionist in America was gunned down at a church where, as the New York Times reported, Tiller "had attended … for a long time, they said, and had contributed significantly to construction of the current facility, which was built in about 1996."
Tiller was an usher, long-time member and major financial contributor to Reformation Lutheran Church. His church attendance had not escaped the notice of pro-life activists, as according to a Fox News story, "…They've been out here for quite a few years. We've just become accustomed to it. Just like an everyday thing, you just looked over and see them and say, 'Yup they're back again.'"
I have to ask the question that is one which strikes at the heart of much of our spiritual, social, moral and political condition today. What was he being taught in this church? Tiller was obviously comfortable in this church, and it is evident that the pastoral leadership was comfortable with him.
In an analogy that may bring some criticism, suppose a known drug lord or pimp attended this church and gave substantial contributions? Would he have been given the status and gratitude for his generosity that Tiller apparently enjoyed? Those others may be operating outside the boundaries of man's law while Tiller was within; however, all were equally outside the laws of God.
We live in a day where the power of God is non-existent in many churches – possibly most – because we have either rejected the authority of Scripture, or more predominantly in the evangelical church we are focused far more on "comforting the afflicted" than "afflicting the comfortable." We should do both.
Whether it is an abortionist who should have been brought to conviction of his sin through clear presentation of Scriptural truths, a man or woman "shacking up" while being active in their church, long-time church leaders divorcing over adultery – we have cancer in the body.
Just as this pastor must answer to God for his shepherding over Tiller, every pastor must account for the calling and gift of spiritual stewardship over his respective flock. Are we making disciples or are we creating Christians comfortable with evil?
The passage in Matthew 28:18-20 known as the Great Commission does not command us to fill coliseums, expand our buildings, or increase our budgets – or accommodate the world. It does command us to do three things:
Make disciples of the nations – disciples are "pupils";
Baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – spiritual rebirth is FIRST;
Teach them to observe all He commanded – All four elements are essential:– Teach – Impart with integrity to the text and context– All – Don’t leave anything out between Genesis and Revelation– He – Jesus was involved in authoring all Scripture– Commanded – If we want the "benefits," we must follow "The Way."
Does any reasonable person doubt that if George Tiller had been made a disciple, as in the awesome story of former abortionist Carol Everett
recounted in her book, "Blood Money: Getting Rich Off a Woman's Right to Choose," he would have followed Jesus' command to "go and sin no more"?
Carol's turn from death to life produced her new "fruits" through the Heidi Group, which is helping women and standing for life. Her testimony is in stark contrast to the "aid and comfort" given to Tiller by pastors who refuse to preach boldly the Word of truth and let the Holy Spirit do His work of bringing conviction and repentance.
Let us pray, repent and then turn in our pulpits back to the One who gave us life, fear Him rather than men and make disciples who choose life.

Monday, June 1, 2009

A Christian Response to the Killing of Dr. George Tiller

As most of you know, yesterday (Sunday) Dr. George Tiller, one of three doctors in the United States who performed late-term abortions, was gunned down while serving as an usher in church.
Obviously, as Christians whose worldview is formed on the words of the Bible, we are adamently opposed to abortion. Since Scripture is clear that God knows us and has plans for us from the moment of conception (Psalm 139: 13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; etc), to snuff out those plans is very grievous to our God. And Christians who are called not only to be a light to the world, but also salt to our society (Matthew 5:13-14) must be active in seeking to eradicate this evil from our culture.
Now, as with everything, there is a right way and a wrong way to preserve our society. To take matters into one's own hands like the gunman did yesterday is ABSOLUTELY the wrong way to deal with this horrendous evil. Hearts and minds do not change this way, and it only works against Christianity in the long run.
We are so blessed to be living in a nation where we are directly responsible for the government who rules over us. If we are serious of eradicating abortion, we must take far greater advantage of this privilege than ever before and work to elect leaders who share a Biblical worldview on all things including abortion.
Peaceful protests are another positive way of working change through speaking the truth in love (as long as the placards are appropriate and not mean-spirited).
And finally, and most importantly, we need to be taking full advantage of the honor we have to approach God's holy throne through the Blood of Jesus and pray to the only One who can truly change people's hearts and minds.