Acceptable Murder?

Although September 11, 2001 is over seven years behind us many of the images from that day remain fresh on my mind. The fact that so many lives were lost through the terrorist strikes seemed unreal. Over 3,000 Americans lost their lives that day. I remember how astonished I was over the total loss. Newspapers, newscasts, magazines, and internet articles all gasped over the massive loss of life. Millions grieved the human casualties. The government knew it must act fast. We needed to wage war on these terrorists. These lives were unfairly taken.

What's even more astonishing than the loss of lives on September 11 is the fact that 3,753 abortions occur in America every day. More deaths due to abortion occur in the United States each day than all those who died on 9-11. There are 1.37 million abortions in the United States every year. Why is the media not in a frenzy over this? Have our hearts and minds become dull to this atrocity? Do people really believe that the unborn are just a "fetus" and not a human? What does God's Word have to say in regards to abortion? David proclaims, "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:13-14) The Bible is clear. God is the Author of creation and life begins upon conception. Those who take the lives of the unborn are not merely having an "abortion" they are murdering a human without a voice.

Join us this Sunday as we consider "Acceptable Murder?", as I preach on Psalm 139:13-16 along with other texts. From the moment of conception a unique strand of DNA that has never existed is formed. Friends, do you see what is at stake here? Thousands of lives are being taken away each day. How can we respond and love the unborn and their mothers? How can we help rescue those who are being taken away to death? We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. We can honor this command by opening our mouths for the mute and seeking to teach others the truth about the unborn. Even though it may appear that our government is swaying further away from protecting the unborn we serve a God who can do more in one minute than all the legislation of a lifetime.

Acts 7 Preview

From those at the Tower of Babel to Napoleon Bonaparte to Adolf Hitler, people from each generation have risen up and sought to make a name for themselves. Individual agendas and plans are plotted and then ushered forth. Some of these dreams might even appear to be successful for a period of time. After all, the French appeared invincible as Napoleon dominated central Europe. But things changed dramatically as Napoleon tried to invade Russia and then he was finally defeated in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. His plan had failed. His dream was over. He would spend the next six years of his life under British supervision until he died. Every time man seeks to establish his own plan it always fails.

God, however, and His plans never fail. God's purposes are unstoppable and no one can stay His hand. His counsel always stands. There is never a time when He doesn't accomplish His purpose. C.H. Spurgeon describes those who attempt to thwart God's purposes by saying: "Their persecutions, slanders, falsehoods, are like puff-balls flung against a granite wall." At the time Moses was born the king of Egypt sought to murder him along with all the Hebrew infants. The one that God would use to deliver a nation was at risk of losing his life before he was able to crawl! Later Moses would be rejected by the very men that he was called to deliver. Is this beginning to sound familiar? God eventually uses Moses to deliver his people from the hands of the Pharaoh and His plans prevail!

Join us this week as we consider "Israel's Rescue" as Travis Cardwell preaches from Acts 7:17-34. As we continue our series, The Church Unstoppable, we witness Stephen's continued defense before the council of Jerusalem. He has brilliantly countered their false charges against him related to God and now he moves on to deal with their charges related to Moses. Stephen continues to prove to them that they are the ones who are rejecting God. God's church will not be stopped! Friends, the economy may look bleak, nations may rise up against us, or your health might falter, but don't allow any crisis in life to deter you from the rock that is the providence of God. He will accomplish His purpose and He will sustain us. He is our Deliverer!

Piper Quote

Here is a quote from a Romans 8:1-4 sermon that I was listening to from John Piper that greatly encouraged me. He is giving a picture of the last judgment and what it means for Christians who now have no condemnation because of Jesus Christ.

"Who's going to bring any successful case? Who's going to be a successful prosecuting attorney against you at the last judgment? Answer - NOBODY! Why? Because you haven't committed any crimes? . . . Wrong. Because there was a Crime Bearer . . . a Sin Bearer . . . Jesus Christ, the Righteous who took it all. And that prosecuting attorney - whether it be your own conscience or the devil or the record of your sins will fail! Because the blood of Jesus will be brought forward and the righteousness of Christ will be presented in that courtroom and a verdict will be delivered . . . NOT GUILTY, Righteous!"

Thankful for our Crime Bearer!