What are we doing? (updated, again)

Update 2: A couple more links at the end. One that is worth your time is 180movie.com. It is a 33 minute YouTube video that is part apologetic and part person on the street interview. As you watch, pretend the questions are being asked of you. Or better yet, imagine you really had to face the issues the video raises. SDG.

Update: I have added several more links to the end of this post. Piper said it best. Citing Acts 4, he said "all Christians should stand up and tell it like they see it. Let the chips fall where they will. Don't worry if the public doesn't even agree with your most basic assumptions. Your job is not to win. Your job is not to control this society. Your job is to say what God wants said."  SDG

I write this with fear and trepidation. In part, unfortunately, my fear and trepidation rises from what some readers might think of me after reading this post. I could list the potential responses, but that will only fuel a false, man-centered fear. The other part of my fear and trepidation is that I am not saying nor doing enough. I am not praying enough. I am preaching or teaching enough. I am not honoring God and extolling Christ enough to help remove the cultural scourge that has ravaged our nation for 39 years.

For those of you who know me, you know that I am not an extremely political person. I care about elections and I care about how my representatives and governor and president enact public policy. But, if the leader at the moment (whether I voted for them or not) goes against what I think is correct, I don't get too worked up about it. After all, that is the nature of governance in the United States. However, there is a growing exception to this "live and let live" political philosophy of mine. That is in regard to abortion.

There, I've said it. Any nay-sayers can start their naying. But I am becoming more and more convinced that from my side of the room, saying nothing to avoid a rebuke is no longer an option. Besides, if I am resting in Christ's perfect love for me, what are man's angry words anyway? And, if Jesus was annointed by the Spirit "to proclaim good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,” shouldn't I have a similar vision?

All of that is an introduction to say that I have been personally negligent in my responsibility before God to defend the defenseless. I know this is ultimately in God's hands, but He uses us as his instruments in this world. So by His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, I want to pray a risky prayer. God use me, whatever it takes, to put a dent or maybe even an end to abortion in this country. And Father, do it not primarily through political means, but through gospel-driven means. May we all stand amazed as you work in our midst to turn the tide some of think can never be changed. Let life (all of life) matter to us as much as it matters to you.

I have one last risky thing to say. I do not think my apathy is unique. I know there are mature, devoted Christians who have had the cause of life on their hearts for years or even decades. But I'm grieved to consider how many of us who name the name of Christ have allowed abortion to flourish unimpeded even in our prayers.

What follows are several links to posts I have read over the weekend. These men can express themselves on this issue better than I can. Please read some (or all) and allow the Spirit to do His work in your heart.

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/five-things-we-can-do-for-the-unborn

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-day-john-piper-was-arrested

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/19/moving-pro-life-legislation-forward-the-need-for-prudence-and-civility/

http://gospeldrivenchurch.blogspot.com/2012/01/gospel-shaped-pro-life-passion.html

http://www.abort73.com/blog/factories_of_death_lessons_from_auschwitz/

http://www.abort73.com/blog/eulogy_for_the_martyred_children_what_mlk_has_to_teach_us_about_abortion/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2012/01/18/an-actual-pro-life-conversation

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/racial-slavery-and-abortion-in-america-how-history-repeats-itself

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/20/one-month-for-life/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2012/01/23/roe-v-wade-radical-legally-untenable-and-immoral

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/its-the-christians-duty-to-speak-the-truth

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/eight-ways-to-live-as-pro-life-christians-under-a-pro-choice-president

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203718504577176641699224320.html

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/five-ways-to-fight-abortion-and-serve-the-unborn-and-their-moms

http://180movie.com/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2012/01/23/healing-after-an-abortion

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/gospeldrivenchurch/2012/01/23/what-does-job-3113-15-tell-us-about-abortion/

I now send forth this post with a deep sense of its many defects; but with an earnest prayer that it may do some good. (JC Ryle)

To God Alone be the Glory