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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 1995)
D o -G ooders W ho O vercome E vil By Dr. John Moore ccasionally 1 remind myself that I live in a civilized soci to the laws or governments of the land. The motivation was twofold: negatively—fear of punishment if we disobeyed; posi ety—lest I forget. Though we live in the greatest country tively—protecting our consciences as servants of God. The in the world, most major categories of crime are on the Biblical solution to our evil society is living like Jesus—doing rise. Violence has become a common feature of American life. good during evil times. It’s as though someone has switched life’s price tags. The This is as it should be. Our battle ultimately is no, against value of life has fallen below the value of things. People are flesh, or the world of the visible. It is against unseen powers and murdered for little or no financial gain. Life is expendable. Our is spiritual. Abortion is a problem of the heart. Even political culture has a serious affliction: it is sin, and it is evil. solutions are bandaid approaches to a cancer problem. Maybe One current example of evil is abortion. While I see the necessary bandaids, bu, only medical patches at best. This pregnant girl or woman as a victim more than an offender, the national malignancy requires radical and spiritual hear, surgery act of medical termination of pregnancy takes the life of a human by the Spirit of God. being. The Scriptures are clear: from the ancient Jewish prophets May God give us wisdom as believers who live in an evil to the writers of the Psalms—life begins a, conception. I know world—wisdom to live like Jesus, and humility to recognize that of no exegetical way to sidestep this conclusion. Given that fact, we cannot by power solve problems that are not merely biologi and the evil of legalized abortion in our world, what is a serious cal or reproductive. This kind of evil is held back to some degree Christian to do? A few misguided participants in the pro-life movement advo by Christian do-gooders. It is solved only by the saving and cate a “kind for kind” treatment of doctors who perform abor sanctifying word of God. This is the ultimate ethic—the ethic of love—based on a tions. The headlines scream, "Kill a doctor for Christ!” Others reason by the numbers: if killing 100 doctors saves thousands of God of love. It is carried out by His foot soldiers. We are the graced recipients: gaining wha, we have not deserved. We are babies, then that is good. 1 would suggest thai such reasoning is a the mercied benefactors: not receiving what we do deserve. Only contamination of the very gospel and God we represent. For with love as our motive, and doing good as our action, does our believers, the ends never justify the means. We do live in a fallen life and our work reflect our Savior—during this national agony world. And in this fallen world, it is sometimes difficult to find answers to difficult questions. But we defame the very name of called abortion. ■ our Savior if we dare suggest that "evil for evil,” or the ethic of power, solves our nation’s torment over the abortion question. One thing is certain in this regard: Kingdom of God partic ipants are to live by the ethic of love, not power. Even during the hostile and evil Roman empire, where taxes propped up acts of persecution against Christians, Jesus said, “Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:21). The Apostle Paul concurred by writing, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Christians live as aliens in a foreign land. Thankfully, our government gives us a variety of legal options. Our Constitution provides important rights for express ing our concerns, and a process for changing laws. But we impugn God’s name when we dare raise a hand in evil against an enemy or victim in this agony called abortion. Christians should Sandy June not only avoid these acts, but should also speak out in condem 3-5 pm 5-5:30 pm nation against those misguided persons who associate evil acts and the name of Jesus. In obeying God. we acknowledge our Heavenly citizenship. In obeying man, we humbly acknowledge that we can do no more than our laws allow. I would suggest that the ethic of love can compel us positively. As a Christian community, we can pro vide shelters for the frightened or abused. We can support preg nancy centers which offer medical and legal consultation. We can educate. We can provide temporary or permanent care for babies while birth moms decide their life’s direction. And through it all, we can pray that God will providentially provide Chip the people and opportunities to make a difference. These options 5:30-7 pm have, and are, saving countless innocent, unborn lives. Doing good. To the apostle Paul, in Romans 12, personal good was feeding the enemy. In Romans 13, it was submission O « I Full Contact Christian Talk Radio ( . « ' 1290 K - P R U S K J a n u a r y /F eb r u a r y 1995 J 13
