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
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not only avoid these acts, but should also speak out in condem
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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
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the people and opportunities to make a difference. These options
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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
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