For the past several weeks we’ve been focusing on the joy we have in Christ in our worship gatherings. Again, for those who have been born again, because Christ lives in us, we can choose to live in a perpetual state of joy.
However, I’d have to admit for the past few weeks my sense of joy has been challenged. Ever since the news and videos have come out about Planned Parenthood selling baby parts my heart feels deeply saddened. This morning I watched the seventh video presentation about Planned Parenthood exposing the activities of a gal who shared how they cut through the face of a little baby boy in order to “harvest” his brain while he was still alive.
While growing up I always thought America was a Christian nation—“In God We Trust.” However I have come to realize America was only founded by many Christians who sought to instill a government that was guided by the Word of God. Obviously that is no longer the case. America is not a Christian nation, but rather a heathen nation being led by a majority of very confused heathen men and women.
Isn’t it amazing when you consider the subtle deceit of the enemy that our leaders have reached a point where they can justify and approve the killing of an innocent human being? Doesn’t that deeply grieve your heart to know that we live in a country that approves the murder of an unborn child and then chopping it up to sell the body parts for research? Is our government really any different than Hitler’s regime?
I also watched a video message by Matt Chandler on this issue and he shared that by 21 weeks, with a little help from machines, a baby could live outside of the womb, and yet nearly almost all of the 1,000,000,000 babies that were aborted in the western hemisphere last year were aborted after 21 weeks. And the truth is this lack of concern for these babies is driven purely by the exaltation of self.
One women Chandler interviewed acknowledged that the fetus inside of her was a human life, yet after aborting her child she said, “She is the boss. Her life and what is right for her circumstances and her health should automatically trump the rights of the non-autonomous entity inside of her. Always. Period.”
When I think of what our heathen nation is doing, I think of what God spoke to Israel after they turned their backs on God. “4Oh, what a sinful nation they are—loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the Lord. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. 5Why do you continue to invite punishment? Must you rebel forever? Your head is injured, and your heart is sick….When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims. 16Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. 17Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows [and the unborn] (Isaiah 1:4-5;15-17).
May it not be so with us that our lack of outcry over this matter be a reflection of apathy and indifference. And may it not be so with us that we are so busy pursuing the American Dream that our consciences have become seared to the evil that is invading the country in which we live. And may we pray diligently that God would grant us repentance so that the joy of his salvation would be restored.
Mike Altena