by Paul deParrie
After 20 years of ups and downs, it has become evident that the pro-life, pro-family movement has been the biggest single political and social loser in American history. For all of the money, time, and apparent strength of the movement, lost ground is the only thing to show for it all.
Sodmites march in our streets -- with the persistent presence of high-ranking political officials. Homosexual rights are recognized by our highest court. Despite fewer abortionists, surgical abortions continue apace. Protest is so limited by law and court mandate as to be almost wholly ineffectual. Abortuaries and abortionists enjoy a protected status equal to our highest officials.
What could possibly explain all of this? Why is it that those who should have God on their side -- who fight to preserve godly principles in a nation founded on God -- why are their efforts so apparently fruitless?
I believe Achan has the answer.
The story of Achan in the Bible tells of the victorious army of Israel's first incursions into the promised land. Once Israel had crossed over the Jordan River, their first job was to take out the city of Jericho. In God's instructions to Commander-in-Chief Joshua, the Israelite soldiers were not to take any “spoil” or “booty” from the first of the ten-city offensive. Most of us remember the story of Rahab hiding the spies and of the walls which came “tumblin' down,” but few remember the story of Achan (Joshua 7).
Achan, it seems, decided to squirrel away just a little booty from Jericho. After the conquest of Jericho, the Israelite generals were pumped. One said, “Joshua, just give me a few guys and well go over and take the city if Ai. It is real small and it shouldn't be any trouble.”
The problem was, Ai beat Israel's army -- and beat them badly. Israel had never lost a man in battle until Ai -- where they lost 36.
After seeking God over this awful event, God showed Joshua that the loss was due to “sin in the camp.” In short order, Achan's sin was uncovered and he was stoned to death. Only then could God continue to bless the entire nation of Israel with victory.
Something very similar applies to what the Bible calls “spiritual Israel” -- the church. In fact the sin in the American church's camp is far worse and far more widespread than Achan's transgression. While Achan stole what was God's (the booty of one city in ten), the American church has murdered God's heritage.
Ten years ago, many Christians were surprised to read that a survey showed that one in six of the women going for surgical abortions was a self-identified “evangelical” Christian. Recently, the same survey showed an increase to one in five. (These figures could only be higher if the interviewees were completely honest.)
But that is not the worst of it. While Christians have been calling for an end to the slaughter of the unborn and proclaiming that these little ones have a right to life “from the moment of conception,” they themselves have been busy killing off their own children with CHEMICAL abortions.
They have been consumers of abortifacient birth control -- pills and intrauterine devices (IUDs) -- at the same rate as their pagan counterparts.
IUDs have only one method of operation. They prevent implantation of an already conceived child. Birth control pills (every variety) have three methods -- two actually prevent conception, but the final back-up is prevention of implantation.
Bo Kuhar, president of Pharmacists for Life estimates between 8 an 13 million abortions per year in the U.S. alone due to these methods.
And Christian women -- even pro-life activists -- use these methods. Many churches counsel the use of birth control. And while many (including me) believe that all birth control is unbiblical, there can surely be no argument that abortifacient methods of birth control are sin.
But we have all sorts of excuses. One pro-life activist couple I am aware of said they had “prayed about it” and that they (presumptuously) believed God would not allow the pills to ever use the third, abortifacient mechanism.
Others simply refuse to believe what is printed right on the patient information -- that the pill prevents implantation -- and find “Christian” doctors who are willing to continue the deception. Churches support the denial and continue to advise newlyweds to use abortifacient birth control.
Thus, millions of Christian babies are aborted by their Christian parents every year in the U.S.
With all that blood on the church's hands, how could we ever expect God to bless our efforts. We've been so busy trying to remove the splinter in the pagans' eyes that we have neglected the beam in our own.
The fact is that blood guilt demands the payment of the blood of the murderer. Fortunately, we have a Substitute who will offer His blood instead of ours -- if we will acknowledge our transgression and repent.
For as long as I can remember, people in the pro-life, pro-family movement have quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (KJV)
We talked a lot about it, but we never DID it. Yes, we had prayer meetings. Yes, we called on God to forgive “the sins of our Nation.” But we never did what the verse says. We didn't repent of our own sins. In fact we were completely blind to our own sins. And those of us (like me) who knew (that we were killing our own babies), were unfaithful watchmen on the wall -- we did not sound the alarm.
But today we are still alive. Wickedness has not yet fully enveloped the nation. There is still time to repent. There is still -- in that repentance -- hope that God will heal our land.
God forgive me for not sounding the warning!