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Operation Rescue Meets Phil Donahue 

by Kristene O'Dell

"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." Matthew 11:12.

On Wednesday, September 25, 2002, we received a call from the Phil Donahue show. The man who was looking for guests on that evening's show told me he was reading an article on our website and asked me if Flip was critical of Christian radio. In Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary, critical is defined as - capable of judging with accuracy; conforming to exact rules of propriety; exact; or particular. With that definition in mind, I told him that was a fair statement.

This man told me that they were going to be speaking about a controversy concerning National Public Radio (NPR) and Christian radio. A preliminary interview with Flip was held and we sent out an e-mail to let the folks know that Flip would be on the Donahue show and to pray for him. I thought it rather strange that they would have Flip on to speak about radio, Christian or not. I realized when I saw the interview why he was on.

As I watched the interview, two things became obvious to me. One was that Phil Donahue is looking for an issue to help a failing show. He didn't find it here. The guest he had on from National Religious Broadcasters, Stuart Epperson, shot Phil's argument out of the water. He articulated the facts well and was a truthful witness for Jesus. The second was that the reason Flip was on the show from Donahue's perspective was basically to say, "This is the face of the Christian right. You do not want more of this." It backfired on you, Phil.

Flip spoke boldly. He proclaimed that we need to hear the truth such as abortion is murder, homosexuality is sin, and Islam is a lie. He also told Phil that he had wasted his life and needed to give his heart to Christ. He just laid it out there with no room for interpretation. It was clear as to what he was saying. Mr. Donahue's reason for having Flip on the show was realized when he asked Flip, "Reverend Benham, do Jews go to heaven?" Without looking for the softer, kinder, less intolerant words to say, Flip responded, "Of course they don't! Not unless they come through the blood of Christ!"

I have noticed how much credibility we lose when we hem-haw around the issues. We try so hard to look so kind that we water down the message and end up saying something we really don't mean. We end up looking as if we are apologizing for the message we are trying to get out. There was no apology here and it was refreshing to see on a talk show.

I am not the only one who believes that. We received several emails stating the same. We have since found out that Flip's interview made the Christian talk radio circuit here in Dallas. It is my understanding that they were not talking about Christian radio vs. NPR so much as they were talking about the way Flip came out with the truth. The general consensus was that we need to be bolder with what needs to be said and say it for heavens sake!

I heard a message Sunday morning by Senior Elder Richard Hanner at Redeemed Community Church in Dallas, TX. He was expounding on Matthew 11:12. He was talking about the kind of people God uses as agents of change. His example was John the Baptist. He used the questions Jesus had in the passage to ask the same questions of us today. "What went ye out unto the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?" (A fragile man who is easily swayed?) "But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?" (An effeminate man dressed in finery?)

He went on to say that God is looking for men and women who are uncompromising in their principles - Those who will stand on the Word of God without bending.

"From the days of John the Baptist until now (now being the fact that the kingdom was being advanced before their eyes in the person of Jesus Christ), the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force." When advancing the kingdom here on earth, we should not be surprised that we will meet fierce opposition. The kingdom of heaven will suffer violence.

When the perfect revelation of God came to rescue us from depravity, the inhabitants of this earth killed Him. Why do we think it will be any different for us? "…the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:21. It is the same Jesus within us that the world hates. They hated Him then and they hate Him now.

The crux of the sermon was that "…the violent take it by force." The NIV says, "…and forceful men lay hold of it." We must understand that all the demons of hell are unleashed to hold back the advancing of the kingdom here on earth. The Church of Jesus Christ must be willing to advance this kingdom knowing that we have been called to die for this Truth. We must be willing to despise the shame, take up our positions, and not turn back on the day of battle.

The day of battle is here. It seems with ever more increasing frequency that the true message of the gospel is being ridiculed and being deemed irrelevant in America by those who hate the God of the Bible. Their voices are getting louder and louder. The question is this. Are we, the Church of Jesus Christ, a reed shaken with the wind? Are we dressed in fine raiment or are we suited up in the armor of God?

We have been given every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph 1:3). We have been called by the Creator of the universe into this battle. We can do this Church! We must be those who utter worthy words, not worthless words (Jer 15:19) and when we are brought before kings and rulers for His Name's sake, know that Jesus will be there to fight the battle for us (Luke 21:12). Even before the likes of Phil Donahue.