January 2003 Newsletter

 

January 2003

MIRACLE AT THE SUPREME COURT
God Gave Us an Early Christmas Present in our Nation's Capitol - Kristene O'Dell

Jay Sekulow, our attorney for Operation Rescue in the NOW vs. Scheidler case, said he had witnessed a miracle. Flip noted that it was truly God turning the hearts of the Supreme Court Justices - even those who are pro-abortion, to side with us. With the Ten Commandments sculpted directly above the heads of the Supremes, Flip stated that one could see them grapple with the fact that we have a right to say what we say, whether or not they agree with our message.

In 1986, the National Organization for Women (NOW) filed suit against Joe Scheidler. In 1988, NOW added Operation Rescue to the suit with (RICO) Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations charges. Its purpose? To paint those laying down their lives in front of abortion mill doors as thugs. NOW sought to discredit gentle Christians fulfilling the great commandment to love their neighbor as themselves by legislating laws against them.

Why the need to paint us as thugs? Because bringing the gospel of Christ to the gates of hell is effective. The heart of our nation is changing as Christians live out their faith in the streets. Here are some of those statistics:

• · The number of abortions performed in our nation is at its lowest level since 1976. (Alan Guttmacher Institute [AGI])
• · The number of abortions performed in our nation dropped almost 40% since 1991.(AGI)
• · There has been a 13% increase in those who are pro-life since 1995. (Gallup Poll, August 2001)
• · There were over 2,000 abortion mills in 1991. Today there are less than 800. (AGI)
• · The number of physicians performing abortions has dropped 40% since 1991. (AGI)
• · Support for Roe v. Wade dropped 13% among college freshmen since 1991. (LA Times poll, June 2000)
• · 51% of the people in America now believe abortion to be murder - 35% don't. (Zogby poll, Jan. 2001)
• · The three individuals most instrumental in ushering in Roe v. Wade are all professing, confessing, Christians - Norma McCorvey (Jane Roe), Sandra Cano (Mary Doe), and Dr. Bernard Nathanson (founder of NARAL).

As he walked up to the Supreme Court building that brisk morning, the first thing that caught Flip's attention was the magnificent white granite court building with this engraved message on the portico - Equal Justice Under Law. Awesome! But as he lifted his eyes even higher he caught the incredible deep blue expanse of God's sky. His thoughts quickly moved from the accomplishments of finite man to the infinite possibilities of what God can do.

There were approximately 300 people in the courtroom to witness the arguments. The hearing lasted for an hour with each side getting 30 minutes to present its case. Roy T. Englert Jr., the attorney for Joe Scheidler was called upon first. O'Conner, Breyer, and Suiter seemed antagonistic to Mr. Englert but, by the time Faye Clayton attorney for NOW began to argue, even these three had real First Amendment issues. She kept stating that this case was not about the First Amendment, but "violent acts at abortion mills." The violent acts, however, were disproved in the original case. Several Justices noted that, by NOW's definition of the law, Martin Luther King and Carrie Nation would be racketeers.

Flip said he could see several of the Supremes becoming very concerned for gentle Christians living out their faith at abortion mills. If free speech is stopped here, it could be stopped anywhere. The first Amendment became the issue for the Supremes despite the White House sending Solicitor General Theodore Olson to side with NOW. Olson said that this case does not involve the first Amendment. Thank you President Bush!

In spite of an antagonistic White House, God's hand was evident as the justices grappled with this case and began to lay the predicate that, what gentle Christians do outside of abortion mills is not racketeering but protected under the First Amendment. Be encouraged saints. This battle is being won on more venues than you and I will ever know.

Have you ever wondered why NOW would invest so much time and money suing people that it knows don't have any money? Why not sue the "National Right to Life" or "Christian Coalition,"? They actually do have money. The reason is simple. National Right to Life and Christian Coalition present absolutely no threat to the abortion industry. You are being sued because hell is hemorrhaging, its gates are not prevailing, and the abortion industry is breathing a death rattle. You are being sued because you are effective. The Gospel of Christ is the answer and NOW knows it!

Joe Scheidler, "Thank you!" Thank you for being a faithful servant for our Lord Jesus and His pre-born children all these years. Flip said that we all would have been proud of you and the way you conducted the media.

The heart of our nation is changing. We believe the outcome of this historic ruling will prove just that.

BUSH ADMINISTRATION SIDES WITH NOW

We were shocked when Solicitor General, Theodore Olson of the Bush administration said that demonstrators could be sued for blocking abortion mills and that, "The First Amendment is not an issue in this case." This was simply the pragmatic President Bush, in another attempt to "reach across the aisle," throwing Christians to the lions.

Thank God for Justice Scalia, who made it very clear that this case was precisely about the infringement of the First Amendment by NOW, and that if NOW were correct in its premise, then Carrie Nation and Martin Luther King were racketeers. The other Justices agreed, so, "Why did the Bush administration side with NOW?"

Evidently President Bush feels that by siding with NOW on this one, he will assuage the wrath of radical feminism, and get rid of the embarrassing pro-life Christians that are living out their faith in the streets. You can kill two birds with one stone - not a bad strategy given the pragmatism that runs this White House. We have become to this administration - expendable!

It is sad that our "born-again" President is willing to support groups like the National Right to Life (they are willing to compromise anything for him), but for those who stand upon the principles of God's Word, he is willing to discard.

It isn't just George Bush. This pattern of distancing itself from those who hold strong Christian views is endemic in the Republican Party. Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and others who have taken strong stands for our Lord are coming under the increasing scrutiny and wrath of Ari Fleischer. The Republican Party wants to pander to the homosexual community, treat all religions as the same, and talk pro-life but never act like it. This leveling of all truth to make it so there is no truth, will never be tolerated by real Christianity.

Tom Delay, Congressman from Texas and a strong pro-life advocate, is supporting Senator Charles Schummer's bill to strip all pro-life Christians of their right to declare bankruptcy if sued by NOW, or someone in the abortion industry. In the opinion of Delay and many in the Republican Party, gentle Christians who give mother's a real choice at abortion mills should not be extended the same rights that belong to all U.S. citizens.

Like the babies before us, we have now become expendable! This should come as a surprise to no one, and as a wake-up call for all who call on the Name.

RHEMA PASTOR EXPELLED FOR PRO-LIFE ACTIVISM
Rhema leaders had warned him 'not to go to any abortion clinic ever'
November 25, 2002 edition, Charisma Magazine, By Eric Tiansay

A Wichita, Kan., pastor has been expelled from a worldwide charismatic ministry renowned for its message of faith and biblical prosperity because he was active in the pro-life movement. The move has prompted a New Jersey minister who is trying to raise awareness of the pastor's ouster to consider removing his congregation from the organization.

Mark Holick had his ordination revoked this summer by the Tulsa, Okla.-based Rhema Ministerial Association International (RMAI), which has more than 23,000 graduates and 13 schools worldwide.

For the last two years, Holick, who along with his wife, Monica, pastors 300-member Spirit One Christian Center, has joined other Wichita pastors in protesting the abortion clinic of local Dr. George Tiller, called "the most infamous late-term abortionist in the world" by the Christian pro-life group Operation Save America.

"They [RMAI leaders] informed me that my wife, any of our church leaders, and myself could not for any reason go to any abortion clinic ever, not even to pray," Holick, 41, said in a letter to Barry Ross, pastor of 100-member Word of Life Christian Church in Cologne, N.J., who has taken up his plight.

"They never told me specifically why...it was wrong for me if I chose to do so," continued Holick, who was dismissed by Rhema without a hearing. "I expressed to them that I have done nothing immoral, nothing unrighteous, nothing unbiblical, nothing unscriptural, nothing illegal, nothing sinful, but that if they felt that I had and pointed it out that I would gladly repent...I have made numerous requests to them for a meeting, to which they would not grant."

Rhema's Tulsa-based attorney, Tom Winters, told Charisma News Service that "Rhema is not for abortion." Winters said he advised RMAI leaders to revoke Holick's license because his pro-life activism could cause Rhema to be potentially sued. "Based on my advice, they took a safe and reasonable approach to deal with this," Winters said. "I advised them that the best way to handle this situation was to sever the relationship."

Ross, a 1981 Rhema graduate, told Charisma News that the Holicks have been dealt "a horrible injustice." Unsolicited by Holick, Ross said he has repeatedly tried to contact RMAI leaders about the Holicks, but his calls and letters have not generated any response. "I'm following the biblical command -- first to Rhema, second to the regional directors and third to the body of Christ," said Ross, 48, who is weighing whether to remove his congregation from RMAI. "I've been stonewalled so far...They should own up to their decision. Why try to hide and not address it? I don't believe there is anything in our ministerial handbook or directory that tells us we can't do this [pro-life activism]. If something like abortion can't be protested, what can be protested?"

Winters declined comment on whether RMAI has a policy against pro-life involvement in its ministerial handbook. Holick, who voluntarily talked to Charisma News but later wanted to retract his comments, said he had seen several women forgo abortions at the clinic and give birth to their babies, partly through the pastors' pro-life outreach. Some of them had also become Christians.

Holick added that Rhema leaders had given him verbal and written warnings in the last year not to go to the clinic. "This is the first time I've ever been disobedient to anything they asked," the 1986 Rhema graduate said. "My feeling was I had to do this in order to obey the Word of God...I think Scripture is clear regarding what the responsibility of the church is concerning innocent blood."

Here are the e-mail addresses at Rhema so that you can write to them:
Rhema is partnerservice@rhema.org
Tom Winters (their attorney who is a Christian and says he is pro-life) is twinters@wintersking.com
David Beebe (Rhema Ministerial Association International Director) is dbb@rhema.org

Pastor Mark's response:

Rhema's actions against us are saddening. They have done great damage to us and to our church even though we have done nothing wrong in any way. I have made numerous requests to meet with them to work out a solution which they have denied. But what is most troubling is that in one of their letters to me they said, "Although Rhema shares your moral and religious convictions against abortion, Rhema does not agree that the Church should participate in or endorse direct abortion protest activities."

This is the view of many ministries, pastors, churches, and Christians today, not just Rhema. That is the belief that being theologically pro-life is enough. It is a warped religious thinking that believes that as long as I think right - it is right. If you were to ask Rhema or Tom Winters if they are pro-life they would tell you that they are. However, their actions are completely opposite. Is it really possible to say that I have a "conviction" for something and then say but don't "participate" in that conviction?" I believe the Scripture, "Faith without works is dead," applies here.

Abortion in America will not end until the Church of Jesus Christ makes up her mind it will end. We have many strong para-church pro-life ministries in America like Operation Save America that are doing an extraordinary job, but they will not succeed without the local church. Each of us should find a local pastor and local church that is actively pursuing justice, truth and righteousness. A pastor and church that is not afraid to go to an abortion mill and lead his congregation there. A pastor and church that is not afraid to have voter registration drives in their church. A pastor and church that is not afraid to stand in their pulpit and publicly speak to those who are righteous politicians and those who are not. A pastor and church that is not afraid to call sodomy...SIN, etc., etc., etc.

Any conviction that does not become participatory is worthless. Theology without biography is religion.

Thank you, Pastor Mark! Below is encouragement from Flip to Pastor Mark Holick:

Mark is the dynamic Pastor of "Spirit One Christian Center" in Wichita Ks. He leads his church into the battle for the lives of children and their mothers every week at Tiller's abortion mill. Yes, theology becomes biography in Pastor Marc's church. This is always a road fraught with danger from all sides.

Mr. Tiller is perhaps the most notorious child killer in America! He even has the babies baptized that he has just killed, to assuage the tender consciences of mournful "parents." He then burns their precious little bodies up in his "on premises" oven.

Unfortunately Mr. Tiller is also a member in good standing of the Reformation Lutheran Church. This "church" and its pastor are in full agreement with abortionist Tiller's activities. We have beseeched them on several occasions to confront Mr. Tiller in love and plead with him to stop the carnage. We have asked them that, if Mr. Tiller refuses the church's rebuke, to excommunicate him. Our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Mr. Tiller is a large giver at Church.

All of this background is to say that Pastor Mark Holick, and his precious wife Monica, are sterling examples and brilliant witnesses of what Jesus is calling His bride to be. He is looking for people who will allow the Word of God to become flesh - no matter the cost. Just look at His example when He emptied Himself and came to this earth to save us. That's right! Theology had to become biography in order for us to be saved! This is what Pastor Marc and Monica are doing for pre-born children in Wichita, and they are being crucified by Rhema for it.

Literally hundreds of children are alive today as a result of Pastor Mark's tireless efforts at Mr. Tiller's mill. His love for his Lord, the pre-born children, and their mothers and fathers, has been an inspiration to all of us who have been in the battlefield with him. Pastor Mark, like his Lord before him, has despised the shame and endured the cross, because he is looking forward to a city whose architect and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:13-16, the great faith chapter, tells us much about men like Pastor Mark: "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance...People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own...Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."

Pastor Mark and Monica, your witness for Christ and his voiceless children is helping us all to remember that, "this world is not my home. We're all just passing through."

For those timid souls of Rhema, who are so desperately fearful of being sued, I ask you this - "Where is your love and where is your faith?"

Keep pressing the gates of hell in Jesus' Name,

Flip Benham
Director