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Many of you are aware that on May 13th, 2017, something happened that has not taken place in close to 20 years in the battle to end the America holocaust. Eleven Christians took up the cross, followed the Lord, and fleshed out the doctrine of interposition. At a specific cue of a worship song, they offered to the Lord a sacrifice of worship by walking on the death camp’s property. They peaceably placed their bodies between the abortionist’s knife and the innocent children scheduled to be murdered for blood money.
It was a little pebble thrown into God’s ocean that somehow created a tsunami. The Rescue ignited a firestorm. It has reached to the White House, major news outlets, pro-abort media, and even went international. Men’s hearts were stirred, one way or another.
The Doctrine of Interposition, the theology of Christian Rescue, the Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrate, and the obligations of the Church were wrestled with in online debates, in blogs and vlogs, on radio programs, and on news broadcasts. A necessary conversation took place and it reached beyond our wildest expectations.
Limited Perspective
When one seeks the Lord to obey Him in this battle, we must understand that we still see in a mirror dimly (1 Corinthians 13:12). We have our finite ideas, goals, and godly objectives and then the Lord has His purposes. Truly, our only purpose for crossing that line at that particular time was specifically measured.
Christians were remonstrating in Kentucky for months to encourage the state authorities to cross a line, be brave, and defy the lawless, corrupt, and unconstitutional ruling of Roe vs. Wade. How could we expect them (the state) to do it, if we, as churchmen were not willing to do it first? We needed to provide a godly example for them to follow. This is what interposition looks like as churchmen. We lay down our lives so these children might live. What does interposition look like at the state level? The state is to use their God-ordained authority to defend the lives of the preborn by Ignoring Roe, Establishing Justice, and by Abolishing Abortion Now in Jesus’ name!
Response from the Rescue
Since May 13th, we’ve heard from people, literally from all over the world. Some to let us know how they have been impacted to love God and their desire to enter this battle to end abortion, while others screamed and sent us threatening messages. Their accusations were varied. According to some, we were being “foolish,” “misrepresented God,” “wrong methodology,” “fleshly,” “promoting civil disobedience,” (Instead of biblical obedience that we actually advocate) “protesting,” “not God’s way,” “counterproductive,” “unbiblical,” “brought shame on the Lord,” and finally we practiced “fruitless dead works.” There were others who proffered conspiracy theories, while others complained that Rescue as a tactic was a failure, both now and in history. It’s enough to take a man’s breath away.
On the flip side, however, there have been massive amounts of encouragement sent our way. We have heard from the young who are ready to storm the gates hell. We have heard from mature Christian leaders who stand ready to cross similar lines to the point of jail. They understand the value of redemptive suffering in this battle to end abortion.
As a result, we now find ourselves in an awkward position before the Lord. First, none of us could anticipate the magnitude of the repercussions that would take place in the aftermath of the Rescue. Second, we have to determine our responsibility before God in light of all that has transpired. It is this situation that the rest of this article will prayerfully address.
To the Young in the Battle
First, I want to reiterate, it was never our intention to reignite the Rescue movement in this generation. Like most, I believe, Rescue as a tactic served God’s purpose and has come and gone. Rescue as a Christian witness, however, is always viable. Jesus taught, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).
I know many young people’s hearts have been inspired emotionally by what happened on May 13th. In some ways, I rejoice, but must give some caution to temper any misguided zeal. To consider rescue is not a light matter. When I first contemplated crossing that line in the Fall of 1988 to get involved with Rescue, I wrestled with God, studied the Scriptures and history, and fasted and prayed for four months.
I took serious the admonishment to “count the cost” and wondered if I had the spiritual fortitude to pay the price (Luke 14:28-33). So, here is my advice to the young contemplating Rescue:
1) Your motive for getting involved is as important as the actions you are contemplating to employ. God desires a right, right. He wants right motive and right action. The ends do not justify the means in His Kingdom. This cannot be about a rite of passage to prove your Christian or pro-life/abolitionist credentials. It must be an offering given to God from a willing heart. It is a sacrifice humbly given to Him to do with as He sees fit.
2) To have authority in God’s Kingdom, you must be under authority (Matthew 8:5-13). You must be covered in this battle by the church.
3) Seek wise counsel of tried and tested elders. Proverbs teaches, “Plans are established by counsel; by wise counsel wage war” (Proverbs 20:18).
4) You must temper any emotional zeal with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding (Romans 10:2). Otherwise, you can create more harm, than good.
5) You must be prepared to endure redemptive suffering. There is a glory one experiences crossing the line, but afterwards, reality soon sets in. You may have to face a long prison term and heavy fines. This is a part of counting the cost. Jesus warned, ” For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it – lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish'” (Luke 14:28-30).
6) Lastly, I’ve seen many good soldiers of Jesus Christ start well in Rescue and finish terribly. There have been many casualties in this battle to end the American holocaust. There are two two things you can be assured of, if you consider crossing the line to Rescue. First, spiritual warfare will take on a whole new meaning in your life. There will be retaliation for your actions on many different levels. This has the potential to ill affect your relationships with family, friends, other Christians, and even your church. Are you prepared to suffer persecution, bear the reproach, have your motives impugned and your actions condemned and be willing to respond with love and forgiveness?
If not, do not Rescue. A scandalon will certainly be waiting to create in you a root of bitterness. This will not only defile you, but you will spread that defilement to others. You will end up leaving the church and becoming a Lone Ranger for Christ. A very dangerous place to find yourself my friend.
The benefit, however, if you do decide to cross the line and handle it in a God honoring way, you will experience the Lord in ways you never thought possible on this side of heaven. The word of God will absolutely come alive and your faith will be energized.
To Mature Believers Who’s Hearts Has Been Stirred
This article is walking a tightrope. As with all paths, there are ditches on both sides of the road. To the youth, there must be caution, but to the mature, God forbid, the flame that was fueled in your hearts would be dampened by me or anyone else who has responded incorrectly to Rescue.
The cautions given to the young are obviously applicable to those older in the Lord. My only encouragement to you is to understand that you are needed in this battle to end the American holocaust. On May 13th, the doctrine of interposition was lived out physically. It can also be lived out verbally. The main issue I want to communicate to those older in the faith, it is not where you are on the wall, the main issue is are you on the wall?
Roe vs. Wade has established, just like in Nehemiah’s time, broken walls and burned gates that make us vulnerable to an enemy that has come to kill, steal, and destroy. Abortion is the main exposed area that is savaging our nation and people. Your willingness to intervene, interpose, stand in the gap, and make up the hedge is critical to secure a future and a hope (Ezekiel 22:23-31).
A good place to be encouraged, trained, and equipped to fight the battle for the souls of men, the lives of children, and the future of our blood stained, perverted land is to make plans to join us at our national event in July. The dates are July 22-29th, 2017 in Louisville, KY. The theme is taken from the book of Esther, “For Such a Time As This.” You can go to our website www.operationsaveamerica.org or go to our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/1320334234679001/ to get more information. Hope to see you there.
Future Implications for Rescue
From the media, friends and the enemies of the Lord, one question is repeated over and over again, “Are you planning any more Rescues?” My answer, “Not officially, but we are open to the Lord’s leading.” Will there be times in the future where Rescue is warranted? I believe it will not only be warranted, it may become absolutely necessary.
What happens if a governor of a state decides to do his duty to interpose and end all abortions from chemical to surgical in his state and the powers that be try to keep them open? That would be an incredible opportunity for the church to peaceably interpose and Rescue at the gates of hell.
Let us keep our eyes on the prize and continue to advance the doctrines of interposition, on both the church and state level, and the doctrine of the Lesser Magistrate. Let us also pray that if the opportunity presents itself that we will have the courage, humility, and spiritual fortitude to cross the line again and “Rescue those unjustly sentenced to death in Jesus’ name” (Proverbs 24:11, 12)!
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