This is what it is all about. REDEMPTION! May our dear brother’s testimony bound and be multiplied in the lives of many in Jesus’ name!
I want to touch base with the saints as we are moving forward with our national event in July. Our desire is to lay a strong foundation of intercession as we seek the Lord to bless Kentucky by becoming the first abortion free state in America.
God has blessed us with connecting with the local prayer movement in Kentucky with the OSA vision and mission. One intercessor group (There are other intercessor groups on board as well) has a director of prayer and team in every district in Kentucky. They will be helping to lead the charge through prayer as we prepare boots on the ground. Intercession combined with godly action are a dynamic duo that will produce good Kingdom fruit in our pursuit to abolish abortion now in Kentucky.
Currently, OSA has scheduled times of corporate prayer three times a week. I’m hoping that those who can will make these times of corporate prayer a righteous priority. The following information will connect those interested with these prayer opportunities. Feel free to join in anytime you would like to pray with the OSA intercessors.
Operation Rescue National/Operation Save America
Corporate prayer call:
Sunday 7 PM- 8 PM (Central)
Tuesday 11 AM- 12 PM
Thursday 7 PM- 8 PM
Calls are hosted by rescuers, Gary Jelich, Bruce Stuckey, and Eva Edl. If you can’t call, pray from where you are.
(641)715-3200 Access code 1055110#
Also, here are two documents that lay out the prayer strategy as we move forward. Feel free to use them as the Lord leads as well.
The Four-fold Prayer Strategy
1) We are beginning now to mobilize intercessors to make our national event a major prayer target. Contact churches, friends, family, and fellow believers and call them to cry out to God for Kentucky’s deliverance from blood guilt.
2) We are calling the church to fast and pray using the book of Psalms for three days to prepare the way of the Lord “For Such a Time as This!” The dates for the fast and prayer are July 17-19, 2017. Spread the word and get others to commit to this much needed Kingdom focus. Jesus reminds us there are certain evils and demonic strongholds that can only be broken by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21).
3) We will set up a prayer tent somewhere strategically in the city for our 24 hour prayer watch. It will begin Saturday morning, July 22nd at 8 AM and it will end Sunday morning, July 23rd at 8 AM. We will need to staff this tent with intercessors who will commit to a 2 hour period of time during the 24 hours. We will need 12 teams to make sure the 24 hours are covered. The local intercessor groups are working to staff this tent of meeting. If those from OSA would like to participate, please let me know at your earliest convenience and we will you sign you up for some of the slots. We are planning on having bibles, tracts, prayers, praise, and worship all 24 hours.
4) This is not set in stone, but if there is a willingness and we have the intercessors committed, we plan on moving the Tent of Meeting to the abortion mill. Thus, we can have 24/7 intercession for the entire week. Please let me know if that is something that you might be interested in as fulfilling part of the prayer vision for Kentucky.
We have about a month and a half before the national event begins. Much labor, time, and resources have already been invested. Let’s now set our face like flint, our prayers towards heaven, and our feet towards the gates of hell, knowing the promise of God that they will not prevail against the church of the living God. Please pass on this prayer vision to those in your sphere of influence. Thanks and keep pressing on to the high call and prize.
You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice” (Exodus 23:2).
Wikipedia states, “It takes a village to raise a child is a proverb which means that it takes an entire community to raise a child: A child has the best ability to become a healthy adult if the entire community takes an active role in contributing to the rearing of the child.” Hillary Rodham Clinton thought this African proverb was a suitable model for American society and incorporated its collectivist worldview to write a book called “It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us.”
True to her Marxist tendencies, this book outlined well her social engineering governmental policies. Claiming to be a Christian, her worldview framed by Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals did much to devastate the God-ordained family that the Lord established as a strong foundation in which to build sound, healthy, societies. From feminism to birth control to abortion to homosexuality, the village she sought to rear children became a gulag that destroyed and continues to destroy many of them.
Based upon the fruit of her worldview a better title for her and others of her ilk should be “It Takes a Village to Murder Children.” It takes a lot of cooperation and coordination from all aspects of society to successfully exterminate 1/3rd of an entire generation. From the Church House to the White House and everything and everyone in between, we must all do our part to maintain this bloody injustice.
The question before us is what does it take for the American village to murder children with impunity? The list is long and impressive.
1) It takes a nation to give the God of the Bible His official Eviction Notice. Supreme Court ruling after Supreme Court ruling demanded God get out of our government, get out of our schools, and leave our children alone. The hard lesson for this spiritual treachery is violence and perversion always replaces Him.
2) It takes a generation to formulate three successful revolutions. It starts with the drug revolution which demands you tune out and turn on. Second, the sexual revolution whose theme song is “If you are not with the one you love, love the one you are with.” Finally, it takes a spiritual revolution that promotes new age spirituality, where millions are going into the spiritual realm apart from the truth and love of Christ to protect them.
3) It takes a nation to abandon the sound model of leadership, which God instituted to protect, provide and care for women and children, Patriarchy, for the rebellious model of leadership fueled by feminism. Isaiah 3:12 warns, “As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.” As a result, fatherlessness has become the rule rather than the exception and our sons and daughters are being devoured.
4) It takes our government to betray its sacred trust, which is to restrain evil, protect life, and stop the shedding of innocent blood. Since Roe vs. Wade, our government has defended the indefensible. Thus, our government has committed a two-fold abomination articulated in Proverbs 17: 15, “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.”
5) It takes a church to fail in being the salt and light in their sphere of influence. It takes the church’s refusal to obey the Great Commission to disciple our nation to make sure America keeps the commandments of God. During a genocide or holocaust, anytime the church is silent or inactive, it always strengthens the oppressors and always prolongs the suffering of the victim.
6) It takes an enemy who has come to kill, steal, and destroy to seduce a nation to murder her children with the sanction of the state and the silent consent of the church.
7) It takes Americans to once again ignore its own Founding documents to commit violations to its own national covenant. Our Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Our Constitution states, “No person shall…be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.”
8) It takes feminist attorneys to dupe a young woman (Norma McCorvey) into being the plaintiff for Roe. Vs. Wade. It takes them schooling her in the devilish art of lying, which leads to murder. Jane Roe committed perjury by testifying that she was raped by 5 black men. This lie became “the law of the land” and true to form, 60 million murders have followed in its diabolical deception. Thankfully, Jesus was manifest to destroy the works of the devil (lies and murder).
9) It takes a Supreme Court to believe it is the Supreme Being in order to violate God’s Holy Commandment, “Thou shall not Murder!” Under the color of law, the Supreme Court has unleashed lawlessness, corruption and tyranny upon American citizens. Courts cannot make law. That is reserved for our legislative branch of government and any law that violates God’s law is no law at all.
10) It takes citizens to turn liberty into licentiousness. It takes citizens who believe the baby conceived in the womb is the problem, rather than the sexual immorality running rampant in our nation.
11) It takes a Biblically illiterate and historically ignorant people to repeat the painful lessons of those who have gone before us. Have we learned nothing from American slavery or Hitler’s Germany? Anytime nations disregard that man is made in the image of God and remove the personhood from a group of people, genocide and holocausts can happen as history attests.
12) It takes a Prodigal Press that once hunted down abortionists and exposed them as “Blood Sucking Hyenas” to providing cover for the death industry today. They employ Orwellian double speak to project the evil of those who murder baby for blood money upon those who seek to save their lives.
13) It takes other businesses doing business with death camps that keep the gates of hell open to devour babies who are made in the image of God.
14) It takes the Millennial generation to be captivated by virtual reality so it cannot function in reality to be more concerned about safe places in college rather than the womb being a safe place for babies.
I’m sure there are more aspects that empower this village, but this will suffice for now. Obviously, there are many tentacles that nourish the demonic realm and prop up the ancient evils promoted by these modern day altars of Moloch and Baal. Is there anything that can be done to extract ourselves from this village? Are there godly pursuits that can help turn this village of the damn back into a city set on a hill and a light to the nations?
A good place to start is 2 Chronicles 7:14, which states, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” If you saw yourself involved in any one of those scenarios, confess it to God, repent, and be determined to bring forth fruits meet for repentance (Matthew 3:8).
We cannot be the solution to our national sin, which has produced national calamity, if we are living as part of this village. God’s Word states, “Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18). It is time we consecrate ourselves to the Lord and withdraw our permission for this village to murder its children with impunity.
To those interested in taking heed to this message, please watch this video that highlights the Three-fold Plan to End Abortion Now.
You can also go to our website www.operationsaveamerica.org to find helpful materials and then make plans to join us for our national event in Louisville, KY to get some on the job training. Here is our Facebook Event Page for more details. Hope to see you there in Jesus’ name!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1320334234679001/
#operationsaveamerica
#endabortionnow
#abolishabortion
#lessermagistrate
#jesusislord
End Abortion Now | Opening Session
The first night of the End Abortion Now Conference begins tonight. Jeff Durbin and Rusty Thomas open up. Share this live stream, use the hashtag #endabortionnow
Posted by Apologia Studios on Thursday, May 4, 2017
Since the Rescue, doors have opened to share our vision and mission with ABC, NPR, and a Swedish news agency. ABC is working with a team from Netflix on a documentary that will address the state of abortion in America and its future. They are coming to our pretrial on July 11th, and will return to film at our national event on Monday, July 24th, and Tuesday, July 25th, 2017.
It is through these interviews, we’ve had the opportunity to share on breaking the old Roe paradigm and no longer fight this battle based upon the premises of those who advocate baby murder. We told them we are creating a new paradigm based upon the tried and true foundations of God’s Word and its historical lessens as it was applied in times past to end the evil of our age once and for all. The doors opened to address the doctrines of interposition and its importance on both the church and the state level and the Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrate.
They are coming to see what impact this will have on Kentucky and how that may influence other states to follow their lead by Ignoring Roe, Establishing Justice, and by banning All Abortions Now in Jesus’ name!
Keep praying saints and make plans to join us “For Such a Time as This.”
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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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OSA Official Louisville Rescue Video
Proverbs 24"11-12 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?In Louisville, Kentucky 4000 Preborn Children are senselessly slaughtered every year. On May 13, 2017, 11 faithful Christians interposed themselves between those helpless victims and those who would seek to do them harm. This official OSA video documents that day when murder happened and the wrong people were arrested. May this witness awaken the church in Louisville and the rest of Kentucky. May it cause civil magistrates like Matt Bevin to ignore Roe V Wade, Establish Justice, and Abolish Abortion Now. #AbolishAbortionNow#RescuethePerishing#MattBevin#OperationSaveAmerica#Louisville
Posted by Joseph Randall Spurgeon on Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Mother’s Day Rescue
Louisville, Kentucky, May 13, 2017
“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.”
Proverbs 24:11
Rescue those Being Led Away to Death
What does Christianity look like in a culture that sacrifices babies? Sometimes it looks like Rescue.
On Saturday, May 13, eleven Christians with Operation Rescue National/Operation Save America peacefully blocked the entrance to Kentucky’s last remaining surgical abortion clinic. The early morning rescue was to protect babies and to appeal to Governor Bevin to “ignore Roe, establish justice, and abolish abortion now.”
The Rescue
An 82 year old concentration camp survivor, a former pastor, a reverend, a prolife missionary and father of eight, a Christian father who has been on ten overseas mission trips, and a humble teenage girl wearing a skirt and head covering interposed between an abortionist and his intended victims-preborn babies scheduled to be murdered at 136 West Market Street in Louisville, Kentucky.
The rescue coincided with Mother’s Day weekend. Over a hundred Christians left their hotel rooms while it was still dark to protect babies scheduled to be murdered for blood money. The Christians arrived at the clinic at 6 am and quickly claimed the sidewalk space closest to the front door. Mothers, fathers, great-grandmothers, and children stood shoulder to shoulder and waited for the sun to rise.
“Clinic escorts” (who lead women inside the clinic for abortions) followed and set up shortly after the rescuers. Upon seeing the large gathering of Christians, one escort immediately called the police on a cell phone. Pastor Ante set up a sound system and worship music reached blocks away. As more and more clinic escorts arrived, Pastor Frank, Pastor Mark, Jordan, and David shared the Gospel and took turns preaching on the speaker. Pastor Dale had a significant conversation with members of the police force. His message was so convicting to one officer a superior officer stepped in and removed him from Pastor Dale’s presence. Some Christians sang, while others knelt in prayer.
Apart from the large police presence, the gathering was reminiscent of a church service. After approximately an hour and a half, a clinic staff member arrived and unlocked the front door. As the button was pushed and the locked opened from the inside, a music cue on the sound system told the rescuers it was time to interpose. The eleven rescuers quickly left their places on the sidewalk, moved to the entrance, and sat in front of the doors, to the bemusement of the clinic escorts. Heads bowed, the rescuers put their faith into practice and peacefully rescued those being led away to death.
Christian theologian Francis Shaeffer said, “Every abortion clinic should have a sign in front of it saying, ‘Open by the permission of the church.'” On Mother’s Day weekend in Louisville, the Church said, “We withdraw our permission. Now close this death camp down in Jesus’ name!”
Why Did They Rescue?
According to one rescuer, Chris, “Rescue is a necessity.” A former pastor who once worked at a battered women’s shelter, Chris explained, “What would I do it if I saw a guy beating up a girl on the street? I wouldn’t pray. I wouldn’t go to church. I would go right over there to intervene. The defense of children is an inarguable thing.”
82 year old Eva, a survivor of a Serbian “death camp” told the Courier-Journal, “I just wish the good Christian people of my country would have gathered in front of my death camp when we were shipped in.”
OSA national leader and missionary, Cal, explained, “Of the 11 Rescuers unjustly arrested in Louisville, 6 of them have been on missions trips to China with me.” The Christian background of the four women and the seven men who rescued demonstrate that it was their faith that compelled them to love their neighbor as themselves and rescue them. As a result of the rescue, one baby that we know of was saved.
Pray for the Pretrial
The rescue and arrest of the Christians was livestreamed on Facebook. Popular Facebook personalities, Activist Mommy and Josh Feuerstein, covered the arrests. The pretrial is scheduled for July 11. Please pray for Laura, big Eva, little Eva, Dennis, Jim, Chris, Jimmy, Tom, David and Rusty. Hosanna also rescued but because she is a minor, she wasn’t charged. The purpose of the pretrial allows the prosecutor to meet with the abortionists, police, and the rescuers to determine the future course of action concerning the case. The elephant in the room, however, is our federal government and their draconian law called F.A.C.E., Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances. The misdemeanor charge of trespass can receive federal penalties, which include a prison term and thousands of dollars in fines.
A Christian Doctrine Fleshed Out
In addition to the saved baby, the Christian doctrine of interposition was fleshed out and made real again through the rescue. As Pastor Matt Trewhella, author of the Lesser Magistrate Doctrine, commented after the rescue, “For those saying what they did is lawless or sinful or unbibilical: What they did is not a violation of Scripture. It is a godly demonstration of the historic Christian doctrine of interposition- which can be done verbally or physically. They have done it physically. May Christ be praised.”
Rusty Thomas, National Director of Operation Rescue/Operation Save America, stated on a video press release, “The Rescuers exercised the Christian doctrine of interposition. Interposition takes place when one stands in the gap between a strong oppressor and a victim in order to rescue the victim from the oppressor’s hands. The Bible and history are filled with examples of interposition. It was interposition that ended the ancient evil of slavery, infanticide, human sacrifice and other atrocities. The Church of Jesus Christ, armed with the revelation that man is made in the image of God, led the charge to set the captives free.
A Necessary Conversation
The rescue ignited a social media firestorm. The doctrine of interposition, the theology of Christian rescue, the Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrate, and the obligations of the Church were wrestled over in online debates, in blogs and vlogs, on radio programs, and on news broadcasts. A necessary conversation has taking place and it has reached beyond our wildest expectations.
Rescue treats abortion as murder and the child as an immediate victim. Through the act of rescue, the humanity of the child is validated, the demand for justice is authenticated, and the culture is confronted with the need to immediately end abortion. God used the rescue to change the anti-abortion conversation. The conversation moved from defensive, “regulatory minded,” politically expedient, incremental strategy to proactive, “biblically minded,” uncompromising, immediatism.
An Appeal to Governor Bevin and Lesser Magistrates
Civil magistrates have perpetuated the fiction of Roe vs. Wade that has entrenched our nation the culture of death. ORN/OSA used the media platform generated by the rescue to appeal to Gov. Matt Bevin to interpose to protect innocent life. In a video press release broadcast at the time of the rescue, National Director of ORN/OSA, Rev. Rusty Thomas, described the rescue as “an example for Governor Bevin, the legislators, sheriffs, and police officers to follow…in their God ordained authority.” The press release was in keeping with an earlier video Thomas and local leader, Pastor Joseph Spurgeon, released calling on Governor Bevin to ignore Roe, establish justice, and abolish abortion now in the state of Kentucky.
Rev. Thomas reasoned that Christians were remonstrating to encourage the state authorities to cross a line, be brave, and defy the lawless, corrupt, and unconstitutional ruling of Roe vs. Wade. He stated, “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 and lead justice to victory.” On May 13th, however, the crime of murder was committed on that fateful day, but once again the state arrested the wrong people.
What the Rescue Wasn’t
For our critics, the rescue wasn’t civil disobedience; it was biblical obedience. It wasn’t “clinic-centric;” it was Christ centered. It wasn’t human strategy; it was God’s strategy (Matt. 16:24). It wasn’t violent; it was peaceful Christians laying down their lives for another (Since Christians began interposing and publicly repenting at clinics 80,000 arrests occurred. Not 1 was for violence). It wasn’t new; interposition is biblical and historical. It wasn’t “regulatory” minded; the biblical demand was for the immediate end of abortion- without compromise, without apology, and without exception (as defined in God’s Word). It wasn’t incremental; it was immediate- immediate repentance, immediate rescue of a preborn neighbor, and immediate conflict with the culture of child sacrifice.
Moreover, this was not an attempt to recapture the glory days of rescue. It was not a publicity stunt so OSA could regain attention in the public square. Neither was it done in the hopes of reigniting the rescue movement in this generation. The rescue was not necessarily concerned about strategy, ground game, or overall game plan to end abortion. It was a sacrifice humbly giving to God from the hearts of these rescuers to present to the Lord to do with it as He saw fit. We can report He did exceedingly, abundantly, above all we could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).
Future Implications of the Rescue
Proverbs 16:9 says a man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps. For the rescuers, the rescue in Louisville was a simple act of Christian obedience. According to the feminist Dame Magazine, however, “If Louisville is any indication; the FACE Act may be on its last legs.” Feminist media outlets reported on the Mother’s Day rescue inadvertently outlined a potential strategy for challenging the tyrannical Freedom of Access to Christian Entrances Act. Abortion supporters believe the Christians with ORN/OSA were smart enough to strategize a long term goal to overturn the draconian F.A.C.E. “law” by claiming religious freedom and freedom of expression protections, which, by the way, are ours to claim. According to Rewire, “Saturday’s events in Louisville were also a test of the Trump administration to see how far its recent executive order on so-called “religious freedom” will protect activities like abortion clinic ‘rescue missions’.” Rewire suggests, “in 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court slid closer to protecting the rights of protesters over patients in McCullen v. Coakley, the challenge to a Massachusetts buffer zone law…anti-choice activists [will likely] launch another defense along these ‘free speech’ lines following Saturday’s arrests.”
Supporters of abortion fear the rescue will be used as a test case that will reach past the Department of Justice to the Trump Administration’s recent curtailing of the Johnson Amendment. Section 1 of the order states, “Federal law protects the freedom of Americans and their organizations to exercise religion and participate fully in civic life without undue interference by the Federal Government. The executive branch will honor and enforce those protections.” Section 2 states, “All executive departments and agencies … shall, to the greatest extent practicable and to the extent permitted by law, respect and protect the freedom of persons and organizations to engage in religious and political speech.” We will see if the rumor of God in their heads will become their worst nightmare. Keep pressing on saints to the high call and prize in Jesus name!
By my wife, Kendra Thomas
Why Rescue? Here’s 20 Reasons
1) Abortion is Murder
It’s time we acted like it.
2) Rescue Demonstrates Repentance
Religious systems may preach penance, political systems may argue compromise, and movements may promote human strategy— but God requires repentance. Repentance for sin, both individual and national, is not gradual. It is immediate. Jesus told us to cut off known sin or perish (Matthew 18:8). Rescue is a way to demonstrate immediate repentance for the sin of abortion.
3) Rescue is Immediate
It is immediate repentance, immediate rescue of a preborn neighbor, and immediate “agitation” with the culture of child sacrifice.
4) God Commands Rescue
The Word of God tells us to rescue those unjustly sentenced to death (Prov 24:11). Rescue is commanded. But Proverbs 24:11 is more than a command. It is couched in a warning against inaction. Verse ten reads, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” The Psalmist than warns, “If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works? (Prov 24:11-12). The hard word here is the warning regarding inaction. In other words, the onus is on Christians to rescue. God will reward us according to our works (Prov 24:12).
5) Civil Magistrates Have Neglected Their Duty to Protect Life
The role of civil government is to protect life and stop the shedding of innocent blood (Genesis 9:6). Civil magistrates are God’s ministers to punish evil doers and protect the innocent (Romans 13:1-4). Sadly, civil magistrates have not rescued the preborn “out of the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:4).
6) Rescue is Biblical Obedience, Not Civil Disobedience
When the laws of God conflict with the laws of men, “We must obey God rather then.” God established civil government to protect life and stop the shedding of innocent blood (Genesis 9:6). Civil magistrates are God’s ministers to punish evil doers and protect the innocent (Romans 13:1-4). They are delegated authorities, invested with power and answerable to God (Psalm 82). Biblical obedience therefore is not the same as civil disobedience. When Christians rescue they are keeping the law, not breaking the law. As John Knox wrote, “True it is that God hath commanded kings to be obeyed, but like true it is, that in things which they commit against His glory or when cruelly without cause they rage against their brethren, the members of Christ’s body He hath commanded no obedience. Rather, He hath approved, yea, and greatly rewarded such as have opposed themselves to their ungodly commandments and blind rage.”
7) God Will Judge Civil Magistrates for Neglect of Duty
As Pastor Matt Trewhella, author of The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrate, explains, because civil magistrates “derive their authority from God…their authority is not autonomous or unconditional.” This means every civil magistrate will be judged by the Supreme Judge of the earth. Psalm 82:4 speaks to this truth: God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
According to Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers, gods refer “to men delegated with office from God.” The Psalm “opens with the solemn statement that God had taken His official place as president of the bench of judges…He is among the judges as presiding judge.” As presiding judge, God rules that civil magistrates defend the fatherless. He orders that they rescue the needy “out of the hand of the wicked.” However, the Psalm says the civil magistrates “know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course” (Psalm 82:5). Barnes Notes on the Bible explains the civil magistrates “not merely judged unjustly…they did not desire to understand their duty.” Their lack of understanding was willful. Although God made His mind known to them, the civil magistrates neglected their duty. They would not rescue. It is the same today.
8) The Church is the Last Line of Defense for the Preborn
Barnes Notes on the Bible explains, “There are times on earth when wickedness is so prevalent, and when there is such a want of faithfulness in civil rulers, that we have no other resource but to call upon God to interpose.”
9) Civil Magistrates Must Respond Appropriately to Murder
Civil Magistrates have perpetuated the fiction of Roe vs. Wade and entrenched us in a culture of death. Preborn babies are not “agendas,” “next sessions,” “vacancies on the court,” “exceptions,” “things to regulate,” “planks in party platforms,” or poker chips to wager elections on. Preborn babies are real human beings dying torturous deaths while civil magistrates argue legalese, arm wrestle rules and procedures, conduct hearings that reinforce the lie of Roe, and wait for the next political season. They must be rescued.
10) The Church is Called to Disciple the Nations
Jesus commanded us to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20). Christianity teaches “thou shalt not murder” and “greater love hath no man then this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). By peacefully and nonviolently interposing between a murderer and his intended victim, the preborn baby, the Church is teaching the nation the commandments of God.
11) Civil Magistrates Lack an Understanding of the Biblical and Historical Doctrine of Interposition and the Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrate
These teachings must be rediscovered and acted upon by civil magistrates and Churchmen alike. When we live out our faith, we inculcate these biblical and historical truths and become an example to others.
12) Churchmen Can’t Expect Civil Magistrates to Do What they are Unwilling to Do
We are called to rescue, to interpose between the victim and the oppressor. We cannot, in good conscience, call lesser magistrates to interpose for the preborn when we are unwilling.
13) Churchmen Cannot Expect Female Civil Magistrates to put themselves at risk by interposing, while men of God sit safely in Church.
14) Hiding Behind the Skirts of Civil Magistrates is Sin
Civil magistrates are not the plumb line for Christian obedience. When civil magistrates abdicate their duty, Christians must maintain biblical obedience. And while there are many passages in Scripture that instruct the civil magistrate as to his duty, there are many more that instruct the churchman. When God commands obedience, we don’t look behind us to see if the civil government is following. We must obey God rather than men.
15) Roe vs. Wade is Legal Fiction
Because courts cannot make law, Roe vs. Wade is legal fiction. Sixty million babies and forty-three years later, civil magistrates still perpetuate this fiction.
16) The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances is No Law at All Since FACE seeks to protect and institutionalize the murder of preborn babies (in violation of God’s law and the U.S. Constitution) and is itself built on the fiction of Roe vs. Wade, it should be challenged.
17) Rescue Restores the Integrity of the Church
As Rev. Rusty Thomas, National Director of Operation Rescue National/Operation Save America, stated, “If the Church says abortion is murder, but doesn’t live like people are actually dying, her witness rings hollow.” How can we expect the unsaved world to repent of abortion if our witness is inconsistent? If we believe babies are being murdered, we must act like it.
18) Rescue Reveals the Love of Christ
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).
19) Rescue is Pure Religion
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27).
20) Our Savior Rescued Us
Jesus “gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Galatians 1:4).