THE DAYTON APOLOGETIC

August 19, 1999

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Jude 3)

August 23, 1999 marks the beginning of a monumental court battle between the United States of America and Operation Rescue. Operation Rescue, Flip Benham, David Mehaffie, Olivia Alaw, Heather Mechanic, Jim Anderson, unnamed defendants, and myself are all being charged with a violation of the infamous Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) statute. This contrived law, invented in 1993 by Congressman Chuckie Schummer, makes it a federal crime to peaceably intervene to protect the lives of unborn children made in the image of God.

Typically, in the opening round of the judicial process, it is a foregone conclusion that we will be found guilty. We have fared slightly better in the appeal process. What can one expect from a system that believes the ripping apart of little babies in the womb is a protected Constitutional right? This is the same system, by the way, that would sentence a person to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine if he harmed an eagle’s egg. Apparently, this administration finds a bird in an egg more worthy of protection by the law of the land than a human being in the womb. God help us!

Though I have been cautioned not to write this article because the United States Government may use it against us, it is imperative that Jesus Christ be lifted up and the truth of His Word be proclaimed. This case is not really about Operation Rescue or even about abortion. It is about whose laws are to govern in the affairs of men. Is it man's law or God's Law? It is really about who is Lord - man or God.

Therefore, the following are some prayerful thoughts put to paper concerning the upcoming case. We will not be permitted to speak these heartfelt convictions in Judge Walter Rice's courtroom, so we will send a copy to Judge Rice, the prosecuting attorneys, Attorney General Reno, and President Clinton.

1. First, we are not anarchists. We have an abiding respect for all lawful authority. As Christians however, when man’s law comes into conflict with God’s law, we must obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29). We do not promote civil disobedience, but Biblical obedience. This distinction is crucial in understanding the spirit, the message, and the actions that we have taken. We believe that Biblical submission to civil authority means to trust God and do good, in spite of threats by the government to cease righteous action in the face of legalized evil and injustice. There are two laws being violated here today: "Thou shalt not kill," and misdemeanor trespass. One is greater than the other, can you guess which one it is? I submit to you, whether or not it is right to hearken unto misdemeanor trespass more than "Thou shalt not kill." You be the judge.
2. Secondly, we are not violent criminals that shoot abortionists or bomb clinics, though often we are portrayed as such. We are Christians governed by the gospel of Jesus Christ--therefore, the end does not justify the means. The same God that judges the purity of man’s motivations, intents, and convictions also judges the manner in which man acts upon those convictions. It is clear in the Scripture that evil practices do not accomplish righteous purposes. We cannot become what we are seeking to end. The Bible is precise on this matter. "Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21). It is doing good to peaceably and non-violently intervene to protect innocent babies in the womb who are scheduled to die. Obviously, the United States Justice Department considers "doing good" an evil, criminal act that needs to be punished. It is fulfilling God’s woe upon our nation that purposely calls evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).
3. As Christians, we are obligated and duty-bound according to God’s Word to "Speak for those who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 30:9)." The Bible commands in Proverbs 24:11-12 , "To rescue those unjustly sentenced to death, do not stand back and watch them die, for God who knows all hearts, knows yours, and He knows you knew." In Psalms 82:3-4, God Almighty declares, "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." It is in fulfilling these and many other commands from Holy Scripture, that our livelihoods, finances, and quite possibly our freedoms stand in jeopardy. Though these court proceedings certainly present a danger to us personally, they present a far greater danger to our nation that has turned its back on Almighty God and His Law.

This is a brief biblical foundation of our intent and motive in bringing the Gospel of Christ to the gates of hell where children die. It will do little in justifying us before this earthly court. We are convinced, however, of our vindication before the court that truly is Supreme. Be that as it may, there are political and governmental implications that are inherent in our actions. It is clear that our Founding Fathers recognized the need for checks and balances to restrain the avarice of man, to correct injustice, and to suppress tyranny and oppression that specifically relates to civil government. In their collective wisdom our Founding Fathers gave us a precious gift called the redress of grievance.

When we go to the modern day death camps of America, we go armed spiritually with God’s Word and to peacefully assemble to redress the grievance of legalized child-killing in our nation. Surely there is a legitimate grievance with a practice (child-killing) that violates our national covenant of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Surely there is a legitimate grievance when a court system betrays the sacred trust of a government that is ordained by God to protect life and stop the shedding of innocent blood. Surely there is a legitimate grievance when a court system allows a violation of fatherhood, motherhood, and the oath of good medical practice by the senseless brutal killing of the innocent.

Our government will no longer allow this peaceful redress of grievance to run its course. Historically, it has been used as a powerful instrument to effect change in slavery, women's suffrage rights, civil rights etc. Our Government today finds itself in a precarious position that perverts the system it has sworn to uphold in order to continue to defend the indefensible - the murder of unborn babies. A government whose obvious goal is to crush this redress of grievance before it has the chance to change the heart of America has become a cruel taskmaster. There can be no doubt that child-killing as we know it would have ended years ago if our government had not been the willing dupe to bolster this bloody, abominable industry.

I plead with this court and all those who are involved in this travesty of justice to consider your ways. Consider why our federal government has created this witch-hunt that threatens, badgers, fines, arrests, jails and legislates peaceful, pro-life Christians off the streets of our land. Why does America, through the courts, censor redress of grievance?

Could it be that we will one day awaken from our drunken blood-lust to find our Emperor has no clothes? I beg of you to proceed with caution and rethink your legal position. Consider what will happen to our legal system if you consolidate the full force of the U.S. government to crush this redress of grievance in order for this current corrupt system to continue to defend the indefensible. Consider what further damage may be done to our government, law, and justice in trying to stop the inevitable. Abortion will end in America! It is not a matter of if. It is a matter of when and at what cost to our nation. Will you be part of the solution that will end this reign of terror or will stubbornly defend the problem at the expense of this nation’s future?

IN KING JESUS' SERVICE,

Rev. Rusty Lee Thomas