WARNING: This post contains disturbing graphic content.
“Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself. So it is said: ‘Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Messiah will shine on you.’” ~ Ephesians 5:11-14
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time.” ~ Romans 8:22
We live in perilous times. But then this is nothing new. The peril began in paradise. Disobedience to our Creator led to immediate dire consequences—a steady march toward demise, dysfunction, destruction and death.
It only took one generation from the firstborn among men to kill. We are bloodthirsty. Any cursory reading of Genesis reveals an X-rated litany of murder, incest and rape. Fast forward a handful of centuries--past Assyria, Babylon, Rome, the Aztecs, Vikings and Mongols--anyone who thinks we are evolving into a kinder, gentler humanity has made a backwards assessment of our situation.
Not only do we ooze bloodlust—genocidal regimes and abortion-on-demand--but we also beg for violent art, imitating life. Think Grand Theft Auto, Fortnite, The Godfather, Terminator. As Solomon told us, nothing new under the sun here. As Maximus in Gladiator mockingly questions the crowd in the Colosseum: "Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?"
We should ask ourselves the same. Why are we here?
To glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever. How do we know how to glorify him? The whole of scripture—God’s inspired word—teaches us who God is and how to serve him. (see The Westminster Shorter Catechism) All of creation testifies (Romans 1:19-20)!
One of my favorite verses in scripture, Micah 6:8, is a primer on how to serve Adonai/the LORD:
“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
As our nation seems to unravel with the erosion of common sense and moral standards, I must ask myself—we must ask ourselves—as Mordecai asked Esther: (my paraphrase) “For if I/we remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the persecuted will arise from another place, but I and my father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps I/we have been given opportunity to serve for such a time as this?”
God has shown me what is good. LIFE is good. Though I am a wicked sinner, destined for hell because of my bent for rebellion, from the very beginning, God made a way for me to be reconciled to him. I am saved by his grace through trusting in him—His gift—and I was made IN HIS IMAGE to do good. L’chaim!! (Ephesians 2!)
God teaches me how to act justly. Because he has shown me what is good, in the Tanakh (Old Testament) and Brit Chadashah (New Testament), I can act justly, caring for all of His creation thoughtfully, persistently, fiercely and gently. I know how to do this well when I know his word well.
God requires me to love mercy. Mercy is his nature just as justice is his nature. He is merciful, forgiving me over and over again. I am to be merciful, forgiving others generously and often.
“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” ~ Luke 6:36
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!’” ~ Matthew 18:21-22
Walking Humbly with God
Who are some good examples of humility from scripture? Explicity mentioned are Moses, Josiah, and Rehoboam. I also think of Hannah and Mary. And then there are the surprising instances of King Ahab (I Kings 21 and 22) and also the people of Ninevah (Jonah).
“Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” ~ Jonah 3:8-9
Why It's Important to See Graphic Images of Injustice
"To engage thoughtfully with reports of atrocities happening today, one must look at photos of past crimes," says Stacy Morford of The Conversation. "...“choosing not to look at such images is not the best answer."
In the past century, genocide-by-dictatorship has accounted for millions upon millions of the deaths around the globe: Holodomor, the Holocaust and Cambodia. And the madness continues in this new millennium with China's murderous violence against Uyghurs and Russia's against Ukrainians.
Since the flawed Supreme Court decision of 1973, the intentional killing of unborn babies has accounted for the loss of 63,459,781 lives. Abortion has a higher death toll than any genocide in human history. We are killing the weakest, most vulnerable among us. Every day in the United States, 2,363 children are killed by abortion.
Tiny humans, fetuses, unborn children sacrificed by their mothers. Some moms are coerced, most are not. Mothers willingly swallow medical abortion pills or allow an abortionist to dismember and suction their child. Perspective: already in 2022, in less than three months, our nation has disposed of the equivalent of two Michigan Stadiums full of children. In the toilet, in the garbage--biohazard. How barbaric! So evil.
Exposed: Fruitless Deeds of Darkness
From Created Equal:
"The use of victim imagery is widely debated. No matter the dispute, the underlying reason for pushback is almost always the same: Images awaken the conscience that many have worked diligently to silence. The abortion supporter is forced to acknowledge the violent, murderous 'choice' they advocate and others are forced to acknowledge their inaction in the face of the American holocaust. The dismembered bodies of the victims of our culture of death cry out for justice more powerfully than anyone could ever do with words.
"Images awaken the conscience that many have worked diligently to silence."
History provides ample evidence of the victim imagery’s effectiveness. The civil rights movement as we know it likely would not have happened without magazines and newspapers around the country printing images of Emmett Till’s disfigured corpse. Domestic abuse ran rampant among NFL players for decades, but only Ray Rice, whose battery was captured on camera ever faced significant penalty.
"The abortion supporter is forced to acknowledge the violent, murderous “choice” they advocate and others are forced to acknowledge their inaction in the face of the American holocaust."
As their fellow human beings, we will never refrain from defending the defenseless to the best of our abilities and with the most effective means at our disposal. We simply must give the babies a platform from which to speak for themselves. Not doing so would be a dereliction of duty."
From Seeing Is Believing:
"Abortion activists will go to enormous lengths to try and keep secret the horrifying details of what actually takes place during abortion. They know that 'choice' loses much support when people can see what is being chosen.
Many pro-life people are also reluctant to expose the truth of abortion. The result? The abortion culture has flourished in darkness while children are snuffed out just beyond our line of vision.
Seeing is Believing is a powerful examination of social reform movements of the past to extract the timeless principles of exposing injustice. Jonathon Van Maren reveals the tactics abortion activists fear the most, and explores the hidden nightmares of abortion industry workers.
Pro-life people should take hope from this book. When the injustice of abortion is exposed, minds are changed, and lives are saved.
Because seeing is believing."
"For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb." ~ Psalm 139:13
Above, Lennart Nilsson’s famous 1965 photograph published in "Life" magazine. The entire issue sold out in only a few days. The book "A Child is Born" was published the same year, and has been translated into 20 languages and printed in five editions since then.
Below, a child the same gestational age after she was aborted.
"Abortion activists will go to enormous lengths to try and keep secret the horrifying details of what actually takes place during abortion." ~ Jonathon Van Maren in Seeing is Believing
“This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” ~ Jeremiah 31:15 & Matthew 2:18
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God. But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” ~ Luke 12:4-9
Yeshua/Jesus tells us that how we think determines how we act. What do you think about the injustice of abortion? How has it informed your actions?
Gender Selection, Multiples and Abortion
There are more than 3,000 pregnancy care centers in the United States. According to the Charlotte Lozier Institute, pregnancy care centers "provide essential and professional care to vulnerable women and youth on a free or low-cost basis typically including: pregnancy testing; options consultation (including education on parenting and adoption, parenting and child raising, and abortion); medical services (early obstetrical ultrasounds, medical exams, STD testing and treatment, and increasingly other health services); prenatal and parenting education; material assistance; sexual risk avoidance education; after-abortion recovery support; referrals for medical care; and linkages to vital community and public health resources. Care is provided by trained workers and licensed professionals through a holistic health paradigm taking into account emotional, social, mental, spiritual as well as physical health. By providing practical assistance and links to needed resources, pregnancy centers improve health outcomes for women and promote health and well-being for themselves, their children, and their families.
Say "YES!" to Adoption
According to americanadoptions.com there are approximately two million couples currently waiting to adopt in the United States — which means there are as many as 36 waiting families for every one child who is placed for adoption. For insight on why women in the U.S. choose abortion over adoption for their unborn babies every year, read this good article by Colorado prolife activist, attorney and adoptive mom Kristi Burton Brown (pictured above).
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