October 10th has been set as the next National Day of Protest against Planned Parenthood and I will be attending the event at the site mentioned regularly in the videos here in Sacramento. This time the event is being organized by one of my granddaughters, so we now have Third Generation activism on behalf of the unborn in our family!
Of course having been involved in the fight against abortion for as long as I have been, I am often asked the question: “Does it make a difference?” Sometimes it is asked by those who have become cynical about the American political system, sometimes by those who think that providing positive alternatives or preaching the Gospel are better uses of our time and resources and sometimes by those have simply never been involved.
Well these protests against Planned Parenthood have certainly made a difference and I will begin there before addressing the usual objections: The videos that have exposed the selling of baby parts by Planned Parenthood have caused quite a stir! Social media along with the protests that have been organized around the country have drawn attention to them even as the national media tries to ignore them. In August there were more than 70,000 people in front of over 300 Planned Parenthood facilities on a single day and we saw a lot of media coverage at the local level! Here in Sacramento our local paper has done several articles and opinion pieces and run a picture of one of our signs saying “Planned Parenthood Sell Baby Parts” in front of this clinic not once but twice over several days! Various states have moved to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood and investigations have begun in both houses of Congress and other states. The pressure is building to cut off all federal funding and the evidence of its strength is the fact that it has caused the resignation of the man who was third in line to be President: The Speaker of the House of Representatives. Now you will not see any national “analysis” that says this was the major reason, but Mr. Boehner knew that passing the Federal budget with the funding in place, which he will do next month, would cause turmoil in his ranks that could threaten their election plans for next year. This was a problem of his own making, because he failed to lead on the budget process and is faced with yet another continuing resolution to fund the ENTIRE federal government. It is a bad way to run the government and we can pray that this controversy will not only bring an end to the funding of Planned Parenthood next year, but a better budget process as well!
So the cynics who ask if it makes a difference should be encouraged and they should also remember that we do not do what is right to see immediate results: But rather because that is what God expects us to do. Listen again to these challenging words from King Solomon in the Book of Proverbs: “If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small. Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” [Proverbs 24:10-12] The bottom line is that it is up to us to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves!
Now of course some might say, ‘we have been speaking out for over forty years and nothing has changed.’ The results are in God’s hands and if William Wilberforce and his supporters had given up after thirty years in their battle, England would still have a slave trade! I imagine there was some grumbling in the ranks of Israel on the fifth or six day of marching around Jericho in total silence wondering what good it was doing, but we all know the end of that story. So cynics, be encouraged and come on out!
Now for those who think we have better things to do, I would offer two important thoughts: First, in our modern age we have all become pretty good at “multitasking!” So if you have other priorities in the battle against abortion and the support of women facing a crisis pregnancy, please continue those efforts and share them with others! But that does not mean you cannot take an hour out of your busy schedule to join with us on October 10th! And BTW, if you do not have any priorities in this battle, please read that portion of Proverbs once again and use this event to take an important first step!
My second point for those with such concerns is that over the years I have personally seen literally hundreds of people “activated” by their involvement in such events. They are the people who now come out on a regular basis to share the Gospel with women who are about to make a terrible choice, they are the ones who now man the crisis pregnancy centers and get involved in the political process. They are the ones who now reach out to the younger generation on college campuses opening up incredible opportunities to share the Gospel where it is desperately needed. AND all of these actions have saved literally tens of thousands of lives. One man who began a sidewalk ministry some thirty five years ago has photos of hundreds of babies that have been given the gift of life through his efforts and he and others in his ministry have shared the Gospel to untold thousands of people!
And finally for those who have never been to such an event, I will simply invite you to come out and see for yourself! Here are the details on our Sacramento event and if you are in another location your can find the nearest protest at this site. You will be blessed by your participation!
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