Moral Outcry

Most of us are familiar with Ezekiel 22:30, the verse is frequently quoted from pulpits and in prayer meetings. " God is looking for a man to stand in gap on behalf of the land, so He will not destroy it".

We hear that scripture and eagerly shake our heads in agreement. "Yes", we say, "We must stand in the gap, we must be faithful to pray".

Watching the video tape of Rev. Mahoney's recent arrest outside of a Planned Parenthood in D.C, brought this question to mind. What if the "gap" is sometimes more than a spiritual position before God, but literally a physical location, perhaps a tiny space of sidewalk, right in front of a chamber of death?

It is easy to get caught up in arguments about private and public space, property lines and boundaries. We can be so concerned about being " politically correct" and observant to the laws of the land, that we forget the true issue at hand.

We lose sight of what is occurring before our eyes. There are children being murdered daily in buildings throughout our nation. Behind closed doors, and fences, little children are having their lives sucked away. Do we understand the magnitude of this? If we did truly see it for what it was, I doubt we would get offended when a man desires to pray in front of a clinic, even if it costs him his liberty.

If there was a building in our town that was slaughtering toddlers, or massacring puppies, we would all be up in arms. There would be few arguments about space and lines. Activists would be lining around the block, protesting and demanding it's closing. The uproar would be loud and consistent, until the place closed down.

I know the pro-life movement has done violent and inexcusable acts in the past. I understand that clinic workers feel the need to be " protected" by borders and boundaries. I am not challenging that. Rather I am urging us to look at our hearts, and question if we truly grasp the reality of what is taking place in this hour.

Are we more concerned about their rights to " privacy", or our rights to prayer?

Years ago I lived in D.C, and would often take the Metro to the very same clinic Rev. Mahoney was arrested at. Sometimes I would go alone and sit on the sidewalk and pray. Other times I would take a friend and we would go talk to girls, pleading with them to keep their children. I became acquaintances with a pro-choice sidewalk volunteer and we would often talk about faith, politics and life. I enjoyed talking with him and we had many conversations as we walked upon that narrow strip of cement.

One Saturday morning I went to the clinic and watched many women go through the doors.  I was overwhelmed with pain in my heart and I sat down on the sidewalk ( then public property) and began to wail out loud. I was so full of grief, that I just wept without inhibition.  A middle aged women walked by and when she saw me crying she stopped and said  " Honey, are you okay'? " Are you afraid to go in, do you need help?". She assumed that I was there to have an abortion and couldn't muster up the strength to go inside. " No", I told her. " I am not crying because I am here to have an abortion". I am crying because they are killing children inside of that place and it hurts God's heart and mine".

As soon as the words came out of my mouth, her facial expression changed, her compassion towards me disappeared, and with a cold glance, and no words, she walked away.

I no longer warranted her assistance. I had become an enemy in her eyes.

That experience marked me and it gave me a clear picture of where we are at in America. The ones who are crying, praying and standing for against the killing of the innocent are disdained, mocked and arrested while our government and our nations citizens are pleading for the rights of the murderers.

This is ludicrous. Our hearts have become hardened and we are beyond desensitized to the issue of abortion. The fact that a video can be posted about this man's arrest, and many are quick to disagree with his choice, feel indifferent to the the subject, or don't find fault in what occurred, is a sure sign of our numbness.

We need to wake up, America. Our rights are being eroded and it will only get worse if we don't raise our voice in this hour. I am alive today because a woman approached my mom in a hospital and told her God would give her the strength to have her baby. At the 11th hour, before the moment a decision is made, there can be a small window, a tiny space between life and death for these women. Maybe that space is a few feet on a sidewalk in front of a clinic. That may be the final window we have, and the last opportunity for these woman to make another choice, the right choice.

Let's fight to protect these spaces, before we lose them and and forfeit our rights forever.