Ordained minister Henry “Bud” Shaver was arrested with another man after reading from Isaiah 1 during a church service at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, where late-term abortionist George R. Tiller is a member.
During the communion service Rev. Shaver stood at a microphone and read a portion of Isaiah’s warning to believers from a scrap of paper. Members of the church tried unsuccessfully to shut off the microphone and grab the Scripture from his hand. Men then forcibly carried Rev. Shaver from the church.
Pastor Thomas Halstrom gave Rev. Shaver’s associate, Joey Cox, the communion bread saying, “Receive the body of Christ.” Cox gave the bread back to Halstrom saying that this was not the body of Christ but it represented the bodies of babies killed by abortionist George Tiller.
Later in the article, Operation Rescue President Troy Newman is quoted as saying, “It’s a sad thing when a church considers the reading of God’s Word ‘rude and indecent behavior,’ while embracing abortionist George Tiller, someone who violates that word every day by shedding the innocent blood of babies created in the image of the God they profess to serve. By doing so, they dishonor the name of Christ.” Oh, it is much more than a “sad thing.” It is an abominable apostasy. In 2 Timothy 4:3-4 it is written, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
My friends, this is not an isolated incident. Many so-called churches today are ashamed to preach the full counsel of God (c.f. 2 Timothy 4:2,17). The time spoken of by Paul has come.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. Therefore you are inexcusable, O man. (Romans 1:28-2:1a, emphasis added)
We are inexcusable. We, who have and know God’s righteous truth, and reject it, are inexcusable. Woe to the leaders among us who commit this treacherous act! Scripture warns in James 3:1, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” Moreover, God swears this harsh judgment against wicked teachers and spiritual leaders of His people:
‘…you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock”— therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.” (Ezekiel 34:7-10)
And, in Revelation (22:18b-19) God gives us a preview of the particular judgment that awaits for those who deal treacherously with His Word:
If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
We are living in dangerous times. Times when the truth and the authority of Scripture are not tolerated, even by those claiming to practice tolerance, especially by those claiming to practice tolerance because what they usually mean is tolerance of sin and rebellion against God Almighty, The Holy One of Israel. However, Christians, the faithful elect, needn’t be afraid. The real danger is upon those who set themselves up against the Living God. It is only a matter of time before our God pours out His wrath in judgment upon them.
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). If you’re not convinced, then read the letters from Christ to the seven backslidden churches in the second and third chapters of the book of Revelations.
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:13 pm
So, here’s my take. I believe abortion is wrong, gross, disgusting, etc… But, 1) who am I as a man to tell a woman (let alone anyone else) what she can or cannot do with her body, and 2) “judge not lest ye be judged.”