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Christianity Today, July, 2009 |

After George Tiller's Death

Pro-life advocates wonder whether doctor's murder will reshape debate.

Ted Olsen | posted 6/16/2009 09:09AM

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"The evil of this action is in no way diminished by the blood George Tiller had on his own hands," said Princeton University law professor Robert P. George. "For the sake of justice and right, the ...

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alison

Posted: June 18, 2009 4:55 PM

A local pastor here in Kansas City eulogized Tiller as a man of uncommon courage and conviction. She may have also said compassion, but I can't remember and I don't want to put words in her mouth. Then she prayed and talked about the wonderful reception he will have in heaven, and I couldn't help but think of the tens of thousands of children that he put there prematurely, and wondered if indeed he is in heaven (which is not my call, but he's probably the least likely person I'd expect to find there), if that will be such a great reception for him after all. I don't know exactly what heaven is going to be like - none of us do - but being face to face with 30,000 lives that he took away can't be all that great.

Paul	Posted: June 18, 2009 12:36 AM

Baby killers inside the womb do not have a right to live any more than the killer of a baby that is outside the womb. Even though I do not agree with the murder of Tiller, God sometimes says, "Enough." Others who have blasphemed God and His creation have suddenly died, as if God is saying that He has the last word. Even John Lennon, who said the Beetles were more popular then Jesus, was shot. That sounds a whole lot like what Lucifer said in Heaven and look at what God has prepared for Him! Jesus said that if any one hurts a little child, it would be better if a big rock was tied around his neck and he be cast into the sea. That's how He feels about those who destroy 60,000 about to be born precious made-in-the-image-of-God-creations. Some will find other ways to destroy life in the womb, but think of how many others will be born. Joseph Stalin, responsible for 43 million deaths, said, "The death of one man is a tragedy; the death of millions is a statistic." We've been numbed.

Barth

Posted: June 17, 2009 10:51 AM


After reading Darwin's Bulldog post I am convinced that there is such a thing as a 'Fundamentalist Atheist' I am convinced that being a Fundamentalist as a lot more about 'how' you believe than 'what' you believe.

Wyatt

Posted: June 17, 2009 10:29 AM


Tragically, Tiller's life was one of depravity and unspeakable sin. He will go down in history as a horrific slaughterer of human life. Thankfully, God will be the final judge, not man.

Meh.	Posted: June 16, 2009 11:36 PM

What difference will it make if abortion is outlawed in the US? Rich women will just fly to Europe. Middle class women will go to Canada, Mexico or Cuba. (Via Cancun. Cuban immigration authorities already know not to stamp an American's passport.) Maybe we should send The Fertility Police out like in Mao's China or Ceaucescu's Romania. Policies like that didn't have any repercussions for Ceaucescu, did they?

Anna	Posted: June 16, 2009 10:56 PM


Tell me, Mr. Darwin's Bulldog, did you get any of the money tiller was making off of murdering humans who couldn't even defend themselves from him. Well, he was certainly smarter than you. And, where's your proof Jesus was homosexual, or, is that just what you wish he was to make it convenient for you. Please, we're not all religious nut jobs, because, we get where you're coming from.

Tesfatadelle

Posted: June 16, 2009 6:04 PM

"For the scripture says to Pharaoh: I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my Name might be proclaimed in all the earth". "...What if God, choosing to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the objects of His wrath---prepared for destruction? What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the objects of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory...." Rom 9:17;22-23. We all have opinions but we should spend time to ask Him to reveal Himself in all situations.

usernametodd

Posted: June 16, 2009 5:29 PM

You're not going to win hearts and minds by preaching "abortion is murder" to the general public. There are athiests who believe that it is murder as well. You're also not going to persuade someone that the fetus is not a part of her own body, or that it was not an act of his/her own 'will' that put it there, without first bringing them to the knowledge of, and making them a believer in 'the Truth' revealed to all men by the only living God. No shortcuts. Don't try to pass off political self-gratification as evangelism.

Dan	Posted: June 16, 2009 2:52 PM

So what? Good rep or bad rep, it doesn't matter. Until a very large majority of Americans decide abortion is murder and demand it stop, it will continue. Over the past 35+ years that abortion has been legal, the prolife movement has been unable to win the battle for Americans' hearts and minds. (And not one proabort I have ever spoken to gives a crap about those 49,000,000 babies that have been slaughtered. When confronted with the facts of abortion, they just blink their eyes and repeat the mantra, "It's the woman's body and it's legal.") Of course, change won't happen until another Great Awakening. And I don't see that happening either. (But may God have mercy on us and send it) Secular America is going the way of secular Europe. Dark days ahead folks, especially for the unwanted infants. For a really good response to proaborts, see: www.AnnCoulter.com. Essay entitled "49 million to five"

NW	Posted: June 16, 2009 2:39 PM

Thank you Stan for your insightful answer. I am a little concerned about brother David's answer. I was talking to a woman while we were in a store. We were discussing this tragedy and she told me of an abortion clinic that was in her neighborhood. Each Saturday true Christians would march in front of the clinic and pray. They simply prayed and used the power David spoke of in his answer. The lady looked out her window sometime later and a bulldozer was tearing down the place. THE POWER OF PRAYER. We are no different if we condone the same act. I am trying desperately to develop programs withing our community by working with such families so that they can know there is a better way. Would they listen if I bring the message of the shooter? I hve found that some who condone this action are not members of a pro-life community but rather members of evil, satanic, demonic, self-righteous hate groups, often victims of a child lost through these means and have unforgiveness of heart

JoeS	Posted: June 16, 2009 2:19 PM


Are the "right to lifers" now supposed to lay down and play dead? Not on your life. Taking the life of an infant is taking a human life regardless of what the courts say.

better public relations?

Posted: June 16, 2009 2:17 PM

This points out a continuing image problem that Pro-Life groups encounter. They tend to ally themselves (voluntarily or coincidentally) with activists on the right side of the political spectrum. These activists are often Pro-Death Penalty and Pro-Preemptive War, and so that is the impression the larger public also gets from Pro-Life. On the Catholic side, Pro-Life also tends to include being opposed to artificial means of birth control. So to many people (and the media promotes this misconception) Pro-Life includes a patriarchal, vengeful and uncharitable view of the world. No one is happy about the Tiller murder, but maybe it will be an opportunity for those who are truly Pro-Life -- not just anti-abortion -- to articulate their views. We Catholics call it the seamless garment of life.

Lewsta

Posted: June 16, 2009 2:15 PM

"the man who by his own hand sheds innocent blood, by the hand of man shall his own blood be shed". I didn't put that in the bible, God did. In George Tiller's case, this truth of scripture has been borne out. HOWEVER the man who shed Tiller's blood is no more innocent than was Tiller himself, being NOT a civil agent. We need to move forward even in the face of this act. Murder is wrong, Tiller's self-proclaimed 60000 murders, and his own murder. If we, the pro-life folk, continue to backpedal, soften, make curious explanations, give any quarter whatever to Tiller and his ilk, we throw the battle. The battle is for nothing less than the upholding of God's standards. Tiller was wrong, so was his murderer. And yes, I do see God's hand clearly in this. HE has an agenda we cannot see. SINCE He is sovereign, nothing happens apart from His power. I will not commend Tiller's murder, yet it is accurate to say God used, and will use, this crime for His own glory. HE yet reigns.

Stan	Posted: June 16, 2009 1:36 PM


Unfortunately, in every/any identifiable group, there are radicals...they should not be allowed to shape the discussion. Pro Life groups have appropriately condemned this terrible action, and so they should. Murder is murder...no matter the accused, and no matter the individuals convictions!

Linda

Posted: June 16, 2009 1:36 PM


Tiller is estimated to have slaughtered 60,000 babies. I call that murder, too. So what if the leftists who want to keep killing babies make charges against those who want it stopped? Stand up for what is right people.

David

Posted: June 16, 2009 12:35 PM

Scripture makes it clear that in the Final Days good would be seen as evil and evil looked upon as good. The man murdered 60,000 innocents. I will not feel any remorse over his death. I doubt my Father in Heaven will feel any different. That said, pro-lifers need to yield to God's plan and principles when conducting their personal and public business. The example many display leads people further away from Christ. Prayer is our greatest weapon.

Chuck

Posted: June 16, 2009 12:08 PM


The problem is not that people do not take the pro-life movement seriously. The problem is that they take it very seriously and feel that it threatens their own lives, a threat that they feel at the very least has to be quarantined and if possible eliminated.

Patrick Gann

Posted: June 16, 2009 11:28 AM

Paige Cunningham's statements are right on. I think many pro-choice groups use this scenario (and others like it) because they fear that many people within the pro-life movement really are this *radical.* We have an image issue because there really are Christians who DON'T condemn what happened. Commenters on CT's own site have made statements akin to "what if this was God's judgment for George Tiller, in the same way he used Babylon to punish Israel?" ... statements like these certainly do NOT help matters. Even if it were God's judgment, it does us no good to make that kind of speculation. There's also Pastors promoting "imprecatory prayer," praying for the death of people they believe are God's enemies (including Tiller and ...OBAMA...). The "pro-life movement" is gonna have to separate the wheat from the chaff before anyone will take them seriously.

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