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James Kopp - A Discussion

 

James Kopp - A Discussion 

Below is email discussion concerning how to deal with confessed murderer, James Kopp. The original article that is referred to has been left out. In it's place is Flip's article "Why We Don't Shoot Abortionists or Blow Up Abortion Mills."

Brother Flip:

I am one that supports James Kopp.

I do believe that God is the Author of Life and Death, and that all Post Conceived Human Beings DESERVE that God given right to life.

(The lines in black are in reference to an article that AB and Flip will discuss in this conversation.)

BUT:

The Oct. 23, 1998 shooting caused a reaction that drastically set back the movement Kopp believed in.

No set back to the real Pro-Life movement. WE all still protest. Maybe those other groups can not collect as much money as they previously had; too bad for them.

Obviously If these Post Conceived Human Beings were any relative of yours, you perhaps would consider otherwise and do similar. And they are, we are all Brothers and Sisters of Jesus Christ, ALL who believe in Him. I am not telling you anything new; I am certain you know scripture better than I.

It made the people he opposed even more dedicated to the cause of providing support for women in need of abortions.

Completely untrue. It instills the Fear of God in them and they reconsider. Much data on this logic.

The shooting also alienated mainstream anti-abortion groups who oppose violence, and put them on the defensive in the court of public opinion.

"mainstream anti-abortion groups" ... Face it brother Flip, many of these so called groups only many money from the Systematic Murder of the Human Race. The PROFIT from Murder of the Post Conceived Human.

What the shooting of Slepian did do was to remove yet another Murder of Post Conceived Humans from the equation. Right or Wrong!

And most of those in the defensive, are there because they Finally get their opinions Printed, they are mostly Media Hounds, looking for a $$$ donor.

What it also did was risk a Brothers Eternity, we all should Pray for him and let him also have his day in court like EVERYOTHER person on trial.

Lastly, perhaps PRAY that measures like this do not occur.

Fair and equal treatment under the law.

AB


My dear friend A,

I had no idea that you supported the lie called "justifiable homicide" as it relates to the murdering of abortionists to "save" the lives of babies. I would suggest that you re-read the article I wrote and placed in your hands at the leadership meeting in Charlotte (Why We Don't Shoot Abortionists and Blow-up Abortion Mills). If you don't have it, you can find it on our website: operationsaveamerica.org.

You were allowed to come to our meeting at the behest of another. This was an error on my part. Our stand against using murder to solve the problem of the murder of pre-born children is clear and unequivocal. If you knew this, and I am inclined to think that you did, you should have had the integrity of heart not to come.

For you to deliberately take comments from a news article that were not direct quotes from me and then attribute them to me, is wrong! I get angry when people misquote me, and I get even angrier when they quote me correctly over some of the stupid remarks I have made. I get mad at how bone-headed I was to have made such a foolish statement.

Art, I didn't write this article. Why don't you read the stuff I did write -its on the web, and it was placed in your hands at the leadership meeting.

There is a separation between us and will remain until you repent before God of the heresy of "justifiable homicide" as it relates to abortionists.

In Christian love,

Flip


My friends:

Global apology - my spell check is off and although I had to write many papers in both of my masters degrees and I spell each word as I type it, my spelling is still not perfect. But most of all, I type from the HEART when I speak to my friends.

I am guilty of assuming the article came from you Phillip Benham and for that sir, I apologize. Knowing the media as I do, I should NOT have assumed that was your verbatim response.

Regarding the AOG:
I am a Practicing Orthodox Roman Catholic Christian. Guilt by association is not a very Christian thing to believe and profess. Even the Grand Jury found no problems with our individual non-affiliations. Hopefully after you read my response you might see my reasoning to my affiliation(s) and perhaps that might also solicit an apology from you too.

I personally do not know each and every member in the AOG's (a non-membership non-organization) beliefs, what they profess, nor do I know or assume any of their religious or political associations nor their favorite color or food.

Certainly I can explain Justifiable Homicide in a way that everyone would accept it; as with our immediate family being attacked and their lives in immediate danger. Case Law and the Bible permits defending yourself with equal force. But this is not where your problem with me exists nor have I ever proclaimed the belief from which you are assuming my guilt.

If anyone ever reads anything I write, it fully discusses not the Babies being murdered but the Post Conceived Human Being being murdered and EVERYONE, at the very moment of conception, is a Post Conceived Human Being. Even Abortionists! Even Hitler! Even our current enemies of the State; EVERYONE deserves to live to hopefully eventually, come to God; as I pray I will also. Now this you may attribute to me AB.

I have various reasons for MY associations with various Pro-Life, Anti-Abortion organizations.

One being to convince individuals to understand and accept the fact that every Post Conceived Human Being deserves to live; no matter how bad or how evil or what actions they did. It is really easy to preach to those who are saved but to go to the gates of Hell and preach to those souls about to enter is worth my time. Someone must do it, why not me!

I see some of my brother Catholic Christians doing things that endanger their immortal souls and it is MY personal obligation to do what I must to stop them from this error. If I can not have access to them, I can not help them. James Kopp is a brother Roman Catholic Christian who may have done something that may adversely affect his immortal soul. I take it upon myself to offer him the Words as they come to me, from my Roman Catholic faith.

I do the same for you my brother.

Flip says: "For you to deliberately take comments from a news article that were not direct quotes from me and then attribute them to me, is wrong!"

A says: Brother Flip, I use your own words to describe what you are proclaiming me guilty of (guilt by association).

Flip says: "I get angry when people misquote me, and I get even angrier when they quote me correctly over some of the stupid remarks I have made. I get mad at how bone-headed I was to have made such a foolish statement."

A says: Brother Flip, I very rarely get mad, perhaps concerned, but rarely mad.

Flip says: "There is a separation between us and will remain until you repent before God of the heresy of "justifiable homicide" as it relates to abortionists."

A says: Brother Flip, if there is a heresy of justifiable homocide, it MUST exist to more than just abortionists; if not, then we have situational ethics. In all honesty, if I AB, see ANYONE about to be hurt in any way shape or form, I promise you that I will do as I must to stop it. A wrong is a wrong an evil an evil. To repent for something specifically, I must be guilty of something specifically, not just accused. Years ago in Alexandria Virginia I personally interceded in removing a city police officers gun from a crazy man's hand; as it was placed directly against the police officers temple. Years later, I was appealing a conviction in this same court room; for criminal trespass at an Abortion Mill.

I do as I must. I hope you still view me as your brother.

AB


Dear A,

Please read the articles I have written concerning "justifiable homicide" as it applies to the murdering of abortionists. The Word of God states the case far better than I, so I have endeavored to examine this issue through a Biblical grid. Not a bad idea! So please read the articles. This is not asking too much is it? You certainly do not want to become an "enemy of the cross." (Just a caveat to get you to READ the articles.)

You do well at justifying your actions and words (all of a man's ways are right in his own eyes), but you do not do well at listening. Perhaps God has a Word He would like to impart to you from a blasphemer like me (for the life of me I do not see how I could ever blaspheme James Kopp - perhaps I do not know the proper meaning of the word). But you will never know that because even now, before you listen, you are considering your response.

Enough A! You might want to check out Ephesians 4:26, to see what it says about anger. Have one of the priests help you correctly exegete the passage from the Greek. I am in great danger of allowing the sun to go down on my anger at your foolishness. For this I beg your forgiveness.

"Justifiable homicide" does not apply to the murdering of abortionists. It is a lie from the pit of hell and it is a sin. It is the same "pro-choice" lie that allows abortionists to murder children. The abortionist says he is justified in killing children to save the life of the mother. What utter deception! James Kopp, no matter how sincere, was wrong in what he did. It was murder! Barnett Slepian is dead! I was to have lunch with Mr. Slepian two weeks after he was shot dead by your hero James Kopp.

Bob Behn, the Director of Operation Save America in Buffalo, had breakfast with him on more than one occasion. He shared the Gospel of Christ with Mr. Slepian who, from all appearances, desired to know more about Jesus. If Mr. Kopp were truly a friend of life, why did he not do the brave thing and share the Gospel of Christ with Mr. Slepian?

Mr. Kopp either lied to Mark Crutcher of Life Dynamics, or he was lying when he gave his testimony to the newspaper in Buffalo. Either way, he has proved himself a liar. Not only is he a liar and a murderer, he is a flat out coward. Murdering father and husband in front of wife and kids, while hiding safely behind a tree. What a man! He did the same thing Slepian did to countless thousands of children. He used murder as a way to solve a problem. The devil has Mr. Kopp firmly in his lying grasp. Mr. Kopp became the very thing he despised - a murderer!

Mr. Kopp acted as judge, jury, and executioner A, and no single human being has been delegated that authority from God. Admittedly, abortionists may take this authority, tyrants will demand it, and the devil uses it, but doing so only leads to death - not life.

It is the civil government that wields the sword. This is not my idea, it is God's (Romans 13). Abortionists are guilty of murder - no question about that. They are the instrument the mother uses to kill her child. But they are only the instrument. Who do you think is most responsible for the shedding of innocent blood in our nation today? The answer may surprise you.

It is not Planned Parenthood, the National Organization for Women (NOW), the National Abortion Federation (NAF), the ACLU, ad nauseam. It is not the President of the United States, the Congress, or the Supreme Court. It is not the abortion industry, the abortionists, the counselors, or the escorts. It is not even the mother and father that are paying to have their own child killed.

No, the one most responsible for the abortion holocaust that is savaging our nation, is the one who is certain it is doing everything in its power to stop the slaughter. I am, of course, speaking of the Church of Jesus Christ.

We, the Church of Jesus Christ, have failed to give a clear voice for pre-born children and, in so doing, have failed our nation. You can talk to me all you want about how Catholic you are. Quite frankly I don't give a rip. If you are saved by the Blood of Christ and Him alone, you are my brother. I can talk to you all day about how Protestant I am, but if I am not bought by the blood of Christ, I am a clanging cymbal.

It is those of us who claim the Name of Christ who are most responsible for the innocent blood that is being shed in abortuaries across this land. We have eyes to see their unformed bodies. We have ears to ear their cries. We have a Lord who commands us to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. And we just sit idly by while little children die. Oh, we may vote "Republican," hire a conservative, preach a message once a year, write a song or two, and build a crisis pregnancy center, but we would never consider loving our pre-born brother and sister as we love ourselves.

AB, it is you and I who need to repent before God of what we have allowed the Church of Jesus Christ to become. It is a whimpering, simpering shell of what it once was when our Pilgrim forefathers traversed the mighty Atlantic to the New World to build a nation upon the Word of God. Our Founding Fathers loved the Word of God and knew it well. No, abortion would never have come into being in their day. The lie would have been crushed by the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These were men who were unashamed of the Name.

Because we have failed as a church, we have opened the door for poor misguided men like James Kopp to commit mindless acts of so-called righteousness (murder) in order to end abortion in America. James Kopp is simply the product of a pathetic church, devoid of all power, and as irrelevant as it ever has been in the history of this nation.

You my friend have one choice: Repent (meta-noia)

In the Mighty Name of Jesus I remain a public rebuke to you.

Flip


Brother Flip

I did not write this article or the heading, it was Cc'd to me from another Christian. Please note the ("Re:" in subject heading), it is a response to what someone else had written about you. I merely asked a few questions of you from statements within the article. You never gave me any reason to make these following statements about you (in the document), nor do I know you well enough to deduce them.

FLIP states in reiteration to the article, "a blaphemer like me (for the life of me I do not see how I could ever balaspheme James Kopp - perhaps I do not know the proper meaning of the word)."

Brother Flip, I did not justify my actions or words, I merely am telling you I did not write this attack on you, I merely asked some questions to you regarding this article.
"You do well at justifying your actions and words.".

Of course I was formulating my response before I completed the total e-mail. That my dear friend is my analytical side; line by line, statement by statement.

James Kopp is my brother in Christ as he is your brother in Christ, he is not my hero (dead by your hero James Kopp).

Perhaps a true statement "The devil has Mr. Kopp firmly in his lying grasp. Mr. Kopp became the very thing he despised - a murderer!" Brother Flip, as a Catholic Christian, I can not judge brother James Kopp's soul or his eternity.

A very true statement. "Admittedly, abortionists may take this authority, tyrants will demand it, and the devil uses it, but doing so only leads to death - not life."

I disagree, it is the PEOPLE in the Church of Jesus Christ. "No, the one most responsible for the abortion holocaust that is savaging our nation, is the one who is certain it is doing everything in its power to stop the slaughter. I am, of course, speaking of the Church of Jesus Christ."

I completely agree on this, I have personally traveled to ten's of Churches, Protestant and Catholic Christian and begged clergy to come and see, come and help, come and pray; but, it is the PEOPLE in the Church of Jesus Christ. " AB, it is you and I who need to repent before God of what we have allowed the Church of Jesus Christ to become."

Again brother Flip, it is the PEOPLE in the Church who have failed and not the Church itself. "Because we have failed as a church, we have opened the door for poor misguided men like James Kopp to commit mindless acts of so-called righteousness (murder) in order to end abortion in America.".

This is my very reason for being associated with various Pro-Life, Anti-Abortion organizations and non-organizations. " we have opened the door for poor misguided men like James Kopp to commit mindless acts of so-called righteousness (murder) in order to end abortion in America.". As I had hoped I made perfectly clear in my response to you, I take it upon myself to PERSONALLY converse with others who might be so inclined, to show them another way, to keep them focused on God and His salvation.

I find your perception of what I state to be totally incorrect of who I am and what I stand for. You fully know that I support all life. Every Post Conceived Human Being deserves a chance at life and God is the ONLY author of life and death. Where does your opposition to me exist brother Flip? Please re-read my responses to your statements from the very beginning. I do not support the taking of ANY life. and for you to assume that I do solely because I am associated with a group of people who may or may not have such a belief, is very wrong, uncharitable and very un-Christian (if it is intentional).

In reference to this, I must say you have difficulty comprehending what you are reading or I am NOT making myself clear enough for you to understand me brother Flip. "You my friend have one choice: Repent (meta-noia). In the Mighty Name of Jesus I remain a public rebuke to you."

Lastly brother Flip, I (AB) am a Practicing Orthodox Roman Catholic and I NEVER choose a position outside of my formal beliefs, as stated emphatically by the Holy Father and the Magisterium.

AB


Dear AB,

I suppose there is not one in a million like you. I was not aware that the subject, "Flip Benham blasphemes James Kopp again," was not your subject. I am not aware of alot of things on these computers.

God has revealed your heart to me through your writing and AB, I believe that you love Christ with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength. You are right in saying that I cannot judge your eternal state with the Lord. That is for Him alone to determine. I can and must, however, judge the actions of men (my own and those of others) through the absolute infallible grid of God's Word. There is a right and there is a wrong and it is measured by God's Word. This is the measure we use (Matthew 7:1-6).

When we judge A, we must make a right judgment (John 7:24). For us to make a right judgment we must first get the log out of our own eye before we can correctly see to remove the speck from our brother's eye. Having done this self-judgment (examining ourselves before the grid of God's Word) we must correctly make a judgment on the actions of James Kopp. I cannot judge his motives, because no one but God Himself is aware of Mr. Kopp's motives. This includes Mr. Kopp. We must, however, judge his self-confessed murder of Barnett Slepian.

This, my dear friend A, is what you must do. If what Mr. Kopp did was wrong and was murder then it is incumbent upon you to say so. If what he did was a sin, it is not love to tell him anything less. As a matter of fact, love demands that you tell Mr. Kopp the truth: "Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt." Leviticus 19:17.

If men of God like you don't tell him the truth, he may never know that what he did was a sin. If he is unaware of his sin, and you see that what he has done is a direct violation of God's written Word, then you my friend are guilty. Yes, guilty of not loving your neighbor as yourself. You have also failed in your duty as a watchmen: "...I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them a warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his sin." Ezekiel 3: 17-18.

A, this is not a Scripture plucked out of context. Read the entire context of Ezekiel 3, then go to Ezekiel 18, then to Ezekiel 33, then read through the entirety of the Bible. We are our brother's keeper. We are responsible to God to speak His truth so that people may repent of their sins and be healed through the blood of Christ. James Kopp needs to know that what he did was a sin!

The Church (Church -ecclesia- always refers to "the people" when used in the New Testament) needs to know that murdering abortionists is a sin. That one does not solve the problem of murder by murdering other people. The premeditated murdering of abortionists has nothing to do with a "Just War" nor does it have anything to do with the justifiable killing of one to save the life of another. It is the mother that kills the child A, the abortionist is simply the hired gun to do the dirty deed.

I am asking you make this truth known. James Kopp is a self-confessed murderer. He is in sin until he repents before God. No matter how sincere, his right motives can never be used as a cover-up for his wrong actions. The ends never justify the means in God's economy. All must know that shooting abortionists and blowing up abortion mills is a sin before God. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." Proverbs 14:12.

Believing this as you do A, requires you to speak the truth. There are many who are listening, they may even now be considering killing an abortionist, and your strong words may make the difference in what they choose to do. Remember, wrong theology inevitably leads to wrong behavior. I tried my best to get this through to Paul Hill before he murdered abortionist Britton, and Jim Barrett in Pensacola.

I am now asking you to do your best to expose James Kopp's sin. It will be the supreme act of love, not only for James Kopp, but for others who may be contemplating murder as a solution to anything.

You are an amazing man A. I have long enjoyed your writing - you pull no punches! I beseech you to stand strong on this issue!

In Christian love,

Flip


My dearest friend:

You can not believe how passionate I feel about this; not only Jim, but the others who are in jail for various reasons, and also for you and our friends and family.

As I told my dear buddy on the ride to and fro, I PERSONALLY have traveled to churches of all denominations begging and pleading them to come out. Over these many years, clergy come out and better than that they finally are preaching about it and some have also formed support organizations. I am happy with the outcome. Obviously I will be happier when there is no abortion.

Absolutely a very true statement. Most people make a blanket statement that "we can not judge another", obviously they are wrong. I have personally approached Catholic Clergy directly after their sermons and asked them point blank, "What seminary did you got to". Flip stated, "we must correctly make a judgment on the actions of James Kopp. I cannot judge his motives, because no one but God Himself is aware of Mr. Kopp's motives. This includes Mr. Kopp. We must, however, judge his self-confessed murder of Barnett Slepian.". I PRAY that in the end, brother Jim did not even shoot Slepian; how real is it, I do not know. We all know the very conflicting stories that floated about; what to believe, the confession? What I do know is that too many Christians are in jail, who could be out on the streets speaking the truth every day.

Another absolute truth brother Flip, this is WHY I belong to these other Pro-life and Anti-Abortion organizations and non-Organizations; to tell them there is another way, God's way. Every Post Conceived Human Being deserves life. Flip states: If he is unaware of his sin, and you see that what he has done is a direct violation of God's written Word, then you my friend are guilty.

Brother Flip, NOW you can see what I go through all the time because of my associations, but who else is doing it, who else is there conversing with them before and after they do something ABSOLUTELY against God's Will. I have had Federal Officers come to my work many times questioning me, I have lost considerable work, people hate me BUT who else is there to help those like Jim Kopp, like Dennis Malvasi, like Loretta Marra, like Jennifer Sperle and on and on. Why NOT me! I am a single man and can take care of and support myself good enough to EXIST and this I do; hopefully, for God's greater glory.

I battle with AOG members very often but they still let me talk, I have been removed as a speaker at the Knights of Columbus in many places in Northern Virginia for begging them to get active. Many years ago, I personally presented the K of C evidence regarding partial birth abortionists in NJ and BEGGED them to make this a major issue in the state and nationally with the K of C. This resulted in my "Inactive" status in K of C. But I have seen a few grandchildren born to my brother K of C that thanked me for doing what I did. I see the children.

Another absolute truth brother Flip, "We are our brother's keeper. We are responsible to God to speak His truth so that people may repent of their sins and be healed through the blood of Christ. James Kopp needs to know that what he did was a sin! I PERSONALLY have PLEADED with Father Frank Pavone with Priests for Life many times to give brother Jim Kopp confession; this IS my faith that I firmly believe and will defend with my LIFE. I AM a Practicing Orthodox Roman Catholic. Brother Jim Kopp KNOWS what he did was a SIN and was WRONG.

I also agree with you regarding this too brother Flip, "The premeditated murdering of abortionists has nothing to do with a "Just War". My Roman Catholic religion clearly states this truth.

During your sermon in NC, you asked something like "if the President granted to stop ALL abortion BUT we had to sacrifice 3 children for his efforts, would we agree with this ... Obviously millions would be saved"... I alone spoke out "NO". Father Francis looked at me and presented the same conclusion you had presented (for discussion) and I told my dear buddy "it is wrong, it is basic moral theology, we CAN NOT commit an EVIL so good might come from it".

Pray for Paul Hill. He knows not.

Why We Don't Shoot Abortionists or Blow Up Abortion Mills
The Way of the Cross - No Cheap Solutions

The Ends Do Not Justify the Means in God's Economy

Operation Rescue unashamedly takes up the cause of pre-born children in the name of Jesus Christ. We employ only biblical principles. The Bible is our foundation; the Cross of Christ is our strategy; the repentance of the Church of Jesus Christ is our ultimate goal. As the Church changes her heart toward unborn children, God Himself will hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and bring healing to our land.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the only answer to the abortion holocaust. It is upon our active repentance at abortion mills, abortionists' homes, churches, and practices that the Gospel is visibly lived out. We become to the Church, to our city, and to our nation living parables, which rightly represent God's heart toward pre-born children.

Where do those who blow up abortion mills, shoot abortionists, and resort to "the ends justify the means" philosophy to end abortion come from? They come from a church not willing to defend the defenseless, thus opening the door to vigilantism. They come from a culture in which the value of human life is cheapened. They come from the pain and aftermath of abortion. They come from a political system that imposes greater penalties for sitting in front of an abortion clinic door than for dealing drugs or for theft. They come from the frustration of knowing that children are dying and being helpless to do anything about it. They come from a sincere compassion for innocent children in the womb. Their sincerity, however, does not justify their actions.

Whether or not their motives are pure is impossible to discern, but this we know: Two wrongs never make a right! Vigilantism invariably brings with it lawlessness. One never has the right to take upon himself the roles of judge, jury, and executioner.

God's answer to the abortion holocaust in America is in the repentance of His Church, not in the extermination of an individual abortionist, or in the extermination of all abortionists. His answer is not in the destruction of a solitary clinic or the destruction of every clinic. His answer is in the changed heart of His Church.

As the heart of His Church is changed, the heart of our nation will be changed. And, as the heart of our nation is changed, our laws will reflect that change.

It is imperative for us to theologically think through the means by which the Church of Jesus Christ is to rescue children being led away to slaughter. The ends never justify the means in God's economy. He is looking for us to walk with Him by faith. He is more concerned with the means we use than the ends we achieve, for He is looking for us to trust Him, rather than rely on our own cunning.

The Scripture is replete with examples of godly men and women who thought their way would be more expedient than God's way: Abram and Sarai's self-help program with Hagar, Genesis 16; Moses' identification with his Israelite brothers and sisters and his ensuing murder of an Egyptian, Exodus 2:11-15; Moses smiting the rock twice rather than speaking to it, Numbers 20:7-15; David putting the ark of God on a cart rather than having the priests carry it on poles, 2 Samuel 6:1-8; and Peter not wanting Jesus to go the cross in Jerusalem, Mark 8:27-33. "There is a way that seems right to a man but the end thereof is death." Proverbs 14:12. When man does things his way rather than God's way, he becomes an enemy of the cross. Severe consequences and death are the inevitable result.

In each of these cases there was a way that seemed right but totally missed the plan and purpose of God. God patiently, purposefully, and painfully brought His children to His way. Though well intentioned and with great zeal for our Lord's work, these men and women actually became impediments to our Father's providential hand. They did it their way! In doing so they became enemies of the cross.

Those who commit themselves to "justifiable homicide," the premeditated murder of an abortionist, are working in absolute contradiction to God's express purpose. They may feel they exude more courage and commitment to our pre-born brothers and sisters, but their way is not God's way!

"It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor be hasty and miss the way." Pr 19:2. God's way is the way of the cross! Everything in the Old Testament is preparation for and points toward the fact that the cross would be the means by which men shall be saved. Everything in the New Testament shows that Jesus, on the cross, fulfilled all that was necessary for man to enter into the presence of Almighty God. The cross was God's way to bring man to Himself.

Any attempt to accomplish His purpose apart from the cross, however sincere, is doomed to frustration and failure. It may initially appear fruitful (the enemy is good at this), but in the end, it brings heartbreak and death.

Peter thought he could protect Jesus from going to the cross. In doing so, Peter became an enemy of the cross. He found himself working in opposition to Father's will. "...You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Mark 8:33.

Peter loved Jesus. He simply did not understand the way of the cross. His way seemed right, but it denied the cross. One cannot doubt the courage of this disciple. He was willing to fight and die for his Lord, yet his way was not God's way. No, God's way is the cross. The cross was waiting for Jesus at Calvary. That same cross is waiting for you and me.

Peter, after much testing and fire, came to know the way of our Lord's cross. When he came to an end of himself, God was able to bring Peter to his true destiny. He picked up his cross and carried it until it finally killed him when he was crucified upside down. The way of the cross enabled Peter to lay his own life down that others might live. This is God's way.

Is our way the way of the cross?

In our exuberance to bring an end to abortion, do we become enemies of the cross? Certainly, the cross does not appear to be the most expedient way to defend the lives of little boys and girls waiting to be born, but it is, nevertheless, God's way!

The call for God's people to repent has never changed (2 Chronicles 7:14). It is only as the heart of our Great Redeemer is turned toward His people will His hand be loosed to bring healing to our land. We are helpless to fix the problem.

It is in repentance, then, both in word and deed, that our cross takes form today. In 2 Corinthians 7:8-12, we see that great difference that exists between godly sorrow, which brings repentance, and worldly sorrow which brings death. Worldly sorrow brought death twice in Pensacola, a shooting in Wichita, a bombing in Birmingham, two deaths in Brookline, and a murder in Buffalo. Godly sorrow, on the other hand, brings repentance that leaves no regret, and produces an eagerness to see justice done.

Had thousands of Christians been in active repentance at abortion mills in Pensacola, Wichita, Birmingham, Brookline, and Buffalo by laying their lives down, a shot never would have been fired. The Church of Jesus Christ is God's answer to the abortion holocaust that is savaging our nation. The gates of hell will forever prevail against the President, the Congress, the Supreme Court, and those who murder abortionists, but they will never prevail against God's prevailing Church. That is God's way, not ours.

It is Jesus who is the great threat to the devil. He cannot be compromised. He cannot be subdued. He cannot be dissuaded. He cannot be overcome. It is as we allow His life to become alive in us that the stronghold of Satan's child-killing industry will be utterly destroyed. His way is the way of the cross.

Operation Rescue will continue to live out the Gospel in the streets. This will never change! Jesus physically intervened on our behalf and our call is to physically intervene on behalf of others. Operation Rescue is a movement birthed in repentance and sustained by grace. While the responsibility of others may be to seek to make abortion illegal, our biblical mandate is to confront God's Church and our nation with the sin, the immorality, and the horror of abortion.

This is our cross. We will carry it to the streets. We will carry it to the Church. We will carry it to the clinics. We will carry it to the hospitals that give sanctuary to child killers. We will continue to follow the way of the cross and the example of our Lord Jesus Christ as we rescue those being led away to slaughter. We hold so tightly to the cross of Christ that there is no room for any other weapon.

Flip Benham
Director, Operation Rescue;
Operation Save America