Posted on 02/05/2015 2:09:56 AM PST by Morgana
Some Christians wish they attended a church where the pastor or priest took a more outspoken stance against abortion. While sermons or homilies may touch on pro-life issues from time to time — or not at all — some Christians sit in their pews wondering why their church leader is reluctant to speak out against the human rights issues of our time.
The folks who attend Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas don’t have that problem. Their Pastor Matt Chandler is no stranger to speaking up for life.
Last year, Chandler joined millions of Christians across America come together under the banner of the National Day of Prayer, but specifically working with pro-life groups to pray for an end to abortion.
“Scripture clearly calls us to protect and defend the innocent, and that most certainly includes the unborn. While we should come together to pray for God’s blessing on our country, we cannot expect God to bring revival when we allow an estimated 1.2 million babies to be aborted within our shores every year. Abortion is primarily a spiritual issue, and it is, bar none, the predominant challenge for the American Christian today,” observed Brian Fisher, the head of that prayer effort.
Now, Chandler has preached a sermon specifically condemning abortion as “murder” that is going viral:
Chandler — of the Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas — told parishioners during a January 25 sermon that he believes “abortion is murder” and that he doesn’t think it’s a political issue, instead, calling it a ”scientific … and a deeply theological issue.” But while he was stern in his definition, he reminded the congregation that there is grace for the “murderers among us.”
Chandler held little back in making his stance clear to the congregation.
“I need to — with all the boldness that the holy spirit will grant to me — tell everyone in this room that abortion is murder. It is the murder of a human being,” he said. “I’m going to have to say it, I’m going to show it to you in the word, I want to prove it to you with science. … It’s a holocaust like the world has yet to see.”
“The United States since Roe vs. Wade … has blown past both of those brothers and have made them look angelic as we have slaughtered, wholesale, 55 million little boys and little girls,” he said.
But rather than convict and condemn, Chandler was quick to note that the Christian gospel does not preclude anyone — even murderers — from receiving God’s grace. He cited Saul of Tarsus, the biblical figure who persecuted Christians before converting to the faith and penning a fair amount of the New Testament, in making his point.
“I am no fool: There are murderers among us. And so at the same time that I prophetically, and boldly, and courageously say ‘abortion is murder’ I also need to step into this space knowing that we are guilty of it — many of us are guilty of it,” he said. “And maybe we weren’t the ones that had the abortion, but maybe we coerced and pressed somebody to have the abortion, or just paid for the abortion.”
Regardless of these facts, Chandler said that all hope isn’t lost, as God is forgiving.
“I need to say to you, listen to me: Where the volume of sin increases, the volume of grace always abounds much more” he said, adding his belief that murder is not a “disqualifying sin” when it comes to discovering God’s forgiveness. ”The grace and mercy of God covers sin.”
Here’s the sermon: VIDEO ON LINK
My advice is to read Romans chapter one very carefully.
They know it's wrong. Even tiny children intrinsically know it is wrong to murder helpless innocent people.
Ok then I think this is where our discussion/debate must end because if it’s really true that those who are pro “choice” (ALL of them) know abortion is really killing a baby, but say it’s ok anyway then there really is no hope for the pro-life movement because such people will never be convinced no matter how many laws are passed or arguments made.
You know this how?
There are pastors out there who have forced their teen daughters to have abortions so their church would not be embarrassed. There are women who have sat in pews for years feeling the guilt of abortion. There who sat in pews who forced their wives/gfs to have abortions. There are parents who sit in the pews that forced their teens to have abortions. It goes on and on. How Do I know this? I have read all the stories. Why does it happen? Mostly because the preacher don't preach it. I had one preacher tell me he don't wanna get involved because that is "political". That is code word for him telling me he's a democrat.
“Talk, talk, — but do the people from his church go and pray in front of abortion clinics?”
Look I’m just shocked they are talking!! Round these parts they don’t even do that. Little secret between you, me and the fence post I been to some of these churches. Heard them bash us Catholics at their revivals but not one word on abortion being murder. Seems to me that 23 seconds that so called preacher spent bashing our priests could have been better spent saying “Oh and by the way, abortion is murder”.
Did Christ cleanse the Roman courts or did He cleanse the synagogue? Did the apostles preach in the Roman coliseum or did they preach in the homes and assemblies of believers? Did Christ teach changing the Roman leadership or the hearts of individuals?
Well, I was going to protest outside the Morgentaler clinic downtown, but since I wasn't also simultaneously demonstrating outside Planned Parenthood, that meant I was telling them they could kill the baby. /s
Okay, I can understand that. If there are those in a church doing battle with the sin of murder - whether contemplating it, or repenting of it, or unsure of God’s forgiveness of it - then it most definitely needs to be addressed. It needs to be addressed by the preacher, the elders, the entire church as the case dictates.
Paul’s instructions to the Corinthian church regarding the sin among them can give us some wisdom in dealing with similar situations. (”A little leaven leavens the whole lump.”)
You certainly made some good points in this thread.
Perhaps you should have used the Reformed ping list instead. Chandler is in the Reformed camp of the SBC. Although he does have some YRR tendencies, he’s generally one of the good guys. And it’s packed with folks in their 20s and 30s. It is a multi-site megachurch.
Thanks.
That’s silly.
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