The Pastor Without a Paycheck

Christianity Today ^ | 04/22/2003 | By Tim Stafford

[AppyPappy]

In 1989 Portland police had arrested him several times for blocking the doors of several abortion clinics

A useless symbolic gesture that is only good for bringing attention to one's self. He would be better off raising money to put pictures of sonograms on billboards near the clinic.

[StDonTheBaptist]

bump

[Illbay]

Simple question: Why not just obey the law?

People like this deserve the misery they give themselves.

[BibChr]

ping

[apillar]

He could make a fortune in the field of "asset protection" (the nice term for individuals who consult with clients on how to conceal assets from judgements, lawsuits, divorce proceedings etc.)

Although, some might consider this type of work dishonest or borderline illegal, I know some of my college classmates that got into the profession and make well over 100K a year, their services are always in demand and they can pretty much charge what the market will bare.

[BibChr]

Sorry to say, we'll have to score this as the first time in memory that I thought one of your postings was wholly inappropriate.

Dan

[widowithfoursons]

If he kept even one child from being aborted when he blocked the clinic, perhaps he considers that enough of a reason to do it. Perhaps that mother to be went home, and had the time to reconsider.

[Poohbah]

He chose to break the law. He chose to make himself civilly liable for damages. He then chose to hide assets to avoid losing the house and the other goodies.

[AppyPappy]

If he kept even one child from being aborted when he blocked the clinic

We could have saved a lot of lives by not bombing Iraq too. But the long-term is more important than the short-term. I doubt seriously that his few minutes blocking a door did more than days of people witnessing lawfully outside the clinic.

[Poohbah]

If he kept even one child from being aborted when he blocked the clinic, perhaps he considers that enough of a reason to do it. Perhaps that mother to be went home, and had the time to reconsider.

"If he kept one defense plant worker from building a cruise missile, perhaps he considers that enough of a reason to do it."

"If he kept one person from eating meat at that fast-food joint, perhaps he considers that enough of a reason to do it."

[widowithfoursons]

I don't think one can equate willful murder with eating meat or any other symbolic protest. These women are going in for a prodedure that day that they often have not thought through or know the ramifications thereof (including medical risks). You're talking apples and oranges.

[Artist]

This one's been bookmarked! Thanks very much for the ping.

[Colofornian]

A useless symbolic gesture that is only good for bringing attention to one's self.

Protesting are generally symbolic gestures. As one having been involved in rescues, risking arrest was a means that allowed sidewalk counselors time to talk to women waiting to get in. Dozens in CA went to crisis pregnancy centers; of those, many delivered babies. We held some in our arms. Glad you think those actual babies' lives were "useless."

[Poohbah]

I don't think one can equate willful murder with eating meat or any other symbolic protest.

One man's theology is another man's belly laugh.

Some religions consider eating meat from cows to be as evil as abortion. Should their members be exalted when they block the entrance to a McDonald's?

Some religions hold that building weapons is just as evil as abortion. Should their members be exalted when they block the entrance to a defense plant?

These women are going in for a prodedure that day that they often have not thought through or know the ramifications thereof (including medical risks). You're talking apples and oranges.

No, we're talking about the exaltation of one's personal religious beliefs over other's right to go about their business.

It's not as if this guy didn't have a legal means of reaching these women. But that must have seemed so...dull.

[Colofornian]

He would be better off raising money to put pictures of sonograms on billboards near the clinic

Oh, please, if I'm about to be murdered, don't put an image of another person's image on a billboard. If we're being persecuted unto death, that may help someone within my peers of the persecuted, but it ain't gonna help me.

That's the problem with folks who turn "love your pre-born neighbor" into an abstract, depersonalized "social issue." Sorry, folks, these babes in the womb only have a few weeks or months to live during the highly risky first trimester. Traditional pro-life activity tends to only help future babes; not ones presently alive.

[Colofornian]

Simple question: Why not just obey the law? People like this deserve the misery they give themselves.

Simple question for Cory ten Boom, Rauol Wallenberg, Martin Luther King, Brother Andrew, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the Underground Railroad rescuers: Why not just obey the law? Folks like these obviously deserve the misery they gave themselves.

[AppyPappy]

I'm sorry you support anti-war protesters blocking streets. I support our troops.

His arrest enabled sidewalk counselors to do nothing but see themselves associated with criminals who hide behind their wives. Do you think Jesus would tranfer His assets to His wife's account to hide from the law? I doubt it. All this guy did was sully the pro-life cause for a few minutes of glory. A woman going to kill her child is not going to be swayed by some guy chaining himself to a door. She is more likely to be swayed by someone offering to pray for her child while doing so lawfully as thousands do every year. The pro-life cause doesn't need criminals in its midst.

[Colofornian]

He chose to break the law.

As did Cory tenBoom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Paul & Silas, the Hebrew spies, Jesus' family, Moses' mom, etc. etc. etc.

He chose to make himself civilly liable for damages.

Any good Samaritan in today's sue-happy client similarly puts himself at risk to be civilly liable if they assist an injured victim themselves.

[Poohbah]

Any good Samaritan in today's sue-happy client similarly puts himself at risk to be civilly liable if they assist an injured victim themselves

False.

And there's the issue of hiding assets.

Of course, that's what Jesus commanded, eh? "Hide behind your wife and thank God you don't live in a community property state."