Planned Parenthood is screaming @ me

The revelations about Planned Parenthood have been personally painful. No, I've never been involved in an abortion. Nor have I sold or purchased baby parts. They are painful because they have moved to the front pages things about our culture I'd just as soon not know. (Pregnant pause). No, that isn't it. These videos and callous comments about them are painful because they've spoken to some things about me. Things I'd rather not face. So, they are painful. Excruciatingly so.

C. S. Lewis wrote about the work of pain.

Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our

pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is

his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.

Sure, I would like to take a pass and shift this thing over to the world going you know where in a hand-basket. How convenient of me to pawn my piece of the action to them, you know, the other guys, the people on the other side of the tracks, or the aisles, the pagans down the street, or in that other church. But, then, there's the telephone, lap top, smart device, tablet, stationery, or voter booth that provides the medium for the expression of me in the big, broad world. By and large they testify to my silence about where we are at this moment in history. It's painful because I'm supposed to bring some light to it.

The Planned Parenthood fiasco screams at me for several reasons.

1. This fiasco underscores the darkness of our world.

I'm sure many of us have felt naive as these videos have been

released. Hopeful, optimistic people are often brought low by tragic

events. But, these discoveries caught many of us off guard. Pro-lifers

have long known the horror of killing the unborn. But, perhaps we've

become jaded. This stuff screams that our world is dark. Suddenly

we're the culture of death.

2. Jesus sent me as salt and light in this dark world.

This is hard to admit, but I'm an issue oriented guy. Certain issues

light my fire while others do not. In the wisdom of his ways, God gave

this salt and light a mind and voice. This mind should recognize these

evils and this voice is supposed to be activated for salt and light all the

time, not just when my issues are being discussed. Selective hearing

and selective vision usually lead to selective involvement. Mea culpa!

3. My spiritual life touches everything I do.

So my salt and light must be voiced as spiritual truth touches the

profane. I cannot be silent about the social, economic, educational,

cultural, and political dimensions of this life. They need salt and light

too. That's why he sent me.

4. What others think must not hinder being salt and light.

It's a tension spiritual leaders must face everyday. As one spokesman

reminded a group recently, if you want everyone to like you, open an

ice cream shop.

5. Being his salt and light will put me at odds with the world.

So, that's life in the big city. I should stop whining and get on with it.

These atrocious realities should further remind me that being friends

with the world makes me an enemy to God (see James 4:4, ESV).

It has been an intense week. Mainline media and most Democratic politicians have defended Planned Parenthood and attacked the pro-life group that made the recordings and distributed them. Many of us have clicked our tongues, nodded our heads in disgust. and pointed our fingers at those horrible people over there. Some have called, texted, emailed, or cabled our Senators or Congressmen, or even the White House. A few have picketed local Planned Parenthood killing centers. I mean, Roe v. Wade was in 1973. We've accepted it as a point of law for 42 years and turned away from this sin as something norrnal. Shame on us for letting it go so far and slip to the edges of our conscience.

No, that's the blame game again. Shame on me.

Is it I, Lord?