Proverbs 24:11-12 | “Rescue Those Who Are Dying”

A Devastating Night

Just after midnight on October 15^th, 2018, Jayme Closs woke up to her dogs barking.  She looked out the window of her Barron County, Wisconsin home and saw a car coasting down her driveway with the headlights and engine turned off.  Thirteen year old Jayme woke her dad and mom up.  Dad went to the door, her and mom to the bath room to call 911.  Jake Patterson got out of his car, walked to the front door, shot and killed Jayme’s dad, went upstairs and shot and killed Jayme’s mom and kidnapped Jayme.  On January 10^th, after eighty-eight days, Jayme escaped to safety and Patterson was arrested. 

When we hear stories like this we feel a range of emotions.  Anger and rage and grief and brokenness fill our hearts.  We rightfully want Patterson to receive justice.  And we rightfully want Jayme to receive the help and comfort and healing that she needs.  We’re appalled at the callousness of Patterson’s actions.  The heinousness of his crimes demands a response.  We can’t hear of these things and not want something to be done. 

An Even More Devastating Reality

As devastating as Jayme Closs’s story is, there are far worse things done around the world every day.  Patterson’s taking of two innocent lives is horrific.  Why is the taking of almost 42 million innocent lives every year any less devastating?  The World Health Organization estimates that 41.9 million abortions were performed last year around the world, making abortion the number one cause of death in 2018.  One article reports that, “There were more deaths from abortion in 2018 than all deaths from cancer, malaria, HIV/AIDS, smoking, alcohol, and traffic accidents combined.”  Pastor David Platt rightly calls this “the modern holocaust.”

Abortion in America

Though, by the grace of God, the number continues to go down, there were still over 800,000 abortions performed in the United States last year.  We may not be able to do much about abortions performed all over the world, but we can do something about the ones performed in our country. 

Evangelicals across the country set aside the third Sunday in January to honor and celebrate the sanctity of human life.  Christians, of all people, know that God is the author of life and that every person has intrinsic worth, sanctity, or holiness – that each life bears God’s image and is therefore set apart, or holy, to the Lord. 

I want to make it clear that this is not a political speech.  I echo David Platt’s words when he says, “I venture cautiously into the political arena with no desire to support a party line.  Rather, I want to speak biblical truth, for Scripture is not silent on abortion.”  We must not be compelled by party politics but by passion for God’s glory because his image bearers are being killed.

A Social Gospel?

Some Christians say that focusing too much on social problems like abortion distracts the church from our main calling to proclaim the gospel.  There’s no doubt that the church’s main mission in the world is to proclaim the gospel and make disciples of Jesus.  But to say that doing anything other than this is replacing the gospel with a social gospel is unfair and inaccurate.   Even Jesus healed the sick as he went around preaching the gospel.  His works of compassion were meant to reveal the power and priorities of the kingdom he proclaimed.  Jesus’ kingdom is one where perfect justice and righteousness is carried out.  Those who follow him as king must live out the principles and priorities of his kingdom.

An Assault on God’s Glory

There are other reasons why it’s good and right for churches and Christians to care about social issues like abortion.  Let me give you five:

First, murder is an assault on God’s glory.  Every person is made in God’s image.  “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:27). This makes killing an image bearer a serious crime.  Genesis 9:6, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.”  Taking a human life carries a severe penalty because every human life reflects and represents God. 

Jesus Loves Children

Second, Jesus loves children.  Mark 10:13-14, 16, “And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.  But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God…’  And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”  We should go out of our way to love and care for and protect children because Jesus did.

God Is Just and His People Must Live Justly

Third, since God is just, he requires those who bear his image to live justly in the world.  Isaiah 61:8, “For I the Lord love justice.”  Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”  The Lord “loves justice” and requires his people to “do justice.”  To right wrongs and promote the righteousness of God. 

The sixth commandment says plainly, “You shall not murder” (Ex. 20:13).  It is thus wrong for babies to be killed in their mommy’s womb.  This is injustice in God’s eyes.  God’s will about murder didn’t change when Jesus came.  Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.  Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:17-19).  God’s Law says “do not murder.”  Abortion is murder.  Whoever minimizes the nature of the crime of abortion in God’s courtroom and teaches others to do the same “will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.” 

Our faith in Christ doesn’t cancel our commitment to honor the law of God.  Paul says in Romans 3:31, “Do we then overthrow the law by this faith?  By no means!  On the contrary, we uphold the law.”  Christians cannot live justly in the world if we follow any other principles other than God’s Law.  Some theologians say it this way, “Relativism, socially-constructed standards of truth or morality, and notions of virtue and vice that are constantly in flux cannot result in authentic justice.”  Any justice we seek to do in the world must flow out of the clear teachings and principles of God’s word or it isn’t true justice.  Working for the end of abortion in our country is “doing justice” because God is clearly opposed to murder.  And God commands us to do justice.

Expose Darkness

Fourth, the Bible tells us to expose dark and sinful things.  Ephesians 5:11-12, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.  For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.”  Lots of people shine light on darkness.  But followers of Jesus are specifically called to do this.  Those who’ve repented of their sins and placed their trust in Jesus are commissioned by God to be spotlights in the world.  Jesus says to his followers, “You are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14).  Because believers are light, they should expose darkness. 

Paul’s argument in Ephesians 5:11 is that it’s impossible to be light without adopting some attitude toward “works of darkness.”  He says that believers should “expose the works of darkness,” or show them for what they are.  We naturally don’t want to do this.  We live in a culture whose most important virtue is tolerance, so we shy away from calling darkness darkness.  But as light, we cannot help it.  Evil deeds must be exposed, unmasked, and rebuked.  The “works of darkness” must be brought to the light because they’re so shameful that people don’t like talking about them in public. Ephesians 5:12, “It is shameful to speak of the things that they do in secret.” 

Exposing the Darkness of Abortion Procedures

To this end, I want to spend a moment telling you what having an abortion usually entails.  According to the American Pregnancy Association, a surgical abortion performed during the first 6 to 16 weeks gestation happens by inserting a long plastic tube connected to a suction device into the uterus to suction out the fetus and placenta.  The procedure usually lasts 10-15 minutes.

A surgical abortion procedure performed after 16 weeks gestation sometimes requires a shot to be given before the procedure begins to ensure fetal death has occurred.  A long tube is then inserted to begin removing tissue away from the lining.  Then, using a surgical instrument shaped like a scoop or spoon, the lining is scraped to remove any residuals.  If needed, forceps may be used to remove larger parts.  The last step is usually a final suctioning to make sure the contents are completely removed.  The procedure normally takes between 15-30 minutes.  The fetal remains are usually examined to ensure everything was removed and that the abortion was complete.

The surgical abortion procedure used after 21 weeks gestation, also known as a Partial Birth Abortion, is when the fetus is rotated and forceps are used to grasp and pull the legs, shoulders, and arms through the birth canal.  A small incision is made at the base of the skull to allow a suction catheter inside.  The catheter removes the cerebral material until the skull collapses.  The fetus is then completely removed.  The side effects include an increased chance of emotional problems from the reality of more advanced fetal development.

Dismembering, scooping, and sucking out the brains of babies is the epitome of a “dark work.”  The clean and cheerful offices of abortion providers and their staff is but a veneer that hides barbaric works of darkness.  Exposing this work is good, even if it offends our postmodern sensibilities, because darkness left unchecked leads to more darkness.  These works are so shameful that it’s hard to even mention them.  The only way to appropriately mention them is to expose them, to call them what they really are.  We must call sin what the Bible calls sin.

“Rescue Those Who Are Being Taken Away to Death”

A fifth and final reason why it’s right for churches and Christians to care about social issues like abortion is because God says that those who know about the murdering of innocent people and do nothing will have to give an account to him (Pro. 24:11-12). 

“Rescue” Is a Command

Let me make two observations from these verses and then give you several ways to obey them.  First, verse 11 is a command.  “Rescue,” or “Deliver,” is in the imperative tense.  God is commanding his people to rescue those who’re in mortal danger.  God holds his people responsible to help those who’re about to die, those “stumbling” or “staggering” or “at the point of” death.  The New Living Translation says, “Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die.” 

The Bible is full of examples of people doing this.  The Hebrew midwives who saved the babies that Pharaoh had ordered to be killed.  Queen Esther who risked her life in order to prevent the King of Persia from killing all the Jews.  Reuben delivering his brother Joseph from the pit.  The Good Samaritan rescuing the man left to die on the side of the road.  And Paul’s nephew telling Paul of the plot to kill him, thus saving his life.  We’re the spiritual ancestors of men and women of God down through the ages who’ve acted with courage and compassion to save the lives of innocent people.  What legacy will we pass on to the next generation? 

Knowing that someone is about to die unjustly and doing nothing to prevent it is disobedience to God.  This applies broadly to anyone in mortal danger through disease, hunger, war, or someone in the middle of a street who doesn’t see a bus coming.  It applies specifically to the issue of abortion because an abortion takes the life of a child.  If we don’t do what we can to rescue these children, we’re disobeying God’s clear command here. 

We Will Give an Account

Second, those who plead ignorance will have to talk to the God who knows everything one day (v. 12).  Pleading ignorance about those who’re dying will not pacify the God whose image they bear.  Many will claim that they knew nothing of the dark industry of abortion.  Perhaps that’s true in some cases.  But for you all, there is now no excuse.  You know what is happening.  You cannot say, “I did not know this.”  You know exactly what’s happening, how often it’s happening, and even the gruesome details about how it happens. 

Charles Bridges, the great Anglican writer from the 1800’s, says that we have excuses for everything and that the excuse of ignorance is merely the cover for selfishness.  He says, “We want charity, but abound in self-love.”  In other words, we want good things to be done but we love ourselves too much to do them.  We love our time, our money, and our reputation so much that we’re unwilling to make sacrifices for the sake of justice.

God knows everything about what we know and what we do.  “Does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?  Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it?”  It’s vain to plead ignorance before the God who sees everything.  And God will hold us accountable to what we know.  “Will he not repay man according to his work?” 

God knows everything and is perfectly just.  This means that he sees every part of us and will only give us what we deserve.  Those who obey his command and seek to “rescue” those who’re dying will be rewarded.  Those who shrug their shoulders about this issue or assume that this is someone else’s calling will have to explain their reasons to God.  If we fail to do anything out of pride or selfishness or fear of personal consequences, we’ll receive what we deserve from the just God who made us and the millions of murdered babies made in his image. 

What Can We Do?

How can we obey this Scripture?  Four things.  First, pray for the end of the injustice of abortion in our country and around the world.  Ask God to forgive you for whatever part you may’ve played in an abortion and receive his forgiveness.  Ask God to give those in positions of power a conviction to end abortion.

Second, write your congressional leaders and respectfully tell them why abortion in this country must stop.  You can find out who they are by visiting www.usa.gov/elected-officials. 

Third, work with ministries like Prestonwood Pregnancy Center that seek to uphold the value of unborn human life.  Visit their booth in our foyer for ways to get involved.  You can volunteer, make blankets, donate baby stuff, or give money.  They’re still in need of funds for their new location in south Dallas.  They’re saving lives in Jesus’ name and they need our help. 

Fourth, and lastly, proclaim the truths of this Scripture to those you know.  God changes people’s hearts and minds through his word.  Don’t be afraid to tell people the truth about abortion, what it is and what God says about it.

God Rescued Us from Death

The gospel of Jesus Christ gives us the energy and courage and compassion we need to “do justice.”  God rescued us from being taken away to death by sending his Son to die in our place.  We were stumbling around in this world when he came after us.  Those who’ve trusted in Christ and turned from their sin know that they deserve nothing but judgement from God because of their sin.  But their hearts also perceive that God’s love and mercy has rescued them and given them a hope and a future.  Because of Jesus’ resurrection, his triumph over death, we can courageously give our lives to the cause of justice for God’s glory and the good of others.