From a Presbyterian pastor's sermon about the murder of Dr George Tiller.
Last Sunday morning while we were gathered in worship a gunman entered a Lutheran (ELCA) church in Wichita, Kansas and shot to death the nation’s most famous abortionist, a man whose specialty had long been the dismemberment of late-second and third trimester infants, while he was serving as an usher.
A notorious murderer met what is certain to become a notorious end. By the goodness of God the witness of the Church was not entirely silenced in Dr. Tiller’s life. He had been excommunicated by his previous congregation, a church of the Missouri Synod Lutheran denomination. And so the judgment of God had been declared; not every watchman was silent, not every shepherd proved a hireling.
But the point was reached where a man despaired of change through government and took matters into his own hand. I do not view the actions of Dr. Tiller’s killer as defensible, but not for many of the easy and often self-serving reasons advanced with alarm and indignation even by many Christians in recent days.
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Nor do I believe that Dr. Tiller’s killer necessarily acted inappropriately as self-appointed judge, jury and executioner.
Hmmm, not defensible but not necessarily inappropriate.
*** Updated after thinking about it some more ***
It's interesting how some can not only feel less outrage, but are pretty much okay with the death of someone they can make a moral case against. A doctor who performs abortions is shot to death and a criminal in jail dies from multiple taser shocks. How many think, "That's a shame, but they probably got what they deserved."
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1 comment:
You know, Tiller felt he was doing important work that no one else wanted to do. The thing that troubles me the most is that people do not want to accept that these procedures may have been, in fact, medically necessary. Some people do not want to go through the trauma of labor in order to deliver a child who has no chance at living, especially if it puts the life of the mother at risk. Do I think the manner in which this is done is particularly pleasant? No. But Tiller took the Hippocratic oath just like every other doctor, in which he committed to "first do no harm". How is it acceptable for a doctor to push the plunger on an execution, but not to perform an abortion?
Also, even the tacit approval of murder (in cold blood, in a church - which to me was the most abhorrent part of it) from the pulpit is a dangerous road to travel. People look the their pastors for guidance as to what is right or wrong, so the responsibility that comes with that is great. I have a very hard time believing that Jesus would want anyone murdered. Also, if you truly believe then doesn't it logically follow that you don't have to worry about seeking vengeance in this life, since that person will be held accountable on Judgement Day?
It is stuff like this that keeps me out of church.
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