Grace in the Darkest of Places

Sermon delivered on April 28, 2013

It’s not often that I venture into political waters during a sermon.  But as I prepare for this week’s message, the trial of Kermit Gosnell is in full swing.  Dr. Gosnell, a Philadelphia physician, is accused of killing as many as seven babies who were alive after botched abortions…using a procedure whereby the baby’s spinal cord is snipped.  The clinic has been referred to as a House of Horrors.  As if abortion (and possibly murder) weren’t bad enough, the court case has illuminated a systematic failure of oversight by a number of agencies including the Pennsylvania Department of Health, PPFA, National Abortion Federation and local hospitals who took care of abortion patients (would-be mothers) seeking emergency treatment after late-term abortions.  Many of the details coming to light in the case are much too graphic to use in a sermon or even on this blog.  The entire story is a shocking reminder of what humanity capable of when a person, or group of people, is completely devoid of any consciousness or conviction by the Holy Spirit. 

 And as if the Gosnell trial wasn’t bad enough…..coincidentally, during the trial, President Barrack Obama became the first sitting president to address Planned Parenthood when Obama spoke at Planned Parenthood’s national conference this week.

If you don’t already know, Planned Parenthood is the largest provider of abortions in the United States.  Typically, Parenthood will deliver about 25% of the abortions in a given year.  In their latest report (2011) 333,964 abortions were done at Planned Parenthood clinics.  So it is, at the very least, more than a little disturbing that a sitting President would align himself (so eagerly) with such a group.  And by far the most disturbing moment of the President’s speech was the very end when he said “God bless you, Planned Parenthood”. 

 Wow.

 In 2 Peter 2:10 – 16, Peter describes the characteristics of such “teachers”…or in this case “leader”.  Prideful (want to run things their way), interested in popularity and personal gain, willfully ignorant (blind to what the Bible teaches), fancy speech (use elaborate words), arrogant and leads others astray. 

How are Christians to respond to such “heresy”?  Heresy, by the way, is defined as the word of God falsely and deliberately twisted to fit the world view of one committing heresy.  I struggle to call Obama’s statement anything other than out right heresy.  And I struggle to understand how I, as a Christian, should respond.  Should I stop paying taxes?  Stop praying for our leader?  Respond with violence?  Condemn others?   Hard to believe, but the answer to all of those questions is “no”.  In 2 Peter 3:14 – 18, Peter admonishes his readers to focus on Christ and not to expect peace in this world.  He also urges believers to rely on God’s grace.  It is Grace, not hate or rebellion or condemnation, that has the power to change and transform lives.