“The remembrance of them is grievous unto us”

The denomination in which I grew up, in which I was ultimately ordained a minister of the gospel—and which my family and I left about eleven years ago—was more liturgical than the average evangelical church. Although the worship services of each local congregation had its own distinct feel, there was a structure and pattern to worship which let you know you were in one of our churches, no matter the part of the country in which you were.

This was especially true when it came to the observation of the sacraments: the Lord’s Supper and Baptism. For the sacraments, there was a set form, with written prayers and set procedures. The ritual for the Lord’s Supper and Baptism were taken from the old Methodist Episcopal Church from which my former denomination broke rank in the late 18th century. The Methodist Episcopal Church, in turn, borrowed their ritual from the Book of Common Prayer of the Anglican Church from which it came.

After all these years, I still know much of the liturgy by heart, especially the order for the Lord’s Supper. After inviting communicants to the altar rail to partake of communion (in my former denomination, we used to kneel to receive the Lord’s Supper), the minister led the congregation in a prayer of general confession:

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men, we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we from time to time most grievously have committed, by thought, word and deed, against thy Divine Majesty, provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous unto us. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; for thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life, to the honor and glory of thy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today, I was thinking about particular sins I’ve committed, and the thought crossed my mind: “the remembrance of them is grievous unto us.” That’s exactly how I feel. I’m grieved by the things I’ve done. Needless to say, I can’t change the past, nevertheless, I still remember. Even knowing God’s forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ, I find that “forgive and forget” is impossible to do. We can forgive others and receive God’s forgiveness, but the mind still retains its memory. It’s when my mind pulls up the memory of my sins that I’m grieved.

Not only does the memory of my sins grieve me, but the memory humbles me. When I want to lash out with condemnation against someone else, it is the memory of my own sin which either stops me completely or tempers my response. It’s the memory of my own sin which helps me understand fellow sinners, even of the grossest sort. I don’t condone their sin, but I understand that, but for God’s grace, I could do the exact same thing. It is the memory of my own sin which helps me to realize that, apart from Christ, I am a vile sinner deserving eternal condemnation.

Obviously, one can take this kind of thing too far. Nevertheless, I think brief remembrances of our own sins can be a useful corrective against self-righteousness and pride. As awful as abortion is, as shameful as homosexuality of any kind is, I just can’t get as worked up over it as some of my fellow conservative evangelicals. Is abortion a sin? Definitely. Abortion is murder. Is homosexuality a sin? Absolutely. It is an abomination in the sight of God. But the remembrance of my own sins reminds me that I’m not far removed from the homosexual or the one who condones abortion. Homosexuality and abortion are symptoms of a fatal affliction that I also have: sin.

The memory of my own sins informs me that the “pro-choice” individual and the homosexual do not need my hatred and condemnation; they need the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior from sin. They need Jesus like I do.

Evangelical Politicking: A futile exercise

Lance Lewis has a thoughtful post regarding abortion and the recent Presidential election. I encourage you to read it and seriously ponder the issues he raises. In response to his post, I submitted the following response (which I’ve slightly edited for posting here):

After this latest Presidential campaign, I've come to the conclusion that Evangelicals have, to a great extent, been duped by the Republican Party. The Republican Party knows they have the Evangelical vote locked up. All they have to do is talk the pro-life talk, and Evangelicals will vote for them, regardless of whether or not they actually do anything that brings about real change. It is exactly the same situation as that which exists between the Democrat Party and the greater part of the Black community. What has Black loyalty to the Democrat Party done for the Black community? Very little, if anything. That's exactly where the Evangelical community is right now with the Republican Party.

I've also become convinced that Evangelicals have been wrong to focus so intensely on abortion. Abortions are not the problem; abortions are but a symptom of the real problem: the spiritual condition of the United States. We Evangelicals work ourselves into a frenzy about Roe v Wade, when the fact of the matter is, if the gospel we proclaimed was really going out with power (see 1 Corinthians 2:4), Roe v Wade would become a moot point. Few would want an abortion. There would be little demand for abortion. Those who support and promote abortion don't need the animosity and hatred of Evangelicals; they need the gospel. Those who are blinded by Satan don't need to be demonized by us; they need the gospel.

The way to end abortion is not through the exercise of political might. The way to end abortion is through the Spirit-empowered propagation of the gospel. The proof: Remember the powerful effect that the gospel had on 18th century society in England and the American Colonies in the days of Whitefield and the Wesleys? Cannot God do the same thing today?

In my opinion, the Evangelical politicking of the past 30 years (since the emergence of the "Moral Majority") has simply been a futile exercise in fighting spiritual battles with carnal weapons (see 2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

What about the babies?

Where do the souls of aborted children go after they are killed in the womb? Although the Bible does not address this subject directly, I think most theologians would speculate that the souls of aborted children go to be with the Lord.

If this is so, then what is more important: rescuing the “un-born” who are going to be with the Lord, or rescuing children already born into broken families and crime-infested neighborhoods with failing schools? Think about it: If the child’s family is in a broken condition, most likely that family is also without Christ. If the neighborhood in which the child lives is filled with crime and unrestrained evil, in all likelihood that neighborhood is, to a great degree, also without Christ. And, if a child can’t read because the schools have failed to teach, then that child can’t read the Bible, either.

Why is it that Evangelicals fight so hard to rescue a baby yet to be born, but expend so little energy, in comparison, trying to rescue children already born who, apart from the intervention of Christians, will most likely spend an eternity in hell?

I am against abortion. The procedure is sinful and wrong. But, am I to believe that God is more grieved by the abortion of millions of babies who were never born, who now live with Him in eternity, than He is by the seeming disinterest that conservative Evangelicals have in the millions of children already born who, through no fault of their own, are caught in a vortex of urban poverty and deprivation?

It seems to me that we Evangelicals are more concerned about the price of gas than we are about the souls of millions of children who live in the inner city.

Politics, abortion and evangelicals

When it comes to politics, sincere believers in Jesus Christ can be found on both sides of the Republican-Democrat divide. This may be news to some evangelicals, because the Republican Party has had a lock on the white evangelical vote for at least the past 28 years, since Ronald Reagan’s first election. However, the Republican Party has never had 100% of the evangelical vote. And, we must remember, most Blacks have voted Democrat for at least the past 40 years, and many Blacks are solidly evangelical in their faith and theology (I’m assuming Black evangelicals are included in the Black voting numbers, since I don’t recall ever hearing of any polls of Black evangelicals as a separate group. I guess pollsters simply assume all evangelicals must be white. In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve voted for the Republican candidate in 5 out of the last 6 Presidential elections since 1984.).

The political divide amongst Bible-believing Christians between Republican and Democrat still exists as we head towards November, and it seems this fact is about to cause some believers to become unhinged. As hard as it may be for some political conservatives to realize, there are theologically-conservative Christians who support Sen. Barack Obama. Supporting the Democrat candidate doesn’t make one less spiritual or less biblically-informed. There are good reasons not to vote for Sen. John McCain, just as there are good reasons not to vote for Obama. There are good reasons not to support the Republican agenda, just as there are good reasons not to support the Democrat agenda. It’s simply a mistake to wrap our Christianity in the banner of a political party (or in the American flag!).

I’ve been saddened, angered and/or discouraged as I’ve read some of the sarcastic, mean, angry, condescending and hateful things written by some evangelicals about those evangelicals who are not towing the conservative party line. Clearly, some of us evangelicals have put too many of our eggs in the Republican basket. The Republican Party is no more the hope of this nation than the Democrat Party has been the hope of Black people. Just like the Democrats have always promised the Black community more than they have delivered, so the Republicans have promised evangelicals far more than they have delivered. Folks, we need to look to God for change, not to a politician.

The apostle wrote, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God…” (Eph 6:12ff). The text makes no mention about taking up the weapons of politics or the Republican Party. There’s no mention about taking up an attack against fellow-believers.

Many evangelical Christians are up-in-arms about abortion and, hence, about Sen. Obama. In my opinion, more disturbing than the sin of abortion (and, yes, abortion is a sin) or Obama’s support of abortion rights, is the unkind, even sinful, attitude displayed by some believers towards anyone who disagrees with them in any way about anything at any time. I don’t expect righteousness out of the unregenerate. But, I certainly expect better from those who are indwelt by the Spirit of Christ. Those who promote abortion, perform abortions and seek abortions (and those who have had abortions) need the gospel, they need to be the subjects of our prayers and the recipients of our concern. The world doesn’t need our hate.

The Bethlehem Institute writes that “abortion is primarily and ultimately an injustice against God.” That’s true! But, the same thing can be said about racism, about societal injustice towards the poor and the residents of our inner cities, about injustice (and hatred) towards foreigners, and many other sins against humanity right here in our country. ALL sin is an injustice against God! There is absolutely no justification for all the vitriol that is being spewed by some Christians over abortion (all while they say virtually nothing about other societal evils).

That kind of attitude is just not right; it doesn’t honor Christ, and reveals our trust is not in the Lord.

I don’t know how I’ll vote this November, but I do know this: I’m not looking to any politician for change. Meaningful and lasting change will only come from the Lord. Our only hope is that God would be pleased to pour out His Spirit on country. Our hope must be in the Lord.

A better way of doing politics

With the possible exception of the war in Iraq, abortion and homosexual rights issues are foremost in the minds of many conservative Christians as we approach the November election. In general, Republicans claim to be against abortion and the expansion of homosexual rights to include marriage. In general, Democrats are in favor of abortion and homosexual rights, though it’s not clear how strongly they are in favor of homosexual marriage. It would seem, therefore, if we want to change the moral direction in which this country is headed, the Republican candidate, John McCain, would be the obvious choice of Bible-believing Christians.

Yet, how do we know that a Republican President would bring about the moral improvements we seek? Have the nearly eight years of Republican leadership under President Bush brought about the moral renewal we’ve sought? Did the twelve years of Presidents Reagan and G.H.W. Bush (1981-1993) change the moral direction of this country?

Wouldn’t it be so much better for Christians to pray, share our Christian witness, and engage in dialogue and charitable debate with our political opponents, trusting God to change their hearts and minds so that real and lasting change can come to this country? Is it wise for us to continue to use political force to make people do what they are unwilling to do? Grandma used to say, “A fool convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” That’s true! Political force will not produce a change of heart. Honestly, what has all the Christian conservative political activism of the last 30 years (The “Moral Majority”, “Christian Coalition”, “Christian Right”, etc.) actually accomplished for this county? Has our political activism brought about spiritual revival?

So, again I ask, wouldn’t it be much better and more effective for Christians to do those things that, by God’s grace, will bring about heart change, rather than battle with our opponents in the political arena? Perhaps, the “Christian Right” has been going about this the wrong way. Here’s what the apostle Paul said:

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

It seems to me that conservative Christians, over the last 30 years or so, have resorted, more often than not, to fighting the moral battles in this country “according to the flesh”. Maybe that’s why we’re getting nowhere. This country continues on a moral decline. What we need to realize is we’re fighting a spiritual battle. Our enemies are not the Democrats (or Republicans), liberals, homosexuals or “abortionists”. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Why demonize those who are pro-abortion or pro-homosexuality? Scripture states that “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 4:4), therefore, shouting at those with whom we disagree won’t change their minds one iota.

Not only that, but while we attack abortion and homosexuality, we conservative Christians here in the United States tend to ignore evils such as the insidious racism in this country (a lot of which, lately, has been directed at Sen. Obama, in my opinion), the irrational xenophobia directed at illegal immigrants, the inadequate funding of the public schools in some of our poorest communities, and the war we’ve waged against the country of Iraq, even though they didn’t have “weapons of mass destruction” after all (someone, somewhere, lied). Some of us have even participated or rejoiced in these evils. Our hypocrisy does not go unnoticed by the world. We can’t continue to act as if abortion or homosexuality are the only—or most important—issues in this country.

I think there is a much better, more Christian, way of doing politics:

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

McCain or Obama? (Part 3)

What is so difficult about deciding between John McCain or Barack Obama? John McCain claims to be pro-life and Barack Obama has consistently demonstrated his pro-choice position. As a Christian who believes and desires to obey the Bible, the choice should be clear. Right?

Wrong.

If I vote in November as I have voted for the past 20 years, then John McCain will get my vote. True, the national Republican Party has upheld its opposition to abortion and special rights for homosexuals but, I have to ask myself, after 20+ years, exactly what have we gained as a result of Reagan, Bush and Bush?

Roe v Wade (which legalized abortion) is still the law of the land.

Homosexual activists have made increasing gains in securing special rights for their sinful lifestyles.

Our country’s budget deficit has soared to unimaginable levels.

The Black family continues to disintegrate as the number of single-parent households continues to rise (and this is happening among other races, too).

College is less affordable than ever. My great-grandfather, a retired janitor, paid my way through college. With both of us working, my wife and I will not be able to afford to send our son to college in four years.

Our country is engaged indefinitely in a war in Iraq that we got into under false pretenses (i.e., in order to find Weapons of Mass Destruction).

Politics in this country has become more polarized than ever before. With the coming of “Morning in America”, we do not behold “A Kinder, Gentler Nation” or “Compassionate Conservatism”, but increased acrimony and divisiveness.

The evangelical church, apparently, now covets political power more than the Holy Spirit’s power, hence the close association between the Republican Party and the evangelical church.

Maybe our time would be better spent, as Christians, getting our own moral house in order while we pray to God to turn hearts toward Himself. Only God can turn the abortion tide. Only God can thwart the homosexual agenda and, more importantly, change the homosexual.

Some would point to the Supreme Court and the conservative justices that have been nominated by Republican Presidents as a reason why Christians should vote for John McCain. I would tend to agree that the Supreme Court nominees may have been the most important legacy of Republican Presidents (at least since Reagan) but, I also remind myself that the comparatively liberal John Paul Stevens, David Souter and the late Harry Blackmun (who wrote the majority opinion for Roe v Wade which legalized abortion) were also nominated by Republican Presidents. You can never predict how a Supreme Court justice will vote. It just makes more sense to trust in God.

Others would suggest that the only reason I’m still struggling with this issue is because Barack Obama is Black. If he were not Black, I would not have any trouble making up my mind. And, you know what? You’re right. If I were White, for instance, whether or not a Black man ever ascended to the Presidency of the United States would probably never concern me. I’d probably have no concern about Black children having role models other than sports, music and film celebrities. If I were White, abortion would probably be at the very top of my list of social priorities.

But, I’m not White. I am Black, and those issues that affect Black Americans concern me. Because of my racial identification with Obama, I am having trouble making up my mind who to vote for. If that doesn’t make any sense to you, I would kindly suggest that is because you have no idea what it’s like to be a Black man in America. I can’t adequately explain how I feel through a blog. If you want to know what I mean, get to know a Black man. Sit down and talk to him. Listen to what he has to say about his life experiences. Maybe you’ll then understand why I feel such inner conflict over Barack Obama. But, if you would rather criticize me for feeling the way I feel, thinking your race doesn’t influence any of your decisions, let me suggest to you that you are incredibly naive.

I don’t know for whom I will vote in November, if the choice comes down to John McCain or Barack Obama. I do wonder, though, if abortion and homosexual rights should continue to exert the same level of influence over my voting decisions. Perhaps, I should vote for a candidate based on whether or not I feel he or she can 1) help bring our country together, ending all this poisonous political divisiveness that currently exists, 2) disentangle us in the quickest and safest way possible from Iraq, and 3) help bridge the ever-widening gap between the haves and have-nots.

Anthony Carter and Thabiti Anyabwile have recently written their thoughts on this election and Barack Obama. These brothers are certainly more informed than I am, and they make some insightful points. Also, there is an article by John Piper from 1995 which is very relevant to the current situation. I encourage you to read what all three of these godly men have to say. Between now and November, may we all continue to pray and think deeply about these matters.

(Part 1, Part 2)

P.S.: Please read this excellent article that Thabiti Anyabwile wrote as a follow-up to his post on Barack Obama. I highly recommend it. Lance Lewis has also contributed a very helpful article to the discussion.

McCain or Obama? (Part 2)

I like Barack Obama. Here is an intelligent, well-educated Black man who is married to an equally-intelligent and educated Black woman (his only wife), who with his wife is raising two beautiful daughters (Two-parent families are becoming so rare in the Black community that I almost want to vote for him on that count alone!). Obama represents an increasingly rare find in the Black community: a male role model. Many young Black men define success as lots of money and sex, as evidenced by the inordinate amount of money spent in the Black community on fashion and transportation, and the multitude of babies fathered by these young men born to girls they never intend to marry. This abysmal state of affairs in the Black community is partially the result of the glaring lack of positive male role models within the Black community. Barack Obama is a positive Black male role model.

The success of Barack Obama’s candidacy to date seems to represent a major shift in the ongoing saga of race in America. For the first time in the history of the United States, we have a truly viable candidate for President who is Black. The possibility that a Black man could become the President of the United States is a just cause for excitement in the Black community. We’re talking about a country that enslaved Black people a mere 143 years ago—and, let me remind you, that’s not a long time ago. I knew my great-great grandfather, who was the son of former slaves. Slavery is past, but it’s not ancient history. The success of Barack Obama’s candidacy is an event of historic significance.

Yet, my excitement about Barack Obama is tempered by the fact that Obama is pro-choice in his position on abortion. He feels the decision to have an abortion should be between a woman, her doctor and her own conscience. That position sounds admirable but, of course, it leaves out the fact that abortion is the destruction of human life. Abortion is not merely a medical procedure that should be open to choice; it is a moral and ethical travesty that should be outlawed.

My excitement about Barack Obama is also tempered by the fact that Obama is in favor of homosexual civil unions and, apparently, for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). No good can come from the approval and normalization of homosexuality. The word of God is clear: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20). I do not hate homosexuals, nor do I endorse discrimination against them. But neither do I endorse the recognition, approval and normalization of sin which is the goal of the homosexual right movement to which Obama seems to be giving his support. On these two issues—abortion and homosexual rights—I believe Obama is absolutely wrong.

So, my choice should be simple: just vote for McCain. I wish it were that simple.

(To be continued…)

(Part 1)

McCain or Obama? (Part 1)

I’m in a bit of a quandary.

I am unsure of who I will vote for in November, if given a choice between John McCain and Barack Obama. Now, if the choice is between John McCain and Hillary Clinton, I do know who I would vote for: John McCain. Mrs. Clinton has never ranked high with me in terms of likeability. I don’t trust her at all, and I think her election would have the effect of further polarizing our national politics (as if they could be any more polarized than they already are). But if the choice is between John McCain and Barack Obama, I’m unsure of what I would do.

Some background: I have had the privilege of voting in every Presidential election since 1984 and, if the Lord lets me live, I intend to vote in November. In 1984, I voted for the Mondale-Ferraro ticket (What can I say? I was a 21-year-old college student who didn’t know any better.). However, since 1988, I have evaluated Presidential candidates first and foremost based on their positions on abortion and so-called gay rights: if the candidate was for either one, I was against him. Of course, this has meant that, when it came to the Presidential election, I’ve always voted for the Republican candidate.

Despite this fact, I don’t consider myself a dyed-in-the-wool Republican. It’s hard to feel at home with a party that pretty much ignores the plight of Black America. The Republican Party knows it will lose the Black vote, so their attitude seems to be, why bother? On the other hand, I’ve long been disenchanted with the Democrat Party. I have felt for many years that the Democrat Party simply takes Black America for granted. They know that if they throw some money at the Black community and say the right things they’ll get the “Black vote”, even if they never do anything to bring about substantive change and improvement in the Black community.

It’s frustrating. Republicans have no trouble finding billions of dollars to pump into the Iraq war but can’t afford to invest billions of dollars in the inner cities of America to help relieve the plight of the urban poor. Democrats promise much but deliver little that actually helps in the long run to reverse the moral and economic downside in the inner-city Black community, while giving their unequivocal support to abortion and pandering to the demands of the activist homosexual community for full recognition of their immoral lifestyle choices.

It’s enough to make one want to totally withdraw from the political process. Yet, I find that choice unacceptable. At one time, Blacks could not vote at all. I don’t want to ever forget that. That’s why, as a Black American, I feel I have a civic and moral duty to vote whenever I’m given the opportunity.

Which brings me back to this coming November and the possibility of having to choose between John McCain or Barack Obama. For the first time in the history of this country, a Black man has a real chance of becoming the President of the United States. There is a part of me that wants to vote for Barack Obama simply because he is Black, as a matter of racial pride and solidarity, out of a feeling of “it’s about time”, after over 200 years of racial injustice in the “land of the free”.

On the other hand, Obama is pro-choice on the question of abortion. I find that position morally unacceptable. Obama also has the endorsement of many in the homosexual rights movement. Just the thought that, perhaps, a “President Obama” could advance the acceptance of “gay marriage” in this country I find totally repugnant.

So, I should just vote for John McCain, right? Many of my fellow conservative Christians would say, yes. Honestly, however, a vote for John McCain would simply be a vote against Barack Obama, not a vote for McCain, because I’m really not interested in John McCain at all. Personally, I think he is too old. I don’t think anyone needs to run for President who is older than Ronald Reagan was when he won the first time. I’m also not too thrilled about the fact that he has been divorced (as was Reagan).

For at least the past three Presidential elections, I haven’t been particularly excited about the Republican choice; I just didn’t want the Democrat to win. Personally, I’m tired of just voting against someone. I want a candidate I can be for.

(To be continued…)

(Part 3)

Thinking about abortion

Dr. Al Mohler has two articles on the subject of abortion that I would encourage you to read. Especially in light of the recent Supreme Court decision upholding the ban on “partial birth” abortion. Slowly, it appears the thinking of some people is changing. At least, I hope so.

“The Revenge of Moral Consciousness”

“The Supreme Court Rules Again on Abortion”

A few years ago, a student asked me what I thought of abortion. This is the way I answered her question:

My mother was 14 years old when she became pregnant with me—15 when I was delivered by Caesarian section. If abortion were legal when I was born, someone probably would have argued that I should be aborted. Certainly, pregnancy was a disruption to my mother’s life. Tell me, should I have been aborted?

My great-great-great-grandmother, Mollie, was a “Mulatto”—the daughter of a Black slave named Sarah, and Sarah’s White slave master, Mr. Rice. I seriously doubt Sarah became pregnant as a result of a mutual relationship between “consenting adults”. We’re talking about the state of Alabama—“The Heart of the Confederacy”—in the year 1852. More than likely my great-great-great-great-grandmother, Sarah, was raped by Mr. Rice. Should Sarah’s daughter, Mollie—my great-great-great-grandmother—have been aborted? If Mollie had been aborted, I would not exist, either.

I have some cousins, all of whom (I think) are college-educated. They’re fine, respectable people. Some of them are educators. This branch of the Duncan family came about through incest—sexual relations between unmarried first-cousins, way back in 1889. From this union, twin girls were born. Should these twins have been aborted? If there had been an abortion, this particular branch of the family—which has since produced teachers, artists and college professors—would not exist.

For at least three reasons (and, of course, there are more), I am opposed to abortion in all circumstances.

As you can probably guess, that student didn’t have anything else to say.

Abortion and Racism

I have long felt that the practice of abortion within the minority community smacks of racism ("'Those people' are having too many babies! Somebody ought to teach them about birth control and abortion.").

Dr. John Piper picks up on this feeling in a sermon, "When Is Abortion Racism?"

Read and/or listen to it, and feel God's heart of compassion for the inner-city minority communities in America. I thank God for using Dr. Piper to help bring the racial aspect of abortion to the attention of the evangelical church.