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There are some people who believe that it is
morally righteous, in respect of God, to kill
an abortion doctor. Their reasoning is that the
murder of unborn babies has been prevented; therefore,
the "end justifies the means."
Unfortunately, this reasoning is frequently used
concerning religion and morality. But the fact
is that the "end" never justifies or authorizes
anything!
This lesson is readily evident in the life of
King Saul. In 1 Samuel 13, Saul became nervous
because the Philistines had gathered a large army
against Israel; and Samuel had not shown up to
offer the sacrifice. So, Saul ordered a sacrifice
to be brought to him and he offered it before
the Lord. Immediately afterwards, Samuel appeared
and inquire of Saul as to what he had done. Saul
said: "When I saw that the people were scattered
from me, and that you did not come within the
days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered
together at Michmash, then I said, 'The Philistines
will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have
not made supplication to the Lord.' Therefore
I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering"
(1 Sam. 13:11-12).
Notice Saul's justification:
- the people were scattered because of fear
- Saul did it for the people.
- it looked like Samuel was not coming at the
appointed time - it was Samuel's fault.
- the Philistines had gather together for battle
- it was the Philistines' fault.
- Samuel felt compelled - it was his "feelings"
fault.
- the "end justified the means" - the situation
demanded my action.
Samuel, in response to Saul's justification says:
"You have done foolishly. You have not kept the
commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded
you" (1 Sam. 13:13).
The second lesson we learn from Samuel is that
"two wrongs do not make a right." It was wrong
for the Philistines to attack God's people; and
it was wrong for Saul to offer the sacrifice;
but the Philistines' wrong did not make Saul's
sin righteous - two negatives do not make a positive.
We cannot moralize something by the sin of another
person. We must obey the Lord apart from the actions
of other people.
And so this principle is applicable concerning
the murder of abortion doctors. It is a sin for
a doctor to murder the unborn. But the doctor's
sin does not authorize or justify anyone else
to murder the murderer. Nor can we justify murdering
a doctor simply because our opinion is that the
"end justifies the means." We must obey God!
Now it may be easy to apply these principles
to a wild-crazed-fanatic that goes out and kills
an abortion doctor. But let us examine our life
and "religion" to be sure that we are not rationalizing
lawlessness by opinions and feelings. Saul was
punished for dismissing the commandments of the
Lord. And for us, "we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive
the things done in the body, according to what
he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Cor. 5:10).
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