Pro-life organizations across Canada and the United States are planning “International Days of Rescue” for January 12, 13, and 14 of this year in an attempt to save the unborn from the horror of abortion. Vitality, a publication of the Coalition for the Protection of Human Life, in its December 1988 issue (p. 8) devotes some space to explaining exactly what this is all about. First, what is a “Rescue”?

Rescue missions are heroic attempts by God-fearing people to save babies and mothers from abortion on a particular day, by peacefully, but physically blockading abortion mills with their bodies, to intervene between abortionists and the innocent victims. Many children across North America are alive today because of these efforts. Rescuers are usually arrested, charged with a minor infraction and released the same day. The charge is most often trespassing, or breach of the peace, although theoretically more serious charges could be laid.

But why resort to this tactic? Is this not disobeying the authorities? This question is answered as follows:

Obedience to God. God commands His people to “Rescue those unjustly sentenced to death…” (Proverbs 24:11) and “Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:4). Children will be saved from death; mothers from exploitation. For the babies slated to die today, tomorrow, and next week, conventional pro-life efforts hold little hope. It is for these children and others that we must act now – those for whom there is no other hope.

Moreover, statistics issued by a well-known pro-abortion organization reveal that if women for any reason miss their first abortion appointment, 20 percent will not reschedule.

Some people question the rightness of Christians disobeying civil authority. However, the Scriptures consistently teach that when man's law and God's law conflict, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29, See also Exodus 6:5-10, Acts 4:15-20, and Proverbs 24:11).

Another important consideration given is that such a “Rescue” action will result in change and a way out of the present abortion dilemma. Victory beckons.

Even a brief examination of recent North American history shows that political change follows social activism. The civil rights movement in the U.S. underscores the basic truth that political change comes after activist citizens bring enough tension in the nation and pressure on the politicians to force change in the law…

Victory will come when enough people rise up with one heart and voice, compelling Canada to restore justice to children and mothers. If thousands will answer the call to battle, peacefully but physically closing down abortion mills across the country, as the upheaval increases, we could provide the necessary clout and momentum to see that Parliament passes a law to protect all unborn children.

Who cannot become upset when considering the terrible evil of abortion? Thousands of unborn children are slaughtered with impunity and the aggravation of no apparent progress in our country towards protecting the unborn can be quite distressing. However, is “Operation Rescue” the way to go? Can this really be justified from the Scriptures? I am convinced that the answer is no. Let me pass on to you some material from Chalcedon Report, 282 (1989) [PO Box 158, Vallecito, CA 95251]. It will make clear why we have to reject this strategy. R.J. Rushdoony, writing under the title “Revolution or Regeneration” notes (p. 14) that there has been a growth of revolutionary ideas in our society and also in Christian circles (e.g., tax revolt and liberation theology).

The excuse is the power of the state. But Jesus Christ and Paul lived under men like Tiberius and Nero; they lived in a time of unjust taxation, abortion, homosexuality, and more. Neither our Lord nor St. Paul counseled a tax revolt. Rather, as against the tax revolts of their day, they counseled tax-paying (Luke 20:19-26; Romans 13:7). Not revolution, but regeneration is the Christian hope for man and society.

In 1986, another revolutionary ploy became the methodology of many churchmen, the demonstrations at abortion clinics designed to violate the laws of picketing and protest and ensure arrest for impeding access. It is questionable whether or not these demonstrations saved the lives of any unborn babies; the women seeking abortions simply went elsewhere. Even more, the demonstrators set a precedent in violating civil laws of various sorts. What is to prevent pro-abortion people from blocking access to churches or even entering them to disrupt services? If we allow lawless protest to one side, we justify it for all.

No Scriptural justification is offered by these demonstrators. The closest thing to a text to justify them is Acts 5:29, the answer of Peter and the other apostle, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” What does this mean, however? There is no civil government anywhere which does not disobey God at some points … Are we then justified in obeying only when we believe God's Word is faithfully observed? Then are those around us or under us entitled to rebel against our authority whenever they feel we fall short of or neglect God's Word? Nothing in Scripture gives warrant to that. David's respect for Saul, despite Saul's sin, gives us another model.

Where freedom of God's Word in the church, its schools, its families and members is denied, then we must obey God, not the state. We do not disobey to save our money nor even our lives but where God's Word and its proclamation is at stake (p. 14).

With respect to the other passages referred to in the article arguing for Operation Rescue, it should be noted that Proverbs 24:11 (“Rescue those unjustly sentenced to death … “) does not say what that article suggests. The context (cf. v. 12) indicates that one has an obligation to come forward with evidence he may have that can clear the accused of the wrong he is being held responsible for before the judge. Thus he will do his duty to save one from being unjustly condemned to die. The reference to Psalm 82:4 (“Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked”) is God speaking to the gods, that is, to the rulers he has set in authority over men to rule on His behalf (cf. Psalm 82:1). It is the task of rulers to uphold justice.

Rushdoony, in his article quoted above, goes on to note that the methodology of such demonstrations as they are now planned is borrowed from non-Christian and revolutionary sources. Such methodology can be effective in the short term, but, “there is no Christian calling to create mobs and to violate laws to achieve a purpose … The power to punish murders is a civil power, not an ecclesiastical nor a personal one” (p. 15). “The use of violence, whether by Christians or non-Christians, is a way of saying that voting, the law courts, or reason mean nothing, or, that faith and the power of God are irrelevant to the problems of our time … Regeneration, not revolution is God's way” (p. 15).

In the same issue of Chalcedon, R.A. Hamack, a judge in the Municipal Court of Seattle, Washington, makes similar observations and in his conclusions notes:

God will deal with the sin through His governments or supernaturally. Only He can give a just recompense for sin. This opinion is not given to impugn the hearts of those involved, nor to denigrate their personal courage and commitment. God knows we all have wept for this holocaust. But no emotional posture can authorize us to violate the civil law by direct rebellion against the civil government, or by the direct commission of crimes against our neighbors for their sin. Our ways are resistance, or non-compliance, prayer, work for change through any legal channel and to speak prophetically through the pulpits of the churches in this land. Anarchy, no matter how small or seemingly noble, cannot be condoned and is not authorized by Scripture. What we have before us is anarchy against our neighbor, our civil government, and against God's Law. The civil government has been given the sword of judgment and the authority by God to punish us for the first two, and has done so in the past. I leave it to God and His infinite and perfect wisdom, mercy and righteousness to deal with those who sin and violate His laws and commandments 1 Corinthians 5:12-13…

Operation Rescue is not a Biblical Christian response; and cannot be analytically or scripturally upheld without doing violence to God's fully specific and established law and commandments, given for the governing of our daily lives, that we might honor and glorify His name.

Right on.