Are pro-life advocates complicit in the murder of George Tiller? Ellen Goodman wants you to believe so. Her column in the Billings Gazette insinuates that though the suspected killer physically acted alone, his actions are the result of a pro-life community that, instead of adamantly (or sincerely) denouncing those with extreme anti-abortion passions, inflames those passions by “casually refer[ring] to abortion as murder”, calling Obama the “most pro-abortion president ever” , “ratchet[ing] up the rhetoric on a Supreme Court nominee”, or “cull[ing] doctors from their honored profession by labeling them ‘abortionists’.

Would Goodman prefer to call abortion a blessing as was done by Katherine Ragsdale, an Episcopal priest, in a 2007 sermon? Would she prefer to call Obama’s abortion viewpoint one of moderation, when as an Illinois state senator, he voted against a bill that would require medical treatment be administered to a baby born alive after a botched abortion rather than allowing him to die from neglect? Would she prefer Senators talk about the weather with Supreme Court nominees rather than ask questions to ascertain their position on abortion given the extreme gravity of a lifetime appointment to a governmental body that will profoundly affect the lives of us all for decades to come? Would she prefer calling abortionists saviors?

While Tiller’s murder is reprehensible and wrong, I make no apology for my pro-life stance. I have done nothing wrong unless speaking the truth is a crime. Rather, an apology is due to the forty-nine million babies judged unworthy of life by being murdered in their mother’s wombs since 1973. These babies were nothing less than human sacrifices offered on the altar of “Choice”. And one of the largest altars was located at an abortion sanctuary in Wichita, Kansas with George Tiller as the presiding high priest. He willfully took the lives of 60,000 innocent human beings as he bowed in worship before his god – Satan. In return for his worship he reaped material wealth and the adoration of feminists, irresponsible men, and Christians who have taken the Lord’s name in vain.

This adoration was on full display at his funeral. Roxana Hegeman, an Associated Press writer, reported that hundreds of people honored Tiller. Among them was Larry Borcherding, a longtime friend of Tiller’s. He said, “Dear God, get heaven ready, because Mr. Enthusiasm is coming. Heaven will never be the same. It will be a better, better place with George in it.” The ignorance of such a statement as well as the satanic deception behind it is breathtaking! The only connection between heaven and Tiller is 60,000 innocent souls he is responsible for sending there. His place of residence is not with them.

But where does such thinking come from? Tiller was a longtime member of the Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kansas. He was serving as an usher for Sunday morning services when he was killed which implies a closer relationship between them than someone who merely warms a pew. Therefore, a closer look at this church is warranted.

This church belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) which has taken increasingly liberal theological positions over the last several years. This has lead to the ordination of women and a sympathetic viewpoint toward the homosexual lifestyle. A careful reading of their statement on abortion reveals a strong feminist influence. It gives the appearance of being pro-life, but the wording is vague enough (or even contradictory enough) to allow someone like George Tiller to be a member in good standing. It is the ECLA’s willingness to compromise the truth as set forth in the Bible that allows such an unholy alliance to exist. The ECLA and The Episcopal Church to which Katherine Ragsdale (see above) is a priest should memorize 2 Corinthians 6:14-16: ”Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols” (NASU)

Certainly a church wants to reach out to unbelievers (for once we were all unbelievers) and sinners (for we are all sinners saved by grace), but the purpose of such outreach is to transform them into children of God, not to have them transform the Church into children of the devil.

We do the drug addict no favor by overlooking or condoning his drug use; we do the sex addict no favor by overlooking or condoning his lustful habits; we do the wife-beater no favor by overlooking or condoning his violent behavior; we do the adulterer no favor by overlooking or condoning his sin. Nor did this church do Tiller any favor by overlooking, if not outright condoning, his murderous actions. In fact, I believe God will hold this church accountable for Tiller’s soul. Instead of having the courage to speak the truth to him, it turned a blind eye to his sin. This is the act of a coward.

Ezekiel was set as a watchman over Israel. It was a position of great responsibility. The Lord warned him, "So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul” (Ezekiel 33:7-9 ESV). Ezekiel fulfilled his calling and was mocked and ridiculed for obeying the Lord. It would have been so much easier for him to proclaim with the false prophets: “Peace, peace” (Jeremiah 8:11), but he knew the peace the false prophets proclaimed (similar to Bourcherding saying Tiller was in Heaven) was a lie. Israel may have been at peace with God, but God was not at peace with Israel.

Similarly, the Church has been set as a watchman over the souls of men (Hebrews 13:17) and the consequences of failing to fulfill that calling will ensure the spiritually dead will die in their sins. Certainly Tiller is personally responsible for the murder of 60,000 innocent human beings, and he will be judged by the Lord accordingly, but his church is also stained with their blood for it lacked the courage to tell him the truth. Whatever Tiller’s punishment might encompass, I would not want to be the leaders of this church when they stand before the Lord. One thing I know. They will not hear the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21 ESV). Rather, it is these words from the lips of Jesus that will likely be ringing in their ears: “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23 ESV).

A lone gunman is responsible for the physical death of George Tiller. An apostate church is responsible for his spiritual death. Which is worse?