By Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison
“It is the deadly hatred with which Satan attacks Christ. It is the thirst for a vengeance against Christ, which Satan cannot satisfy. It is the anxiety before Christ the judge. It is the rage of the fatally wounded beast.” — Rev. Hermann Sasse’s sermon on the Fourth Sunday after Trinity, 1942
Tuesday morning, the Center for Medical Progress released another video exposing Planned Parenthood and the evil and immense pain that occur inside its clinics. The video is graphic. Little arms and legs are ripped from tiny bodies. They are callously referred to as “specimens,” sold at a price.
Jesus warned us about this. He reminded us that the devil would be hard at work, seeking to devour hearts and minds. He told us the world would try to silence His Word of life, and that His truth would be shunned. Satan will stop at nothing to rage at Christ, even if it means murdering the tiniest of people and selling their bodies for profit.
But God is not silent. He has a word for us, too. He comforts us in the knowledge that the devil’s attempts are desperate and futile, for Jesus came to save people, regardless of their size. He reminds us that He has “overcome the world” (John 16:33) and “came that [we] may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). His point? Satan is fighting a losing battle, and he knows it.
So also, we pray, is Planned Parenthood. Its leadership can make excuses and attempt to justify its actions, complain that the videos are edited or that the Center for Medical Progress isn’t a legitimate organization. The chatter doesn’t matter. In Christ, the tide has already turned. God is not silent. He will not allow Satan to prevail.
Even now, He is causing young people to rise up, no longer content to let this genocide continue. His Church is standing up, too, as congregations and individuals show mercy to those who suffer the emotional pain of an abortion and come alongside moms and babies in financial and spiritual need. LCMS Life Ministry carries on its joyful work as well, supporting crisis pregnancy centers, providing educational life materials, teaching youth about chastity and working closely with our friends at Lutherans For Life and the National Pro-Life Religious Council.
Satan will roar for a time, but his evil, murderous ways won’t last. Sasse reminds us, “Before the power of Jesus the unbridled power of Satan has to stop,” for Jesus “takes the dominion of the world away from Satan.
“Satan cannot overpower us,” Sasse continues. “He cannot stand before this Lord Jesus. That’s why he rages.” Be comforted. Pray boldly. Speak bravely. Defend life. Act courageously. Let your frustration and disgust be turned to prayer and action on behalf of our littlest neighbors, for Satan cannot win, and God is not silent.
The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison is president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Reporter Online: Harrison responds to Planned Parenthood videos
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AMEN and AMEN
WONDERFUL response!! God’s Word will reign supreme and rule!!
Amen! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thank You for a powerful message. So thankful that I am a member of such a good Christian Church that has Christ at its center. Also Thankful for a leader that also has Christ at his center.
Yes!
Amen and thank you Pastor
I am so glad to finally be witnessing our Christian community coming forward and speaking out boldly for our Lord and Savior. Amen! Focus on the family does an excellent job of speaking out, but where are our other Christian leaders? Thank you Pastor for your much needed words in this turbulent time.
Thank you Pastor! Great message
It is good to read words and thoughts of Pastor Harrison regarding this issue how I support and encourage by Pastor words that young people are rising up to end this genocide on human beings.
Planned Parenthood is not selling bodies for profit Reverend Harrison. You state this misunderstanding not once, but twice. I understand your dismay and frustration over taking of a life and your strong stand against Satan and abortion, but you also have a responsibility to check the facts and speak honestly. Doing so will not detract for a moment from the credibility and power of your message. Thank you.
In reaction to Bernie Schaeffer’s comment above: Taking any kind of money, regardless how much, in exchange for butchered babies’ body parts is blood money and “for profit” and cannot be condoned or defended.
A certain sports car comes to mind, and I immediately think, one would need quite a bit of profit over an above merely “covering costs” to acquire it…
In my opinion you’re haggling over semantics. I could accuse you of the exact same thing you’ve accused Rev Harrison of – I could insist that PP does not sell bodies like you said in your comment above and that you should get your facts straight, but I won’t because I would just be playing with semantics. Bodies… body parts… all the same macabre, evil thing for 30 pieces of silver…
I agree whole heartedly with the Pastor, also! I pray that at least as many people as at the Cecil the lion protest would be allowed to protest at Planned Parenthood clinics! Killing of ONE lion vs. killing of millions of PEOPLE . . . just doesn’t make sense to me! Shouldn’t the outrage of the latter be heard thousands upon thousands of times LOUDER? Thank you Pastor for reminding me (and THE CHURCH – GOD’S PEOPLE) that GOD will have the last word! Thank you so much!
Supplying body parts to a for profit company in return for donations is splitting definitions of “for profit “
Thank you…for putting your words together in a way that makes sense of such horrific abuse of tiny lives. I am a defender of tiny lives…and will continue to make my feelings known to anyone who can hear me…that abortion has always been an abomination. Your guidance is so very much appreciated. I needed to read your words…this very evening!
Unloved and unwanted children…it is the saddest situation.
Thank you, Pastor.
Amen!
Thank you for the powerful reminder, encouragement, and comfort from His abiding Word.
Thanks for the reminder. I wish our LCMS ministers would all preach similar, heart-spoken sermons on the day’s major topics. Even as Christians, it’s still easy to get lost in daily struggles and trends. Messages like this encourage us to keep on keepin’ on. We need to be drawn in and called to action, and be reminded to speak up for ourselves, i.e. Christ.
An article that has left me with peace and hope!
“And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph song, And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong. Alleluia! Alleluia!” Lutheran Service Book, 677
Our pews are not full, our message only partially heard. God is Faithful and just, there is forgiveness yes but also a living active God. We must speak to all who will hear us, a life filled with the Word is a life of hope, certainty, peace and love.
We cannot be silent, those who cannot speak for themselves must be heard.
Satan too is alive these are his barbaric followers full of dead men’s bones.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Same sex relationships, murderer of babies in or coming out of the womb; how is this any different than what the ancients did at the alters of Baal? How did that work out for them???
John, you are so right! Or when Hitler did this in Germany, it was called genocide. Now it’s called Pro Choice. Why does society condemn one and yet condone the other?
God help us all, but all these behaviors and actions (and more ) can be found in the greatest book ever written (BIBLE).
Scripture speaks; Genesis. 6:5-7 actions and behaviors do not go unseen. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 actions and behaviors have consequences. 2Timothy 4:1-4 preach boldly and not with the tepid, watered down language of a corrupt sinful culture.
If you do not preach boldly and hold firm to the precepts of God, we (America) will continue falling further and further away. Stand strong on God’s word and not on the weakness of men, who would rather be politically correct than be bold and fully honest with us sinners.
1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 4: 3-4
May God Bless you and protect you as you shine light into darkness
Thank you Pastor Harrison for taking a strong/bold stand for God’s truth and speaking the truth in love, mercy and His grace.
We can not judge/condemn the world, that is God’s job. But, as Christians we can learn and teach what is right and wrong.
Anyone who lives on milk is still an infant is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:13-14 NIV
We need God’s armor to get ready for the evil day. Satan causes hate, murder, strive, bittness slander, gossip, sexual immorality etc… And sadly, even we as Christians fall into his trap.
Right now they are debating the price $ of women’s “eggs” before they are implanted into someone’s uterus. And yet, a tiny unborn child can be ripped apart and our tax dollars pay for this terrorist act.
The Christian faith isn’t about trying to live a perfect life (that’s why so many people give up), it’s about being forgiven in the blood of Christ!
And now we live our lives in His free gift of faith, honoring our LORD who first loved us, as His Word protects us against our enemy/Satan.
Yes, come LORD JESUS!
Marie
Thank you for your profound thoughts Marie. Just to clarify, no federal tax dollars for Planned Parenthood, by law, are dedicated to abortions.
Bernie,
As I mentioned in a different post, it seems to me you are associating yourself with the wrong set of Lutherans. If you are seeking a group of Lutherans who is fine with abortion, you should join an ELCA affiliated congregation.
Your other point is deceiving. Planned Parenthood receives more than 500 million dollars from our federal taxes. Technically, these dollars might not be used to fund abortions through some accounting trickery but it doesn’t take a genius to conclude that Planned Parenthood as an organization that practices abortions could not operate at the scale it does without that money. So at the very minimum those 500 million dollars allow Planned Parenthood to have a nationwide presence where it can offer abortion services even if through accounting those abortions are funded with non tax monies. Realistically, those dollars permit Planned Parenthood to fund its administrative overhead with our tax money, so we are in fact funding the very capability of Planned Parenthood to perform abortions.
In short, I have found your comments in all the threads treating the Planned Parenthood controversy not only unworthy of a God fearing Christian but also deceiving. To your mantra “the Bible doesn’t mention abortion” now we have the mantra “the federal government doesn’t fund the abortions performed by Planned Parenthood”. It is sophistry 101.
I for one would not like to be associated with an LCMS congregation if the LCMS at some point backed away from being staunchly pro life.
If not, they free other dollars for abortion.
Bernie, you are incorrect about our tax dollars. Abby Johnson, a former PP director, confirms that all PP monies go into one pot. They do not have separate accounts for separate services. Because of this, our tax dollars do go to pay for abortions.
Thank you for your words about the actions of Planned Parenthood; some try to make excuses for them. It is time for Christians to stand up and be counted.To be ready to witness to the hope that is in us…to be an advocate for those who continue to be “the silent scream” that has no voice in our society today. God is not silent; He speaks loud and clear through His Word!
Thank you President Harrison for once again setting such an excellent example of how we Christians should be speaking out against the ever increasing evil in our society! It is well past time Christians stop watching this evil from the sidelines and start speaking out! Christ told us we are being sent out as sheep among wolves. Indeed! May god Bless You and keep you and the LCMS strong! We are so blessed to be a part of this Church! We have much work to do!
God is definitely not silent Pastor Harrison. You must recall that Jesus sent out his disciples to spread the Gospel. It was a team effort. That is how God works. It is the same with reducing abortions. It is a team effort. Churches and families provide good moral teachings and positive choices. Organizations like Planned Parenthood offer counseling, health services, and family planning including information on how to prevent unwanted pregnancies. What has been the result of God’s work among us? Abortions are declining in this country and praise God for that. And one reason is because it’s a team effort. No, God is not silent. You are definitely right about that Pastor Harrison but consider this: you may have been too blind to see!