Protesting

[Josh]

If abortion is sinful,
- wouldn't the first point be to opt out of it, to not take part in it - and to not be forced to take part in it.
Thus, opting out of insurance schemes, by which your money is used for abortions (if we have a movement against war taxes, we ought likewise to have a movement against abortion fees).

I have never thought of this. One weakness of protest is the failure to extricate from the system being critiqued. This would have double effect, both the moral authority of one free from the system and possible economic consequences if enough people participate.

The Mennonites I know in Canada don't partake in the "free" health care here(Canadian healthcare funds abortions through tax money) The Mennonites, again in Canada I know, pay hospital bills out of pocket and support one another through brotherly love. Is this not how it is in other countries?

More conservative / plain groups do. Groups drifting to the world generally don’t.

[Sudsy]

The Bible tells us to make disciples. If we don't do that, many people will never grasp what's wrong with fornication.

I know that there was no intention to imply otherwise, but repentance is essential before the process of making disciples can begin. (At least Peter, in his 'sermon' recorded in the beginning of the book of the Acts, makes a clear and rather confrontational call for repentance. He, as the one who was known to stick his foot in his mouth at regular intervals, minced no words.)

I think you are talking about this verse?

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I see repentance as closely related to turning to Jesus. If I am facing South and I turn to face North, did I turn away from the South or toward the North? Both. But until people see Jesus and turn to Jesus, I think it's hard for them to see a compelling alternative to what they are living now.

I think we need every verb in that verse. We need to repent, we need to be baptized, we need the forgiveness of sins, and we need to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

That is an interesting verse. To a United Pentecostal (not Trinitarians) this verse means repent (turn away from sinning) , be baptised by immersion 'in the name of Jesus Christ' literally (as that was the name being referred to in the Great Commission and how Peter understood it), and in so doing your sins will be forgiven and what will follow will be receiving the Holy Spirit which will be evident as it was on the day of Pentecost by the speaking in other tongues. This was their main verse to support their doctrine which was quite a challenge when I first married the daughter of a UPC pastor. Just thought I would throw this in since this verse was referred to.

Anyway, my view of protesting is that when we lead others to the Saviour and He, through the Holy Spirit, begins changing their lives as they are then spiritually made alive, the lives they then begin to lead and learn to live is not so much a protest (as a sinner is going to do what is natural to his fallen nature) but a demonstration of what life is like being a citizen of the Kingdom. Our mission is not to make sinners better sinners through protests about their sinning but to lead them to a radical change of life that only God can give.

[temporal1]

Who needs federal funds?
As well, there are exceptions that allow for-profit corporate abortionists to thrive on tax dollars.
Corporations want gov-guaranteed profits. They care-not which taxing line-item is used.
Profits with legal protections.

The Public Treasury: “The goose that lays golden eggs.”

Illinois Medicaid provides coverage for abortion services, with no out of pocket expense for patients.

Family Planning Associates can also provide free abortion care for patients who are eligible for Illinois Medicaid and apply for coverage.

https://www.fpachicago.com/information- ... residents/

[Wade]

The Bible says to teach against fornication, which would do quite a bit to reduce abortions. It doesn’t say in the Bible to make life easier for fornicator - rather it tells us to teach them to repent.

Very true and I agree. But I think there is a time and place.
One atheist I've known for five years wouldn't ever talk to me about God. But as I showed interest in him and that I cared about him he started confiding things he doesn't tell other people, like his suicidal thoughts and attempts, his drug addiction problems, how he asked his common law wife to marry him a couple times but she keeps saying no (they have two children together).
He said what keeps him coming back is he feels no judgement when he shares and that I don't cringe at him personally.
A couple months ago in front of other people he started boasting he was a druggy fornicator... I called him out to repent in front of a bunch of his friends and he left saying, "YOU, know I've asked her!"
Yesterday he asked me which book I would recommend him start with as he begins reading the Bible.
People won't listen to what you say unless they know you really care, that takes a lot more than protesting, and it's a lot harder.

One of the other men standing at this conversation also mocking about sin was a friend I had before I became a believer( probably known him for over 15 years - he would often tell me he has no soul!) He convinced me to read the bible for the first time strangely enough years back - he knows everything about conspiracy theories and loves Revelation.
Today I walked into his office and he gave me a long confession about believing on Christ, burning all his occult things, praying everyday, being a citizen of heaven, he moved some paperwork to expose his open bible at his desk, he talked about loving his neighbour, and etc.
He was saying amen and hallelujah.
I was absolutely astounded.
Here's a person that encouraged protesting and defying the government and today he's telling me he has been a new man and has been born again for a month now and loves God.

God works miracles!!!

[Wade]

The Bible says to teach against fornication, which would do quite a bit to reduce abortions. It doesn’t say in the Bible to make life easier for fornicator - rather it tells us to teach them to repent.

Very true and I agree. But I think there is a time and place.
One atheist I've known for five years wouldn't ever talk to me about God. But as I showed interest in him and that I cared about him he started confiding things he doesn't tell other people, like his suicidal thoughts and attempts, his drug addiction problems, how he asked his common law wife to marry him a couple times but she keeps saying no (they have two children together).
He said what keeps him coming back is he feels no judgement when he shares and that I don't cringe at him personally.
A couple months ago in front of other people he started boasting he was a druggy fornicator... I called him out to repent in front of a bunch of his friends and he left saying, "YOU, know I've asked her!"
Yesterday he asked me which book I would recommend him start with as he begins reading the Bible.
People won't listen to what you say unless they know you really care, that takes a lot more than protesting, and it's a lot harder.

One of the other men standing at this conversation also mocking about sin was a friend I had before I became a believer( probably known him for over 15 years - he would often tell me he has no soul!) He convinced me to read the bible for the first time strangely enough years back - he knows everything about conspiracy theories and loves Revelation.
Today I walked into his office and he gave me a long confession about believing on Christ, burning all his occult things, praying everyday, being a citizen of heaven, he moved some paperwork to expose his open bible at his desk, he talked about loving his neighbour, and etc.
He was saying amen and hallelujah.
I was absolutely astounded.
Here's a person that encouraged protesting and defying the government and today he's telling me he has been a new man and has been born again for a month now and loves God.

God works miracles!!!

Okay, this is getting crazy.
Now this first man came almost running to me today and hugged me. Professing he too is now walking with God!
I've seen a few people come to the Lord but not back to back days with such open profession.
God is amazing!

[Ambassador]

Very true and I agree. But I think there is a time and place.
One atheist I've known for five years wouldn't ever talk to me about God. But as I showed interest in him and that I cared about him he started confiding things he doesn't tell other people, like his suicidal thoughts and attempts, his drug addiction problems, how he asked his common law wife to marry him a couple times but she keeps saying no (they have two children together).
He said what keeps him coming back is he feels no judgement when he shares and that I don't cringe at him personally.
A couple months ago in front of other people he started boasting he was a druggy fornicator... I called him out to repent in front of a bunch of his friends and he left saying, "YOU, know I've asked her!"
Yesterday he asked me which book I would recommend him start with as he begins reading the Bible.
People won't listen to what you say unless they know you really care, that takes a lot more than protesting, and it's a lot harder.

One of the other men standing at this conversation also mocking about sin was a friend I had before I became a believer( probably known him for over 15 years - he would often tell me he has no soul!) He convinced me to read the bible for the first time strangely enough years back - he knows everything about conspiracy theories and loves Revelation.
Today I walked into his office and he gave me a long confession about believing on Christ, burning all his occult things, praying everyday, being a citizen of heaven, he moved some paperwork to expose his open bible at his desk, he talked about loving his neighbour, and etc.
He was saying amen and hallelujah.
I was absolutely astounded.
Here's a person that encouraged protesting and defying the government and today he's telling me he has been a new man and has been born again for a month now and loves God.

God works miracles!!!

Okay, this is getting crazy.
Now this first man came almost running to me today and hugged me. Professing he too is now walking with God!
I've seen a few people come to the Lord but not back to back days with such open profession.
God is amazing!

Praise God!!