Recently, while driving home on one of the cold and stormy nights so familiar to us Canadians, my mind composed the following story.
I was driving along the wind-swept highway. The rain was so heavy that I could barely see the road. I whispered a prayer of thanks for the Lord’s protection and a warm automobile on such a miserable night. My headlights caught the outline of a car parked on the side of the road. Its emergency flashers broadcast a dim, yet urgent message. Next, I realized that there was the image of an aging man about a quarter of a mile ahead. His slight stoop reminded me that he could easily be someone’s grandfather. “Half an hour in this weather and that poor man could catch pneumonia!” I thought as I hesitantly applied pressure to my brakes. A small voice inside had persuaded me to abandon my rule about picking up hitchhikers.
The Good Samaritan
The biting cold wind drove a torrent of rain into the car when the door opened, yet a warm feeling came over me as I played the Good Samaritan. My passenger settled into his seat and I noticed that the muddy water from his dripping clothes was ruining my light-colored upholstery. “No matter,” I thought to myself, “ Material things can be replaced, but the value of a human life is impossible to measure.”
All my feelings of self-admiration were shattered as I sensed something was strangely familiar about my guest. The shape of the head. The foggy glasses. Icicles on his face suggested the presence of a bushy black beard.
“Thank you for your kindness,” he said. The voice was unmistakable and I blinked in disbelief as I realized that the Guru of the pro-abortion movement in our country (who is, self-admittedly responsible for the death through abortion of countless thousands of babies) was sitting beside me. Henry Morgentaler was in my automobile, at my invitation, graciously accepting my hospitality. As we sat side by side I was faced with a decision. Do I transport this instrument of death, or do I send him back out into the cold rain to face certain illness?
I admit that this story is a little far-fetched. But, who could deny the possibility, no matter how slim, of it happening one day to me or even you.
As a born-again Christian, I despise what Henry Morgentaler and the other abortionists stand for. We know that, except for the Lord’s merciful forgiveness, these people will one day be judged by God as murderers. A day does not go by that I do not think of the babies. I think also of the many women made to endure lives of guilt and torment as a direct result of the abortionist’s suction machine. If I were driving the car on that cold and stormy night, I am sure that my first thought would be of violently pushing him out on the wet pavement. I pray that I would take the time to consider what Jesus would do.
Jesus was much criticized for the company he kept. If there was a wedding feast or gathering, His followers knew Jesus could be found in the middle of the crowd. He would heal and forgive without any notice of past transgressions. Jesus will never deny one of His children. His mercy is freely given to the adulterer, the thief, the murderer. When man builds a barrier between himself and his fellow man, he only succeeds to separate himself from God.
When Jesus told us to “Love one another as I have loved you” he taught us a valuable lesson. I can love the man but detest the man’s deeds. Many people share my difficulty in understanding.
Even though we disapprove of the abortionists profession, we can – and should – love them as one made in the image of our God. This against our human nature, but it is God’s nature. God’s love is not just in reserve for those who turn to Him. His love penetrates our sinful nature and is extended even to those who turn from him.
Through our Christian work we strive to be like Jesus. God teaches us to turn to the abortionist and his followers and say “I abhor what you do, but I love you as a child of God.”
Comfort victimized women
As we stand in the picket line, as we speak up for the unborn, let us remember what Jesus would do in our shoes. If He were physically present with us today. I believe Jesus would be participating in peaceful, nonviolent resistance to the abortionists. I also believe that He would shun the Phil Donahues and the Barbara Frums. I strongly suspect that before He would be found appearing even on our religious programs, He would be seen comforting women who had been victimized by the abortion machinery at hospitals and abortuaries. On earth He sought to heal, comfort and forgive rather than seek publicity.
If Jesus were driving the automobile on that stormy night, I know that he would turn to His passenger and ask, “Where to, my son?” After Jesus had delivered Henry safely to his warm, dry home, Henry would be left wondering if the Son of God, His Messiah, had realized who His passenger that night had been.
One thing would be certain though. Henry Morgentaler would have no doubt in his mind that his host on that cold and miserable night was one that loved him in spite of anything that Henry may have done to women and children. I pray that Henry would have that same certainty if I was the driver of that automobile.
Doug Moore is President of Christian Action Council, Toronto
