The following is an actual letter sent to pastors that had similar objections that the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has stated to break their agreement with OR/OSA. After reading my response to their “concerns,” however, some of the pastors repented and joined the battle in their city. If any of you have connections at the seminary or the Southern Baptist Convention, you may want to send this to them. Generally, I’m sending this out as an apologetic to refute the arguments of those who oppose Christian interposition to end the American holocaust and to defend the godly language and actions of those who seek to love their neighbor as themselves.

If you find any merit, please pass it on in your sphere of influence. Thanks!

The Lord richly bless you! I appreciate you took the time to put pen to paper to express your concerns about our national event. Most Operation Rescue National/Operation Save America leaders are active pastors currently serving congregations or former pastors who are now serving full time to end the American holocaust.

We are churchmen like you. We are not pro-life activists. We are ministers of the Gospel of the Kingdom. We are attempting to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ in our day. By God’s empowerment, we go to the exposed areas where the battle is raging for the soul of our nation. We go to pray, praise, proclaim the Gospel, and interpose on the behalf of God’s helpless children.

We are not bitter pro-lifers. We do not belittle the church, even though we are often abandoned by her in this crucial struggle. We know that God does not have plan B. He only has plan A, the church of the living God. Rev. Flip Benham, former national director of OR/OSA has stated for years, “Abortion will come to an end, when the church makes up her mind it is going to end, and not one second sooner.” The gates of hell cannot prevail against God’s obedient church!

I want you to know upfront, I do not treat your concerns lightly. As a result, I will do my best to fulfill 1 Peter 3:15, which states, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”

St. Augustine counseled, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” This is a good rule of thumb as we communicate any differences we may have concerning the grave evil savaging our nation. You can rest assured these guidelines will prayerfully direct my response to your concerns.

Before I begin to address the specifics, may I make one suggestion? Would you pick up a copy of the Letter from the Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. and study its contents? Though the time and specific national evil is different, I believe Rev. King gives an outstanding apologetic. He defends well his “tactics” and message in the cause of justice. He was compelled to address the “concerns” of his generation. It has helped our ministry to not grow weary, as we seek to end the injustice of our day.

Patrick Henry, in his powerful “Give me liberty or give me death” speech, starts with these poignant remarks:

No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony… Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

First, if you are brothers in Christ, redeemed by His blood, filled with His Spirit, and governed by His word, then you are indeed “worthy gentlemen” that I consider brethren in the body of Christ. Second, men of God may see the same subject in different lights. Third, just as in Mr. Henry’s case, there are times when we must express opinions that are contrary to others. Otherwise, God forbid, the nation is further harmed and we offend the majesty of heaven, which we should all “revere above all earthly kings.”

The Bible determines the nature of the battle and should determine our strategy to fight it to lead justice to victory. OR/OSA does not perceive the American holocaust as primarily an educational, political, economic, or social issue. Those realms are certainly impacted by abortion, but they are more fruit than the root of our woe. We believe at its core, child sacrifice and the shedding of innocent blood is a Gospel/Kingdom issue. Thus, we have as our statement of faith, the following:

Operation Save America unashamedly takes up the cause of preborn children in the name of Jesus Christ. We employ only biblical principles. The Bible is our foundation; the Cross of Christ is our strategy; the repentance of the Church of Jesus Christ is our ultimate goal. As the Church changes its heart toward preborn children, God Himself will hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and bring healing to our land. We believe that Jesus Christ is the only answer to the abortion holocaust. It is upon our active repentance in the streets of our cities that the Gospel is visibly lived out. We become to the church, to our city, and to our nation living parables which rightly represent God’s heart toward His helpless children.

Though certainly not perfect, this vision statement has guided our language and actions for close to three decades. The three people arguably most responsible for unleashing abortion upon our nation repented and came to Christ through our ministry. Norma McCorvey, the Jane Roe of Roe vs. Wade; Dr Bernard Nathanson, founder of NARAL and inventor of the pro-choice slogan; and Sandra Cano, Mary Doe of Doe vs. Bolton, which is the companion case of Roe v. Wade that made abortion on demand possible through the ninth month of pregnancy, all were directly impacted by OR/OSA.

Jesus said we would know something or someone by their fruits (Matthew 7:20). Since OR/OSA began, hundreds of death camps have been shut down, thousands of lives have been spared the horrors of abortion, and hundreds of souls have come to the saving grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. There was not just “a turning of a few minds” as your letter suggests. It was these very “tactics” that you are “uncomfortable” with that wrought these tremendous victories. This is not to boast in ourselves, but to boast in the Lord.

In your letter, you articulated three primary concerns. These concerns were the use of graphic pictures that depict the victims of abortion, incendiary language, and aggressive tactics. I will attempt, by God’s grace, to give a defense for some things, while agreeing with you on other matters.

I suspect your major concern is the use of graphic pictures to expose the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11). Let me assure you that nobody “enjoys” displaying these dreadful signs, which reveal the horrible truth of our national sin. But they are necessary for several reasons.

In this battle to spare lives and save souls, we are modeling the use of contrast that is discovered in the wisdom of Proverbs. By making use of pictures that contrast life and death, we reveal the difference between wisdom and foolishness, righteousness and wickedness, good and evil, etc.

The live baby and aborted baby pictures are the visual aids we use to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The wages of sin is death (the picture of Malachi). The gift of God is eternal life (the picture of a live baby). This is what a nation looks like that honors God’s commandment (live baby, which exudes light, love, and life). This is what a nation looks like that violates God’s commandments (Malachi, which depicts darkness, death, and despair).

Second, the historical use of graphic pictures helped end previous evils. Pictures of mistreated slaves were used to stir the conscience of our nation during slavery. At the close of World War II, American troops marched German citizens through death camps so they could SEE the horrors of the holocaust they tolerated under their watch. More recently, it was the gruesome pictures sent by reporters embedded in Vietnam that changed our nation’s perspective on the conflict.

Today, graphic pictures are used to warn youth about the dangers of drugs, drinking or texting while driving, and tobacco. Pictures of kids strung out on dope, mangled cars with crash victims, emaciated cancer patients, victims of domestic violence and animal cruelty are all used to awaken us to the reality of suffering. There are ministries who feed the poor who show pictures of starving children to convict us of their plight and move us to act on their behalf.

Do you have the same concern about the use of those graphic pictures? I would guess not. You know they reveal valuable lessons that save lives and prevent future evils. Why then the objection to the use of Malachi? This baby, though dead, still speaks and he has volumes to teach our nation. It is the same principle at work. We are exposing the plight of the victim to prick consciences. We do this in the hope people will be moved to rescue those unjustly sentenced to death, love their neighbor as themselves, and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. We know this has touched many hearts and changed many minds.

Third, prophetically, God commands that “we expose the unfruitful works of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11). In the days of Israel’s idolatry, God instructed Ezekiel, “Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Yes, show her all her abominations” (Ezekiel 22:2)! Deuteronomy 30:19 concurs, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”

We use pictures to remind America of these eternal truths. The problem is our nation is choosing death to solve our economic and moral problems. We are in a major state of delusion if we still expect God’s blessings. It is clear from Scripture that we cannot choose death and receive blessings. We must choose life. OR/OSA is thoroughly convinced our nation will never treasure the good news of Christ, until we fully comprehend the bad news of our sins, atrocities, and abominations. God help us to end this travesty in Jesus’ name!

The second concern was incendiary language. It was mentioned that you found such language in our written materials. Could you cite what you consider incendiary in our communications? I could then perhaps know how better to respond.

In principle, however, we are in agreement. Every participant in OSA must sign a non-violent pledge. We have leaders set up to ensure that neither our conduct nor our language dishonors the Lord or appears violent in nature. Does that mean we are perfect in the heat of battle? The answer is no, but it remains the standard that governs our language and actions.

We do not believe in being controversial for the sake of controversy. We do not seek notoriety for the sake of notoriety. If the world hates us, speaks evil of us because we love God and our neighbor as ourselves, so be it. Jesus said that the world’s denouncement comes with a blessing. Matthew 5:11, 12 assure us, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

On the other hand, if the world hates us because we are Christian jerks that misrepresent God and His Word, then we get what is coming to us. I have learned in this life, suffering is reality none of us escapes. We suffer for two primary reasons. We suffer as a consequence of our sin and we suffer for doing what is right. It is called redemptive suffering when we trust God and do good in the days of evil, tyranny, and injustice. In such cases, the Apostle Peter reminds us, “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1 Peter 4:14).

Your final concern was aggressive tactics. Unless you can point out sinful behavior that violates God’s Word, we must regulate this last issue to a disputable matter. In other words, if our tactics are sinful Biblically, I would be the first to humbly repent, ask forgiveness from God and you, and immediately work to make it right. If, however, your criticism of us is based upon your desire for a more passive approach, that is a subjective opinion, not a Biblical mandate. There is a huge difference between personal preference and conviction.

Keep in mind as we discuss these issues, we are not the ones being torn apart limb by limb. Honestly pastors, if you or your children were in danger of being murdered for blood money, who would you want representing your interests? Would you prefer someone with a passive approach or someone more active to come to your defense? Do you remember the Golden Rule? Do you recall the lesson of the Good Samaritan and Jesus’ command to go and do likewise?

All our messaging and tactics are summed up in God’s command to love Him and our neighbor as ourselves. We are attempting to answer the question, what does Christianity look like in a nation that commits child sacrifice and sheds innocent blood? The real issue is not are we pro-life enough; the real issue is are we being Christian enough.

I am appealing to you to think and act Biblically in the midst of this holocaust. It is in the spirit of “iron sharpening iron” that I ask you the following questions.

First, are you more upset that OR/OSA is coming to your city or are you more upset at the evil that defiles your city?

Second, are you more upset about the pictures that depict the victims of abortion or are you more upset that this crime is being committed in your city under your watch?
Third, are you more concerned about your reputation, money, position, and comfort or are you more concerned about loving your neighbor that is being led to slaughter (pre-born child), your neighbor being deceived (parents), and you neighbor committing this brutal act (abortionist)?

Fourth, do you have a greater fear of displeasing men or offending men or do you have a greater fear of displeasing God and offending Him?

Fifth, have you expressed concern or written letters to the death camp, culture, or government about the plight of the babies made in the image of God as you have sent to us? Have you criticized their tactics or language that makes this evil possible?

I think if you wrestled with God over these questions, you would have less concern with OR/OSA. You would not perceive us as much of a threat, hindrance, or embarrassment, but as fellow Christians who seek to “know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I (we) may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10).

Gentlemen, we would love to serve our Lord with you in this great cause to end the American holocaust. There is plenty to do and many hands make light work. If you are skittish about prophetic ministries, there are other opportunities to serve. There are mercy ministries, declaring the Word ministries, prayer ministries, and ministries of helps that are needed and welcomed as the church arises to drive the evil of abortion from their cities. If you do not want to hold a sign, there are venues available where graphic signs will not be used. Go as far as your conscience will allow. If you have any more questions or desire further communication, do not hesitate to call me. I pray this response to your concerns will alleviate all fear of men and inspire true faith in God as we move forward in Jesus’ name!

IN KING JESUS’ SERVICE,

Rev. Rusty Lee Thomas
National Director, Operation Rescue National/Operation Save America

www.operationsaveamerica.org

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