I did not see the movie. I agree with you when you say," Both sides of the debate have very convincing arguments and reasons for their stands". I found this very thing when I got involved in Operation Rescue years ago. I was amazed and saddened when I found that such christian heavyweights as Charles Stanley and John MacArthur spoke out against the movement. At the same time, Pat Robertson and Dr. James Dobson supported it.
As time went on, I could see both sides to the argument. In a case like that, one must go where his own convictions lead him.
Here's one: I have spoken with a person who believes it is right and justified to kill an abortionist. This is his argument: If you see an individual who you KNOW is about to kill an innocent person, you do what you have to do in order to stop it, even if this means that you have to kill.
I think you and I would agree that most christians believe abortion is murder. Most would also say murdering the abortionist is wrong also. If that is the case, how do you PREVENT the execution of the child or children that is about to take place? How does the christian justify inaction in light of Proverbs 24:11,12. Is praying or petitioning enough?
It was brought to my attention by this individual that he and others hold no personal animosity whatsoever against the "killer", but just that they want to stop the killing of the child and thus the view that "whatever it takes" to prevent it, is justified. He likened it to someone being a witness to the German guard bringing the prisoners into the gas chambers. Is killing the guard justified? Do you KILL the one who is about to turn on the gas?
How can I argue against such rationale? I can't.
My own logic says that only one choice can be made if you believe abortion is murder and you are also AGAINST killing the abortionist. That is MURDER to prevent MURDER is NEVER justified. If this is the conclusion, then the following must also hold true:
Capital Punishment for instance is NEVER justified. Also, if I see an attack on my family, I can not go to the extreme of purposely "killing" the perpetrator in order to save them . I must let my family die if necessary.
Richard Wurmbrand said once, "The bible says,'Thou shalt not kill'. It never said, 'Thou shalt not be killed'".
I have also come to this conclusion. I think it is the most biblically correct. I do not purposely kill under ANY circumstance even if this means a life WILL be lost. At the same time, I KNOW some of these very people that would resort to killing in order to prevent a killing are indeed my brethren in Christ. Some may argue with this, but the fact that individuals like Paul Hill have taken a path that I wouldn't doesn't make him any less justified in God's sight. The fact that he followed so passionately his convictions speaks volumes more than the idol of the "I want to feel good, bless me" crowd.
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