"Unplanned"

            Unplanned is a recently released film derived from Abby Johnson’s memoir Unplanned. Earlier this week we went to see it with several others from PCC. I was not sure what to expect of the movie, but I knew the basics. Johnson was the director for a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas, who resigned her position. After resignation she became an advocate for the unborn, and she began a ministry to assist abortion clinic workers to leave their jobs. Her resignation was met with fierce opposition from Planned Parenthood, who sued Johnson and her pro-life friends.

             The film does an excellent job of telling Abby Johnson’s story, yet it was the information that was new to me that gripped my heart. The movie didn’t attempt to hide any of Abby’s sins, nor did it hide the grittiness of abortion procedures. Here are a few takeaways:

• Abby had two abortions, and was honest about her experiences that are portrayed clearly in the film. Also, in the days leading up to her resignation from Planned Parenthood a few things key things occurred. For the first time, she assisted in an abortion. She saw the live ultra sound picture of the fetus, and watched as the fetus was sucked out of the uterus. This was horrifying! And it seemed to be what motivated her to resign. Later, the film shows that she pulled her own file so that she could see the ultrasound picture of one of her babies that was aborted. These are important segments of the film, they capture the essence of her and her fetus’ humanity, victimization, and the pain of abortion.

• Planned Parenthood may be the most corrupt organization in America. What I learned is troubling. They manipulate young women to agree to abortions. They are motivated by the love of money. They tell many lies to people. They take ultra sound photos of their patient’s unborn babies to get a measurement for the price of the abortion, but they do not show the photo to the woman for fear that she will change her mind to save her baby. I used to think that Planned Parenthood was just a bad organization, but now I’m convinced that the devil has much power over them, they destroy unborn babies. And he is a he thief who “comes only to steal and kill and destroy,” but Jesus came to give life (John 10:10).

• Although some of the protestors at the clinic in the movie expressed attitudes of harshness, the Christians portrayed in the movie were people of love, kindness, and peace. It struck me that people are often attracted to truth by the love and hospitality of a Christian, not a hateful attitude. This was the case for Abby. Although I do not know if Abby is born again, she definitely had a change of heart regarding abortion. She came to this much truth because people were praying and people were gently informing her of the truth of abortion.

• God will forgive all sin, including abortion. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the means for God’s forgiveness, but a person must possess genuine faith in Christ and His Gospel to be forgiven. So as we preach the gospel remember that the Gospel is the answer to abortion, and it offers God’s mercy to all, even abortion doctors. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1).

• Lastly, the film received an R rating from MPAA. But I agree with the film’s maker who said it is PG-13. There is a scene in the movie depicting an abortion that is difficult to view. And, there is some salty language in the movie, so if you’re going to view it with your kids please be aware.

Reasons Why I Love the Church

To be sure, this post is revised from an earlier one I wrote a couple years ago. My hope is that it will be as encouraging to you who are reading it today as it was then. The truth remains the same for all times, generations, and cultures.

Reason #1: Jesus loved the church. I am not Jesus, neither are you, but being called by him means we must be like him. His passion for his bride brought him to death. We ought to prize his beloved church above any program, ministry, school, family, or institution.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless” (Eph 5:25-27).

Reason #2: The church began with the Apostles but it didn’t end with them. We long for connections that extend beyond our current network of friends, family, and tradition. We want an ancient one. One reason family genealogies are so popular is because most people long for roots. Christians have deep roots, our history began in chapter one of Acts and continues on through 28 chapters of Acts, and right up to today. There are no new questions, nor are their new answers. We look to an ancient book (the Scripture) for answers. And if we are still curious, there is nearly 2,000 years of historical theology to help us learn how the church taught the Scriptures in years past.

Mike Horton says that “The church was born in doctrinal debate. It fought its way to dominance through centuries of arguments over doctrinal detail. The Reformation was a controversy between two different gospels.”^[1] Today marks a terrific vantage point for the church. There is no actual reason for heresy, accurate theology was worked out in history. For starters, we believe the Bible is a genuine book that came from God. The church has taught this since its inception nearly 2,000 years ago. Who are we to think that the Apostles got it wrong?

Reason #3: The church is full of people who can help. I long to learn more, to be better equipped to serve Christ. I want genuine answers to my questions about God, and I want to mature in Christ with other Christ-followers, and I hope you do as well. If so, there is good news, the church exists to help, to build you up.

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:11-13).

Reason #4: The church is commanded by its God to love everyone. Of all the groups of people in the world the local church ought to be the safest and most caring environment. God’s people are called to unconditionally love one another, and God calls the church to love those that no one else will love and to expect nothing in return (no strings attached). We love because our Lord is glorified when we do so, and we want to show the world his love.

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Rom 12:10-11).

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law” (Rom 13:8).

Are you convinced? I hope so. Let’s remember that the church is not a building, a program, or a denomination. We are not scary either. We are God’s people, whom Christ has redeemed and prized as his own. If you don’t love it already, begin to cultivate a love for the church.

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^[1] http://www.modernreformation.org/default.php?page=articledisplay&var1=ArtRead&var2=670&var3=main