Evangelical Church Must Repent First to Stop Abortion, Says Fla. Minister
A Florida pastor who has made it his ministry to end legalized abortion in the U.S. believes it is the evangelical church that must first repent and call out to God in order to win what he considers a spiritual battle for the lives of unborn children.
Pro-life advocate the Rev. Jim McGarvey began his Church for Life ministry several years ago under the conviction that abortion is a "satanic enterprise," and uses John 8:44 as evidence, which states:
"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Because of his conclusion based on the Bible, McGarvey said it follows that "the Church is the only institution spiritually equipped to engage the spiritual forces behind abortion. Therefore, the Church must take the lead in the effort to end abortion."
McGarvey told The Christian Post that his feeling that the Church must do something is a "message that the Lord had been sort of birthing in my heart over a number of years."
"I'm speaking from my understanding of biblical theology," he explained. "The healing of our land depends more on the Church repenting and calling out to God than anything anyone else can do. I don't think we are hearing that message (on a national scale)."
Often called upon to speak at pro-life related rallies, McGarvey said that he is hearing from many evangelical Christians that they have not heard from their pastor about the issue of abortion.
"The vast majority of Christians can go to an evangelical church for many years and not hear anything about abortion. Part of my role in serving the church is to help the church as it's responding to the abortion crisis," he told CP. "I believe most evangelical pastors are pro-life, but they are not communicating the message to their people."
McGarvey, who has pastored churches under the Christian and Missionary Alliance for 18 years, also served as the director of Development for Hope Women's Center's in Broward County, Fla., for several years.
He recently wrote, "I almost hesitate to cite 2 Chronicles 7:13, 14 because it is so often quoted ... it could very well be the most under-practiced quoted Scripture in the Bible.
"No mention of the sins of politicians, judges or others in authority. No, it's 'if my people' – that's us. That's where we must begin. Our repentant prayer will unlock the outpouring of God's healing upon our land."
McGarvey cited the results of two reports as part of the need for the Church's need for repentance. One study showed that 80 percent of unmarried evangelicals between the ages of 18 and 29 have had sex.
He called the Church to repent of its complicity with abortion. "One study found that 43 percent of women having abortions identify themselves as Protestant and 27 percent as Roman Catholic. (AGI 'In Brief' 2008) That's 70 percent of all abortions," he stated.
"Secondly, based on Paul's words (1 Timothy 2:1-6), we must involve ourselves in intercession for President Obama and those who govern us," he continued. "Have you ever wondered why the command to pray for those in authority is followed by a clear declaration of the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as the only mediator between God? Could it be that God wants to change the heart of those who serve Him in government and bring revival to our land – in response to our humility, repentance, and obedience in prayer?"
McGarvey believes "deception and murder is endemic to abortion. In fact, they characterize the abortion industry." Those who defend and promote it have been deceived, he said.
"Perhaps what is even more distressing is that the vast majority of those claiming to be 'pro-life,' live as though abortion was not ravaging our nation," he writes in his blog. "Life goes on with an apparent blind eye to the ritual bloodshed taking place at abortion mills and hospitals in our neighborhoods and communities.
"A similar ambivalence allowed slavery to be perpetuated for several hundred years in our 'Christian' nation. How could that have happened? Deception. The same deception that is allowing history to repeat itself in regard to abortion."
On the Web, http://churchforlife.blogspot.com/.
