The Other Invisible Children

by Bryan Kemper

Lately I have seen a lot of promotion for the "Invisible Children" film and projects.  When I looked into it I found it to be amazing and was glad to see so many people willing to take a stand for these children.  Anytime we see innocent children being hurt, used and killed we should stand up and be a voice. 

I noticed that a lot of bands, individuals and organizations are getting involved to help bring the atrocities that are happening to these children to the light.  People are willing to go the extra mile to make sure everyone knows about the plight of these poor children. 

While I am in full support of the work being done for Invisible Children...I am somewhat confused. 

I have approached many of these same people who are getting involved with Invisible Children about another horrible tragedy that sees thousands of little children brutally killed every day.  I have told them about the over 4,000 little babies that are ripped from the protection of their mothers wombs on a daily basis in our own country.  From many of these people I have heard things like:

·          I don't want to get involved with a political issue.

·          I know it is wrong but it is not for me to tell someone else what to do.

·          At least they won't have to grow up in this world.

·          Abortion is inevitable, so we might as well keep it safe and legal.

·          We don't know the parent's situation, maybe they can't afford a baby.

·          That is cool that you stand up, I just have other things I am called to do.

·          I don't want to judge anyone.

·          The fetus is not “really” alive yet.

·          We just need to talk about Jesus, instead of issues.

·          I can't deal with abortion, it depresses me.

·          I don't believe in legislating morality.

These are actual things I have heard from people, and there are so many more I can list. 

The problem is that abortion is seen as controversial, and the Invisible Children project is not.  For some reason Christians have developed an attitude that can't ever offend people so we stay away from things we call "controversial issues". 

I say the only real controversy is that people who believe that every child is created by God and has value as a human person are silent.  When we know that these children are human persons and we know that they are being slaughtered by the thousands every day in this nation, and we won't take a stand, that is controversial.

The very fact that we believe that God created the universe and sent His Son to die on the cross and that He is the only way to salvation is offensive.  It offends people that we would say you can't earn your way to heaven, that Christ is the only true answer.  It is offensive to say there is only one truth.

I would also say it is offensive to God that we would turn our backs on His precious little children because we don't want to be political.  While there are many aspects to standing up for life that fall into the political arena, the systematic slaughter of over 50 million children since January 22, 1973 is not a political issue, it is a life and death issue.

Abortion is a hidden crime that takes place behind closed doors and we seem to want to keep it that way.  Our silence has helped energize the abortion industry and helped them to steer their rhetoric to convince people that it is inevitable, so we might as well accept it.

I cannot and will not ever accept that the killing of an innocent child is inevitable.  I cannot and will not ever say that we cannot make a change in this world and bring a stop to the holocaust that is killing over 1/3 of our generation.  I cannot and will not ever believe that the killing of a child can be safe and should be legal.

If you think this is a pointless battle and that we can never win, I ask you, "How big is your God"?  It amazes me some times that people think that we can't accomplish things.  Through Christ we can accomplish anything.  Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

I know that this may make you feel uncomfortable and if you are one of those who have given an excuse as to why you can't take a stand or be a voice, it should.  When people challenge society with things like the Invisible Children film it is meant to get us out of our comfort zones, and make us realize that we must take action.

Christ tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and when we know our neighbor is in danger we have an obligation to stand up.  He taught us in the parable of the Good Samaritan that our neighbor is not just the person who lives next door.  Our neighbor is our fellow human person.  The priest and the rabbi walked by the man in the ditch and ignored the plight of their neighbor.  The Good Samaritan stopped and loved his neighbor.  He did not stop and ask God if he was called to a ditch ministry, he simply helped his neighbor because he knew we are all called to do so.

The Invisible Children are our neighbors and it is our duty to be a voice for them.  The other invisible children, the ones who die by the thousands every day in America are also our neighbors and we have a duty to be a voice for them as well. 

It is time we as believers realized the only true controversy about abortion is our silence.  If we believe that the children in their mother's wombs are children, there is no excuse for silence.  While the world may try to smother us with their rhetoric about "choice" we must hold firm to the truth.  The truth is that God is the creator of every single human person, and He commands us not to commit murder. 

I want you to think about your reaction to what happened on 911.  Think about what went through your mind, what your feelings were when you saw the carnage of the attacks.  Remember the overwhelming feelings you may have had that day.  We as a nation saw thousands of people die in one day and we reacted.  We poured our hearts out and did so much to help as we were confronted with a horrible evil.  We saw the truth and had to do something about it.

More people die from abortion every day in this nation, than the number of people who died in the attacks on 911.  Why are we not overwhelmed by this evil?  Why is it not registering that what takes place in abortion mills around the country is not just as horrific?  Maybe it is because we have allowed it to remain invisible.

"If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small. Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, 'Surely we did not know this,' Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?" (Prov. 24:10-12)

Copyright © 2006, Bryan Kemper. Used with permission.

Bryan Kemper is the founder of StandTrue Ministries. www.standtrue.com