Blog Posts

The Hypocrisy of Abortion

Science recognizes that an eagle egg is a developing eagle. So, to protect the eagle the government has levied severe penalties for destroying or even disturbing an eagle egg.

Science also recognizes that a fetus in the womb of a woman is a human being with unique DNA and fingerprints. But instead of protecting that human being against harm, the Pro-Choice movement claims the “right” to violently destroy that developing human being.

Is not a human life infinitely more precious than that of an eagle? Have we sunk so low morally? Have we devalued human life to nothing but waste to flush down the toilet, or part-out to clinics for experimentation?

Or consider the one million women every year in America who experience the profound loss and trauma of a miscarriage or stillbirth. Losing a child through miscarriage or stillbirth is not merely a disappointment or an unfulfilled longing. Miscarriage or stillbirth is LOSING A CHILD, and the grief and trauma that goes with it is very real.

So, how do we reconcile the profound sense of loss a woman experiences in miscarriage with the absence of love and nurturing in abortion?

We need to wake up to reality and end the hypocrisy of abortion!

If you have suffered the loss of a child through miscarriage or stillbirth, please contact www.srtservices.org.

Is Abortion Really Good for Women?

by Rob Fischer ·

Pro-abortionists claim that abortion is a woman’s right and that it is good for women. But is this true? In what way is abortion even remotely good for women?

If abortion is so good for women, why is it that so many women quail under an oppressive load of guilt and shame following their abortion? Why does abortion so often result in chronic depression, self-loathing, and self-harm?

Post-abortive women who are seeking emotional healing from a past abortion testify that their abortion drove them into depression and self-destructive behaviors including: alcohol abuse, drug addiction, cutting, sexual promiscuity, and suicidal thoughts and attempts.

How is abortion good for women?

Dr. David Reardon is one of the nation’s leading researchers on the effects of abortion. His research indicates that half of all post-abortive women experience some short- or long-term physical complications, “and almost all suffer from emotional or psychological aftershocks.” ¹

The trauma that many post-abortive women experience when they recognize and accept that they have willingly participated in the murder of their baby is akin to PTSD and is called PASS (Post-Abortive Stress Syndrome).²

Studies also show that post-abortive women have a higher occurrence of miscarriage following an abortion. And the unwanted loss of a child bears with it its own emotional trauma.

Finally, “Fifty-eight out of 74 worldwide studies dating back to 1957 have shown that abortion increases a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer. Nineteen of the 23 studies from the United States show that abortion is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.”³

Granted, an unplanned pregnancy can pose monumental challenges for a teen or unmarried woman. But these challenges have been overcome by many courageous women who have stepped up to their responsibility. And there are many individuals, families, and organizations who will stand with those women and help them through these challenges.

But to live with the knowledge that one has willingly participated in the death of their child is a challenge of another magnitude that women do not easily overcome.

No, abortion is not good for women.

¹David Reardon, Aborted Women, Silent No More (Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1997), p. xi.

²Susanne Babble, PhD, MFT, “Post Abortion Stress Syndrome (PASS) – Does it Exist?” Psychology Today, October 25, 2010.

³ “Epidemiologic Studies: Induced Abortion and Breast Cancer Risk,” Breast Cancer Prevention Institute, 2014, https://www.aaplog.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/BCPI-FactSheet-Epidemiol-studies_2014-2.pdf.

Don’t Waste Your Hardships

by Rob Fischer ·

I recently heard Janet Parshall interview Pastor Andrew Brunson.[1] He was the American missionary who was imprisoned in Turkey for over two years on false charges of espionage. His real crime was that he was preaching Christ in a Muslim country, which he had been doing legally for 23 years. Our then president and many other US government officials pressured the Turkish government into releasing Pastor Brunson in 2018.

But I was shocked when Janet asked Pastor Brunson what he missed from his time in a Turkish prison. Pastor Brunson readily admitted that it was a terrible place and a horrifying experience that he would not want to relive. But there was one thing he missed about being in that oppressive place: He missed how his suffering drove him to greater dependence on the Lord. Reflect on that.

Few of us have experienced anything as awful as what Pastor Brunson lived through, but we all experience hardships. No one is immune from difficulties, challenges, and suffering. Hardships are simply part of the human experience.

Our natural human tendency is to avoid hardships at all costs. We curb our activities and take special precautions. We do what we can to engineer difficulties out of our lives, so we plan and prepare and wear our personal protective equipment. We even surrender our freedoms for the sake of safety.

There’s nothing wrong with trying to avoid or prevent hardships and suffering in our lives. In fact, it’s prudent—to an extent. But I wonder if sometimes we sell ourselves short by trying to avoid or extract ourselves from all hardship.

For instance, in Mark 4:35-41 we read the account of Jesus and His disciples in a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had been preaching to the multitudes all day long and was tired. It was His idea to cross the lake to the other side, and as they sailed Jesus fell asleep in the stern.

But “a furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.” Gripped with fear, “the disciples woke Jesus and said to Him, ‘Teacher, don’t You care if we drown?’” Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the waves so that all became still. Then, Jesus turned to His disciples and said, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

The fact that several of His disciples made a living fishing from boats in this lake gives us some context for how violent this storm was. But there are some other significant factors.

First, it was the Lord’s idea to cross the lake. They were following Him in doing so. They were “in His will” as we say. This is an important factor for us as we follow Jesus too. Often, we seek His will and then follow, only to confront difficulties. Then we wonder if we heard the Lord right, or we question His goodness in sending us into trials. We fail to recognize that hardships may be part of His loving plan for us.

Second, the Lord was with them in the boat. This is perhaps the crux of why He asked them why they had no faith in this situation. For if the Lord Himself was content to ride out this storm, then they should have trusted Him and rode it out too. This also applies to us, because Jesus said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” He is right here with us in our deepest, darkest trials.

Finally, we see the mercy and grace of the Lord in that He calmed the wind and waves even though it would have been better if the disciples had weathered the storm. I think the Lord often answers our pleas for deliverance even though He would rather we would simply trust Him through the hardship.

We know from Scripture (James 1:2) and from experience that hardships, trials, and suffering can be a gift and a blessing from God. As Pastor Brunson explained, hardships drive us to dependence in the Lord and that is always a good thing. Being stretched beyond our abilities to cope humbles us and exposes our neediness before God. In those tough circumstances we press into Him.

The Apostle Paul also reveals that persevering through hardships produces godly character in us (Romans 5:3). Persevering through trials also demonstrates to the world the goodness and mercy of God despite awful circumstances. When we persevere through hardships, we experience God more intimately in ways we couldn’t have if all went well. And when we endure trials trusting in the Lord, He is glorified.

But I also believe we can waste our hardships:

When we grumble, moan, and complain through them.
When we get angry at God and those arounds us.
When we curse God instead of draw near to Him.
When we make the hardship all about us and our comfort.

Our response to hardships is key. Either we let them wear us down or build us up. The question is not whether we will experience hardships in the days to come, but how we will respond to them and trust the Lord when they do come.

To this end, we need each other. We need the fellowship and encouragement other followers of Jesus can give us. We need God’s Word. King David told God, “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn Your decrees [i.e., God’s Word].” (Psalm 119:71) Spend time in God’s Word daily.

We need to spend time conversing with our Lord every day, throughout the day. Pour your heart out to Him and fellowship with Him. Trust God’s Holy Spirit within you. He will never leave you or forsake you.

So, let’s not waste our hardships. Let the Lord use them in our lives to make us more like Jesus.

[1] In the Market with Janet Parshall, December 27, 2021, “God’s Hostage.”

Why We Gather

by Rob Fischer ·

During the shutdowns in Canada in response to the pandemic, a government health official called a pastor friend of mine at his church to check on their compliance with restrictions on meetings. The mandates were so restrictive that my friend explained to the health official that the constraints were forcing his church to decide between obeying God and obeying civil authority.

The health official then asked him genuinely, “Why is it so important that you meet as a church?” And with that invitation, my friend shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with her and explained why it’s so vital that we meet together.

Those who don’t yet know Christ may not understand why followers of Jesus are compelled to gather as a church. That’s understandable. But we should be concerned that so many Christians have forgotten why we meet and have opted for a virtual worship service online in the comfort of their living room.

Admittedly, there are Christ followers who are unable to leave their homes for physical or health reasons. But that exception does not negate what the Scripture says about our need to meet face-to-face with other believers.

The persecution of the church is on the rise all over the world. In many countries like China, North Korea, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Turkey, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Nepal, Nigeria, and Eritrea church buildings are being burned, pastors imprisoned or murdered, and members of those churches are persecuted. Yet, they are willing to risk their lives to gather. Why?

Why take such enormous risks over meeting with other followers of Christ if that need can be met in the quiet of their living room? What compels these dear brothers and sisters to defy their governments and cultures to assemble as a body of believers? Why are persecuted Christians so intent on meeting that they risk losing everything—including their lives? Why do we gather at all? What’s the big deal about meeting together in person as a church?

Let’s look to God’s Word to answer these questions.

First, the Greek word for “church” used in the New Testament is ekklesia. This word means “a gathering” or “assembly.” By its very definition, the church is a local gathering or assembly of Christ followers. The church is a gathering of its people, not a building.

Second, in Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Jesus is building His church. He continues establishing local assemblies of His followers all over the world. This is His plan, not ours. This has been His plan throughout the ages. Nearly all the letters in the New Testament were directed to churches, local assemblies of believers.

Third, in Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commissioned His followers (that applies to us too) to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” One of the things He taught us has to do with how we restore a wayward brother or sister to fellowship in the church family (Matthew 18:15-20). The church (gathering of Christ followers) plays a significant role in our relationship with Christ.

Fourth, Jesus explained to His disciples that the world would recognize us as His disciples by our love for each other (John 13:35). We must express and demonstrate our love in the context of real-life relationships, something that we can neither practice or display to the world when we’re hunkered down in our easy chair in front of the TV.

Fifth, all or nearly all the fruit of the Spirit are relational: “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). These relational character traits can only be learned in the context of relationships. We may not like to admit it, but we need to rub shoulders with that abrasive brother or sister in Christ because that’s the only way we’ll learn forbearance, gentleness and self-control.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24) Relationships with others is necessary for spiritual transformation. Also, we need to hear each other’s stories and see how God is working in all our lives.

Sixth, if everyone is home “doing church” virtually, there is no expression of spiritual gifts, no serving one another, no body life. “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7) How are we benefiting the church family with the spiritual gifts God has given us if we refuse to meet with them?

Seventh, worship as a church is a collective experience. Paul urged the church at Colossae, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:16)

Eighth, the Lord warns us “not to give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25) As the return of Christ draws near, we should be even more intent on meeting together!

My intention is not to be heavy-handed or to guilt anyone into gathering with their church family. Instead, consider that Jesus knows what is best for us. He knows what we need most to deepen our relationship with Him and with others. And to that end, He is establishing His church all over the world.

We need to reboot and refresh our view of church and our gathering together more now than ever. We need each other. Meeting together is both a privilege and a responsibility!

“To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21)

How Would You Know if Someone Was Trying to Deceive You?

by Rob Fischer ·

“It’s easier to fool people than to convince people that they have been fooled.” – Mark Twain

Is it possible to know when someone is trying to deceive us? How do we discern between truth and lies? What is the nature of the truth? What is the nature of lies and deception?

These are vital questions, the answers for which the follower of Jesus must ponder, unravel, and cling to.

When Jesus’ disciples asked Him about the end times and His return, the first thing Jesus told them was, “Watch out that no one deceives you.” (Matthew 24:4; Mark 13:5; Luke 21:8) Jesus said this in warning about many who would come after Him, some even claiming allegiance to Him, but declaring they are the Messiah. These people will “deceive many.” (Matthew 24:5)

Later in the same discourse Jesus warned, “Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” (vs. 11) And again in verse 24 He said, “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”

Similarly, in 2 Thessalonians 2, the apostle Paul wrote regarding the antichrist, “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way…. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 9-12)

And in 1 Timothy 4:1-2, Paul wrote, “The Spirit clearly says that in latter times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.”

Finally, speaking of the last days (2 Timothy 3:1), Paul explained that “evildoers and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:13)

It is clear from these passages and many others that lies and deception will characterize the last days before Christ’s return. And for this reason, the Lord warns us “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way.”

The Source of Truth and Lies

Truth is to light as lies are to darkness. The apostle John used this metaphor of light and darkness to distinguish between truth and lies or deception. In John 1:1-18 we read:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”

Then, in John 3:19-21, Jesus explained, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

John equates truth (light) with goodness and lies (darkness) with evil. Truth is therefore inherently moral, right, and good, whereas lies are inherently evil. Additionally, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching; you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

The apostle Paul wrote, “Opponents [to the Gospel] must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:25-26) The truth sets people free, while lies enslave.

Jesus came to reveal the truth about us and about God. We recognize from these passages that truth is also inherently relational. God seeks to redeem mankind who has believed the lie, so He sent His Son Jesus Christ who embodies the truth to bring us back into relationship with God.

Jesus claimed, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) Jesus Christ embodies truth. In Him is no lie. And it is only through embracing the truth that we can be reconciled with God and enjoy His fellowship.

Jesus explained that when we come into relationship with God the Father through Him that He gives us His Holy Spirit to “help us and be with us forever – the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16-17) God’s Holy Spirit He calls “the Spirit of truth.” The Holy Spirit lives within us and “guides us into all the truth.” (John 16:13) This does not mean that someone with the Holy Spirit cannot be deceived, for the Bible continually warns followers of Jesus not to be deceived.

Finally, in John 17:17, as Jesus was praying for His current and future disciples (followers), He prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth.” God’s Word is truth.

So we see that God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God all embody truth. In them is no lie, no deception. God has also given us the ability to discern other truths through the sciences. These truths are observable, repeatable, and unchanging.

By contrast, where do lies come from? Jesus explained in John 8:44 regarding those who claimed to know God but refused to believe the truth about Him. Jesus said, “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.”

The devil, Satan, is the father of lies. He does not hold to the truth and there is no truth in him. Let that sink in. All lies have their origin in the devil who is the father, the originator of lies and deception. The devil deceived Adam and Eve in the beginning by challenging the truth that God had given them. He promised them something he could not give but enticed them by his lies and deception.

Since the Fall (the great deception), mankind has continued believing Satan’s lies, rebelling against God, walking in darkness, and giving themselves to do evil. And, as Jesus warned, we do not like to come into the light (the truth) because it exposes our sin and evil and the lies on which evil is based. No one likes to hear that they’ve been living a lie.

In discerning, avoiding, and battling lies and deception, I believe it is imperative to recognize that all lies, regardless of their context, originate from Satan. We must also recognize that all sin and evil have their roots in lies. Lies and deception are inherently bound up with sin and evil and anything contrary to God, Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit, and His Word.

Characteristics of the Truth

Based on what we’ve read and discussed so far, below are some characteristics of truth:

Truth emanates from God.
Truth is inherently moral, good, and right.
Truth exposes evil, sin, and injustice.
Truth is consistent and unchanging.
Truth sets people free.
Truth invites dialog because it has nothing to hide.
Truth restores and builds relationships and trust.
Truth stands on it own and cannot be toppled.
Truth brings clarity and light.
Truth stands squarely on God’s Word and what His Spirit reveals to us.
Truth promotes unity, peace, and love.
Truth gives us a firm footing in our lives and how we should live.
Truth is objective and universal.

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve possessed God’s truth and enjoyed intimate relationship with Him. But Satan introduced a lie posing as additional or more perfect knowledge and deceived them. We learn from this that we must not abandon God’s clear Word and yield to some alternate claim.

Characteristics of Lies and Deception

Likewise, from what we’ve seen so far, here are some characteristics of lies and deception:

Lies originate from the devil, the father of lies.
Lies are inherently evil and promote sin and darkness.
Lies foster mistrust and confusion.
Lies enslave and control.
Lies use fear, anxiety, worry, shame, and guilt to keep its subjects enslaved.
Lies destroy relationships.
Lies constantly breed more lies to keep the deception growing.
Lies inevitably contradict each other.
Lies squelch dialog and silence, censor, slander, or ridicule anyone that opposes them.
Lies promote dissention, discord, and hate.
Lies are subjective (e.g., “that’s your truth; it’s not my truth”).

How Do We Discern Between Truth and Lies?

Based on the foregoing and what’s below, I’ve attempted to capture some principles to help us discern between truth and lies. Having said that, you and I must admit that we are fallible. Our hearts and minds have been tainted by sin. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? ‘I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

However, we must seek truth, hold to the truth, and expose lies and deception.

Principles for Discerning the Truth from Lies and Deception

Check the source. Is this person or entity trustworthy? What is their reputation? What are their motives? What is their demeanor and manner in presenting their information?
Does this information contradict Scripture? Is there any clear teaching or precedent in Scripture that offers a warning about this information?
How well does this information align with the character of God, based on what the Lord has revealed about His character in His Word, the Bible.
How willing are the proponents of this information to enter open dialog and discussion? If they simply silence, cancel, or censor dissenters, then they are probably lying.
How well does this information agree with what we already know to be true? If through science, research, or expert testimony we have time-tried evidence, does this new information contradict that evidence?
Is the propagation of this information creating a climate of trust and peace among the population? Or do the proponents of this narrative use fear, intimidation, coercion, and threats to force their views on others?
To what extent does this information promote a consistent, reliable, trustworthy narrative? Lies promote confusion, contradictions, and vagueness.How often have they changed their information over time?
To what extent does this narrative feel controlling and manipulating? What impact is their information having on people?
On what basis do the purveyors of this information make claims? Do they make claims that they cannot back up? Is their response to questions about their claims flippant, flimsy, or “just trust us”?
To what extent does this narrative stand on its own merit without manipulation or propaganda?

The above principles do not necessarily prevent us from falling prey to any and every deception. But they should help us ask important questions to determine the veracity and integrity of what we read and hear.

I’ve heard that in order to sniff out counterfeit bills, FBI agents focus on studying the real thing. That way they know when they see something counterfeit.

In the same way, as followers of Jesus, we must become very acquainted with the Word of God. Know what it says and learn to interpret it properly. Spend time in prayer. Listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and teaching and obey Him. Be involved in a local assembly of believers and grow together and learn from each other. We need each other.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)

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