John Salvi, a 22-year-old hairdresser, from Hampton, New Hampshire, is the latest so-called “anti-abortion zealot” to be accused of committing murder at an abortion clinic. Salvi faces two murder charges in a shooting attack at two abortion clinics in suburban Brookline, Massachusetts, where five other workers were also injured.

Christian Life Resources condemns this and other such acts that further the death and destruction which already take place within the chambers of the abortion clinic. We are not compelled by weak analogies of committing murder to prevent murder. We must remember that the society in which we live offers a variety of legal routes to be pursued in protecting the unborn.

On the practical side such violence misrepresents the intent of mainstream pro-life agencies that are concerned not only for the unborn child but for the souls of all who would be involved in this wrongful taking of unborn life. To kill workers in the clinic or to even revel in the death of a mother at the hands of an incompetent abortionists betrays a woeful lack of concern for the eternity of all souls.

All life is given as a time of grace (Hebrews 9:27). To terminate any life is to willfully shorten that time of grace. When you consider that those involved with the abortion are, at that time, most likely unrepentant of that sin, death brings with it eternal consequences.

We deeply mourn the loss of every life, born and unborn. Insofar as God has granted us legal means by which to correct this grievous error of abortion, Christians are compelled to avail themselves of those legal avenues. To do so reflects the elective to defend the unfortunate (Proverbs 31:8-9) and to obey those in authority (Romans 13:1-13; Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13 ff).

To obey the government by trampling on the rights of the unfortunate would be wrong.

Equally so, to defend the rights of the unfortunate by ignoring legal options and pursuing illegal options would be wrong. There is no provision in Scripture allowing us to ignore God’s mandate to obey the government solely because of frustration or impatience with the legal options available to us.

We call upon all Christians to vigorously pursue all legal avenues that will restore protection to unborn children. We further ask that any who would support in action or spirit violence at abortion clinics to give up on such notions in obedience to God’s command to respect the laws of our land.

Finally, we call upon those who support the right to kill unborn children to quit misrepresenting the pro-life position of responsible Christians who share in the outrage over recent violent attacks at abortion clinics. To assume the role of martyrs fails to mask the deep tragedy that unborn lives are wrongfully terminated in the name of “choice.”