In January, America marked the 35th anniversary of the US Supreme Court decision known as Roe v. Wade.  While many pro-life New Yorkers gathered in Washington for an event known as March for Life, some Schenectady clergy marked the event in a far different way. 

On January 22, 2008, Capitol area clergy commemorated the highest court’s landmark decision by blessing the area’s newest Planned Parenthood clinic in a ceremony called “On Sacred Ground”.

The Rev. Bill Levering of Schenectady’s First Reformed Church said, “The right to privacy is endowed by God…There are some decisions that are left to the individual.  Even God respects the right of privacy.”

Rev. Larry Phillips of Schenectady’s Emmanuel-Friedens Church laid hands on the abortion facility and declared, “This is sacred ground.”  Planned Parenthood spokesperson Linda Scharf was quoted in the Albany Times-Union, with these chilling words, “The clergy were instrumental in getting abortion services legalized in the United States and right here in Schenectady.”

Jesus had something to say about men and women who claim to speak for God, but lead people down paths that are far from Him.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  Ye shall know them by their fruits… Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?  And in thy name have cast out devils?  And in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

-Matthew 7:15-16, 21-23

Jesus knew that it took more than a clerical collar to make someone a prophet of God.  Just because a man or woman leads a congregation, does not make them right with their Creator.  They may even be involved in good works – feeding the poor, sheltering the homeless, defending the unjustly accused, doing all of these things in the name of God; yet He will say, “Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” 

We all die the same. No one enters eternity with their titles. People may honor your station in life by referring to you as Reverend, Senator or Assemblyman, now, but these titles will not pass over the grave.  

I believe in a literal Hell.  You don’t hear much about that subject today, but God’s Word teaches that there is an unending judgment for those who reject the Lord’s only means of salvation – faith alone in Christ alone.  God is holy and just, thus He cannot allow sin to go unpunished.  Yet the Scripture teaches of a God who is merciful and loving.  How does one reconcile these attributes of the Almighty?  The answer is Calvary’s Cross.  It is here where God demanded that a payment be made for sin, yet mercifully spread his own arms and became the necessary sacrifice. 

Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing.  They will claim to speak for God, but a true prophet of the Lord always points you to the one who is the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John. 1:29).