As a believer in Jesus Christ, which “saddens” you more: considering the millions of lives lost to abortion or having a display humanizing the unborn set up outside your church? Well, if you’re confused (for good reason!) why that’s even a question, let me share a recent news story from the UK with you.
According to the report from a UK newspaper, a pro-life group called Brephos (named for the Greek word for baby or infant used in the New Testament) set up a large pro-life display in the center of Keswick, a town in England. This display featured a high-quality image of a nine-week baby in the womb, and volunteers stood by with literature, ready to answer questions and engage with those passing by (they also had body cams to record their encounters). This display upset people in the city, who apparently called city officials and the police to complain.
This response shouldn’t be shocking to us—such imagery exposes the humanity of the unborn and shows abortion for what it really is, the slaughter (murder) of a human being made in God’s image. We also faced a barrage of disgusting and even threatening social media comments when we released photos of the beautifully sculpted babies as part of our Fearfully and Wonderfully Made exhibit. People hate the truth and will do whatever they can to mock it and stop it from spreading.
But what was shocking was the response of the Keswick Convention, the UK’s oldest Christian festival which was taking place at the same time as this display. According to their website, Keswick Ministries—which has been in operation for 150 years—exists to “inspire and equip Christians to love and live for Christ in His world.” But their response to this pro-life display was hardly designed to equip Christians to either love or live for Christ! Instead, they released a statement saying:
We are aware that Brephos, an organisation not affiliated with Keswick Ministries, are taking part in a ‘public education’ event in Keswick town today.
We are saddened by this approach to targeting Keswick Convention visitors which we recognise also impacts others within the town.
We would like to emphasise that this group has no affiliation with Keswick Ministries. As soon as we were aware that this activity might be a possibility, we contacted the organisers and requested they not use their public display in Keswick.
Keswick Ministries are delighted to work closely with the police who we have made aware of the situation.
So rather than being saddened by the millions of babies (9 million in the UK according to Brephos) who have been murdered in their mothers’ wombs, this Christian ministry is “saddened” by a pro-life display, has asked the group to leave, and is “delighted” to work with police (whatever that means!). This verse comes to mind:
Matthew 5:13 KJV – “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
Now even if this ministry simply didn’t agree with the method Brephos is using (as they are now claiming), they still could have used the opportunity to affirm the sanctity of human life, the biblical position on life, and the truth that abortion is murder (really child sacrifice).
Instead, they chose to completely distance themselves from the display (they did this twice in their statement, once with special emphasis!) and ultimately make it clear they weren’t “that kind” of Christian. How tragic! That kind of compromise and cowardice from the church is why it is in such a mess and is quickly dying in the UK!
Ken Ham is an author, speaker, and the founder and CEO of Answers in Genesis and its two popular interests: the acclaimed Creation Museum and the internationally known Ark Encounter.
Editor’s Note: Pastors Call For Repentance
Several Pastors in the UK have written an open letter to the Keswick Convention calling them to repent of their position and stand up for the Biblical truth that human life is “made in the image of God from conception.”
The letter highlighted the vast number of abortions taking place within the UK and underscored the importance for Christians and ministry leaders to be equipped to defend unborn life in a secularized culture.
“We write you in the spirit of ‘all one in Christi Jesus’ – mourning that the Keswick Convention saw fit to align itself with non-Christian people who are in favour of destroying pre-born human life, disowning the Christians of Brephos and publicly expressing ‘sadness’ at their important ministry endeavour,” they wrote. “We urge you the Keswick Convention Team and Trustees to repent of your words against brothers and sisters in Christ, to affirm your own conviction of the Biblical, orthodox, and historic belief in the reality of life made in the image of God from conception, and to seek direct contact with Brephos and CBRUK for the purpose of reconciliation.”
The leadership of the Keswick Convention further went on to officially ask that the image of the living unborn child be kept out of sight “on the grounds that it was ‘polarising’ and ‘offensive’ and caused ‘reputational damage,'” according to Brephos.
“The level of vitriol and antagonism against this image of an image Bearer is directly related to people’s hatred of the Creator,” Tim Lewis underscored on the Brephos “About Abortion” podcast.
