Roe vs. Wade Ezra Project

Hi everyone,

Below is the text of the script for the compilation video for the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. The text of the script is all Scripture. May God be glorified as His people proclaim the sufficiency and authority of the Word of God!

God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them. (ESV) (1)

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (ESV) (2)

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,” (ESV) (3)

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! (ESV) (4)

You shall not murder. (ESV) (5)

““Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed,
for God made man in his own image. (ESV) (6)

God takes His stand in His own congregation; He judges in the midst of the rulers.
2 How long will you judge unjustly And show partiality to the wicked? Selah.
3 Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. (NASB) (7)

Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy. (NKJV) (8)

We know that the law is good if one uses it properly...
9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, ...for murderers,
10 for the sexually immoral,..(NIV) (9)

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’;
28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.(NASB) (10)

an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (NKJV) (11)

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery (ESV) (12)

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. (NKJV) (13)

through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. (NASB) (14)

Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.(NKJV) (15)

the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.(NKJV) (16)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (HCSB) (17)

The soul who sins shall die. (NKJV) (18)

God is a just judge,
And God is angry with the wicked every day. (NKJV) (19)

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (NKJV) (20)

God is love. (HCSB) (21)

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (NIV) (22)

For we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. (HCSB) (23)

believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

25 He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (HCSB) (24)

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (ESV) (25)

...the blood of Christ,.. (will) cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God (NKJV) (26)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV) (27)

Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

20 and that He may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah.
21 Heaven must welcome Him until the times of the restoration of all things, which God spoke about by the mouth of His holy prophets from the beginning. (HCSB) (28)

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. (NIV) (29)

If... you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (NASB) (30)

Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow. (NIV) (31)

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—
9 for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth—
10 discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.
11 Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret.
13 Everything exposed by the light is made clear,
14 for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said:
Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead,
and the Messiah will shine on you. (HCSB) (32)

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? (NKJV) (33)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you. (NASB) (34)

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.

8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.
9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.
10 “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’
11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’ (NIV) (35)

28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! (NIV) (36)

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (ESV) (37)

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; (NIV) (38)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control;..(NASB) (39)

...if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (NASB) (40)

for the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way,
since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (HCSB) (41)

And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” (NKJV) (42)

Genesis 1:27


(2)Psalm 139:13-16


(3)Jeremiah 1:5


(4)Psalm 127:3-5


(5)Exodus 20:13


(6)Genesis 9:6


(7)Psalm 82:1-4


(8)Proverbs 31:8-9


(9)1 Timothy 1:8-10


(10)Matthew 5:27-28


(11)Luke 6:45


(12)Mark 7:21


(13)Psalm 19:7-9


(14)Romans 3:20


(15)Galatians 3:24


(16)Genesis 6:5


(17)Romans 3:23


(18)Ezekiel 18:20


(19)Psalm 7:11


(20)Romans 7:24


(21)1 John 4:8


(22)1 John 4:10


(23)Romans 3:28


(24)Romans 4:24-25


(25)Romans 10:9-10


(26)Hebrews 9:14


(27)2 Corinthians 5:17


(28) Acts 3:19-21


(29)Proverbs 24:11


(30)James 2:8-9


(31)Isaiah 1:16-17


(32)Ephesians 5:8-14


(33)Micah 6:8


(34) Titus 2:11-15 “


(35)Ezekiel 33:7-11


(36)Acts 5:28-29


(37)Romans 8:8


(38)Galatians 5:19


(39)Galatians 5:22-23


(40)Romans 8:13


(41)1 Timothy 4:8

(42)Malachi 4:6

Compilation Video Project For The Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, Will You Join Us?

We are seeking to put together a compilation video of Christian abolitionists from around the country reading Scriptures to show the truth about abortion, to proclaim the Gospel, to call people to repent, to call the magistrates to do justice, and to call the Church to rise up to action to rescue those who are being taken away to death. This video will be released to the public on January 22nd, 2020 the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. 

One thing that sets this project apart from the major “pro-life” approach of our day is that is it based on the Scripture. Many people in the “pro-life” movement today have set the Bible aside and tried to talk to people about abortion in a merely secular way. As Christians, the Bible is our ultimate standard. The Bible is sufficient in all matters of faith and practice. We must base our argument against abortion on the Bible. Some in the “pro-life” movement are also against using the word murder when speaking to women considering abortion. We however must go back to the Bible and see the value of human life from the moment of conception because it is created in the image of God and that whoever unjustly and purposefully takes that life with malice aforethought is committing murder, and that abortion must be abolished not merely regulated. This project is going back to the Bible and letting it speak as our ultimate standard. Through the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, God draws people to Himself and it is God changing people’s hearts that will bring about the abolition of abortion, therefore this project includes the Gospel message from the Scripture. Will you please join us in this project as we proclaim the truth of Scripture? Please participate by recording yourself reading a section of the Scriptures included in this project and please also share this message with fellow Christian abolitionists and share the video when it is released. May the Gospel of Jesus Christ be spread far and wide and may abortion be abolished in Jesus’ Name!

The document for the project as well as recording guidelines will Lord willing be released on December 1st 2019, please leave a comment here on this post if you are interested in participating.

Jeremiah Thomas' Letter To His Generation, 1 Year Later

Hi everyone,

On August 26th, 2018, 16 year old Jeremiah Thomas passed from this earth into the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God used Jeremiah’s time on this earth as a bold witness for the Gospel and as a powerful voice pleading for the unborn who are murdered by abortion. Before Jeremiah died he wrote a letter to his generation, calling them to leave sin behind and make a journey of saving faith back to the Father's house. For the one year anniversary of the passing of Jeremiah, we have compiled a video in honor of him. 

One year after his death, Jeremiah’s legacy continues. Jeremiah’s generation is going to the front lines of the spiritual battle of our day. We are rushing against the gates of Hell with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We will continue to proclaim the Gospel at the gates of the death camps, we will continue to be a voice for the unborn, we will continue to fight in Jesus’ name.

We will bear the torch that fell still flaming from the hand of those who have gone before us in the proclamation of the Gospel and in the fight for the lives of the unborn. May God be glorified as we proclaim His Gospel and rescue those who are being taken away to death, by the strength that He supplies!

Will you join us?

Watch the video here: Jeremiah's Letter To His Generation, 1 Year Later

Thank you to the Thomas family, especially Rusty, Valiant, Josiah, Maranatha, Torah, Sophia, and Jubilee for your help in this project. Thank you also to Sophia Fitzgerald, Bo Hornick, and Kristine Harhoef for your participation in this project.

With Love in the Lord,

Virginia

Sharing Christ in All of Life

Hello everyone,
Recently Brother Sam Caldwell from Redeeming Grace Fellowship in Portland, Maine, did an interview with our beloved brother Robert Gray about ministry and sharing Christ. Both of these brothers are faithful ministers of the Gospel.

Please listen to this interview, enjoy it, learn from it, and be encouraged by these brothers in Christ, and go share Christ with those who you encounter. Sharing Christ in All of Life - An Interview with Robert Gray

Left to right: Naomi, Virginia, and Robert Gray

With love in the Lord,
Virginia

An Interview With Patte Smith About Abortion Ministry

Hello everyone,

For this post I had the opportunity to do a written interview with Patte Smith, a faithful laborer for Christ, and a voice for the voiceless babies who are being led to the slaughter. Mrs. Smith has a lot of wisdom to offer from her many years of experience doing abortion ministry.

Patte Smith and I

My questions are in bold black, Mrs. Smith's answers are in blue.

"How did you get involved in abortion ministry and how long have you been engaged in this ministry?"

I became involved in 1992. 27 years ago. Some local Christians, Ed Martin and Judy Johnson, had put something in the bulletin of a PCA church we were visiting. It said there was a brief meeting after church for anyone interested in doing ministry of prayer outside abortion clinics in Orlando. I was the only person in the large church to attend the meeting. They were doing a rotating prayer time at each of the killing places in the city. At the time there were three, I think. EPOC, NWHO, and Herman. People would pray and someone (often maybe only ONE person) would be 'sidewalk counseling', proactively approaching every abortion-bound mom, baby and accomplice, offering help and resources. I thank God for Ed and Judy and their tireless loving overtures to save infants from slaughter. They are my heroes.

"Did you know anyone who did abortion ministry before you started doing abortion ministry?"

I don't believe that I had ever actually heard of anyone ministering at a killing place before that. 

"What does your ministry outside the abortion mill look like? What all do you do when you are out there?"

Over the years I have become more Scripture, Law and Gospel driven in my approach to ministering outside murder mills. We do approach mothers with the Good Samaritan model of practical loving help, especially for the baby. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, a stranger is viciously, attacked and robbed, stripped of his clothing and left for dead by criminals. The baby being carried to a killing place is really like the victim in the parable. The mother and sometimes father, their/her accomplice(s) are like the violent robbers. So, we do our holy best to introduce ourselves and let the mothers and co-conspirators know that God sent us to prevent them from harming the innocent baby (or babies). We ask good questions and use the Word to speak the truth, in love. I have a series of teaching videos on YouTube so that people can learn how we approach the abortion-bound with the gospel of life and eternity. The first episode can be found here: https://youtu.be/D7m7_VXwrIk I believe that there are 14 episodes. We also share the way of salvation in Jesus, and warn those who are hellbent on shedding innocent blood that God hates their hands and that He has warned that He will cast all murderers into the Lake of fire. (Per Revelation 21:8) We trust the Holy Spirit to use God's Word to do God's work, for God's glory and for the good of the babies and their moms, dads and everyone who is part of the conspiracy to murder the children. 

"What do you believe is the greatest lesson you have learned in your years of ministry?"

The greatest lesson? Well, I reckon there are many. First, is the desperately wicked state of men's and women's heart. The doctrine of total depravity is displayed in living and dying color when you are dealing with mothers and fathers and accomplices shedding innocent blood of children. I am utterly convinced of the strength of the force of evil that comes from within, out of the heart, of people. (Proof texts: Jeremiah 17:9;Matthew 15:19;Mark 7:21, among others) I used to believe, like so many others, that if the mothers KNEW that their baby was a little person, and HEARD that people loved them and wanted to provide practical, emotional and spiritual support and assistance to them, and became EDUCATED about the reality of what abortion is and what it DOES to their little babies, and were INFORMED about how adoption is FREE and they can personally choose a loving forever family for their child, and even receive financial assistance (through pregnancy and for 6 weeks after their baby was born) with their living expenses, that they would not murder their babies. Boy, was I wrong about that! As I spent time with thousands of aborting mothers (half of whom had already killed one or more babies) each year, I learned to trust what the Bible says about the foolish, faithless, ruthless, heartless state of women's and men's hearts. Romans 1:18-32 is entirely trustworthy. But God is able to reach sin-depraved hearts, and elicit healthy fear of the Lord, and maternal mercy in lost mothers. He is able, by the power of the Holy Ghost, to pierce and divide the consciences, thoughts and intentions of the heart with the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God!

"Some professing Christians in America today are opposed to ministry outside abortion mills such as that which you do, and some may not believe it is biblical. How do you respond to those who object to the kind of ministry you do, and what Scriptures do you point to to show that it is biblical?"

My favorite way to reply to the religious devils who oppose our gospel mission for life and eternity is to ask them questions. I like to ask: "Do you believe that faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word of God?" (Romans 10:17)

I know why people object, and criticize and oppose and dismiss our gospel mission. S-I-N. 

The Law of Sin and Death is alive and active in regenerate church folks and false converts. (NOTE: Best biblical treatise on sin is by John Owen.) So, we will always have fierce resistance to biblical ministry. Many of the fornicating, murdering mothers are professing Christians, so I put no credence in anyone SAYING/IDENTIFYING as a "Christian". 

In fact, I don't ASK people who are slaughtering their child if they are a Christian. 

Why ask? 

I know what GOD SAYS IN HIS WORD. "No murderer has eternal life abiding in them." (I John 3:15) Jesus says they are a slave to sin, and of the devil. Christ declares that they are of their father, the devil, who is the Murderer-from-the-Beginning. They do the things their father does.  (John 8:34,44) The vast majority of the people who are killing their babies are fornicating. No sexually immoral person has any inheritance in the Kingdom of heaven. (

Revelation 22:15; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; Galatians 5:19–21)

 If people who call themselves Christians dismiss the testimony of the Word of God, which is living, active powerful active (Hebrews 4:12) given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16), if they DENY that The Law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul (Psalm 19:7), if they argue againstthe commandments of God bringing the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20) and being a schoolmaster/tutor to Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:24) there is nothing more that can be said or done for them. I do tell them to listen to Hell's Best Kept Secret (http://hellsbestkeptsecret.com), and let the Lord deal with them. 

"I know that there are issues in the 'pro-life' movement and you identify as an abolitionist. What do you believe is the biggest problem with the 'pro-life' movement and why are you an abolitionist instead of 'pro-life'?"

I believe that the biggest problem with the pro-life movement is its failure to believe and apply the Scriptures unapologetically. Giving any credence to any sort of legislation or regulations or "acts" or "bills" that dehumanizes infants in the womb and sanitizes murdering babies at any stage of development, for any reason, is just UNBIBLICAL. Viewing women and men who murder their children as "victims". Patently refusing to criminalize the slaughter of infants for all parties. Treating boys and girls whose fathers are rapists as unworthy of life. Creating legislation that maintains/sanctions/gives "rights" to people to kill children when they are newly formed, their heart has not yet begun to beat, when they have Down Syndrome or any other physical challenge, when their mothers do not want to deal with the emotions of carrying them, or when their mothers refuse to allow obstetricians to care for them through pregnancy when they have physical challenges themselves. And, there is the sickening matter of "pro-life" pregnancy centers presenting murder of infants in a non-directive, morally neutral way, with descriptions of various gruesome "abortion" procedures, as one of three "'options", and with full offer of "support" to mothers after bloody murder (in direct disobedience to God's commandment in Proverbs 28:17) At the heart of all of this, there is a diabolical energy. Anti-child. Anti-image bearer. Anti-Christ. I am convinced of it. 

Only the criminalization of abortion/baby murder for EVERYONE who conspires to murder the innocent child is biblical. 

"Some people believe that women who have abortions are 'victims'. How do you respond to that proposition?"

On the face of it, calling a person who procures the services of an assassin to shed innocent blood of their own living baby boy or girl a "victim" is just OUTRAGEOUS. The Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of a victim is: "a person who has been attacked, injured, robbed, or killed by someone else". As I stated earlier, when I cited the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), would anyone call the ROBBERS victims? Like the attack against the innocent traveler on the road to Jericho, abortion is a premeditated attack of an innocent person. For personal gain. (Whatever the mother "gets" out of killing her baby is her "reward". Freedom to continue to live as she pleases. To save time and money and energy. To "keep" a man happy. To hide her infidelity from her husband. To hide her cheating from her lover. To avoid having to sacrifice her life to care and feed, shelter, love, discipline, teach and raise a child, etc, etc. Whatever her reason (justification) or the father's reason (justification) for murdering their child, that's their "reward". (Read Deuteronomy 25:27) It's rubbish. Diabolical rubbish to view mothers and fathers who slay their young as "victims". But, that's just the way the devil likes it.  

"Could you share a story of a baby that you have seen saved from abortion?"

The first little child Jesus helped me to reach is Joshua. His mother Janette had recently been led in a Sinner's Prayer. One day, while she was working as a cashier, she met a man who said he was a "preacher". He invited Janette to come and hear him preach at a local church that Sunday night. She was flattered by his attention and impressed that this "preacher" was interested in her. After she heard him preach, the religious devil slept with her. She knew it was wrong to have sex with him, but she did it anyway. Just that once. When her period didn't come, she took a pregnancy test and found out she was pregnant. She told the "preacher" that she was carrying his baby and he said "That's your problem." It sure seemed like her baby was a "PROBLEM". You see, Janette already was a single mother, of four children, by another man. So, Janette made an appointment at NWHO killing place on Colonial Drive in Orlando to kill her son. (National Women's Health Organization was a chain of abortuaries. The owner, Susan Hill, died in 2010. Read about Hill here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Hill_ Thanks be to God, NWHO is no longer in bloody business) Janette arrived with her friend Mona. Janette went inside without speaking to me, but I introduced myself to Mona. I spoke to Mona about Janette and pleaded with her to love her friend AND the little one God had given to her. I gave Mona my telephone number (a landline, no cell phones back then!) but, she never came back outside while I was there. The next day Mona called me and said: "My friend didn't do it". She was so happy. I asked if I could visit Janette, and she gave me her number and I went to visit Janette the next day. Janette wept and said: "I knew it was wrong. It's going to be hard, but you're right. It isn't my baby's fault." Little Joshua is now 26 years old. <3 

"What groups of people do you get the most opposition to your ministry from?" (Pro-life center staff, professing Christians in general, pastors, etc.)

I reckon the greatest opposition we face is from people on the street, because that's where I minister. Passers by, many who profess to be "Christians" are most certainly amongst them. We hear obscenities, see crude gestures, receive threats, have police called on us, are falsely accused. I've had rocks, cups, coffee, water, cigarettes and even a drumstick thrown at me. I've been grabbed, pushed, knocked down, kicked, spit at, threatened with knives, guns and a pit bull. I know that pregnancy center people have some hard thoughts about us. I'll never forget what one pregnancy center director said to me. "Patte, I'm just going to do what everyone else does. Ignore you." And, I have always experienced the sideways glances, and the avoidance of church folks. But, I most certainly have become accustomed to all sorts of evil-speaking, mockery, and gossip. Jesus warned His disciples that we would be hated by all men for His Namesake. I am not without faults, and flaws. I do not do or say everything perfectly. I am not completely pure and holy, like my Master. I am sure that I deserve some of the criticism and rejection I have suffered. No doubt. But, my Lord warned me that I was to be a wise as serpent, and innocent as dove. He sends me out as His sheep amongst ravenous wolves. I want to be humble, and suffer injustice in a Christ-honoring way. So help me, God. 

"What is the most popular argument you have heard against your ministry outside the abortion mill and what is your response?"

The very first thing that comes to mind is a misuse of a Scripture that is thrown at us. People will say "Remember, it is the KINDNESS of God that leads to repentance". They are referring to Romans 2:4. They are trying to tell us that we are NOT being kind by speaking directly about sin. We are NOT being "kind" by using the Law of God, the commandments with mothers and fathers, accomplices and clinic workers. They tell us that we are driving people AWAY from Jesus, who didn't "condemn" the woman caught in adultery, like we do. I am grateful for the opportunity to ask them some questions about this Scripture. I ask, "How is the kindness of God most powerfully demonstrated?" Many decent professing Christians answer correctly, "Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross". "Yes", I say. "Remember it is the KINDNESS/GOODNESS of GOD, not of US, that leads people to repentance. And the reason Jesus had to live a perfect life and shed His Blood is so that people like you and I can have our sins forgiven, if we repent, and believe the gospel and cast ourselves at His holy feet. And that is EXACTLY what we are commissioned to do. So help us, God." 

"I know that mankind have always been totally depraved and those who are at the abortion mill to murder their children have always been sinners, however, in your years of ministry outside the abortion mill, have you seen a change in the attitudes and actions of the mothers and fathers who are there to murder their children? Do they seem more vocal and proud of their actions, and things such as that?"

Oh yes. Early in my ministry mothers would often been seen covering their faces, pulling their hoods up over to hide, holding back tears, sniffling. They exhibited more natural affection for their babies. They were more embarrassed about their sexual immorality. They were ashamed to be murdering their innocent children. They would avert their eyes. Every year I noticed that the women became less and less humble. Less and less ashamed. More and more promiscuous. More and more of the strange woman that Scripture warns us about in the book of Proverbs. Now, the mothers who come to kill their babies, and their accomplices, are often are brazen and bold-faced, even laughing and bragging about their sexual sin and acting nonchalant as they go inside to kill their young. More and more say: "I'm a Christian. God forgives us when we sin. All sin is the same to Him anyway." They sin presumptously, presuming upon His grace, insisting; "I love God. And God loves me. I know He does. He knows my heart and I know that He understands why I am doing this. He will forgive me if I repent. I prayed about this. I already asked him to forgive me. I have already repented, so I'm good."  It's wicked. And tragic. And blasphemous. 

"Have you seen a change in the professing Church in America in their attitude toward abortion and/or abortion ministry?" 

I can't say that I've seen a change in the professing/visible church in America. They have always been ingrown and self-absorbed. Apathetic about the millions of infants being slain in the shadow of their chimneys and steeples. Willfully ignorant - and even resistant to being proactive in reaching abortion-bound mothers and fathers and rescuing the perishing. And, most certainly, by and large, still opposed to abolishing abortion outright and criminalizing the genocide. 

"How would you encourage people who have never done abortion ministry before, to get involved?"

If anyone loves Jesus and their neighbor, I would encourage them to get active in advancing the Kingdom of our great God, in the way in which He has ordained. Share the Law and gospel, and, practice pure and undefiled religion. Visit the orphans in their affliction. {James 1:27} Go to wherever children are being led to slaughter, and lift up your voice for the voiceless. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Hold back those being unjustly led to slaughter. {Proverbs 24:11-12;31:8-9} For the glory of Christ and the good of the infants and all of our neighbors.  

"What advice and wisdom would you share with the people of my generation as we join this fight to abolish abortion and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ?"

Cling to Christ. He is our only hope. And He will make you strong and courageous, filling you with His Spirit that you might do all the good works the Lord has prepared beforehand for you to do and serve the purposes of God in this generation {Ephesians 2:10;Acts 13:36} Don't settle for mediocre lives. Don't spend your life on trivial religious activities and churchy entertainment. Don't waste your time on worldly vanities. Give yourself to the Lord and He will use you as a light, to salt this dark world, and point the lost to the Son of His love. 

"How can people be praying for you in your ministry?"

Pray that I would be faithful in my calling as a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, a friend, a neighbor, and as a missionary handmaiden for my Husband. And pray for all those who serve our King, under the radar, for the glory of Jesus and the good of children. May He keep us humble and faithful and sanctify us more and more, and give us His strength to do all His holy will. So help us, God. 

I would like to thank Mrs. Smith for taking time to do this written interview with me.  

May you be encouraged to serve Christ and to advance His Kingdom, and to rescue those who are being taken away to death. 

With love in the Lord,
Virginia

Persecution May Be Closer Than You Think: Tony Miano

Hi everyone,
In this installment of "Persecution May Be Closer Than You Think" you will get to hear the story of another minister of Christ, Tony Miano. Mr. Miano was very generous and offered his time to answer many questions for me. Here you will get a glimpse into some of Mr. Miano's ministry and how God is working in his life. You will get to read, not only about the legal opposition to his ministry, but why he does this ministry, and hear his insights on topics related to open air evangelism.

Below my words are written in BLACK, quotes from Mr. Miano in my emails with him are in BLUE and quotations that Mr. Miano wrote on his website are in BLUE ITALICS.

Virginia: "What is your ministry and what all do you do?"
Mr. Miano: "I serve as an evangelist in my local church—Grace Fellowship Church, of Davenport, IA. My
ministry is overseen by my three pastors. My ministry consists of:

•  Open-air preaching
•  Gospel tract distribution
•  Sign evangelism
•  Cross-walking
•  One-to-one conversations
•  Abortion clinic ministry
•  University/College campus ministry
•  Assisting my pastors in encouraging and equipping the members of our church, in evangelism
• Organizing the church’s evangelism efforts

Virginia: "What is the main focus and goal of your ministry?"
Mr. Miano: "The goal of my ministry is to glorify God and exalt the name of Jesus Christ, through the
proclamation of the gospel; to encourage and equip the members of my local church, in
evangelism; to reach the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Virginia: "How did you get involved in open air evangelism and how long have you been involved in that
kind of ministry?"
Mr. Miano: "I preached my first open-air sermon in 2005. Here is a link to the testimony of that first 
open-air: http://crossencountersmin.com/uncategorized/my-first-open-air/"
Mr. Miano had the opportunity to meet Ray Comfort and Stuart "Scotty" Scott, from Living Waters.
Both men answered his questions, and Mr. Miano observed them doing open air evangelism. After much indecision, while Mr. Miano was talking to Mr. Scott on the phone one day, Mr. Scott said: “Tony, just swallow your fears and do it!” Mr. Miano now had to decide on a place to preach. Since that day when
Mr. Miano first preached in the open air, he has been proclaiming Christ through open air preaching throughout the country and overseas. (2)

Virginia: "What do you believe is the most important thing God has taught you in your years of ministry?"
Mr. Miano: "It’s hard to say what is the “most” important thing I’ve learned. I’ve learned a lot over the last 20 years of full-time ministry. I’ve made a lot of mistakes. God has been very gracious toward and
patient with me.

If one isn’t careful, it is very easy to engage in ministry, in the flesh, without the leading and
power of the Holy Spirit. It’s very easy to engage in ministry to glorify self, instead of glorifying
Jesus Christ. It’s very easy, especially for those who are engaged in full-time evangelistic
ministry, to develop a nomadic existence—one that is not closely tied to the local church. This is
one reason why it is so very important for street evangelists and open-air preachers to be sent and
shepherded by pastors/elders of the local church. Having pastors oversee not only the ministry,
but also shepherd the life of the evangelist is critically important in keeping both the ministry and
the evangelist on track.
I’ve written and preached extensively on this subject. It’s cost me a few friends along the way.
Some Christians who have called themselves to ministry, do not like the idea of accountability to
a local church. But there is no biblical support for the idea of Christians living and ministering as
nomads without the fellowship and accountability of the local church."

Virginia: "I know you have experienced opposition to your preaching of the Gospel such as being arrested
in England and you also had a legal battle here in the United States for preaching outside an
abortion mill. Could you explain those situations?"
Mr. Miano: "Here are links to blog articles (with lots of internal links) that explain each of my arrests:

Iowa City, Iowa: http://crossencountersmin.com/featured-article/trial-state-iowa-v-miano/"
On May 30, 2017, Mr. Miano was standing on a public sidewalk outside a Planned Parenthood facility in Iowa. He was reading his Bible aloud, using no amplification, but in such a way so that the people inside the Planned Parenthood could still hear him. Mr. Miano was arrested/cited for doing this. Mr. Miano was tried in court on January 9, 2018 where he was sentenced to:

• "30 days county jail (suspended). This means so long as I am not arrested again or violate probation during the next year, I will not have to go to jail on this conviction.
• One year of self-supervised probation.
• Do not have contact with any Planned Parenthoods during the next year.
• Pay a fine of $135, plus court costs." (1)

Mr. Miano: "Pastor Nick Rolland (who was with me at Planned Parenthood when I was arrested/cited) and I
are represented by lawyers with the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). We are suing
the State of Iowa in an effort to have the law under which I was arrested deemed
unconstitutional. Our hope is that a victory in our case will provide relief to other Christians who
minister outside abortuaries, freeing them from the fear of being cited or arrested as they fight
for the lives of unborn children and the souls of those bent on murdering them.

Mr. Miano was arrested on July 1st, 2013, in London England, and held in custody for 7 hours, because he was preaching from the Bible about sexual immorality, including, but not limited to, homosexuality. Below are excerpts from a letter Mr. Miano wrote to parliment:
"I was arrested under Section 5 of the Public Order Act for using “homophobic” language which was deemed offensive. The language I used was not homophobic, as I was not promoting fear or hatred of homosexuals. I was simply explaining a passage in the Bible which speaks of sexual immorality and that people should abstain from it (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12)." (3)

"I don’t expect you to share my beliefs but think you will agree that I, and everybody else, should have the freedom to express those beliefs without fear of reprisals from the Government. My freedom was taken away from me simply because someone didn’t like what I said. Now that your nation has begun down this slippery slope, where will it end? Will people one day be arrested for disagreeing with the political party in power? And what assurance will the people have that it will stop with speech? It did not stop with speech in 1930s Germany. Many of your countrymen sacrificed their lives to end the tyranny that began with the abandonment of free speech. Nations that do not learn from history are destined to repeat it." (3)

LR is Michael Phillips, Mr. Miano's solicitor. This is an excerpt from the police interrogation:
"LR: Just a couple questions I had. What would you say to anybody that said you were trying to insult people.

(Mr. Miano:)  I would say they’re wrong. 

LR: And why would you say that?

(Mr. Miano) The reason for being out there. The reason I flew all the way from Southern California to London, was to love people and share the Gospel with them. I hope to be used by God to see people come to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. There’s never intent to insult, there’s never any intent to inflame. Of course people aren’t going to agree with everything I say, just as I don’t agree with everything other people say. But my intention, is, to love people as others loved me and shared the Gospel with me so that I could receive forgiveness of my sin and the free gift of eternal life. That’s why I came to London last year during the Olympics. That’s why I came this year to Wimbledon. And that’s why I hope I can come back as many times as possible. Because I love this country and I love the people of this country. And I don’t want to see anybody perish in their sin. (4)

Thankfully the inspector decided to have Mr. Miano released without filing any charges.

On January 8, 2014, Mr. Miano was arrested in Dundee, Scotland. "The charge: a violation of 38(1) of the Scotland Criminal Justice and Licensing Act of 2010, with an aggravation of alleged homophobic hate speech." (5)
"Although it is alleged that I told a woman who claimed her son is a homosexual that all homosexuals are of the devil and going to hell, and that I told her she is a bad mother because her son is a homosexual, what I actually said was this. I explained to those within the sound of my voice that everyone knows that all forms of sexual immorality are wrong, whether homosexual or heterosexual, because everyone knows that God is faithful." (5)

"When the police arrived they interviewed complainants and witnesses, but they did not ask for my account of what happened. Neither did they review either the video or audio we had captured of the entire incident. They simply took the word of the complainant and arrested me. It’s chilling that in Scotland, as well as England–countries that profess to have freedom of speech–a person’s freedom can be taken away simply because another person says they didn’t like what the other person allegedly said." (5)

Less than a month after his arrest, Mr. Miano wrote: "If I am found guilty as charged when I return to Scotland to stand trial in April, the sentence could range from a fine, to a maximum of five years in prison, or both." (5)

This was the outcome of the case in Dundee:
Mr. Miano: "I was held in custody for almost 30 hours. Charges were filed against me and I appeared before the judge. I signed a “promise to appear” and was released from custody. I was ordered to return to Dundee in April of that year. However, the court date was postponed. In June of that year, I was notified that the investigators finally reviewed the video of the incident and determined there was not enough evidence that I committed a crime. Charges were dropped at that time."

Please remember, these incidents listed above took place in America, England, and Scotland. Persecution of Christians is happening in Europe and America. Please prepare yourself for the time when you may face arrest for your belief in Christ. Read your Bible, memorize it, pray, and preach the Gospel. 

Virginia: "Some people probably think that if a street preacher is arrested it is because of some fault of
their own. I do believe that some people who claim to preach on the street and are arrested, are in
the wrong. However, others are arrested merely for preaching the Gospel. As a former law
enforcement officer yourself, I believe you respect LEO's and respect the law, however you have
been arrested. How do you balance respect for the law and law enforcement, and resisting
unjust/unlawful orders and continuing to preach the Gospel, even if you will be arrested for
doing so?"
Mr. Miano: "Romans 13:1-5 commands me, as a Christian, to submit to governing authorities. At the same
time, Jesus has commanded me to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him (Matt. 10:38;

16:24). Scripture is clear that if a situation comes down to obeying the laws of men or obeying
the God and His Word, I have no choice but to obey God (Acts 3-5).
The above is where I find and from where I try to exercise balance when dealing with law
enforcement contacts, while engaged in public evangelism. In the end, I am less concerned
about my civil rights than I am about being obedient to God and His Word. If proclaiming the
gospel costs me my freedom or even my life, so be it.
This being understood, the apostle Paul also gives us a couple examples in the Book of Acts in
which he respectfully challenged the application of laws by governing authorities (Acts 16:35-
40; 22:1-29).
So, if I’m truly being guided by the Word of God and the Spirit of God within me, it is certainly
possible, even probable, to find a biblical balance when dealing with law enforcement. But even
a balanced approach can be costly. The world, while governed by God’s providence, doesn’t
play by God’s rules. The world hates Jesus, and He promised Christians that the world would
hate us, too. Therefore, we are to biblically engage government authorities while always willing
to count and pay the cost, knowing that a win for Christ might result in a conviction in a human
courtroom."

Virginia: "How would you encourage other Christians to respond to law enforcement and possible ensuing
legal issues, concerning preaching the Gospel in the open air, in a way that is honoring to
Christ?"
Mr. Miano: "I wrote this: http://crossencountersmin.com/uncategorized/hello-officer-interacting-with-law/"
I suggest reading the article for yourself but here are just a few of many good points that Mr. Miano writes: 
"Be respectful even if you feel that the officer is not being respectful to you. You will not win a sinful, prideful war of words with an officer. Nor should you want to." (6)
"If an officer orders you to stop preaching or distributing tracts, respectfully ask what law(s) you have violated. – Use an inquisitive tone of voice, not an argumentative tone.

If the officer cannot or will not cite a specific penal code or municipal code section, respectfully ask why you must stop your activities if you are not in violation of the law.

Respectfully explain to the officer that you are exercising your freedom/right to express your strongly held religious beliefs, in a public place." (6)

A major point it to: "Be polite, but persevere!" (6)

Virginia: "I know there are some people who are involved in "ministry" that seem to be more yelling at
people instead of preaching the Gospel. As an example: those who would have signs or who
would say: "God hates fags", instead of exposing sin through the law and proclaiming the
Gospel. How does your preaching differ from such people?"
Mr. Miano: "I do use signs in evangelism, but they are all Scripture-based. And none of them are intentionally
inflammatory by calling people names or using terminology that will unduly offend others. All
of my signs are reviewed and approved by my pastors.
When open-air preaching, I try to frequently assert my love for listeners, letting them know that I
am not angry with them and that I want God’s very best for them—which is to repent and believe
the gospel. Without compromising the gospel message, I want people, to the extent they are able
and to the extent I am able to rightly express it, to hear love in my voice and see love in my eyes.
I believe it was John Wesley who once said, “Preach 90% law and 10% grace.” I disagree. I
think we should make much of Christ and His finished work on the cross. We should make more
of Christ than the law. While using the law in evangelism is biblical and essential, the gospel is
the power of God for salvation to all who believe (Romans 1:16).

Sadly, there are many men (and women) on the streets and college campuses who seem to relish
in emphasizing the condemnation of the law, with little genuine care for the souls within the
sound of their voices. Yes, the law should be used in evangelism. But it should be used as a
mirror, not a hammer. It should be used by a friend warning their friends that they are in danger,
not by an enemy as a weapon to crush and destroy the one at which it is pointed."

Virginia: "How would you encourage elders to be involved with street preachers or open air ministers in
their congregations?"
Mr. Miano: "I think it is very important for pastors/elders to participate in street evangelism. Speed of the
leader, speed of the team. Pastors/elders must shepherd their flocks from the front. This does not
mean that street evangelism should be the pastors/elders primary ministry. They are called first
and foremost to teach the Word, pray, and shepherd the flock.
I am blessed to be a member of church in which all of the pastors are involved in street
evangelism and abortuary ministry.
Over the years, I have found that the best way to encourage pastors/elders to get involved in
open-air ministry is to show them the rich scriptural and post-scriptural heritage of open-air
preaching, and to point them to the videos of biblical open-air preachers for whom I have great
respect.
If there are already open-air preachers in the church, or men who desire to engage in this kind of
evangelistic ministry, then my encouragement to those men is to invite their pastors to join them
on the streets. The purpose: to evaluate the open-air ministry of their members; to provide
instruction, correction, and counsel; and to pray. If pastors will join their members on the street,
it won’t be long that they will join in the activities."

Virginia: "What do you believe is the line between pointing out sin while urging people to repent, as
opposed to provoking people to anger in both preaching in the general public and at abortion
mills?"
Mr. Miano: "The line is drawn on the heart of the evangelist. With what kind of heart and with what kind of
words is the evangelist calling out to people. A raised voice does not automatically imply the
evangelist is angry. But the tone of voice can.
Again, lost people hate Jesus and hate the truth. If they are going to be offended, let them be
offended by the content of the message, and not the behavior of the messenger.
I was once an angry evangelist. By God’s grace, He has granted me repentance in this area of my
life and ministry. I wrote about it, here: http://crossencountersmin.com/featured-
article/testimony-gods-amazing-grace-angry/ "

Virginia: "How can people be praying for you in your ministry?"
Mr. Miano: "People can pray that I remain faithful to Christ and His gospel—not only in my street
evangelism, but in the areas of my life that aren’t visible every day on YouTube and Social
Media.
Pray that I continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of God, through faith in my Lord Jesus
Christ.
Pray that I continue to grow as an evangelist, church member, husband, father, and friend.
Pray that, through daily repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God will continue to
conform me to the image of His Son, and that I will not do anything to bring a reproach upon His
great name or His gospel.
Thank you."

Again, I would like to thank Mr. Miano for his time in helping me with this article. 
With love in the Lord,
Virginia

Sources:
(1) http://crossencountersmin.com/featured-article/trial-state-iowa-v-miano/
(2) http://crossencountersmin.com/uncategorized/my-first-open-air/
(3)  http://crossencountersmin.com/uncategorized/tonys-letter-to-parlimen/;
(4) http://crossencountersmin.com/uncategorized/police-interrogation-of-tony-miano/
(5) http://crossencountersmin.com/uncategorized/dundee-attest-reactions-my-responses/
(6) http://crossencountersmin.com/uncategorized/hello-officer-interacting-with-law/

A Response To A Maine Senator On Abortion

Hi everyone,
Recently Senator Lisa Keim gave a speech in opposition to LD 820 and voiced her opposition to taxpayer funded elective abortions. Below is the video of Senator Keim giving her speech and then my written response.
Senator Lisa Keim's speech

"Hello Representative Keim,
My name is Virginia Cowperthwaite. We have corresponded on the issue of abortion in the past, and I watched your video of your speech in opposition to LD 820. I agree with some of the things that you said in your speech, such as the fact that it is a living pre-born child whose life is being taken in an abortion, and the fact that religious liberty should not be trampled under foot in our State by this bill.

I would however, like to point out a few concerns with your speech. You spoke about elective abortions and how tax payers should not be forced to fund elective abortions. One of the issues is that the murder of innocent human beings should never be funded by anyone, even in the cases of rape, incest, or cases where the life of the mother is supposedly at stake. There is never any reason to murder a human being. In the case of rape and incest, we do not murder a child because their father is an evil man. In the case of life of the mother, there is no circumstance where you must intentionally murder a child to save the life of the mother. In a case where the mother's life is at risk, a doctor must do all they can to save both the mother and the child. Both mother and child have an equal right to life given to them by their Creator God. If a baby dies while you are doing all you can to save their life, and the life of the mother, you are not a murderer, you are a human being who cannot always save a person's life. However, if a person intentionally tears a baby apart, or injects poison into them, to supposedly save the life of the mother, they are a murderer.

We should not have a discussion about whether or not tax-payers should fund abortions. We should not even talk about whether or not abortion should be legal in our State. Abortion is murder and must be treated as such.


In your speech you talk about abortion and refer to it as the taking of a human life, but I challenge you that you have the platform to do even more then affirm that abortion is the taking of a human life. You have the platform to proclaim that abortion is murder and must be outlawed. I ask you to oppose abortion in all circumstances. Do not just oppose tax-payer funded abortions, or elective abortions. All abortion is the murder of a human being created in the image of God. I ask that you would use your platform to speak the truth about abortion, and seek to abolish it completely in our State. Please propose a bill that would outlaw abortion in every circumstance and that would make the penalty for abortion the same as the punishment for 1st degree murder. I know that such a bill would probably never make it into law, however, that is not an excuse to allow children to be murdered in your State without doing everything within your power as a representative to stop it. Be faithful to God and what He has called you to do. He has said to rescue those who are being taken away to death and hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. (Proverbs 24:11) Do everything you can to seek to outlaw abortion in every circumstance, and leave the results up to God.


Please do not merely appeal to the fact that a majority of Maine voters are opposed to tax-payer funded abortion. I urge you to appeal to the Ultimate Standard, the Word of God. God has said you shall not murder. Even if everyone in Maine agreed to tax-payer funded abortion, it would not make it right. God has spoken and must be obeyed.


The Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade but that decision is not law, and does not determine what the States can say about abortion. The States still have every right to make abortion illegal. The question is, will the States do justice and defend the pre-born as commanded by God, or will they sit and allow the Supreme Court to pretend that they have the power to make laws and the power to determine what the States can and cannot do when it comes to outlawing murder, and allow the murder of children to be continued in their State under the guise of law?

~Virginia Cowperthwaite
Thomaston, Maine
Age 16"

It's Actually Biblical

Hi everyone,

In this post we will be talking about biblical commands and practices that are often ignored in the professing Church in America today. We will look at street preaching, head covering, washing of feet, the holy kiss, and maybe more. I know I have written about some of these in the past, but I believe that they are still important, and still largely ignored in the professing American Church

Street Preaching:

We will start first with street preaching. Is it biblical? Is it still supposed to be practiced today? I highly suggest “Dear Christian” by Ryan Denton. It is a pamphlet which provides verses of Scripture in response to opposition to open air preaching. 

Please do not misunderstand me in thinking that I believe all men should be preaching on the street and if you are not preaching on the street you are in disobedience to a biblical command, that is not what I am saying. All Christians are commanded to make disciples, and all Christians must proclaim the Gospel, but that does not mean that all Christians have to street preach. Having said that, open air preaching is a biblical practice and should not be condemned by professing Christians. It is absolutely biblical. You may ask if it is effective. A man of God who is faithfully proclaiming the true and complete Gospel is absolutely effective, because the Word of God does not return void but will accomplish all that God intends it to accomplish. A man of God who is preaching the full and complete Gospel leads everyone who he talks to towards Christ. It is not up to men to save, that is the work of God alone. The Christian leads them to Christ, God chooses whom He will save.

As we consider open preaching let us think about some of the examples we have in the New Testament. John the Baptist preached in the open air. He was in the wilderness proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, (Luke 3:3). Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, on… a mountain. In Mark 2:13 Jesus was teaching the people beside the sea. In Mark 4:1 it says, “Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land.” In Acts 17:17 Paul was reasoning in the marketplace with those that happened to be there.   

Street preaching has been used as a biblical principle for proclamation of the Gospel throughout the history of the Church and it should continue to be practiced today. Praise God that there are some men who are faithful to proclaiming the Gospel in the open air. May God raise up many more who will do the same.

Head Covering:

For those of you who do not know what the web address of my blog means, “Katakalypto” is the greek word for head covering. If you have read my other posts on this issue, or seen pictures of me, you may have realized that I believe in the modern practice of head covering. 

I suggest the work of Jeremy Gardiner in “Headcovering: A Forgotten Christian Practice For Modern Times” although I do disagree with him on the matter of head coverings only being for meetings of the Church. I do not see that established in Scripture and understand that women should cover their heads, and men should uncover their heads, when praying or prophesying anywhere, not only in Church services. However, apart from this disagreement, I believe Mr. Gardiner provides a solid argument for why head covering should be practiced today. This post will not be as exhaustive as Mr. Gardiner’s work, it will merely be a fairly short explanation that will hopefully provide some insight into why this is a biblical command for women today.   

Please read 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 and think about what Paul is saying. 

As we look at this passage let us remember who Paul is writing to, “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:” 1 Corinthians 1:2. This is written to all Christians, not just those in Corinth at the time that Paul wrote this. 

Now that we have established who he is writing to, please look back at 1 Corinthians 11:1-16. Paul is looking at the the structure that is put in place by God. This passage is not teaching that women are lesser than men, but that the husband is the head of the wife. They are equal in value and dignity but have different roles established by God. Christ is not in any way lesser than God the Father and yet this passage says, “and the head of Christ is God.” it would be heresy to say that Jesus is lesser than God the Father. God is the head of Jesus in the established order, but Jesus is not inferior to the Father. Woman is not inferior to man but man is the head of his wife in the established order.

The issue of head covering is not a cultural command given to first century Christians in Corinth. While it is not a salvation issue, it is an issue of the glory of God. Man is the image and glory of God and woman is the glory of man, (verse 7). When we are proclaiming the words of God to men and when we are speaking to and worshipping God, we want the glory of God to be seen and the glory of man to be covered. Thus, a woman covers her head, to cover the glory of man, and a man uncovers his head to show the glory of God. 

Head covering does not just apply to women, it applies to men equally in the fact that a woman is commanded to have her head covered, a man is commanded to have his head uncovered. A man who prays or prophesies with his head covered is just as much in opposition to this command as a woman who does so with her head uncovered. 

Realize that Paul appeals to the created order, and not to a cultural practice of woman covering their heads to show that they were married. There is no indication in the text to show that this is cultural. 

Please also realize that this covering that Paul is commanding woman to cover their heads with is not long hair, as some may like to argue. If you take that position it makes verse 6 read very strange. It would make it say that “For if a wife will not have long hair, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her have long hair.” That does not make much sense. However if Paul is talking about a piece of cloth that is removable when he says “let her cover her head.” that verse makes much more sense. 

Look at verse 10. “That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.” Now I may not exactly understand this verse fully, however, it does refer to a head covering as a symbol of authority. Women are to be in submission to their husbands as to the Lord. Head covering is a visible sign of a woman’s submission to God’s created order. 

I know that this position is not held to by the majority of the professing Christians in America, however there is no reason from the text to say that it is not applicable to us today. We sometimes like to ignore or explain away commands because we do not wish to follow them. May we not be guilty of doing this. If we say we are willing to die for Christ, are we not willing to cover or uncover our heads in obedience to the commands of God?

Washing of Feet:

Please read John 13:1-17.

Jesus loved his disciples to the end and washed their feet. In verse 14 Jesus says, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Again in this passage, there is nothing that points to this being cultural. The command was never rescinded. Washing someone’s feet is a very good way to show love and honor for brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a very humble task, and I believe it should still be practiced today. 

This is sadly another very neglected practice in the American Church. As an example, there was a man who had been involved in full time ministry for about 8 years or so, no one had ever washed his feet. That is sad. 

Holy Kiss:

I know I hold a lot of beliefs that are unpopular in the American Church, these are not salvation issues, but I believe that they are biblical and should be discussed. 

The holy kiss or the kiss of love is commanded 5 times in the New Testament. Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:26, 1 Peter 5:14. Again, there is nothing in the text that says that this is cultural. A friend once pointed out that a kiss used to be a sign of submission. In Ephesians 5:21 we are commanded to submit “to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Not that that is the only reason that we should practice the holy kiss, but that is something interesting to think about. 

In our culture today a lot of things are over sexualized. A kiss is not something that is inherently inappropriate; even between men and women. I practice a holy kiss on the cheek but I do not believe it is sinful to greet each other with a kiss on the lips if that is your choice. It should be done in purity, (consider 1 Timothy 5:1-2). 

There are a lot of things that are biblical but make us uncomfortable in our present day and culture. Let us return to Scripture and what God has said. Let us not take our opinions to the Scriptures and try to make them fit our view. May God and His word be our standard in all matters of faith and practice. 

I know that I have mentioned a lot of unpopular beliefs in this article. I ask that if you disagree with any of these beliefs, you would point me to the Scriptures that have convinced you otherwise. I am not above correction and want to have a biblical view. Please leave your thoughts in the comments. 

By the way, on the topic of unpopular beliefs that I hold, I am reformed, but that's another blog post.

With love in the Lord,

Virginia