Let me begin by saying that I condemn this murder as both immoral and counterproductive. It cannot be justified -- even if the victim is probably responsible for the killing of more Americans than Osama bin Laden.
Authorities said they had a suspect in custody Sunday afternoon in the shooting death of George Tiller, a Wichita doctor who was one of the few doctors in the nation to perform late-term abortions.Dr. Tiller, who had long been a lightning rod for controversy over the issue of abortion and had survived a shooting more than a decade ago, was shot inside his church here on Sunday morning, the authorities said. Dr. Tiller, 67, was shot with a handgun inside the lobby of his longtime church, Reformation Lutheran Church on the city’s East Side, just after 10 a.m. (Central Time). The service had started minutes earlier.
At the same time, I cannot feel any sadness over this murder, given that the victim is probably responsible for the killing of more Americans than Osama bin Laden.
And let me condemn the desecration of the church where the murder took place -- even though I find it scandalous that Reformation Lutheran Church has strayed so far its allegedly Christian character as to allow such a notorious killer to serve in a position of public leadership and ministry. Furthermore, I condemn the endangering of the other members of the congregation.
No, there is nothing positive about the murder of anyone -- not even a depraved killer like George Tiller. For really complete coverage, look to The Other McCain -- good commentary from Hot Air, Don Surber, Ed Driscoll, Gateway Pundit.
But this does raise an issue in my mind -- one that I believe every Christian ought to consider.
We believe that there is a just God in Heaven. We also believe that God is merciful. What, then, is the eternal fate of an individual like George Tiller, who professes faith in the Risen Christ even while living a scandalously sinful life? Will the God of Justice and Mercy show more of the latter or the former as such a one approaches the Judgment Seat? And if the answer is the latter, what does that tell us of the extent of God's mercy for each of us?
As for me, while I would gladly see him dealt with as justice demands, I yet hope that the balance swings towards mercy. After all -- if there is eternal hope for a blood-stained wretch like George Tiller, operator of a slaughterhouse for the most vulnerable of our fellow humans, then there is eternal hope for me as well.
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It's sad that a church that was such founded by such a strong christian man could come so far from the truth. To allow a murderer, Mr. George Tiller, to be a member and serve in a position of authority is shows how far from the truth this church has come. I believe God forgives us for our sins, but we must ask for forgiveness and turn from them. It sounds like Mr. Tiller never turned from his wicked ways. How many babies were murdered for money or because it was inconvenient for someone. Did they deserve death? How many of those children could have been someone to cure cancer, to write beautiful music, to have children of their own. We will never know the fate of those children. I believe the fate of Mr. Tiller is sealed and soon he will meet the father of Lies...Satan himself. He's already been serving this father. The time to pray for mercy for this murderer was while he was still alive...I think it's a little too little too late for that now. Mercy is needed for the mothers that allowed this murderer to kill their babies.
|| Posted by Sandra, May 31, 2009 06:34 PM ||Why is it considered a murder? Shouldn't it simply be classified a (very) late term abortion? After all, that was what Tiller the Baby Killer was known for, the snuffing out of lives of viable foetus'. Why should the end of his useless existence be treated any differently?
Of course, I'm being sarcastic and mean, but you reap what you sow and justice finally caught up with this evil excuse for a human being. Good riddance.
I do have to wonder, given his very well publicized proclivities and profession, what on God's green Earth a church was doing allowing him to attend? I'd love to hear the pastor and the congregants explain that one.
|| Posted by Ryan, May 31, 2009 07:13 PM ||The murder is without justification, no matter how evil Tiller was. That our nation's laws fail to treat his ilk as killers for hire does not allow for individuals or groups to act out side the law in order to seek vigilante justice.
May Tiller's murderer face at the hands of the justice system the same sort of punishment that Tiller's deeds merited -- even though that system is so broken as to allow the evil which he committed on a daily basis.
|| Posted by Rhymes With Right, May 31, 2009 07:31 PM ||Tiller claimed to be a Christian. Anyone can claim to be a Christian. You have to accept Jesus as your LORD and SAVIOR. Did Tiller accepted Jesus as Lord? If he had his actions and the way he lived his life would have reflected it. Light and darkness cannot co-exist. He could not have justified his profession as a Christian.
Why the church would allow this man to be a member is a mystery.
|| Posted by evan, June 1, 2009 09:25 AM ||Membership is one thing -- leadership and ministry is the thing that I criticize. After all, there are many sinners (100%) in every church.
|| Posted by Rhymes With Right, June 1, 2009 02:33 PM ||What are we to think of this? A man who admittedly slaughtered tens of thousands of innocents is gunned down like a rabid dog. And many are saying what a tragedy it is. Perhaps a tragedy for the rule of law. He should have been stopped by the courts.
|| Posted by grafton, June 1, 2009 07:05 PM ||But is is really a tragedy that this man is dead? In a larger sense his death was an outcome that was far overdue. The blood of thousands of butchered children and cried out from the earth for justice. Perhaps God in His mercy not only wanted to protect future innocents, but knew He had to protect the death doctor from himself. Now, in eternity perhaps Tiller will join his Nazi medical counterpart, Josef Mengele, and the two can compare the destruction that they have wrought on mankind. I wonder which one will have the hottest accommodations?
If Hitler or Stalin would have been assasinated, would we say we condemned those actions? How many innocent lives would have been saved? Tiller the Killer killed how many babies and would have continued to kill how many more? I think the man who asassinated him should be a hero; he saved many babies. Proof in point; if a man were attempting to stab little kids in your neighbor’s back yard (and had a track recording of murders- while stating he would continue to do so- even though he didn’t believe the children were human) and you shot the perpetrator as he was attempting to do harm to them, would we condemn you because of that action? I think not; nor do I condemn or disagree with this man’s courage in defending these almost-born babies. The man who shot Tiller knew and knows the radical, rabid, pro-abortion machine will make sure he gets the death penalty in no time flat. Instead of saying this man’s actions run counter to being truly pro-life, maybe we need to reevaluate and consider whether he is more pro-life than almost all of us- us who say we want to protect the babies, but don’t act to do something to give these innocent little ones a defense to their right to life.
|| Posted by Blaise, June 1, 2009 09:16 PM ||Post a comment