George Tiller Slain in Wichita

By Chuck Missler

"But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." - 1 Peter 4:15-16

Late-term abortionist George Tiller was shot to death on Sunday, May 31st at the Lutheran church he attended in Wichita, Kansas. While abortion rights groups are celebrating Tiller as a martyr, pro-life groups have stepped up consistently to denounce the man's murder.

In the first abortionist slaying in over a decade, George "The Killer" Tiller was shot in the lobby of Reformation Lutheran Church where, ironically, he was serving as an usher. A man identified as 51-year-old Scott P. Roeder of Merriam and Kansas City, Kansas was arrested about 3 hours after the shooting along I-35; his car matched the description of one that drove away from the church at the time of the murder. Roeder's ex-wife has described him as having a serious "eye-for-an eye" religious view, and there is evidence he believed in justifiable homicide.

Pro-life groups have consistently criticized and protested against Tiller's performing abortions on fetuses old enough to live outside the womb. For decades, groups of pro-life activists have picketed Tiller's clinic and have followed the various legal cases against the abortionist. Yet, pro-life groups across the country have also come out in strong condemnation of Tiller's murder. On a sign placed outside Tiller's clinic, a local group wrote:

"The Kansas Coalition for Life respects every human life, including the life of Abortionist Tiller. We prayed for his conversion to the prolife viewpoint, not for his murder."

The sign was signed Mark S. Gietzen, who leads the coalition.

The Kansas Coalition for Life is not alone. The same sentiment has flooded from the pro-life community across the United States. LifeNews.com has collected a list of statements from pro-life organizations denouncing Tiller's murder:

For instance, Melinda Delahoyde, president of Care Net, an organization that includes pregnancy care centers across America, told LifeNews.com,

"It is never consistent with the pro-life ethic to take the life of another human being made in the image of God. Those responsible for the murder should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."

Brian Gibson of Pro-Life Action Ministries said,

"But as horrific as abortion is and heinous the acts of the abortionists are, we must always remain peaceful and act with the mind of Christ. There is no room in our work for thoughts or acts of hatred, anger, bitterness, or violence. To the contrary we must boldly speak the truth in love, with peace and faith in the mercy of God."

These positions have been echoed by a multitude of pro-life groups, which, while condemning the thousands of abortions committed by George Tiller, have also affirmed Tiller's rights to life and legal recourse.

This was not the first time Tiller was attacked. He survived being shot in the arms in 1993 and had to build up security around his clinic. He even wore bullet proof vests and hired a bodyguard. His clinic was bombed over two decades ago, and he has received many threats over the years. Yet, he persisted as one of a handful of abortion providers in America who performed late-term abortions. His was the first slaying of an abortionist since 1998, when Barnett A. Slepian was shot outside of Buffalo, NY.

Both Tiller and his alleged killer Scott Roeder have friends and family members who love them and who have spoken well of them publicly. George Tiller's friends and colleagues have described him as a calm, good-humored individual who decorated his walls with the photos of family members. Abortion rights groups lauded him as a caring individual who helped women.

On the other hand, Scott Roeder's brother David told the Topeka Capital-Journal in a statement,

"We know Scott as a kind and loving son, brother and father who suffered from mental illness at various times in his life. However, none of us ever saw Scott as a person capable of or willing to take another person's life."

The irony is that both men believed they were doing the right thing. George Tiller claimed he performed late-term abortions to help women. His killer justified murder in the name of bringing an abortionist to justice. George Tiller ended the lives of unborn babies, and Roeder allegedly ended the life of George Tiller.

During the Age of Reason, people argued that human beings were capable of using their excellent brain power and reasoning skills to come up with morality. Yet, during the past 100 years all manner of evil and horrific acts have been "justified" by human reason. In the end, we human beings have a tendency to use our brain power to argue in favor of doing whatever we want to do. And what we want to do is often completely contrary to the Word of God.

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." -Proverbs 14:12

Tiller and his murderer both followed ways which seemed right unto themselves, but which led to death. Lest we get too puffed up, we ourselves can easily fall into similar traps in the different areas of our lives. We can all choose destruction rather than life, pride rather than humility, hatred rather than righteous love.

The safest way to determine right and wrong is to prayerfully and honestly study the whole counsel of the Word of God (not just favorite sections), with the leading of the Holy Spirit who wrote it. Thousands of years after it was penned, the Bible is still...