Today I did one of my favorite things.  We have a huge used bookstore near where I live, and today I took some books to trade in and had time to roam around and shop.  It was so great--I love finding used books at bargain prices (well, not quite so bargain, but less than I would get them new, and maybe even on Amazon). 

But as I wandered, I got to thinking about all the different kinds of books that were there.  Then I got a little scared.  I realized how influential the written, and sometimes spoken, word is, and I became afraid for my boys.  How will they resist all the crazy, weird, and even dangerous ideas that are out there that seem to make sense, but are pretty much just unbiblical.  Lies.  What if they get carried away by lies?  After all, I can't control (censor?) what they read, watch and listen to forever.

Nor could my parents for me.  And somehow by God's grace, I have either been protected or brought through all the crazy ideas that I have had access to.  Somehow, in ways I don't understand and that don't make sense to me, God is bigger than all of that.  After thinking about that I felt a little better.

Then on the way home I got behind a car PLASTERED with bumper stickers.  Now I will mention that bumper sticker wisdom is a pet peeve of mine because most of it is so . . . foolish.  (Right up there with church marquis theology)  But this guy had LOTS of delightful little Leftist sayings covering the whole backside of his car.  My personal favorite were the stickers that essentially said "How can someone who is pro-life also be pro-war?" 

OK.  Let me think about this a minute.  Let's NOT declare war on a way of life that enslaves more people than it serves because they have a different colored skin (or a different faith, or religion, etc.).  Let's NOT get involved in a war, instead let's just let EVERY JEW in Europe be exterminated while a madman takes over the entire continent.  Let's NOT get involved in a war where a religious group has as part of it's recorded doctrine the destruction of anyone who doesn't embrace it's faith, and who are living out the first part of that by exterminating any who don't agree with their religion right in their own country and are beginning to branch out into efforts to take out the big guy who can stop them by destroying innocent people.  Let's be anti-war so we can be pro-life so millions of innocent people can die at the hands of bullies whom no one will bother in the name of tolerance.  Is that really being pro-life?

I'm not crazy about war, but it seems that sometimes you have to fight for the innocent and defenseless.  Like groups with no voice due to poverty or no power (Orphans, widows, the poor).  Like unborn infants.  Like those oppressed for practicing their religion (including millions of Christians in the 10-40 Window, as well as those of other faiths who are persecuted).  You don't fight because you love war and death, but because sometimes death must be stopped by fighting it. 

I know it doesn't totally make sense.  Confusion is the result of sin.  And so our lives are complicated and confusing.  But I'm still pro-life. 

And I hope my boys will think about the bumper stickers and books they read and apply God's Word to it.  'Cause that's the only thing worth hoping in.