“Woe…”
Lou Tiscione, Pastor, Weatherford Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Woe describes or warns of impending doom. It is a word that has fallen out of usage in our day. But it’s a word that should be understood and taken seriously. Woe usually precedes God’s judgment or warning of His coming judgment. One of those significant and timeless woes is in Isaiah Chapter 5 Isaiah 5:20 declares a situation that Israel found herself in and that we often find ourselves. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” God issued a warning to His people for their abusive and oppressive behavior towards their brothers. More specifically, God directed His “woe” against the leaders of His people.
The book of Isaiah reveals God’s judgment and salvation. Chapter 5 was addressed to God’s “vineyard”, His chosen people. God sought justice and righteousness within His people and found none! God’s indictment of wicked people continued. Isaih described them as oppressive, self-serving, unjust and liars. The “woe” of verse 5 is repeated five more times in Chapter 5.
God expects His people to know good from evil. He expects His people to follow “the good”. “The good” is that which is morally and ethically right. The ultimate source of “the good” is God. He has revealed “the good” in His word. “He has told you, O man, what is good.” Micah 6:8a
We also have God’s promise to work all things together for the good of those who love Him, those whom He has called, Romans 8:28.
The Bible was written to believers but it applies to all people. God does not have a sliding scale. He doesn’t grade on a curve. “All must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2Corinthans 5:10
Some of our own leaders have called an evil organization good. I am referring to Planned Parenthood. Those leaders claim that Planned Parenthood is concerned with women’s health. Yet the founder of Planned Parenthood believed in eugenics fueled by her belief in Darwin’s theory of evolution. Eugenics is the attempt to improve the species through genetic control and manipulation. The founder, Margaret Sanger’s idea of improvement of the species would come by removing the less desirable members of society, such as minorities and the disabled. One of the tools that she advocated for improvement was abortion another was sterilization of minority women. The following quote of Margaret Sanger summarized her philosophy. "More children from the fit, less from the unfit -- that is the chief aim of birth control." (Birth Control Review, May 1919, p. 12)
A damaging effect of Margaret Sanger’s philosophy is moral confusion. Even believers struggle to discern what is right and wrong when bombarded by the cultural norms or acceptance of abortion. Those who profess to hold a God-centered World View appeal to the word of God and pray for the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit to guide discernment, Psalm 119:105
Issues of human life should not fall in the category of ethical or moral confusion. We need not wonder what the “good” course is on the issue of abortion. God is for life! Those who would call this culture of death good have placed themselves under the “woes” that Isaiah declared.
I am called to be a minister of the gospel. I am an ordained pastor. Yet, in this I am simply writing as a man who believes the Risen Lord Jesus. I have been made a new creation by the sovereign grace of God. He has caused me to see the truth and the beauty of Christ. As a member of His family, I am obligated to declare the truth and live under His word. I dare not bless what God curses! I dare not remain silent when evil is called good.
I read somewhere that for evil to succeed all that is necessary is for good men to be silent. I am not good in the sight of God. I am a sinner. God alone is good and He expects me to stand for that which He has sanctified, namely human life. There is no middle ground when it comes to standing for the sanctity of human life. May we who know the truth, ask God’s blessing on that which is good and speak openly for the sanctity of human life!
