But that was then, when America was so Christian that it only took a few more tweaks to finish up the job, like abolishing slavery or prohibiting alcohol.  But somehow when that got done the results were deeper racism and the triumph of the Mafia.  It’s discouraging, isn’t it?  So it’s not surprising that by 1910 pre-millennialism had become a fundamental of the faith, right up there with the virgin birth and the resurrection of Jesus, sending the clear message: stick to evangelism, you can’t change the world anyway.

Jonathan Blanchard, first president of Wheaton College, was a candidate for president of the United States, did you know that?  He headed the Anti-Mason Party but didn’t get very far.  Still, he succeeded in keeping the Masons from laying the cornerstone of the Chicago Post Office, why should a secret society run the country?

I taught at Olivet College, daughter school of Oberlin, that not only had Charles Finney with his enthusiasm for a theology that would commit to revival, but also was the first to admit women and black students.  With all their flaws, that’s still a good memory.

But that was then, when America was so Christian that it only took a few more tweaks to finish up the job, like abolishing slavery or prohibiting alcohol.  But somehow when that got done the results were deeper racism and the triumph of the Mafia.  It’s discouraging, isn’t it?  So it’s not surprising that by 1910 pre-millennialism had become a fundamental of the faith, right up there with the virgin birth and the resurrection of Jesus, sending the clear message: stick to evangelism, you can’t change the world anyway.

Roe v Wade was our new wakeup call: kill all the unborn babies you want, by now in the millions. Should Christians take a stand? Some remarkable leaders led us back then, Francis Schaeffer, H. O. J. Brown, C. Everett Koop.  They made a very strong case and saved some lives—but not that many.

Is there still something we can do, or should we all be functional premils?  Can we still fight abortion?  Apparently only at the cost of being allied with the Republicans, those who are willing and eager to shut down the government when they don’t get their way.  That price is too high, for me at least.  Start up another party, figure out what Abraham Kuyper was up to?  A party between capitalism and socialism, committed to caring for the disadvantaged, Kuyper’s dream?  Maybe—but it doesn’t look that hopeful to me.

Why do all those abortions happen?  Many reasons, but a big one is dysfunctional poor families without fathers, where a girl’s apparent only hope for love is giving her body away, and then not being able to deal with a baby by herself.  Can we help her?

I’m so new to this, the first time I’ve lived in an American city.  Suburbs are safer and more comfortable and the schools are good. I’ve appreciated that—but a lot more people are in the cities, where so many babies are killed. Here in Dallas there is ‘Mercy Street’ ministry, where children without fathers are mentored for eight years by people who love them and care for them, with the love of Jesus.  It happens, kids are loved and fewer babies are killed.

Micro answers with macro love, is that enough?  It beats relying on politicians who don’t have a clue. It saves many lives. It helps us pray for more, doesn’t it?  Blanchard took care of that post office cornerstone and that was worth doing.  This is worth a lot more, isn’t it?

Dr. D. Clair Davis is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and is a Professor Emeritus of Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.