Isaiah 1:21 “See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her- but now murderers!”

Today’s headline read, “Granite City is growing away from its steel image.” http://www.bnd.com/news/local/story/344420.html . This is true. Over the past thirty years, and specifically the last decade, this gritty town once known for its steel industry is now known for its baby killing industry, also known as Hope Clinic for Women, specializing in late-term baby killing and no parental notification is necessary. That means a child, as long as she has a ride and the cash, can come from all surrounding states and murder her baby into the third trimester.

“The city known for its steel production has been lately noticed for its other productions.” What the mayor fails to mention is the dirty little industry just two blocks down from the newly developed streetscape surrounding Mayor Hagnauer’s office in City Hall. The draw from all surrounding states is the human slaughterhouse located at 1602 21^st that has given this town its dubious title: the City of Slaughter

Ezekiel 22: The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, will you judge her? Will you judge this city of bloodshed? Then confront her with all detestable practices and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O city that brings on herself doom by shedding blood in her midst and defiles herself by making idols, you have become guilty because of the blood you have shed and have become defiled by the idols you have made...

“‘Therefore I will make you an object of scorn to the nations and a laughingstock to all the countries. Those who are near and those who are far away will mock you, O infamous city, full of turmoil.

“’See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood. In you they have treated father and mother with contempt; in you they have oppressed the alien and mistreated the fatherless and the widow. You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths. In you are slanderous men bent on shedding blood…In you men accept bribes to shed blood…

“’There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her. Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things…they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean;…Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations …

“I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.”

Is anyone drawing the distinction between these scriptures and what is happening where innocent blood is currently being shed? Yes, mayor, we need only look in the mirror to see who shares in the bloodguilt of approximately 400,000 in your fair city. I’m not quite sure the mayor realizes what bloodguilt is, but if you can imagine the carcasses of 366,104 scattered throughout the newly developed areas and streets along with the blood washing up to the city hall and churches’ doors, that would have to get your attention.

You can build all the brightly colored facades over this doomed town, but the innocent blood will eventually seep through, just like the saying, “You can pour perfume on a pig, but it still smells like a pig.” However, I applaud the city forefathers for trying to rid their city of crime and build a better image, but the greatest crime against humanity is abortion- the taking of innocent life.

How can God continue to bless this city where detestable practices go on and the leaders and the pastors refuse to confront it? Would we allow a puppy mill to operate this way? A while back, a council member contacted us proclaiming they were pro-life and wanting to know what could be done to rid the city of the bloody empire that quietly dominates this town. II Chronicles 7:14 “If my people…”

God is giving us all the equipment we need. We must put feet to our prayers. We must show up where atrocities and injustice are going on. By the town’s silence babies continue to be slaughtered. And it is by our silence and lack of public outcry that free running abortion mills feed into the immorality that is running rampant in our nation. Oppression only benefits the oppressor.

If your neighbor’s house was on fire and you could hear the children screaming to be rescued, would we stand there and offer to pray for them? No, we would do everything to break down the burning doors to rescue those that were perishing. The alarms have been sounded. It is time, mayor, to scourge your city of this abomination and blight that takes comfort in your backyard. You can make a difference.

Isaiah 1:26 “Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness , the Faithful City .”