Andrew Beacham

There are many enemies to the Pro-Life Movement some within and some without our group. The "'Possum" seems to be the most prevalent, so we should deal with confronting the "'Possum." I have run into a number of scrapes with "'Possums," on different occasions. This is a friendly reminder to make sure you keep your shield and sword handy, "sword of the Spirit" and "shield of Faith," that is. Oh, do not forget your "belt of Truth" either, it is invaluable.

For inoculation sake and the preservation of our souls, we should start off with one of the "'Possums" favorite, oft misquoted and even less understood, passages of scripture:

Ephesians 6:11-18

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench
all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Any pro-lifer should know if they actually possess that true "sword of the Spirit" and "shield of Faith," and never take your belt off, alright?! If St Paul expected conflict then so should we, that is why anyone would wear armor in the first place. Why is it important for us to have our spiritual armor on? I believe, "'Possums" are Satan's favorite weapon to infect and destroy those of us who oppose his will.

Also, if we look around, it is hard not to notice many "'Possums" without pants on. They don't have the "belt of Truth," so keep your belt on! It is equally rare that they have any of the Spiritual armor on, and just as probable that they do not actually possess any armor.

Not having or not wearing the armor of God could explain why a person is a "'Possum," but far worse would be to wear a counterfeit armor. Think of it this way, if being Pro-Life means going to war against Satan and a "'Possum" is not wearing spiritual armor while heading to battle Satan's forces, that is known as road-kill. Many Christians have been taught wrong or poorly about spiritual battle, and they go out to battle not wearing the truth tied firmly around their waste. This, also, might explain why we see them "praying their brains out."

Whether we seek to root "'Possums" out by exposing them, or stumble upon one by accident–never forget this warning–It is never a good thing to accidentally corner a 'possum! As a general rule, this applies to both the actual animal and the "Pro-Life 'Possum." It is always best to be prepared and expect a "'Possum" to turn up when we go to confront evil.

In most cases, a "'Possum" will sense the slightest impending trouble and flee or faint if unable to make a retreat. However in special cases, they will use their fifty great big, needle-pointed, sharp teeth to attack, and lock their jaw upon their attackers flesh.

Here is an idea of what a pro-lifer may encounter if attacked by a “‘Possum.” One tooth is, "Why don't you care about unity," another tooth is, "Why are you attacking me, we are on the same team," then there is "You don't understand what the Pro-Life Movement is about" tooth, the "You are crazy and only offending anyone we could persuade to our side" tooth, the "You are insensitive to parents who have killed their baby" tooth, the "we have to be patient for the right time" tooth, the "we, (the false-pious, self-righteous cowards favorite), will only and need only to pray and injustice will end" tooth, and the classic "You are using the wrong methods" tooth.

The cornered "Pro-Life 'Possum" can wound anyone in direct confrontation with cutting and pointed arguments that they bear like teeth. I have also noticed, they are more aggressive and brave in numbers, as well as in defending their territory.

One example of a "'Possum" attack is Missy Smith, Rabbi Levin, others along with myself went to an Alliance Defense Fund and Students for Life function to talk to students for Randall Terry's presidential campaign. Missy Smith was invited and none of us was there to pick fights but to inform and to recruit help from students. We were all kicked out of the convention for being political, or electioneering.

Another example happened recently when a team of Terry for President volunteers travelled to Kentucky to collect signatures at the “Cross the Bridge for Life" event. They were only collecting signatures quietly, to get Randall Terry on the ballot in Kentucky, when they were told to leave and expelled from the event. The reason being ejected, "this is a prayerful event."

My all time favorite "'Possum" attack story is the one with the great big, sharp, pointy tooth, "You should be ashamed of yourself." And the first time I remember hearing it was one of the times I know that Jesus was very pleased with me, but Obama was likely very upset, (He was probably a little upset since his commencement speech had just been interrupted for the third time).

There must be a handbook for cowards somewhere, because there is quite the consensus amongst "'Possums" to desert their political duty and to use Ephesians 6:12 to justify it. It is hysterical when you consider St. Paul's intention in Ephesians 6 was to confront the Emperor of Rome face to face with the controversial truths of the Gospel to convert him, which for any Roman citizen, and more for a caesar, was a simultaneously religious and political proposition. (I encourage you to read Ephesians 6 for yourself.)

St. Paul's physical struggle was apparent due to his chains. As was Christianity's physical struggle apparent due to the Roman Empire's persecution of christians for not sacrificing to the gods. Sacrifice was a civil and religious duty. The struggle against flesh and blood was obvious for St Paul. He is struggling against the physical "flesh and blood," and at the same time reveals the shrouded deeper spiritual cause and truest nature of the struggle. It has a physical component and the spiritual force behind it is what we are fighting. St Paul is hoping with the Holy Spirit and by preaching the Truth to the emperor (a physical and spiritual action) the Church would prevail physically and spiritually on earth, over the Roman Empire.

St. Paul never meant we will not struggle with flesh and blood, but that even if we are fighting the physical that the spiritual is still the core of the matter or it is the essential truth to deal with. Nor did St. Paul ever intend for us to flee political conflict. Be assured, fighting spiritual evil never means physical safety, because evil spirits like Molech or Baal will come to destroy the righteous physically, and even Satan took the form of the serpent/dragon in Genesis 3 and Revelation 20:2.

Basically I am saying, we have to be prepared to deal with "'Possums" anywhere and anytime, for their own sake as much as for the Mission. They can spread the disease of cowardice and the bacteria of fear, quickly, since some of their needle sharp teeth, (arguments), bare the foul bacteria of fear. As far as I can tell; they spend most of their time coming up with new and better arguments to justify themselves. In their case, praying to end "abortion" is the only thing they are capable of doing. Besides, who can argue against a Holy thing like prayer and why risk injuring your reputation by running for congress and actually changing the law? (In my opinion, even the hissing of a "'Possum" is unbearable and nearly as effective as their bite. It makes my skin crawl.)

If one pro-lifer is bit by a "'Possum," often others will be bit or infected also, and that is when a Pro-Life warrior could be surrounded by "'Possums" as fear has spread throughout the camp. It is easy to become a "'Possum," easier than not. Think of how devastating fear can be to any strategy, but more so how would you deal with fear or lead a group of cowards?

If you have been bitten by a "Pro-Life 'Possum," or you follow a "Pro-Life 'Possum," there is medicine for that. It is called the Truth, and without it any who are bitten can suffer great harm. In fact some pro-lifers, without seeking a doctor’s aid, suffer such a bad infection his/her soul dies in confusion or a wrong conclusion for the lack of Truth.

Every pro-lifer must think through their actions, and we must know the Truth, the Faith, and the Goal of our movement. Until my next post, consider that any pro-lifer, with the right training, can defeat the "'Possum," but only if they keep their belt on!