In the sweltering heat, I scurried down the sidewalks and across the soggy SC State House grounds. A hundred or so people were already gathered. As I got closer, I could hear screaming, “Separation of Church and State! Separation of Church and State!” Their signs displayed vulgar and grotesque images. Their eyes were filled with hate, and their voices exploded with bitter anger.

I eased over to stand with the group defending life. I was struck by the stark contrast of how the defenders of the unborn were pleasant, quiet, and kind-hearted. Their signs were covered with the truth of God’s Word, and their demeanor was calm and peaceful.

Dark vs. Light was on full display.

We were all there for the Ad Hoc House Committee’s hearing to listen to public testimony as to whether SC should make abortion illegal from conception. Several days prior, the Holy Spirit reminded me of a very significant verse:

Out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants, You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger (Psalm 8:2, NKJV).

To silence the enemy.

Babies are certainly to be celebrated as God’s blessings, but did you realize that children are knit together in their mother's wombs (Psalm 139:13-16) for the purpose of silencing the enemy? No wonder Satan and his army are on the march to destroy as many children as possible. He does not want to be silenced. Over the last 50 years in America alone, 63,000,000 would-be silencers of the enemy have been destroyed. 63 million.

Standing in the gap for all children, from the womb to the classroom, was the sole reason I ran for the SC House of Representatives this past June. Though I lost by only 25 votes, I have no regrets—only hope. Bringing awareness to the tactics the enemy is using to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10) our children was worth every handshake, knock on a door, phone call, email, dollar raised, and campaign sign planted.

The implosion of America does not lie at the feet of the wicked, but at the heart of the Church. For decades we’ve ignored our Christian responsibility to “train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6) and have allowed the secularists to train them. The number of children who have never stepped foot in a church or even heard the name of Jesus, except in vain, is continuing to increase. Even those who’ve grown up in the church are leaving the faith at alarming rates. Why do you think this is happening?

God’s hand on this nation has been profound from its conception. America was created to be a beacon of light for Christ here and around the world. Instead, over the last 100 years, we’ve allowed anti-God, anti-faith, and anti-family ideologies and philosophies to take root in our society. In doing so, the enemy has turned up the volume, ramped up his assault, and inserted himself into every American institution, including the Church. He has gained astronomical amounts of territory, especially with his assault on our children.

A self-serving society cultivates chaos, confusion, and ultimately, delusion. Scripture affirms that Satan is the dispenser of chaos and confusion. In Christ, we must combat both with strength and courage by standing firm on the truth of His Word so we can guard our hearts against the schemes of the enemy. Our very existence as one nation under God depends on it.

So, is there hope for the next generation? Can we slow or even stop the madness?

There's always hope. As Edward Mote penned, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness." Christ is our only hope as individuals, families, and as a nation. For hope to illuminate again, all of us must take responsibility in spiritually training up the next generation, showing them Jesus, and for the sake of their eternal souls, stop compromising the truth.

Christ followers must immerse themselves in the Word to remain rooted and grounded for our own protection. Grow in faith, wisdom and understanding, and do not neglect the assembling together with an unashamed, Bible-believing, Christ-centered, church family. Together, let’s push back against the enemy, especially on behalf of the children, born and unborn. “Little ones to Him belong. They are weak, but He is strong.” (Jesus Loves Me, public domain)

It's imperative that the true Church move with haste to the frontlines of this spiritual war to fight for the unborn generation so they can silence the enemy.