Truth of our times: abortion, Buddhist monks and holy terror | Eastern NC Now

In a time of political noise, moral confusion, and growing pressure for the Church to retreat into silence, clarity matters more than ever. Laws shape lives. Ideas shape laws. And theology -whether acknowledged or not - shapes both.This week’s Truth for Our Times addresses three very different subjects that share a common thread: what happens when moral convictions are displaced by expediency, sincerity without truth, or activism without restraint. From abortion policy reshaping North Carolina, to public demonstrations for peace divorced from the gospel, to the outright desecration of Christian worship, each article confronts the consequences of ignoring first principles.

These are not abstract debates. They are realities unfolding in our state, our nation, and our churches - right now.

When State Lines Decide Life and Death
How Abortion Policy in Neighboring States Is Reshaping North Carolina
By Dr. Mark Creech

North Carolina’s 12-week abortion law initially reduced abortions among state residents—but the story didn’t end there. As surrounding states enacted stricter limits, North Carolina quietly became a regional destination for abortion, absorbing demand displaced from elsewhere.

This article examines newly available data, the unintended consequences of uneven state laws, and why political claims that the issue has been “settled” no longer align with reality. When laws begin accommodating what they were meant to restrain, silence is no longer neutral—and waiting is not a policy.

Peace: What Marching Buddhist Monks Get Wrong
By Rev. Mark Creech

Across North Carolina, many have been struck by the sight of Buddhist monks marching silently for peace. Their discipline is admirable. Their intentions appear sincere. But sincerity alone does not answer the deeper question: what truly brings peace?

Drawing on Scripture and Billy Graham's insights, this article contrasts Buddhism’s inward path with Christianity’s message of reconciliation through Christ. Peace, the Bible teaches, cannot be meditated into existence or earned through discipline - it must be received from the Peace-Giver Himself.

Holy Terror: Protesters Desecrate Church in Anti-ICE Rampage
By Dr. Sam Currin

In a shocking assault on religious liberty, anti-ICE protesters stormed a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, during Sunday worship, forcing families to flee and shutting the service down altogether.

This powerful essay exposes the hypocrisy of activists who claim to defend “sacred spaces” while trampling one of the most sacred spaces of all: a church gathered for worship. Dr. Sam Currin offers a sobering reminder that when lawlessness is excused as virtue, no institution - no matter how holy - is safe.

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Each of these stories underscores a hard truth: when moral clarity is replaced by convenience, when peace is sought without reconciliation to God, and when activism is unleashed without limits, the consequences are neither benign nor temporary.

The Church was never called to be silent observers of cultural decay. We are called to be witnesses—to truth, to righteousness, and to the transforming power of the gospel in every sphere of life.

As always, thank you for reading Truth for Our Times. May we have the courage to speak when silence is applauded, and the wisdom to stand firm when standing still would be easier.

God Bless,
Rev. Mark Creech
Director of Government Relations
Return America
RevMarkCreech.org