Life
In the 1860's, our nation was torn apart as we fought The Civil War. One of the major issues at that time was the subject of slavery - owning a person as property. Many preachers took a stand that all men were created equal by God and that they all should be free - that no man had the right to own another person. They rightly saw the 'image of God' in all men and women - slave and free. But there were also many preachers of that time who would not stand against slavery - either out of personal convictions, economic reasons, or even fear.
Today, we clearly see the evil that slavery is and rightly condemn it. And despite the fact that slavery was a political issue - the Church of that generation had a responsibility to speak against slavery based on God's Word. There were arguments about what ending slavery might do to the economy and people's personal financial situations and their ability to earn a living. Many were divided because it was a 'complicated issue'. But it boiled down to one question - is it wrong for a man to own another man?
Last week we celebrated Mother's Day - a day on which we honored those women who gave us life and sacrificed so much for us. But I find it ironic that in our culture, the role of motherhood is given less and less honor to the point that many avoid it at all cost. Many reject the truth of scripture from Psalms 127:3 (NIV)...
Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.
The Church must have a strong, unwavering voice on those issues where the Bible clearly stands. Many now see children as a burden, a challenge to their personal freedom or for some - even a curse. That's not how God views them. This will be a little different kind of message, but I need to start with the fact that...
I. God is our Creator
God created life, therefore human life is sacred. God says when life begins, and God says when it ends...
Genesis 1:26-27 (NIV)
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." (27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
The news these past few weeks has again been abuzz with 'loud discussions' of the phrases "women's healthcare", "reproductive rights", "reproductive justice", "reproductive freedom". Those are all 'sanitized words' used to defend the practice of ending the life of an unborn child.
And we're told that abortion is a 'complicated issue'. And it is. I've heard sincerely heart wrenching stories of situations in which women have found themselves. But the truly compassionate response can't simply be, 'I'm so sorry - let me help you end the life of your unborn child'. I don't expect the world to view human life as sacred as created in the image of God. But I do expect Christians to view it as such...
And I want to be clear - abortion is not the unforgivable sin. This is not about condemnation or judgment of women. I believe that women and children are the victims of abortion.
"Elective abortions (which comprise 92 percent of induced abortions) are the most common form of abortion. In these cases, the mother's life is not threatened and the baby is otherwise healthy. Elective abortions are sought for a variety of reasons such as relationship issues, financial hardship, parents saying they're not ready for children, career concerns, or physical and/or mental strain on the parents. According to the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion research organization, only seven percent of women report their abortion was because of health complications (for the mother or baby), and only 0.5 percent of abortions are sought because of rape."
You won't find a scripture verse that irrefutably condemns abortion. You also won't find a scripture that specifically condemns computer hacking, stock fraud, or email 'phishing scams'. But if you read the whole of scripture - the many verses I have frequently shared regarding children in the womb -The Bible is very clear and unequivocally affirms the personhood of the unborn. All people - born and unborn - are created in the image of God and possess inherent dignity and value.
Not acknowledging God as our Creator and our authority on this issue has lead to...
A. Many opinions
You know I don't try and preach opinion - but everyone has opinions when applying scripture to life circumstances. But the question has to be - is that opinion consistent with the nature and character of a Holy God? Is it consistent with scripture as a whole? Is it consistent with the person of Jesus? Is the opinion self motivated or sacrificial in nature? Does the opinion express grace and truth? Is the opinion meant to please man or God? Not every opinion is just as valid as any other.
I'm told that, as a man, I shouldn't really even have a say in this matter. Does the morality of a situation change based on the gender of the one who holds the opinion? We need to approach any issue with great humility and acknowledge that the answers of morality are never found in the opinions of man but in the Word of God.
I'm very aware that there are those in the world who would strongly disagree and would be extremely angry with what I'm saying here. But I'm not talking to those in the world - I'm speaking to the Church. You don't have to agree with me on the politics of the subject - but if you want to follow Jesus, you should accept the beliefs taught in God's Word. But still many say this issue is best left to....
B. Science
Many say, 'We're beyond religious 'superstition' - we trust in science!' But truth is, science is simply the quest of discovery of God's creation. I really like what it says in Psalm 111:2 (NASB)...
Great are the works of the Lord; They are studied by all who delight in them.
There are those who claim the theologian who wanders into this arena of debate rejects science and hates women. But even science speaks against their arguments when you're talking about a baby with unique DNA, separate from its mother or father.
"Science increasingly acknowledges the biological humanity of the unborn. In 2018, a comprehensive study of 5,502 biologists found that 95 percent affirm that human life begins at fertilization. The conversation surrounding the morality of abortion boils down to this: does a developing baby qualify as a person, and therefore warrant legal protection?" (Outside of faith and religion...) "There is no better criteria for personhood than biological humanity. In fact, biology and genetics is the only objective basis for determining personhood. Many would deny that being biologically human is the same as having personhood." But if 'personhood' is not determined by biology - who decides who is worthy of dignity and value?
"Does a disability mean someone is not a person? Is someone with Down syndrome not a person because their capacity to relate with others is limited? Does someone with dementia who no longer remembers the past cease being a person? These questions point to the ethically problematic nature of adopting a view of personhood that is not based on biology and genetics. Simply put, the category of "human non-person" does not exist and implying otherwise has insidious implications for those who fail to meet an artificially contrived definition."
But still others say this issue is then best left to the realm of....
C. Politics
I would really prefer not to speak on politically charged issues - but we're kind of dragged into that arena when politicians start talking about issues that belong to the sphere of faith and religion. I just heard a politician recently quote scripture out of context to support her political position. If politicians can talk about what the Bible says - I can talk about what politicians say regarding the Bible and faith...
Recently our own President stated, "Roe says what all basic mainstream religions have historically concluded - that the right - that the existence of a human life and being is a question." The president failed to recognize that the Catholic Church, of which he is a member, teaches that life begins at the moment of conception.
The official teachings of the Catholic Church oppose all forms of abortion procedures, it holds that "human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person - among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life." That has been their stand since the first century! However, recent surveys claim about a 50/50 split among Catholics. What's changed...? Has the Bible changed..?
II. Where should we stand?
I will never tell you for whom you must vote in order to be a good Christian - I don't have that authority. But I will tell you what scripture says... Recently there has been a renewed effort in 'theologically liberal' Christian circles to argue that the Bible does not oppose abortion. One Christian progressive leader argued, "There is nothing in the Christian scripture that condemns abortion-it just ain't in there." - As people behind him chanted, "God bless abortion!" As I said - there may not be a specific verse, but it does unequivocally affirm that all people - born and unborn - are created in the image of God and possess inherent dignity and value.
The world will reject the sanctity of human life. But the call to stand firm must be answered by...
A. God's Church
The Head of the Church is Jesus and our foundation is The Bible.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (17) so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
God's Word has been the foundation for His Church from the beginning. "For over 2,000 years, Christians have interpreted the Bible consistently on the value of unborn human life. Nearly every prominent leader and authority in the history of Christianity - whether theologians, pastors, or church councils - have publicly opposed abortion."
"Abortion was a widely accepted practice in Roman society during the first three centuries. The average Roman had such a low view of fetal and infant life that infanticide, child abandonment, and abortion remained common in the Roman Empire until these practices were outlawed, at the urging of Christians, in 374 AD."
"Despite the morally dark backdrop of the first three centuries, Christians consistently opposed abortion and valued unborn life, rooted in Jesus' teachings on the priority of love and His high view of children. First century Christian texts explicitly condemned killing children by abortion. Second and third century Church Fathers explicitly condemned abortion and infanticide as well."
"After the Reformation, both Protestants and Roman Catholics remained pro-life, and their leaders continued to champion the rights of the unborn. Christians remained opposed to abortion well into the twentieth century. In 1945, Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "To kill the fruit in the mother's womb is to injure the right to life that God has bestowed on the developing life." This remained the view of every Christian denomination until the 1960's. Only then, at the height of the sexual revolution, did some denominations, which had embraced theological liberalism, change their long-standing views."
What changed? - The Bible or the opinions of man?
B. What should we do?
-A faith that's not put into action isn't really faith, but a convenient philosophy. We need to act. We need to speak truth and demonstrate love.
Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" (37) Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' (38) This is the first and greatest commandment. (39) And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' (40) All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
In our nation, we are governed by a representative Republic - a government established, as Abraham Lincoln said, 'of the people, by the people, and for the people'. We have been granted the freedom to choose our leaders and our laws. I've heard some challenge - 'It's not about changing laws, but changing hearts.' I don't think those things are mutually exclusive. I would contend that the fight to end the evil of slavery took both - changing hearts and minds and changing laws.
Political beliefs cannot supersede morality and religion. Religion and faith stand opposed to expedient opinions meant to justify us and our actions. Religion challenges us in the light of God's unchanging Word!
But some would say, 'I'm not religious, therefore you can't force religious laws on me!' All law is based on morality and religion. No one is forced to attend Church - and God doesn't force individual morality on anyone. But there are all sorts of morality based laws in place, meant to protect the rights of the innocent.
Slavery ended because that generation had to answer one question - is it wrong for a man to own another man? Is human life in the womb sacred according to God's Word, or not...?
So What?
I don't pretend to have all the answers to every difficult situation - but every solution has to start with acknowledging God. Regarding these controversial subjects, you've probably heard someone say something like, 'When this is all settled - I'm going to be on the right side of history.' I'm far more concerned with eternal history than I am our current history and how people here may view me.
I usually ignore arguments on Facebook, because arguing there seems to be a waste of time. But recently there was an accusation by several actual friends of mine, that I and people who believed like I do are hypocrites. They said, "Too bad those hypocrites don't remember the mother has a heartbeat, too!"
To which I replied, "Which is why we covered living expenses and childcare for the birth mother of our adopted son. (Through a crisis pregnancy center...) Doesn't mean I'm not a hypocrite, too - but I'm learning..." I'm not the 'hero' in this story - I'm just a sinner saved by grace who's trying to be faithful.
Are you aware that there are currently almost 3,000 crisis pregnancy centers in the US? And they are overwhelmingly funded and staffed by Christians. Did you know there are over 2,000 women's shelters? There are over 3,000 adoption agencies, 90 percent of whom are faith-based. This represents hundreds of thousands of volunteers and employees who seek to minister to the needs of women and children in amazingly difficult situations. They're the heroes here - those who put their faith into action.
Christians must oppose the practice of killing the unborn while simultaneously extending love and support to those who have been personally affected by it. Please, because of your faith - support women in difficult situations. Maybe volunteer with a crisis pregnancy center - there happens to be one in Merrillville. Consider donating items or money to protect the life of the unborn. Honor God by honoring those he has created in His image!