Standing For Truth

        I'm pretty sure over the last two years you've heard the phrase, "Follow the science." We've been told to, 'trust the science'. But 'science' in and of itself is not an authority. 'Science' is merely a tool that we use to discover facts about this world in which we're living. The Authority is The One who created this world.

'Science' changes as we learn more and better information. 'Science' learns more as technology advances and we get new insights into things previously unknown. A thousand years ago, we didn't even know about bacteria or viruses. But now with advanced microscopes we can now 'see' the details of their cell walls and proteins, and DNA and RNA, and we find just how complex these 'simple' organisms are.

The point is - as we learn more about the things of this world, our understanding grows. It wasn't that long ago that 'science' told us that a unborn baby was simply a 'fetus', a clump of cells. But as technology advanced with ultrasounds and DNA testing - it became very clear this was not just a 'clump of cells', but a baby - a distinct, individual life with its own separate DNA.

Science finally caught up with what the Bible has told us all along. And it's fascinating to see some embrace the truth as we seem to see a shifting attitude toward life in the womb. But others still reject the clear evidence - because, for them - it's not about truth, but about draping it in their own personal desires and 'freedom to choose' and 'women's healthcare'.

And science can tell us that an unborn baby is definitively a separate, unique human life. But it's in God's Word where we find that...

I. Human life is sacred

Human life is sacred because man is created by God. You are not an accident of evolution. You are God's intentional, purposeful creation. King David wrote this passage in Psalms 139:13-16 (NIV)...

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. (14) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (15) My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, (16) your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

I was amazed at the findings in a study from Northwestern University in Chicago...

'Scientists have captured on film the exact moment of human conception and described an explosion of 'fiery spark's that is emitted; a 'fireworks' show that produces a blast of light. They attribute the flash to a release of calcium that causes an expulsion of zinc. And as the zinc pours out, it carries with it small molecules that give off a fluorescent light. One of the researchers was quoted as saying, "It was remarkable - to see the zinc radiate out in a burst from each human egg was breathtaking. All of biology starts at the time of fertilization..." '

It's a fascinating discovery, but why should we be surprised that God designed a 'tiny little fireworks celebration' to mark His creation of each new human life? There was a celebration when you were conceived, witnessed only by God and His angels. King David didn't have access to the science that explains human conception - but he knew God. David knew human life was something to celebrate long before scientists saw this 'fireworks display'.

In our increasingly secular world, there's a truth that many have lost, and it bears repeating. Human life is sacred because man is made...

A. In the image of God

Our lives are not sacred because we say so - human life is sacred because God says so and He created us in His image.

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.

God placed a special value, worth and dignity on human life. God created man with a spiritual and moral nature. God created us with the ability of language and communication - with others and most importantly with Him. God created us for a relationship with Him, and with a special purpose in His creation. God made mankind unique, above everything else in creation.

For many, this argument on the 'sanctity of life' has been boiled down to a matter of 'freedom of choice' and 'rights'. But - from where do those rights come? Who grants the rights that men and women have? Any rights that any human has have their origins in their Creator. If you don't acknowledge the Creator - no one has any special claim to any inalienable rights. But because God is the author of life, the creator of life - He is the One who has authority and He says that mankind is special, unique - sacred as created in His image.

Now as I mention the ideas about 'rights' and the subject of 'freedom to choose', some would strongly insist that the pulpit is no place to talk politics. - But I'm not talking politics, I'm talking about...

B. Truth, not an issue

I reject the idea of the 'sanctity of life' as just an issue. The truth is - as long as "my body, my choice" is politicized and promoted - millions of unborn children and women become its victims. Women have been told that it's simply a blob of cells, that 'ending the pregnancy' is a quick and easy fix to an unwanted problem. But those who encourage and perform the procedures don't have to deal with the pain, the guilt and the regret that comes from choosing to end the life of your unborn child.

One well researched article claims, that, "When properly done, abortion is one of the safest procedures in medicine", but then admits, "unsafe abortion is a major cause of maternal death." That's splitting hairs quite a bit, because hard facts show us that abortion causes 47,000 maternal deaths and 5 million hospital admissions each year. And it's certainly not safe for the unborn baby...

The pulpit is not a place for politics, but I think because many Christians have been 'cautiously silent', or because they've let their personal politics inform their religious values rather than the other way around - because of a silence in our pulpits, the truth has been stolen by politics. I'm not telling anyone how they should vote - but I am telling you what God says and what He values.

The question of whether or not to end the life of an unborn child has become a question of 'should it be legal' - rather than the question being, 'is it moral'? And because it has become an issue on which to debate, an issue on which to vote - the truth has been ignored and rejected. For many - the debate has changed to an issue of 'women's rights' rather than the right of an unborn child to live.

The larger issues of morality are not ours to decide. In 1857, with a vote of 7 to 2 in the Dred Scott decision, the Supreme Court declared that African Americans were property, that they could be owned and had no rights as human beings. Just because the majority said it was so did not make it right.

And no matter what our 'Post Christian' society may think - wanting to protect the lives of unborn children does not mean that you disrespect the rights of women. I'm not here to condemn anyone, but to bring this discussion back to its rightful place - as a matter of spiritual truth. God is the author of life, the Creator of life - and when He chooses to create a new life - we should respect that life.

Genesis 2:7 (NIV)

the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

I understand that many people today don't accept God as the Creator - but that doesn't change the facts. Human life was God's idea and God is the Authority on life. - Even for those outside of the Church, the accidental loss of a human life is heartbreaking. That's because people innately understand how special human life is. But the intentional destruction of an innocent human life, when we ignore what we know to be true - that's a tragedy.

For many in our nation, perhaps it's time for us to...

II. Rethink our values

We look back on civilizations who sacrificed their children to idols for rain or good crops as barbaric. Societies who performed human sacrifices to 'appease their gods' are viewed as superstitious and evil.

Are we sacrificing our children to the 'gods of convenience and material prosperity'? The main reasons given for ending the life of an unborn child are financial reasons or timing. Many financially successful people today have publicly credited their success to the 'freedom to choose'. But as a parent - is there any amount of money that you could offer me to give up one of my kids...? Is there anything you could offer me that would make me end the life of one of my children?

Pope Francis recently upset quite a few people when he preached, "many couples do not have children... but they have domestic animals - two dogs, two cats." He called the intentional decision a form of "selfishness". He said giving up on motherhood or fatherhood "can take some of our humanity away from us," and "nations can suffer from this". And as you can imagine, that didn't really make him very popular with some...

However, more women and couples are opting not to have children than ever before. According to the U.S Census Bureau, 'childlessness' continues to be on the rise in the U.S. Now, obviously - not everyone who doesn't have children is a 'bad guy', absolutely not! I know many people who don't have children who are wonderful, lovely, gracious Christians. We know there are many who couldn't have kids who are beautiful people. - Not the point...

But - our society has definitely changed our views on the value of children. And admittedly - speaking from a great deal of personal experience - children are expensive and having children does force you to give up a lot of your personal plans and freedoms. And many of you have willingly experienced just that. But if my purpose in this life is to solely cater to my personal plans and freedoms - doesn't that 'kind of fit' the definition of what the Pope called a 'form of selfishness'?

All I'm suggesting is, we probably wouldn't be debating so much about 'the right' to end the life of an unborn child if we adopted the Biblical view that...

A. Children are a blessing

There's a medical building in Winfield, some of you may have been there. Right at the entrance, there's a stone engraving in the wall that says, " Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain." That's from Psalm 127:1. I want to look a little further in that passage in Psalms 127:1-5 (NIV)...

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. (2) In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves. (3) Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. (4) Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. (5) Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Today, many believe that having children is an obstacle to success. But I suppose that depends on how you define success. According to God's Word, children are a blessing from God.

And there's a reality here - not all of us will be blessed with children. However, we can all intentionally be a blessing to those organizations who minister to the needs of women and children. We can be a blessing to those women who find themselves with an unexpected pregnancy where they feel they have very few options. We can be compassionate, and supportive and gracious. We can be generous with crisis pregnancy centers helping women and saving the lives of unborn children.

We are called, as followers of Jesus to love one another...

B. How do we show love?

What if I told you that I consider myself a huge 'lover of turtles'? "I just love turtles!" - Do I own a turtle? Nope. - Have I ever owned a turtle? Nope. - Do I ever plan on owning a turtle? Not really. Do I volunteer at a 'turtle rescue center' or give money to help rescue turtles, or do I even pray about the welfare of turtles? I can't say that I do. All of those things considered, should I really consider myself a turtle lover?

I can say I believe in the sanctity of life; I can even say I am 'pro-life' - it's another thing to actually do something about it. Love is an action. We find this challenge in Proverbs 24:11-12 (NIV)...

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. (12) If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

This passage doesn't say "feel bad for those being led away to death" - it says "rescue, hold back". Those are actions. If I say that I believe that human life is sacred, but never act on those beliefs - what does that say about my level of commitment to those beliefs?

I'm not here to persuade you about a political issue. But I am here to challenge you to carefully weigh your beliefs and your values. God sees human life as sacred and places an extremely high value on life. Do your attitudes and actions communicate that you value human life as sacred?

So What?

The week before last, a fire destroyed a Planned Parenthood clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee. Authorities believe it was arson but they have no suspects yet. First, I don't believe this is how Christians are to respond. I perhaps understand the frustration and anger about what goes on there - but I have a hard time seeing Jesus react that way by starting a fire.

Back in Jesus' day - the Roman Empire was in control. Abortion was a widely accepted practice in Roman society during the first three centuries. The average Roman citizen had a very low view of fetal and infant life, and infanticide and child abandonment were common.

Despite the morally dark backdrop of the first three centuries, the first Christians consistently opposed these practices and highly valued unborn life. Their convictions were rooted in Jesus' teachings of love and His high view of children. First century Christian texts were explicitly clear on their stance. Early Church Fathers publicly spoke against abortion and infanticide. And, at the urging of believers, in 374 AD - those practices were outlawed in Roman territories.

Those early believers took a bold stand for truth, a stand for life - in a very hostile environment. It's still the Church's job to love people enough to help change their hearts. It's still the Church's job to show people grace and love, and that God's ways are always the best ways.