“I’M PRO CHOICE!”
LWC, June 14, 2009 AM
INTRODUCTION:
We’ve seen the “PRO-CHOICE” movement run from one end to the other in our society! We have seen politicians win & lose on the issue. We’ve seen presidential elections turn on a dime when it came to “PRO-CHOICE” Without a doubt it is a hot button in the Christian community and in the world!
I’ve heard it said that you “CAN’T” be a Christian and be “PRO-CHOICE!” I’ve heard it said that being a Christian means “NOT” being “PRO-CHOICE!” I’ve heard it said that being a Christian means being ”PRO-LIFE!” I agree with that! But this morning, I’m going to shake some of you out of your COMFORT ZONES & tell you I BELIEVE YOU CAN BE “PRO-CHOICE” & BE A CHRISTIAN!
I had one of our young couples in my office recently. They have a little boy, who came with them, who has special needs. While in my office the little boy had seizure after seizure. I think how easy it could have been, in the climate of our society, to have aborted that little boy!
I watched as they “BOTH” loved & carefully held that precious little boy & understood him in ways I could not! I was moved & impressed with a young couple who recently gave their hearts to the Lord show such “GODLY ATTRIBUTES” whereas parts of our society would have welcomed & understood a “CHOICE TO ABORT” saying IT’S UNDERSTANDABLE. BUT, OH MY FRIENDS NOT IN THE EYES OF GOD!
THAT PRECIOUS LITTLE BOY WAS DIED FOR BY THE “KING OF KINGS” & THE “LORD OF LORDS!” SOMEBODY MADE A “CHOICE” FOR HIM! & NOT ONLY JESUS BUT HIS MOTHER AS WELL!
“HE HAS VALUE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD & IN THE WORLD!” FOLK, THE “WRONG CHOICE” WOULD HAVE BEEN THE EASY WAY OUT OF AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION BUT THOSE YOUNG PARENTS TOOK A “PRO-CHOICE” STANCE & “CHOOSE LIFE” RATHER THAN "SELF!" SELF WOULD HAVE BEEN THE EASY WAY OUT! I’M TALKING ABOUT "PRO-CHOICE" FOR THE “RIGHT CHOICE” THIS MORNING!
EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS PLANET, EVERY SINGLE PERSON YOU WILL COME INTO CONTACT WITH TODAY AT LUNCH HAD SOMEONE MAKE A “PRO-CHOICE” STAND FOR THEM! A “CHOICE” TO DIE FOR THEM! AND THEY’RE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO TELL THEM THEY’RE LOVED, NOT ONLY BY JESUS BUT BY YOU!
WILL YOU MAKE THAT “CHOICE” FOR THEM?
FOLK, WE HAVE TO MAKE A “CHOICE!” WE HAVE TO BECOME “PRO-CHOICE” WE HAVE TO “CHOOSE LIFE” RATHER THAN “SELF!”
YOU ASK WHAT DO I MEAN? I MEAN “JESUS CHOOSE LIFE” RATHER THAN “SELF!” IN BEING “PRO-CHOICE” & “CHOOSING LIFE” HE DIED TO “SELF” SO THAT YOU COULD HAVE “LIFE!” WE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR OTHERS!
I MEAN THAT “WE” HAVE TO “CHOOSE LIFE” FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NO LIFE! WE HAVE TO “CHOOSE” TO DO THAT “RIGHT THING” RATHER THAN THE “EASY THING!” THE “EASY THING” SAYING “I CARE” WITH NO ACTION!
President John F. Kennedy spoke some great words in 1962 when he said...
“WE CHOOSE TO GO TO THE MOON, NOT BECAUSE
IT EASY BUT BECAUSE IT IS HARD!”
CHURCHES DON’T GROW BECAUSE IT’S EASY!
SOULS AREN’T WON BECAUSE IT’S EASY!
"CHURCHES GROW & SOULS ARE SAVED" BECAUSE IT’S THE “RIGHT THING” TO DO, IT’S THE “DIFFICULT” THING TO DO, IT’S “PRO-CHOICE” THAT BRINGS “GROWTH!”
IT’S “PRO-CHOICE” TO WIN SOULS, UTILIZE TOOLS, TOUCH THE LOST, “CONNECT” WITH THE HURTING, SHARE JESUS WITH THEM IN ANY WAY OR FASHION WE CAN!
WE NEED A BURDEN FOR THE LOST, FOR THE HURTING, FOR THE DYING, FOR THE SINNER, FOR THE PROSTITUTE, FOR THE SMELLY, DIRTY & FILTHY, TO HELP THEM CLEAN UP, TO LEAD THEM TO THE ALTAR, TO PRAY WITH & LEAD THEM TO JESUS!
SO MUCH OF WHAT WE DO IN CHRISTIANITY IS TO ASSUAGE OUR GUILT TO MAKE US FEEL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES, BUT LITTLE IS ACCOMPLISHED!
WE NEED MORE OF A “BURDEN” FOR SOULS!
I NEED MORE OF A “BURDEN” FOR SOULS!
I MENTIONED A FEW MOMENTS AGO THAT I’VE DECIDED I’M “PRO-LIFE & PRO-CHOICE!” YOU MAY THINK HOW CAN YOU DO THAT & BE CHRISTIAN, HOW CAN YOU DO THAT & BE A PASTOR! OH, FOLK I’M FINDING IT VERY EASY TO DO BOTH!
IN FACT I WOULD SAY HOW CAN YOU BE A CHRISTIAN AND NOT BE "PROC-CHOICE & PRO-LIFE?"
UNDERSTAND, I’M NOT “PRO-CHOICE” IN THE WAY SOME MAY THINK & I AM “PRO-LIFE” IN THE WAY YOU THINK, BUT EVEN IN BEING “PRO-LIFE” THERE IS MORE THAN YOU MAY THINK!
In Joshua 24:15 we read the immortal words of a man on his death bed to his nation when he says to them with SUCH CONVICTION IN HIS HEART, WORDS & MOUTH AS HE SPEAKS...
“...CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE...BUT
FOR ME AND MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!”
JOSHUA UNDERSTOOD THE “VALUE OF CHOICE!” He told everyone to “CHOOSE!” Folk, there is a need in our lives to “CHOOSE!” Every single one of us here has the WHEREWITHAL TO “CHOOSE!”
You had to “CHOOSE” Salvation! You had to “CHOOSE” to pray! You have to “CHOOSE” to witness & win souls to the Lord! You had to "CHOOSE" to be here this morning! You have to “CHOOSE” to utilize tools for the Kingdom of God in order to win souls!
Every part of this building has to be considered a “TOOL” to WIN SOULS! Folk, this building will someday go by the wayside! It is just a building! It’s not really the church! YOU ARE THE CHURCH! EVERYTHING FROM THE PEWS, CHAIRS, VIDEO PROJECTORS, SOUND SYSTEM, CARPET, LIGHTING, AC & HEATING IS ALL “JUST TOOLS” TO WIN THE LOST!
THEY CAN ALL BE REPLACED BUT NOT ONE LOST SOUL CAN BE REPLACED!
FOLK, THERE IS VALUE IN THE LIVES OF EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO MAY DARKEN THE DOOR OF THIS CHURCH & EVEN THOSE WHO DO NOT!
WE CAN’T SIT HERE IN OUR COMFORTABLE RIGHTEOUSNESS ANY LONGER WITHOUT MAKING A "CHOICE", THE RIGHT "CHOICE"! A CHOICE FOR LIFE AND NOT A CHOICE FOR SELF!
WE CAN’T SIT BACK & SAY WE WANT "WITHOUT ACTION!" WE HAVE TO “CHOOSE”! WE HAVE TO BECOME MORE “PRO-LIFE” BY BECOMING MORE “PRO-CHOICE” THAN WE HAVE EVER BEEN BEFORE!
JOSHUA WAS RADICAL IN SAYING, “CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY!”
HE WAS “PRO-CHOICE & PRO-LIFE!”
I’M DONE THIS MORNING! NOT A LONG SERMON, NOT A WHOLE LOT OF SCRIPTURE! BUT POWERFUL AS THAT SCRIPTURE ALWAYS IS!
Earlier I said...
SO MUCH OF WHAT WE DO IN CHRISTIANITY IS TO ASSUAGE OUR GUILT
TO MAKE US FEEL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES GOOD, BUT LITTLE IS ACCOMPLISHED!
Some in my Youth Group, when I was a Youth Pastor, said, We need to go to the local abortion clinic & protest against abortion! I asked “Why?” they said, “Because it’s wrong!” I asked “Do you think yelling at some little girl who’s messed her life up so badly that she’s a murderer will make her feel better & come to know Jesus or would you go to her before she got into trouble & tell her about Jesus & win her to the Lord?”
I’m moved by the conviction some have over abortion, but much of their conviction is self guided & even somewhat misguided! You see folk, many of those people, who do that, accomplish little for the kingdom of God if anything at all!
Those people are not “PRO-CHOICE” but most of them are not “PRO-LIFE” enough to win somebody for Jesus!
Are we like that? Are we “PRO-LIFE” enough to CHOOSE TO BE “PRO-CHOICE” ENOUGH TO “CHOOSE” TO WIN SOULS?
WILL WE CHOOSE LIFE INSTEAD OF SELF?
ASK YOURSELF THIS MORNING! WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WITNESSED TO SOMEBODY ABOUT JESUS & BROUGHT SOMEBODY TO CHURCH! WE CAN SIT HERE GRIPING ABOUT THE LACK OF GROWTH OR WE CAN BE “PRO-CHOICE” & DO WHAT JOSHUA SAID, “CHOOSE TO SERVE THE LORD” & DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
SOULS ARE DYING AS I SPEAK! PRO-LIFE WITHOUT “CHOICE” ASSUAGES GUILT BUT DOES LITTLE FOR THE KINGDOM OR FOR SOULS!
IT’S BEEN SAID THAT,
“A JOURNEY OF A 1000 MILES STARTS WITH A SINGLE STEP!”
WHAT I’M SAYING THIS MORNING IS SIMPLY THIS!
“A DECISION FOR “LIFE” STARTS WITH A CHOICE!”
WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE THIS MORNING!
Are you going to be “PRO-CHOICE & PRO-LIFE” this morning or are you just going to be “PRO-LIFE” this morning! Something that makes you feel good but gets little accomplished.
Please know, I’m not bragging but I have “CHOSEN” to witness & bring people to church in the last few months in a more dynamic way than before. I’ve got people committed to come to visit our church. I am determined to be “PRO-CHOICE” when it comes to “CHOICE!” I’m “CHOOSING LIKE JOSHUA!”
I’M DETERMINED TO WIN SOULS & SERVE HIM!
Bow your heads this morning! I want you to think about what I said concerning “PRO-CHOICE & PRO-LIFE” Can you be both? YOU BETTER BE BOTH! YOU BETTER BE “PRO-CHOICE” ENOUGH TO “CHOOSE” TO WIN SOULS, TO REACH OUT TO THE DOWN & OUT, THE DIRTY & SMELLY, THE HURTING & DISAPPOINTED, TO THE ANGRY & BACKSLIDDEN!
OH FOLK, SOULS ARE HANGING IN THE BALANCE! ARE YOU GOING TO “CHOOSE SELF” OVER THE LIVES OF OTHERS? ARE YOU GOING TO “CHOOSE SELF” BECAUSE THE WORK IS TO HARD & YOUR COMFORT IS MORE IMPORTANT?
WE SHOULD BE “WEEPING” OVER “DRY ALTARS” THIS MORNING! WE NEED TO BE “WEEPING” OVER ANOTHER WEEK GONE WITHOUT “SOMEBODY GETTING SAVED” IN “THESE ALTARS” , THROUGH THE WITNESS OF SOMEONE IN THE CHURCH DURING THE WEEK, EVEN SOMEONE BEING SAVED IN YOUR HOME! COME TO THE ALTARS!
