Today is Sanctity of Life Sunday. It has been 41 years since 1973
Since then, 57 million Abortions in the US
It’s hard to talk about abortion and not get emotional. Our daughter and her husband are expecting a new baby. Their friends have a tiny newborn. We can’t imagine an unwanted child. But to a 14 year old girl, things look different. Her natural instincts and her moral objections are easily overcome when someone promises that they can make the “problem go away.”
God hates murder and abortion is murder. Sin causes great harm. Women are raped. Abortion is never the answer.
For many, painful because you have had difficulty or are unable to get pregnant.
For many, painful because you or someone you love willingly aborted a baby.
But what can we do??
PART of me DOES NOT WANT to speak about abortion.
- It’s not a “happy” subject
- We all are convinced that abortion is wrong, so what’s the point?
HOWEVER…. It is good for us to remember and speak the truth.
Proverbs 24:10–12 (ESV) — If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. 11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. 12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?
The Meaning of Proverbs 24:10-12
This passages address what the righteous must do when they see victims of unjust oppression and have the means to help. The righteous have a responsibility to help the weak. Here, the word weak = helpless.
They are “Stumbling to the slaughter.” I see in this phrase a picture of people being taken captive unjustly. This happened regularly in the ancient world. The righteous are instructed not to turn a blind eye, pretending not to be aware of the plight of the helpless.
The righteous cannot ignore the needs of the helpless.
Psalm 41:1 (ESV) — “Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him”
Compassion for the helpless defines the righteous. The lack of compassion condemns the wicked.
At the FINAL JUDGMENT the righteous are identified by how they showed grace to the helpless while here on earth. This is important to God because when he rescues someone by grace, he expects that the one rescued will act toward others in the same way that God has acted toward them. Matthew 25:34–40 (ESV) — 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
God watches to see if we protect the innocent and helpless. James 1:27 (ESV) — 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
I propose today that there is no one more helpless than a child whose mother has been told that the best thing that she can do is to have an abortion.
But WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT ABORTION?
Here are nine biblical action points that every Christian can practice.
I. We Can MOURN over the death of America’s Children
Ecclesiastes 3:4 (ESV) — 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
We must think about abortion the way that God thinks about it and he mourns over the death of the innocent.
The band, Casting Crowns has written a powerful song reminding us to be broken over the things that break the heart of God.
Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours
Isaiah 5:20 (ESV) — 20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
II. We Can Affirm what God Says about the Sanctity of Life
God is the Author of life. Genesis 2:7 (ESV) – 7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. Acts 17:25 (ESV) – 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
Here are some of the truths that God gives us concerning the sanctity of life.
A. We are Image Bearers. Genesis 1:27 (ESV) – 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Interesting from Facebook: Scientists proclaim “There’s life on Mars” because they discovered bacteria there. But they can’t find life in the womb!”
We were warned in the 1970′s by theologians like the late Francis Schaeffer that the generation that legalized abortion would be followed by a generation that promotes euthanasia and infanticide. Both are argued for today. Revently SLATE MAGAZINE ran a story promoting “After-birth Abortion.” This was a philosophical argument to allow infanticide. http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/human_nature/2012/03/after_birth_abortion_the_pro_choice_case_for_infanticide_.html?wpisrc=obinsite
B. Human life is sacred. The fact that God holds life as sacred is seen in the following examples:
1. God’s anger over CAIN. Genesis 4:10-11 (ESV) – 10 And the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
2. God’s command for capital punishment. Genesis 9:6 (ESV) — 6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.”
C. Death and Life are in God’s Hands. Job 14:5 (ESV) — 5 Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,
D. Every child is sacred. Psalm 127:3-4 (ESV) – 3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.
Kim and I have friends who were part of our youth group in the 90′s a couple of weeks ago they gave birth to Eliza. She has Downs Syndrome. Did you know that most children with a pre-natal diagnosis of Downs Syndrome are aborted? Yet Eliza will be a part of a loving family whose parents and grandparents will love her and care for her every day of her life.
Special needs children change the lives of their families. I am always touched by the love that exists in families blessed with children with special needs. When God puts a special needs child in a home, he allows that family to be a living demonstration of his grace and love. Every family caring for a special needs child has a special place in the heart of God and they should also in our hearts.
E. God hates the sin of child sacrifice. Psalm 106:38 (ESV) – 38 they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.
F. God views us as a person before we are born. Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV) – 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Job 31:15; Psalm 139:13-16; Luke 1:41)
III. We Can Adopt and become Foster Parents
IV. We can Love and Assist children with disabilities
V. We can Help Young Women who are being Deceived.
VI. We can vote exclusively for pro-life candidates. A persons view on abortion defines that person’s view on life, Our purpose in this world and God’s authority.
VII. We Can Love our Children
VIII. We Can Pray for Abortion to End.
Proverbs 24:11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
Help the Helpless.
There was a time when it seemed that SLAVERY in America would never end.
From 1776, it took 89 years for a post-Civil War nation to ratify the 13th Ammendment ending Slavery.
SLAVES were helpless
Comparison of SLAVERY and ABORTION
1973. 5th grade. Learned about the Roe v. Wade decision.
A compromise. Trimesters. The value of human life and the protections granted to protect it would counted according to the weeks of pregnancy.
2 years later. 7th grade. US Civics class.
Learned of 3/5th decision in the US constitution
I also learned of the Supreme Court decision concerning a slave named Dred Scott. His appeal for freedom was denied by 7 of 9 justices. In their decision:
- Slaves were declared not to be persons.
- The Judicial Branch overruled the laws of the States
- Justices ruled on the basis of their political views, not the Constitution.
- The decision appealed to foreign laws
It was BAD law
Caused greater division
NO ONE today supports their decision. The Justices were wrong!
http://www.4goodreasons.com/dred_scott_and_roe.pdf
Is there anyone here today who is not appalled by this decision?
Is there anyone here today who would attempt to defend this?
Do you know anyone who would support this decision?
Such will be the case for Roe V. Wade.
ONE BIG DIFFERENCE – Dred Scott (African American Slave) had a voice. Although his freedom was denied, he raised his voice all the way to the Supreme Court. The unborn have no voice of their own. Someone must speak for them.
