Text: Pro 24:11-12, Title: The American Holocaust, Date/Place: WHBC, 1.28.18, AM
A. Opening illustration: Together for Life video after opening song, Imagine Life video before the sermon, 11 million in WWII, and 60 million in US – 125 during the course of this service.
B. Background to passage: This is Saying 25 from a group of 30 sayings that begins back in chapter 22. We are going to look at it today, not so much in principle, but in application. Last week was Sanctity of Life Sunday, because on January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that it was legally unconstitutional to restrain a woman’s reproductive freedom, opening the door for abortion on demand anytime throughout the gestational term for any reason. I believe it is important that we are reminded of the gravity and urgency of the cause of the unborn in the face of this terrible plague upon our nation.
C. Main thought: God expects us to speak for those with no voice being treated unjustly, and specifically for those in danger of death; if not there is accountability.
A. Do more than weep (v. 11)
1. This verse deals with the heart of God for the weak, oppressed, and vulnerable. He always calls his people to act on behalf of those in need. Specifically, here our writer mentions protection from an unjust death. It could mean a number of things, and have a number of applications, but the unborn would certainly qualify as those in need of protection from death. Bible is clear that children come from God, are created by God in the womb, loved by God from conception, and made in His image. So human life is inherently valuable. We even have it in our Declaration of Independence as an inalienable right. Every society in the history of the world prohibited murder.
2. Why death/murder? The use of the term here is clear, and even in our society it is used when convenient. States have fetal homicide laws effective when the mother wants the child, but not so if the mother elects to terminate the pregnancy herself. In research nationwide, four basic reasons are given for abortion: 1) can’t afford a baby, 2) will interrupt school or job, 3) will destroy relationship with father, 4) family or friends’ embarrassment. All of these are matters of convenience. The question must be asked about personhood. When does a baby become a person? Because one may object regarding rape, incest
3. Post abortive women suffer many unforeseen long-term effects of abortion. 400% increase in suicide attempts, substance abuse, child neglect, relationship difficulties, eating disorders, cervical cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, future reproductive ability lost, and others. And scarier still, 20% of abortions are done on teenagers which are targeted. Low-income areas are targeted by the placement of the centers. Minorities are targeted. Hispanics, which make up 25% of the reproductive population, account for almost half of all abortions. African-Americans make up 13% of population account for 36% of abortions. There were more AA babies aborted in NYC last year than were born. Sanger was the original designer of abortion, as a population control method called eugenics, with the purpose of weeding out the “undesirable and unfit” in society (sounds a little Darwinist), which included most minorities, mentally ill, uneducated, epileptics and other handicapped and disabled. Moses and inability to speak well, The blind man in John 9,
4. Image of God, “God was with them and their wombs were opened,” Eve, Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hanna, Elizabeth, Mary, knew in the womb: Jacob/Esau, David, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Jesus
5. Illustration: Last year it was announced that Iceland had eliminated or virtually eliminated Down’s Syndrome, but most reports failed to tell that the way they did it was to abort all the babies with a prenatal diagnosis of Down’s, 92% in Boston, 90% in UK
6. PP is not passive. PETA is not passive about animal rights. MLK was not passive about racial justice (btw daughter Alveda pro-life). Our country is not being passive anymore about violence by powerful men against women, or excessive force by police. But what about the women and minorities being the targets of violence inside the womb. Pro-choice advocates say we violate the wills of women, but what about the women in the womb? Passivity, complacency, ignorance, indifference, nor inaction is an acceptable response. Even if our culture, and our nation is judged (every nation who participated/s in child-killing has/will), we must fight now! There are women who will lay their head on a pillow tonight in LaGrange/Troup Co who will be anticipating an abortion tomorrow or in the agony of indecision because they know their baby is a baby.
B. Feel more than guilt (v. 12)
1. This verse is a hypothetical statement anticipating a defense that might be given by a community that looked the other way—"we didn’t know.” In response to that, our writer states the obvious that God knows all things, as to whether or not you knew, but also that he know the motives and the true reason why? Too busy with your own life? Lack of empathy for hurting and vulnerable (just don’t care)? Was not a priority? Lazy? Misappropriation of funds? Disobedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit? Then the writer warns of the retributive justice of God upon people who ignore injustice and violence against the weak and voiceless.
2. Levite and priest who walked around
3. Illustration: "Abortion advocates are quite happy that so many Christians today identify themselves as pro-life--just as long as they continue to act pro-choice. Passive acceptance of legal abortion, is all they need to win." Count Hemut Von Moltke, German human rights Christian leader, In October 1941, Moltke wrote, "Certainly more than a thousand people are murdered in this way every day, and another thousand German men are habituated to murder... What shall I say when I am asked: And what did you do during that time?" “Will we, as followers of Christ, and in increasing strength, courageously and resolutely resist the desire to accommodate or normalize mass child-killing and fight for the lives of the innocent.” –John Ensor, Answering the Call,
4. Every nation that has ever participated in abortion, exposure, child sacrifice has been destroyed. The 1 million children that will be killed in our nation this year are on our watch. We will be repaid for our indifference, apathy, and inaction. Don’t know how or when, but that it is sure. We should have a fear of a God who does make demands upon our lives, and holds accountable when we fail to do so. We are on the hook for it, you are on the hook for it. But Christ reached out, acted in obedience and rescued us!
5. Studies show that about 40% of women who have been of childbearing age since 1973 (as if abortions were not going on before then), have had an abortion. About 62% of women claim to be Catholic or protestant (illustrating the point that many of us are pro-life unless unplanned pregnancy comes to our daughters), so because of the shame and condemnation they feel, have never told a soul. If you are one of those here, you don’t have to have me tell you that it is wrong. As a whole we need firming up, but the guilt that you feel/felt can be debilitating. Christ came to forgive fully, freely, and forever. He came to bear your pain, free you from guilt, offer you comfort as he calls you to himself. Christians be gentle.
A. Closing illustration: Is marching enough, last part of BP article, Beth’s counsel to then 17-year-old niece whose father was dying of cancer. How that child brought joy to his last year. Beth was going to see the children of that child that day.
? Offer Christ
? There’s an interesting statement that sort of sums up what I want you to understand, written by Dr. Jerome Lejeune, professor of fundamental genetics in Paris, because I think it’s important for you to have this information. Let me quote him, and he’s not writing as a Christian, he’s writing as a scientist in the area of genetics. He says, “Life has a very long history, but each individual has a very neat beginning, the moment of its conception. The material link is the molecular thread of DNA. In each reproductive cell, this ribbon roughly one meter long is cut into pieces twenty-three, or chromosomes. As soon as the twenty- three paternally derived chromosomes are united through fertilization to the twenty-three maternal ones, the full genetic meeting necessary to express all the inborn qualities of the new individual is gathered and personal constitution takes place. At two months of age, the human being is less than one thumb-length room the head to the rump. He would fit at ease in a nutshell, but everything is there, hands, feet, head, organs, brain. In the fourth week, there is consciousness. All are in place. His heart has been beating for a month by the second month. His fingerprints can be detected, his heart is beating 150 to 170 beats a minute,” he writes, “that after fertilization has taken place, a new human being has come into being, is no longer a matter of taste or opinion,” end quote.
? Is marching enough?
The pro-life events over the weekend caused many to consider how they will live out a pro-life ethic for the remaining 364 days of the year.
Leach, who participated with the Prestonwood group, noted she cannot march and then walk away. Her commitment to supporting Lifesavers Foundation, a Dallas-Fort Worth area faith-based ministry providing health services to women and their young children, has been reinvigorated.
The students and young adults from Church at the Cross understand they have the "power and influence" of social media for reaching their peers with the pro-life message, said Nathaniel Ortiz, a senior homeschool student.
Ortiz, Moyer and Hannah Webber, a college freshman, agreed that they will earn an audience with their ideological opponents when their pro-choice peers see their compassion for humanity extends beyond the womb.
