When Will Our Nation Awaken to Such a Great Sin?

Jeremiah 1:5

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

I almost didn’t write anything this year – but I couldn’t let this week go by without raising our awareness of the worst sin of our nation in my humble opinion. Thirty-eight years ago - January 22nd – the Supreme Court of our nation passed a decision mandating abortion on demand, effectively overriding the abortion laws of all 50 states.  Soon after that several mainline denominations created the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) – an organization that proposed to represent the religious community and supported abortion.

Although women with an unwanted pregnancy (there is no such thing as an unwanted child) are often in tragic circumstances – I cannot understand for the life of me why any church would support the killing of unborn babies.  I could see churches trying to help prevent unwanted pregnancies.  I could see churches helping to pay for maternity care for those who could not afford it.  I could understand churches working with schools and communities to help with pregnancy prevention. But short of the mother’s life being in danger – life versus life – I cannot understand any church supporting abortion on demand – which current law allows and current health care even provides funds to carry out.

I’m not sure we even grasp the size of our sin?  One group estimates that by 2009 – nearly 50 million babies had been aborted since 1973.  Current statistics set the number at over 52,000,000.  This is not right my friends.  The Mississippi Baptist Convention tried to find a way to drive this number home and created a visual reminder of the 50 million babies aborted by 2009.  The picture included to the left is of a Memorial to the Missing – being filled with 50 million pennies.  It brings tears to my eyes to think f this great sin hanging over the nation – and with many churches in support.

Another way of thinking about such a large number of aborted babies is to add up all the people in the following states: Kentucky, Oregon, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Iowa, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kansas, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, West Virginia, Nebraska, Idaho, Maine, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Montana, Delaware, South Dakota, Alaska, North Dakota, Vermont, & Wyoming.  The populations of these 25 states equals about 50 million.  We have allowed the total population of 25 states to be killed – lawfully – in our nation – since 1973.  Do we understand what we are doing?

Here are some other numbers to think about.  I know these items have little to do with abortion – yet we often think of them as tragedies – and they are – yet many in our government and in our society do not see the tragic killing of so many babies. Number of American battle deaths in all U.S. wars since 1776: 658,000. Number of Americans of all ages who start smoking every day — 3,000. Percentage of smokers who will die prematurely 50-70 years later: 30%. Percentage of babies killed by abortion this year: 23.1%.

My prayer is that we will come to our senses and awaken spiritually and morally.  My prayer is that we will teach our boys to respect women – we will teach our girls to love their bodies – and that we all will respect life and stop killing our babies.  These little – innocent children – they need someone to help them.

The United Methodist Church says it supports abortion in situations such as rape – incest – and the life of the mother. Even in these situations we are killing innocent babies – but some estimate that this is the case in only about 5-7% of all abortions performed.  Yet these are the cases people will bring up to argue for abortion – when in reality – most abortions are used as a method of birth-control – a way of removing an inconvenience.  The United Methodist Church does not support abortion for selective breeding (as in China) – or as a form of birth control. Often persons have multiple abortions – we must find a way to help them avoid unwanted pregnancies without killing babies.  When will the reality of what we are doing as a nation sink into our minds and hearts.  I know some will talk about the backroom abortions with coat-hangers and that too is a tragic situation – but is killing a baby the best we can do my friends?

Can we call on the moral fiber of our nation to come up with a better solution?  Can the church standup and say enough is enough – we will be a people who will stand up for those who cannot standup for themselves – mothers with unwanted pregnancies and their unborn children?  Why are we a people who will do everything to save the life of a child that is born at say 24 weeks but will also abort/kill a child at the same time frame and call it a choice?  It makes so little sense to me my friends.

Matthew 25:40 - “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart

Jeremiah 1:4-5

4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

One of the universal truths that I have learned from my childhood up is that the Bible is the Living Word of God.  It’s truths are true yesterday – today – and forever.  It is not a dead book that only holds truths for the past.  I’ve also learned that what God does for one He most likely could – would – does do for others.

When I read a passage like this one today from God through a prophet – I realize that we all might not be called to be a prophet to the nations but we are all called to serve God.  We all have a calling – a duty – a plan for our life.  The point that stands out to me the most is found in verse 5 – Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.  God’s plan for me was from before time as I know it.

God had a plan for Jeremiah from before he was in the womb.  This suggests to me that God knew Jeremiah – and in turn each of us – before we were born or even conceived.  For me – this is one of the strongest passages of Scripture against abortion.  When people abort a baby – they are aborting the plans God had for that baby – and for the world since that baby had a plan and would have had an impact on the world had he/she chosen to follow God’s plan for them.  Where would we be today if Jeremiah’s mom aborted him?  Where would God’s plan have been?  What if Mary aborted Jesus?  I mean she was an unwed (technically married but the marriage was not yet finalized) teen mom – with very little means of support – and her husband was about to bail on her (before God convinced him otherwise).

Years ago – eleven to be exact – a couple came into my office.  They were pregnant and had just been to the doctors.  The report the doctor gave them was grim to say the least.  The doctor told them abortion was their only choice.  The baby in the mother’s womb was so deformed that he wouldn’t make full term.  He wouldn’t live but would die in the womb.  If he did survive to birth he would surely die within moments.  If he lived past the first few moments – he would have no quality of life and it would be very short and painful.  Abortion was recommended – several times by their doctors.

The couple didn’t want to abort.  They didn’t believe it was God’s plan for their child.  They believed God could heal their baby – and if not – that God would give them the grace to deal with the circumstances.  Their joy was based in their relationship with God not the circumstances of this pregnancy.

The picture you see in this post is a picture of this young man.  He is putting out corn with his grandfather – for this past year’s hunting season.  Do you see the smile on his face?  I know life hasn’t been easy for this couple and family – they have faced many difficulties – but the joy that their son brings them and their family is beyond any measure.  Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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God’s Love, His Mercy and Grace, Can Transform Our Sinful Hearts

Colossians 2:13-14

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

Through sin we do so much wrong.  Sin drives us – our circumstances, our happiness, our desires, and our wants, drive us.  We do things we think are for our best – things that are in our best interest. Scriptures says; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

God is in the business of taking our sorry sinful selves and by grace turning our lives around and making us into something special for His glory.  I found this video on Facebook – someone had posted it and it touched my heart.  A young teenager had become pregnant and had decided that what was in her best interest was to abort her unborn child.  I don’t for a second begin to think that I can understand what she or others like her deal with in their lives.  The circumstances of her pregnancy could have been rape or incest.  It could have been a date gone wrong or it could have been two teens having unprotected sexual relations.  At her tender age, she decided that what was best for her was to abort her unborn child.

This video tells the story of her aborted baby – living through the abortion and telling her story.  It struck me, as I watched the video, that we often make choices based on our best interest all the time.  We lie to protect ourselves.  We steal to get ahead.  We cheat because we think the pleasure will make us happy.  We speak evil of others because we somehow think that will make us look better to someone – tearing someone down so we look better.  We sin because we can and because we have a sinful heart.

http://www.godvine.com/Powerful-Story-of-a-Woman-Who-was-Aborted-but-Survived-72.html?ref=nf

God can take our lives and if we allow Him – turn our lives – even our sinful hearts – around.  When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.

Jesus – hanging on the cross – paid the price for our sins and earned the right to speak to our hearts about change and about grace.  Jesus forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. Praise God for His mercy and His grace which can transform lives.

Something to think about today as you go on your way.

Tim Tebow in Super Bowl Ad

Tim Tebow and his mom are featured in an upcoming ad during the Super Bowl – http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=7a502bd2059d5ccce1c9&utm_source=newsletter012810&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklytopvideos.

Focus on the Family has produced an ad with Tim Tebow and his mom talking about how she was advised by doctors to abort Tim when he was an unborn baby.  She didn’t and they are celebrating Tim’s life today. Tim is a celebrated All-American quarterback for the Florida Gators.

Focus on the Family paid over 2 million dollars for this 30 second ad (money from individual sponsors not the general support for FOF).  Some pro-choice groups are trying to get CBS to cancel the ad.  Should Focus on the Family be allowed to air their views on a controversial subject?

Your thoughts on this upcoming ad?

Roe v. Wade

January 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade became law. Here is a link to look at what was decided.
http://www.tourolaw.edu/patch/Roe/

What are your thoughts as the 37th anniversary approaches?  Are we in a better place 37 years later? Abortions are on the decline according to some reports.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1860289_1859694,00.html

What would happen if Roe v. Wade were overturned? What if abortions were only available for rape, incest and the life of the mother (not life circumstance but the actual life)? Some speculate that only 2-10% of all abortions fall into this category. Most abortions are abortions of convenience. People saying “I would rather not be pregnant”!

Would better education by parents, churches, schools and society as a whole help reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies? Remember, there are no unwanted children. Bethany Christian Services proves this every year as they (and other organizations like them) place special needs children as we as all children 100% of the time.

Prayer is needed today and everyday as we as a society continue to kill millions of lives through abortion.

Every month abortion takes more American lives than were lost in the entire Vietnam War. Every six months more die from its relentless onslaught than in all our previous wars combined or in all the fatal automobile accidents of the past twenty years. Every 2 to 3 years it claims more victims than the Nazi Holocaust.

CONSIDER SOME OTHER SIGNIFICANT STATISTICS RELATING TO ABORTION:

• Abortion is not the “safe procedure” its advocates claim it to be. More mothers die from the complications of legal abortions each year than died from illegal abortions in all previous years.
  
• In many areas of our country abortions actually outnumber live births.
  
• 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 babies are aborted annually.
  
• 98% of abortions are for reasons other than rape, incest, or the mother’s life.
  
• 40% of abortions are performed on women who have aborted other babies previously.
  
• One third of abortions are performed on teenagers without their parents’ knowledge or consent.
• The heart of an unborn baby begins to beat at 18 days after conception.
  
• 2 million American couples are waiting to adopt babies.

The above information in italics came from an article written by Pastor Greg Wilson.

As a pastor, I have had to deal with post-abortion syndrome in a number of women through counseling. The pain goes beyond the abortion.  The issue of unwanted pregnancy is not solved by the killing of the unborn child.  The church needs to take a greater stand.  What are we doing to help curb the killing of unborn children?  What are we doing to help young men and women make better choices about their sexual behaviors?  How can we help prevent unwanted pregnancies?

Please pray this week as this infamous anniversary comes again.  I pray for the day that life is valued and we find another way to help women deal with unwanted pregnancies.  Teaching abstinence comes to mind.  Promoting adoption is also a better way.  There must be a better option than killing unborn children.

Your thoughts are welcome.