Some friends were discussing their various “calls” to ministry within the pro-life movement.
One felt led to picket abortion clinics. “We hold signs with pro-life messages, recite scripture, and sing Bible songs to women as they approach the clinic. Some picketers even offer to raise the babies these women don’t want.”
Another believed his calling is to post giant bulletin boards containing graphic pictures of aborted babies. “We go all over the country and stage the boards in public places. Someone’s got to shock Americans to their senses!”
Still another tries to bring about societal change via the courts and legislation. “If we can influence people through voters’ guides and other politically-focused publications, we’ll see a change in their attitudes and voting patterns.”
Yet another felt called to serve in pregnancy resource centers (PRC). “We offer abortion-vulnerable women free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and other services in a confidential and non-judgmental environment.”
The focus of the first group is to save the lives of babies in what may be the last opportunity to do so before the abortion. The focus of the second group is save the lives of babies by showing the ugliness of abortion and thereby turning the tide of public opinion against it. The third group focuses on saving the lives of babies by bringing about change through the political process with the ultimate goal of overturning Roe v. Wade. The fourth group’s focus is on saving the lives of babies by mercifully ministering to the perceived needs of their mothers.
Four different methods—four different points of view—four different sets of supporters and detractors—one goal: to save lives!
Because of strong emotional involvement, there will always be tension and the potential for misunderstanding among the four groups. All care very much about the issue and are convinced they are doing God’s work in His way.
All four groups keep the sanctity of human life issue alive in a culture that is increasingly prone to choose death at all stages of life (for the preborn, the elderly, and those with disabilities). And, for that reason, all four groups are needed.
Dear Julie:
ReplyDeleteNice job. One suggestion. In the last paragraph of your section titled "We are all needed," you speak of a culture "increasingly prone to choose death," but that seems contradictory to the point you made in Sunday school about the trend in our culture at large being against abortion.
Dear Stan,
ReplyDeleteThankfully, the tide seems to be turning where abortion is concerned. (Of course, if abortions are covered under the new proposed health plan, they will likely be on the rise again.)
However, new voices are being raised against the elderly and those with special needs claiming they present an economic drain on society. Organizations representing these groups have voiced their concern over what they see as a dangerous new mindset.
Still other voices, e.g., Peter Singer and his converts, call for serious consideration of a window of time after a child's birth for parents to consider infanticide as an option. That would give them an opportunity to decide whether they really wanted this child.
At issue are two divergent principles: the sanctity of human life and the quality of human life. As our culture turns farther from God, it is only a matter of time before the sanctity of human life is disregarded altogether.
This is why it is so important for all God's people to overcome our differences and raise a unified voice on behalf of the sanctity of human life.