Living Pro-Life Well
“As you have done it to the least of these you have done it unto me.”
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
This week has been set on edge by the debate of what America will do with the issue of abortion. As Christ followers, we know that the previous Scriptures are just a few that point us toward the ethic of preserving life, because all people bear the image of God. In these verses, we see Christ commending those who have cared for those in very vulnerable situations.
If we are to be truly pro-life, then we must recognize that there are many people in the world right around us who are in vulnerable situations. That those situations would push them to end a life because the thought of adding another hardship to their life is more than they think they can reasonably bear.
The church, the bride of Jesus, must come alongside those we would encourage not to give up hope. Many don't know God, and the only hope they know is the hope of a broken world. We who love life must love their lives enough to come and help. Sadly, many will say hope in God but do little to offer that hope by offering to serve the least of these with their own lives.
The second scripture tells us that justice, kindness, and humility are all things God says his people exercise and demonstrate. So, while we rejoice for the abortion debate to be taken out of the federal arena and moved to the people at the State level, we should have the humility not to glory in others' hurt. We should praise God for overturning this precedent and protecting the most vulnerable image-bearers, but be as active in loving and supporting the vulnerable as Jesus modeled for us. Truth can sometimes hurt, but God, who is rich in mercy towards us, wants us to be rich in mercy towards others. That means not only are we glad that justice is done for the unborn, but we also need to love kindness and find ways to help those who are hurt, disillusioned, angry, and scared. We need to speak the truth in love and humility and pray for those who believe there is no way to freedom but death.
We should find ways to partner with programs that help those in crisis. That care for the neglected, that foster or adopt the discarded. We should pray for God to allow us to be the force of transformation and healing in our communities, however that may look.
The last verse says that we use our voice to help the voiceless. It's not just the babies not yet born, but those who are being manipulated and controlled by the culture of death we live in. We need to show that many have lost their voice and are trapped in cycles of brokenness. We are to put a spotlight on the injustice of those who would use others' brokenness as a means to gain power over the masses. We are to speak up and push back against the disparity of justice and righteousness wherever we see it.
This is just part of being pro-life. What will you be called to do? How will God use you to show the community what real life and life abundant looks like. What will you be willing to do, give up, or be persecuted for as you serve the King and bring the Kingdom? How deep is our understanding of pro-life? Is it just the right doctrines and words, or is it conviction and faith in action?
God has placed you and me here for such a time as this. Will the Bridge answer the call? I pray that God will reveal to us the scope of this mission that all the churches are wrestling with in the coming weeks.
