RESPECTING LIFE

RESPECTING LIFE Psalms 8 and Psalms 139 Genesis 9:6 January 28,  2001 Given by: Pastor Rich Bersett [Index of Past Messages] Since the beginning of our country in the 18th century, the United States has been engaged in 6 or 7 major wars and military conflicts. The total loss of life in all of those combined is less than 1, 161,000. But there has also been a war going on for the last 28 years: our nation against the unborn. The mortality statistics of this conflict show that there are nearly 50% more deaths than all other wars combined EVERY YEAR. • Chances of your being killed by terrorists overseas: 1 in 650,000 • Chances of your being killed by Americans in Baltimore: 1 in 4,000 • Chances of your being aborted if you are in the womb of an American woman: 1 in 3.3 Citation: What Are the Chances? by Bernard Siskin (Crown, 1989); U.S. Today, 1/26/89. Listen carefully: abortion has claimed the lives of over 45 million human beings in the past 28 years. All other military wars combined for the past 225 years have claimed about 1,161,000 lives. For the sake of those who are concerned that these statistics might be a bit misleading because many of those abortions took place on women whose lives would have been at risk through delivery or who were pregnant by rape—a mere 4% of the total abortions, by the way—I will adjust the figures accordingly 43,200,000. This has, of course, all been done legally, because 28 years ago this past Monday, the Supreme Court handed down the infamous Roe v Wade decision, effectively legalizing abortion on demand for any woman who wanted an abortion for whatever reasons. Of course, those reasons at first were Danger to the physical life of the mother, then danger to her physical well-being; Danger to the emotional health of the mother, then stress, inconvenience The Pandora’s box fully opened within a year: financial hardship, baby’s health not perfect, baby was wrong sex, "it’s inconvenient for me to have a child right now…" But is it really the taking of life, or are the popular medical euphemisms more accurate? After all, aren’t we just extracting fetal tissue? Terminating a pregnancy? Honoring a woman’s right to choose? Let me read to you the definition of an abortion according to Planned Parenthood in 1963: "An abortion kills the life of the baby after it has begun." Let there be no mistake—aborting an unborn child is murder. It stops a beating heart, results in the loss of the baby’s life-blood, eliminates its hope to ever continue life outside the womb and erases a human being’s future. Because something is legal does not guarantee it is right. The Supreme Court can be wrong. In 1857 the Supreme Court determined in the Dred Scott case that people with darker skin were not really "persons" but property. Eleven years and a civil war later, the people of the United States voted into effect the 13th and 14th amendments to the Constitution. Since then, the interpretation and legal protection of "persons" has included all living human beings. There are strong indications, politically speaking, that within the next couple years, we may actually see the abortion ruling overturned. Now is the time to mount up prayer that the greatest moral failure of this nation could finally be repented and stopped. There will be predictably at least two Supreme Court appointments made in the next couple years. If these appointments are given to the right individuals, there will ostensibly be enough conservative opinion on the Supreme Court that the next challenge to the Roe v Wade decision could be successful. The popular consensus of the people of the U.S. has been in favor of protection for the unborn. Consistently, polls of Americans taken since 1973 show that anywhere from 65% to 77% have always opposed allowing abortion for social, non-medical reasons. But 97% of the 45 million abortions performed have been for such reasons. Is there anyone demanding a recount? The will of the people has not governed. Why? The people have not spoken. I encourage you to be a spokesman for the unborn. (Show slide of addresses for congressman and senators.) Incidentally, now that the respect for human life has been eroded and consciences are fairly callused over, the new idea is to legalize stem cell research. This research has to do with using primary, undifferentiated stem cells to grow healthy tissue for the correction of a number of widespread diseases and conditions (Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and others) The research is still in early stages, but what researchers say they need are millions of stem cells to carry on their research procedures. The trouble is, the only thing that can produce stem cells is a living human being, and when stem cells are harvested from the embryo, the embryo is destroyed (murdered). The race is on to allow research teams to use the stem cells from fetuses that have been (or would be) aborted. Let me ask you to guess what the abortion rates will look like if such research is permitted? The value of such research could inflate the value of aborted babies and make the decision to abort an even easier one for pregnant women. The very real possibility exists that there would develop such a "market" for aborted fetuses that the profit margin for abortions—already the most lucrative surgery a doctor can perform—would go through the ceiling. The argument is that the benefits of therapies derived from stem cell research could potentially alleviate the suffering of millions of people, like, notably, Michael J. Fox, for example. He suffers from Parkinson's, one of the diseases that would predictably benefit from stem cell research. The only problem is that you have to destroy one life to hopefully help another life. I wonder what would happen if the tables turned, and suddenly it was discovered that babies in the womb that are discovered to have spina bifida or Downs Syndrome would profit from research done on the stem cells of people with Parkinson's Disease, but the people would have to be killed in order to harvest the stem cells. Of course, that would be preposterous—no one would ever suggest such a thing. After all these are real human beings, even though they might be suffering from Parkinson's… What is a human being? Plato said it is a "biped without feathers"; Seneca said we are "social animals." A physicist would say that a human being is an "entropy decreaser" and a biochemist would call us "nucleic acid/enzyme reactions." A biologist might say the human is the most recent and advanced specimen in the evolutionary process.." Here’s what David, the patriarch, said: "What is man that you are mindful of him? You made him a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor." (Psalm 8:4-5) Psalm 139:13-16 - "…You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the day ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." God’s high view of human life becomes clear early in the book of Genesis, when He says "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…" The next thing you know, God is giving to man dominion over all the rest of His creation, saying there is something special about this creature. Genesis 2:7 pictures God breathing into the nostrils of man the breath of life—something He did for no other creature. The Bible says that God is actively concerned in each person even before they are born. We just read Psalm 139, which records the active role God plays in the creation of pre-born human beings, knitting them together. Galatians 1:15 and Jeremiah 1:5 also teach that God knows us intimately before we are born, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you." In Exodus 20:13 the fifth commandment reads like this: "You shall not kill." The word for kill (RATSACH) is used fewer than 50 times in the Old Testament. It always refers to the idea of murder, or willful harming of another human life. Murder, the taking of human life, is not wrong just because it is a commandment, it is a commandment because murder is wrong. And it is wrong because it is the willful snuffing out of a life that God intended to live. Life is very important and precious to God. In Genesis 9:5-7, we see that same idea. The reason God says not to take human life is because life is precious to God and God made man IN HIS IMAGE…Therefore, "From every man I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." I want to offer some very practical, timely advice to the believers in this room this morning as we stand at the beginning of not only the 21st century, but a whole new era in American history. The opportunities for Christians to act and speak out about the heart of God and respect for life are more potentially effective today than perhaps any other time in your lifetime. Pray for your government leaders. Leaders have been wrong and acted in either ignorance or malice. But that can change. There can be repentance and change in the moral climate of this country. God will have to do it, and we know that God responds to the prayers of His people. Not only is this true, but He also made it very clear in the scripture that we should pray for government officials. "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanks-giving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that  we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior who wants all men to be saved and  to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Beyond praying for them, do what you do for your fellow church members—write them a note and tell them you are praying for them. Speak out about Respect for Life Quite frankly, politicians listen to voters. It sure does seem to be the case that those in public office make more promises than they keep, but it seems that when the pressure is on from their constituencies to keep their promises or to act in one way or another they always seem a little more diligent. A young boy went to his father and asked: "Why do all fairy tales begin with 'Once upon a time'?" His father thought for a minute and said: "Son, they don't, some start with 'I promise that if I am elected...'" If you will dedicate yourself to regularly being in touch with your senators and congressmen, as well as any other government official who will listen, you can have an impact. They DO LISTEN. And, to be honest with you, it’s never been easier than it is right now to make such contact. Email does make a difference with legislators! I urge you to get the names and email addresses of your congressmen into your home computer address book, and once a week or so, send them a message that reflects the will of God for our nation. Don’t preach, don’t pontificate—just let them know that as a concerned taxpayer and voter you feel as though… These first two suggestions are designed to bring pressure on government officials. First, you are praying for God to move on them (from above), and then you are committing to move on them yourself (from below, as it were). Between the two of these strategies, you can really put the squeeze on them. And this is not meant inn a totally negative way. You know, I ask regularly for your prayers for me as pastor and friend. What I am asking for is God to speak to me His will, to change me where I am wrong, to divinely influence me in the directions He desires. That’s what we need to do for our government leaders. Be a law-abiding citizen Comments by moderate conservatives lately re: Roe v. Wade. It IS the law of the land! (It doesn’t mean you HAVE to go out and get an abortion!) As Senator Ashcroft has wisely said, one the one hand, I believe that the decision on Roe v Wade as handed down by the Supreme Court was a mistake; on the other hand, it is the law of our land. The new first lady, Mrs. Bush, has responded laudably to loaded questions from the press, who are asking for her personal opinions concerning the Roe v Wade issue. She, like President George W., has made it clear that Roe v. Wade is the law of the land, and should be obeyed until it is overturned. "A soft answer turns away wrath." The law of the land is the system God has chosen to use in this sin-sick world. And he has clearly taught us to honor and obey that law (Romans 13, 1 Peter 2). It is our responsibility to honor all elected officials equally, express feelings lawfully, vote conscientiously and pray ravenously. Picket peacefully, but no bombs; oppose, but don’t shoot. Law abiding Christian always act with restraint. It is always better to err in the direction of mercy and patience than impulse and judgmentalism. I am so thankful that obeying and respecting our leaders is easier for the Christian today than it was two weeks ago, aren’t you? By the way—that is an answer to prayer! Be grateful. How does the conscientious Christian abide that? We do all we can: Pray, petition and obey the laws. Certainly anything more or less would not be consistent with Christian behavior. But we must act on our convictions, and speak out in whatever legal ways we can. Thank God we have all kinds of legal rights still available to us. Use them. Martin Niemoller was a survivor of the Nazi death camps. This is his confession: "In Germany, the Nazis came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they cam for the Jews, and I did not speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the Trade Unionists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I was a Protestant so I didn’t speak up. Then they came for me . . . by that time there was no one to speak up for anyone." Act in love, with grace and mercy Crisis Pregnancy Care Center – New Beginnings. Director will be with us in a few weeks. Praise God for, and support, such works—they are the Christian community speaking forth in love, grace and mercy, saying "We’re not just going to cluck our tongues and shake our fingers at those who are in crisis pregnancies and say to them, "Go on your way, be warmed, be filled"—we are going to act redemptively to be of real and practical help out of Christian love. This must include acting like Christ toward people who have sinned. The Bible teaches us that we are to forgive others as God has, in Christ, forgiven us. And this doesn’t just mean to forgive those who’ve wronged us personally. This is speaking also of the great privilege and responsibility we have been given in the church of Jesus Christ—to pronounce forgiveness of sins to anyone who receives Christ. We must understand that people who aren’t Christians yet will act like non-Christians. What they need from us is less belligerence, and more good news. Mission Statement: To saturate the area with the GOOD NEWS that anyone who wants to can be friends with God through Christ, find healing through Christ and find life-giving purpose in serving Christ. What we need to offer people is exactly what Jesus has asked us to offer them: love, grace and mercy in His name. Closing illustration Victor Hugo’s great work Les Miserables opens with a young man, Jean Valjean, introduced as a man unjustly imprisoned seven years for a small crime. He leaves prison with RAGE in his soul. There is no rage like that bitter reaction to being wronged over a long period of time.. Valjean tries to find a job, a place to fit in, but his is continually shunned and mistreated because he is a parolee. His anger builds. One night he is invited into the home of a bishop, Father Welcome. He is given a meal, warmly treated and invited to stay the night. While everyone else sleeps, Valjean steals the bishop’s silver cutlery, and sneaks away from the rectory through the garden. He is caught on the street by the gendarmes who recognize the silver knives as belonging to the bishop. They bring Valjean back to the rectory. When the bishop sees the young man, he sees more than the others do. And he surprises everyone, especially Valjean, by telling the police that Valjean hadn’t stolen the cutlery, but that he had GIVEN it to him. Then he asks Valjean why he hadn’t taken the candlesticks he’d offered him also. "Jean Valjean was trembling in all his limbs; he took the two candlesticks mechanically, and with wondering looks. ‘Now,’ said the bishop, ‘go in peace. And when you return, my friend, it is unnecessary to pass through the garden, for you can always enter by the front door, day or night—it’s always unlocked.’ The bishop dismissed the gendarmes and they left. Jean Valjean looked as though he were on the point of fainting; the bishop walked up to him and said in a low voice, ‘Never forget that you have promised me to employ this money in becoming an honest man.’ Jean Valjean, who had no recollection of promising anything, stood silent. (THEN, THE MOST MOVING SCENE) The bishop continued to speak solemnly: ‘Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good. I have bought your soul . . . I withdraw it from black thoughts and the spirit of perdition, and give it to God."       [Back to Top