CONTRAVERSIAL

This morning I want to address a topic that is in our current events. Sometimes as a Pastor, the need to teach and educate is necessary from the pulpit.

Today, I want to have a conversation about a controversial topic, however, most people in this room may have a similar opinion on it. I want to explore a BIBLICAL perspective and BIBLICAL approach to dealing with this subject matter — the approach may be different than expected.

Many have already figured out the topic being addressed is abortion. In 30 years of ministry, I am not sure I have ever dedicated an entire message to the subject matter - but believe it is necessary.

New York state passed a law this week signing into law a bill that allows abortion up to the day a child is due to be born - FOR ANY REASON. As bad as the bill was the smiles, laughter, lighting of the World Trade Center and other monuments in pink in celebration. The confident belief of pro choice was to champion the rights of women. I don’t think anyone here is opposed to a women having rights. I think the greater thought is the right of the unborn child.

The pro life response on social media was everywhere with all kinds of statements to calling people murderers, evil, addressing the sexual promiscuity that leads to many abortions, etc. and posting pictures aborted children, and memes of dogs and cats talking to babies and asking why they don’t have a humane society to protect them? One meme said, it was a fetus that first recognized the arrival of Christ on earth!

It has been an emotionally charged week.

Let us look at the WORD today to gain some answers.

This issue is not about politics.

It is not about Democrat or Republican.

It is not about all the other issues that goes with these two parties.

It is not about science or rights.

It is a spiritual issue based in the hearts of men and women influenced by a society that is sinful in nature, and in the church is the proper place to address it.

The reality is, abortion hurts people. It is clothed in protecting rights, providing for a life and lifestyle undisturbed by unwanted pregnancy, but bringing detrimental harm to not only the child that is lost, but the mother who makes a choice, the father who had no choice, the family and even the world that loses the potential of what that life would offer.

Who are we to say what God has planned for each and every life??? (Share your family story)

1. God Values Life

God values ALL LIFE! He is the author of life!

John 1:4 NLT

4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

In reference to Jesus death, Peter preaching in the Temple to the Jewish leaders says...

Acts 3:15 NLT

15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!

The reality is that God is the creator of the universe - He made all things and they consist because of Him.

Colossians 1:15–16 NLT

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

Colossians 3:15 NLT

15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

He is the giver of life!!!

Acts 17:25 NLT

25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.

God breathed life into Adam and Eve when He created mankind

The first “SIN” recorded in time after the fall of Adam and Eve is when Cain murdered (took life) from Abel

The law was very clear on not taking another person’s life

Exodus 20:13 NLT

13 “You must not murder.

Deuteronomy 5:17 NLT

17 “You must not murder.

(exodus 20.13

Duet 5.17

Matthew 5:21 NLT

21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’

There was provision in the law for a life taken in self defense and sanctuary cities were created for someone in this position to flee to and be safe from the retribution that could follow. That is God protecting the life of someone who was defending their life.

God sees life as beginning in the womb

Psalm 22:9 NLT

9 Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.

Psalm 71:6 NLT

6 Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you!

Psalm 139:13 NLT

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Ecclesiastes 11:5 NLT

5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.

Isaiah 49:5 NLT

5 And now the Lord speaks— the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The Lord has honored me, and my God has given me strength.

Jeremiah 1:5 NLT

5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

God’s plans begin in the womb! His calling, His purposes, and life itself! From the moment a heart beats! At conception a soul comes into being!

LIFE MATTERS TO GOD - He came and died that we might LIVE ETERNALLY - therefore LIFE COUNTS!

Proverbs 6:16–18 NLT

16 There are six things the Lord hates— no, seven things he detests: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, 18 a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong,

Proverbs 6:16–19 NLT

16 There are six things the Lord hates— no, seven things he detests: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, 18 a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, 19 a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.

Proverbs 6:17 NLT

17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent,

Proverbs 6:16–17 NLT

16 There are six things the Lord hates— no, seven things he detests: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent,

God hates hands that kill the innocent!!!

2. Killing Babies is Nothing New

We must realize that the practice of killing babies/infants is nothing new!!! We can trace it back to the pagan religions found in the Bible and even see God’s people participating in the sinful behavior of those pagan religions around them in the Old Testament.

Child sacrifice was a custom amongst the Ammonites and the Canaanites who revered Molech as their protecting Father FIgure.

They created bronze images of Molech with outstretched arms that were heated red hot and living children were placed int he idols hands and either died there or fell into a fire pit below. This practice took place in the valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem and became associated with Hell!

Sacrificing children was often associated with fertility gods in other cultures and ancient Aztecs, Incas, the druids of Europe, Carthage in North Africa and the worship of Baal all had forms of sacrificing babies and children.

God gave this Word in the law to His people...

Leviticus 20:2–5 NLT

2 “Give the people of Israel these instructions, which apply both to native Israelites and to the foreigners living in Israel. “If any of them offer their children as a sacrifice to Molech, they must be put to death. The people of the community must stone them to death. 3 I myself will turn against them and cut them off from the community, because they have defiled my sanctuary and brought shame on my holy name by offering their children to Molech. 4 And if the people of the community ignore those who offer their children to Molech and refuse to execute them, 5 I myself will turn against them and their families and will cut them off from the community. This will happen to all who commit spiritual prostitution by worshiping Molech.

Jeremiah 32:35 NLT

35 They have built pagan shrines to Baal in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, and there they sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed my mind to command such a thing. What an incredible evil, causing Judah to sin so greatly!

God is saying that this kind of evil never even crossed His mind!

Ezekiel 23:37 NLT

37 They have committed both adultery and murder—adultery by worshiping idols and murder by burning as sacrifices the children they bore to me.

Ezekiel

The general practice is to sacrifice the baby or child is to bring good fortune and prosperity… — IT IS AMERICAN IDOLATRY!!!

Often other practices of the worship of Baal involved much sexual activity - often resulting in children that were not desired and then later sacrificed.

Today, we still see what the Bible calls immoral lifestyles bring forth children that are not wanted, and they are sacrificed for convenience, pride, and the ability to maintain a certain lifestyle.

What we see is that those not following God killing their babies for their selfish worship practices was common, BUT GOD’s PEOPLE were commanded to not participate in such activity.

3. Address the Issue of Sin/ Have Compassion on the Sinner

The real issue at hand here is a SIN PROBLEM!!!

We are so appalled at our culture, but in reality it is no different from any idolatrous, sinful minded culture that was untouched by the TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD and the GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST!!!

It is a SIN ISSUE that drives abortion in our nation. It is a SIN ISSUE of sexual deviancy and perversion - on the heterosexual population that causes unwanted pregnancy!

CHURCH - we can stand up and scream and yell at sinners, but what we need to do is REACH SINNERS!!!

I think we have allowed POLITICS and SOCIAL MEDIA bashing take the place of our command to PRAY FOR THE SINFULNESS OF OUR NATION!!!

2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

WE can repent on behalf of our nation and our people.

I am not saying to be utterly silent, to not do our part when choosing leadership, etc. but what I am saying is that you can not fix spiritual issues with carnal means!

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NLT

3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

We have to make a difference in our culture not stand on the sidelines and yell at sinners for behaving like sinners!

Perhaps if we would act like the church, we would have a greater impact on our culture?

Perhaps if we truly demonstrated a better way of living - the world would follow us as we follow Christ?

What are we doing to help resolve the problem or crisis a women finds herself in???

If we love women - we need to be a support to them in their difficulty! How are we helping them - are we providing means to support them emotionally, financially, etc. Can a women or girl in crisis find HELP in the church???

Which of us are willing to open our home to that girl kicked out of her home because she became pregnant???

Some of the posts I have read - if I were a teen girl or young woman I would run as far from the church as I could!!!

I am not saying that we do not educate on what abortion really is and does --- the cruelty of scalding babies in the womb, ripping them apart piece by piece, shoving a sharp object into their head and spines, etc. the babies born still alive and left to die without comfort or care… it is horrendous!!!

Screaming murderer at those who wrongfully or ignorantly choose this path is not going to lead them to Jesus!

Love the sinner while we despise the sin --- show compassion on the hurting.

Father to the fatherless and husband to the widow… (this is what God calls Himself!)

Psalm 68:5 NLT

5 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

CONCLUSION

I don’t think we can look at Scripture and find a justification for abortion!

God values ALL life ---

No child is a mistake - perhaps conceived in sinful behavior - EVERY LIFE HAS VALUE AND MATTERS TO GOD

We MUST seek to permeate our society through prayer and extending a helping hand - reaching people not judging them so they can find the hope and grace of Jesus!