Pleasing God involves being Pro-Life

Today, there are many injustices occurring around us, and we cannot turn a blind eye to any of them. We cannot allow the justice issues we care about to be determined by our friends, our interests, or even our political affiliations. Instead, we must continually operate from our identity as Christ-followers over all other affiliations and relationships. Our heavenly citizenship is the one that matters most, and the one that guides all of our opinions and actions. This means that at times we will find ourselves standing alone with other Christians on issues rather than standing with the world. And, like we saw in Daniel 3, this means “even if” we are the only ones doing what is right, we will stand with Jesus in doing what God says is good for Him and to others.

Our country has embraced a culture of death and immorality and celebrates the right to choose abortion, gender, and ungodly forms of marriage and lifestyles. Even though the world spirals in the cycle of sin and destruction, we as Christians must continue to stand against the murder of babies in the womb, and in our stance against abortion, we must strive to show grace in our ministry to those who are wounded and broken because of abortion.

The basis for our views on life in and out of the womb is the Word of God.

God is pro-life because He is the giver and creator of all lives.

Psalm 139:13 (CSB)

13 For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Every human being was formed and created by God in His image, and we cannot be faithful to our fellow man if we ignore the injustice of abortion.

Abortion is the evil reverse image of the Gospel, instead of “I’ll die for you, it says, “you die for me.” - Josh Howerton

Jesus says, “I’ll die for you.” Abortion says “you die for me.”

Pro-life justice begins with the greatest injustice the world has ever known… the death of a Holy, Righteous, and Just Savior- Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 3:18 (CSB)

18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit,

The fight against abortion begins with receiving Christ as your Savior. He suffered and died for you. His death on the cross was to bring you to God, but your sin had to be dealt with. Because He is just, God cannot and does not ignore your sin, instead He deals with your sin through the cross and the resurrection. He died for the forgiveness of your sin. He was resurrected to defeat death once for all so that you could receive eternal life. This way God is just by punishing your sin, and gracious by punishing Jesus instead of you.

The motivation for you and I to fight against the atrocity of abortion is the love and grace of God. Because of our relationship with God we are compelled by our love for God to live in the way that is pleasing to Him. And, as we see in Micah 6:8, to be pleasing to God, we must act justly toward and on behalf of others.

Micah 6:8 is a clear and concise summary of how to live a life that is pleasing to God.

Micah 6:8 (CSB) says,

8 Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.

The Christian life is the combination of faith in God with being faithful to God.

God is clear about what is good… He tells us over and over again in Scripture.

Deuteronomy 10:12 is one example,

“12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all his ways, to love him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul? 13 Keep the Lord’s commands and statutes I am giving you today, for your own good.”

Faithfulness to God is expressed in relationship to God and other people.

Again, you cannot read the Bible without being overwhelmed with this truth.

John 15:12–13 (CSB)

12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.

1 John 4:7–11 (CSB)

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice, for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.

Jesus taught and demonstrated what faithfulness to God looks like.

Jesus taught us to love God and to love one another, and Jesus was faithful to the Father in everyway, including his relationships toward others… as we saw in 1 Peter 3:18 his faithfulness to the Father resulted in His death and our salvation. Jesus has demonstrated in His own life that faithfulness requires sacrifice, and that sacrifice is required to right wrongs.

This means…

You cannot be faithful to God and ignore the injustices around you

God is just, and justice is in the heart of God.

Psalm 99:4 (CSB) , says, 4 The mighty King loves justice. You have established fairness; you have administered justice and righteousness in Jacob.

Deuteronomy 32:4 (CSB) says, 4 The Rock—his work is perfect; all his ways are just. A faithful God, without bias, he is righteous and true.

You cannot be faithful to God without showing grace to others

Not only is God just, but He is also gracious… The Christian life is a combination of godly contrasts. Jesus is the prince of peace, yet He also comes with the sword. Jesus is the lion and the lamb. And, God is just, and He is also the justifier of mankind.

Romans 3:23–26 (CSB)

23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as the mercy seat, by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. 26 God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

Remember, The Christian life is the combination of faith in God with being faithful to God.

I have invited some of our members, who work for Parkgate Pregnancy Clinic, to come and talk with us more about the work of fighting for justice and the ministry of grace. Jima Alexander, Jessica Roy, Lauren Harrison, and Jennifer Love

As they make their way up here…

When it comes to abortion there are many who believe that is wrong; and many who are passionate about the cause of the unborn, especially when it comes to politics and advocating on things like social media. But, many of those who are passionate publicly, are not involved personally in the pursuit of justice for the unborn, or the showing of grace to those who have experienced the pain and hurt of abortion. My hope in our in little panel discussion is to introduce you to an incredible ministry that exists here in Tupelo, and also help each one of us to know the many different ways we can serve right here in our city to defend the cause of the unborn, and show grace to those in need.

Parkgate Panel Discussion

Jima, I’ve heard you share that Parkgate is “Pro-Abundant Life.” Share with us what you mean when you say “Pro Abundant Life?”

What are some things you wish people knew about Parkgate, or misconceptions you’d like to correct? 

What are ways that men can be involved?

 What do you wish could happen in the hearts and minds of Harrisburg members and other Christians in our community? 

Let’s talk about tangible ways to join the effort of Parkgate. What are some ways that people can volunteer or partner in the work?