Preaching The Gospel is Pro-Life

/ Expository Preaching / By

A recent Newsweek article explores the changing face of the pro-life movement in America, especially since the political landscape has changed under the leadership of Barak Obama. In Pro-Lifers in Obama Land, Sarah Kliff looks to those in the pro-life camp who are leaning toward legislation and agendas that aim at reducing abortions rather than eradicating the awful practice.

Though, I agree that one life saved is worth the fight and that a reduction of even a small percentage in the number of abortions would be a victory, I do believe that the battle of abortion is more about life than about numbers. When our focus is on reduction rather than eradication, our ethical standards have to shift. For instance, in which area should we focus on reducing abortions? Should we focus on minorities, on the poor, or on the rich? Should our efforts at reduction focus on sex education, economic improvement, or visible fatherhood? In other words, which lives are worth saving and which lives are to be ignored?

The Obama administration claims to have abortion reduction as its goal (and I hope that it happens), but President Obama’s track record is not one that speaks of abortion reduction (click here for an example). However, Obama’s hero, Abraham Lincoln, did not have slave reduction as his goal. Instead, Mr. Lincoln saw slavery for what it was, an evil brutish act that robbed people of their basic human rights. Lincoln fought to end slavery and Wilberforce was used by God to pave the way.

Abortions will be reduced as we continue to fight to see the practice of abortion ended. Until that day arrives, however, we must continue to stand firm on the priniciple that an unborn child is a human life. Any policy that continues to allow for on-demand abortion does not take into account the value of the unborn life.

I would like to ask President Obama if it is his goal to reduce genocide or end it? My hope and prayer is that he would like to end genocide because it destroys innocent human life. I hope to end abortion because it does the same to victims who are far less capable of defending themselves.

Pastors, if we choose not to stand for life, we choose not to honor God and his word.  God’s word is clear, human beings are created in the image of God.  As his image-bearers, we have a responsibility to act as God would toward those without a voice.  He is the God of the alien, the fatherless and the widow.  Just as the OT prophets decried the evil practice of oppressing the poor with dishonest scales, we must preach with passion until the balances are true in the argument over abortion.  If it is wrong to cheat the poor on price with dishonest scales, how much more evil to rob the unborn of the chance at life?

Pastors, we must resist the temptation toward moralistic therapeutic deism in our day.  The world will not be cured if abortion is ended.  The great need of the world is the gospel of Christ, but rest assured, if the Gospel were alive and well in all Americans, the evil practice of abortion would be ended in our country.  How then do we wage the war against abortion?  We continue to preach the gospel, preach it to all people that some may be saved.  As lives are saved from sin, as the dead in sin are raised in Christ, the sin that reigns supreme in their lives will be forgiven and their lives will be transformed and unborn babies will live.  Fight against abortion but don’t let the fight against abortion define your ministry.  Be defined by the gospel and trust in the power of the gospel to change our world!