9.29.2024

Tough Questions Week 4

During Week 4 of the Tough Questions, Fall 2024, we talked about abortion.

The most important thing we can do is pray.

This is why we want to encourage people to pray during the 40 Days of Life Prayer Vigil.  Here is information from this past year's prayer vigil.

One specific opportunity to pray is the 40 Days of Life Prayer vigil.   
Trinity's days to pray are October 17th (1 pm to 7 pm) and October 25th (7 am—1 pm).  You can sign up at the church's communication center or at 40daysforlife.com/GrandRapids.  If you have any questions, ask Allison Plakmeyer.



Here are some notes and thoughts from the Week 4 Adult Christian Education class.

Is this the biggest issue?

While there may be disagreement about whether it is the single biggest issue, it is a crucial issue.  Here are some reasons why.

The sanctity of human life begins with God the Creator.
Scripture always prohibits the unlawful taking of human life.
Christians are called to defend the weak.

Here are some verses to read and meditate on:

Psalm 139:13-16


Jeremiah 1:5
Proverbs 6:16 - 19

Tim Challies has an excellent resource for discussing abortion.  Here is the PowerPoint link - www.challies.com/resources/a-resource-for-discussing-abortion/

He makes the case that elective abortion is a moral wrong in three ways.  
1.  science
2.  history
3.  human rights

Today, abortion is often talked about in terms that attempt to make it positive in our current age...
body autonomy
Plan B pill
pregnant persons' rights
reproductive health
women's health issues
some have suggested using terms like "pro-logic" and "pro-sanity" instead of "pro-choice."

The Bible passages, three points from Challies' presentation, and even the abortion terms above show us the heart of the matter on both sides - control.

Pro-choice, Pro-abortion people make the argument about women's rights vs. government control.
Pro-life, Anti-abortion people make the argument about God's sovereignty vs. people's sovereignty.  This is the Christian argument for life and against abortion.  Some pro-life people would not hold to this God's sovereignty argument. 

In Contenders, Marc Newman writes, "Sacrificing children to solve problems, in direct violation of God's command against killing innocent human beings, is the very definition of idolatry." (13)

Some do not view abortion as a sin.  In a 2019 article in the Atlantic, Jes Kast, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, says, " When people talk about 'Our body is a temple of God, and holy, ' I see that as I have the right to choices over my body, and the freedom to make the decisions that are right for me"  (Newman, 17)
This response to scripture is a Garden of Eden-like twisting of God's word.  God is wrong.  You know better.

In class, we discussed various arguments, with the understanding that it is the Lord who works in and changes people's hearts.  Because of this, we need to pray.

We took time in class to pray, and I want to encourage you to do so.
You can sign up to pray during the 40 Days of Life prayer vigil on October 17th or 25th at the communication center or online at 40daysforlife.com/GrandRapids. 

As you pray, please follow one of these Action Steps:

  1. Alpha Grand Rapids - Join Trinity in our support of Alpha through finances and service
  2. Adoption—Consider how you could help others through adoption. Reclaiming Adoption: Missional Living Through the Rediscovery of Abba Father is an excellent book on adoption.
  3. Assist moms (pregnant moms, single moms, and every mom).  One argument against the pro-life movement is "You are pro-life until birth." While this is not the case, may we show more and more falsehood in this statement?

Additional Resources:

Books

Podcast

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