40 Days of Life 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.
This post contains my notes and thoughts from the Adult Christian Education class I am teaching.
Some BIG ideas to remember in thinking and talking about abortion and is this the biggest issue?
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, arc Newman compares abortion to Molech worship (1 Kings 11).
- People trying to solve life's most pressing problems.
- Ignoring or rejecting the counsel of God's Word.
- Accepting the diabolical advice that the best solution to their problem s the death of their child.
- Having their child killed (and, in the case of abortion, dismembered)
- Incinerating their child's body.
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:
- Alpha Grand Rapids - Join Trinity in our support of Alpha through finances and service
- Adoption—Consider how you could be involved in adoptioorin helping others. Reclaiming Adoption: Missional Living Through the Rediscovery of Abba Father is an excellent book on adoption.
- 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 the falsehood in this statement more and more?
Additional Resources:
Books
- The Story of Abortion in America
- Marvin Olasky will be at Wisdom Conversation @ Cornerstone University
Christianity and American Democracy; Living as a Faithful Christian and a Good Citizen
Here is the recording of this event https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM_JM-UXuFs - What Do I Say When...?
- Contenders: A Church-Wide Strategy to Unmask Abortion, Defeat Its Advocates, Empower Christians, and Change the World -
Podcast
- 5 Myths about Abortion - www.crossway.org/articles/5-myths-about-abortion/
- 5 Myths about the Pro-Life Movement -www.crossway.org/articles/5-myths-about-the-pro-life-movement/
- Resources Related to Abortion & The Sanctity of Life - www.crossway.org/articles/resources-related-to-abortion-and-the-sanctity-of-life/
- The Heart of the Abortion Debate - www.crossway.org/articles/podcast-the-heart-of-the-abortion-debate-scott-klusendorf/
- The Dark History of Abortion in America - www.crossway.org/articles/podcast-the-dark-history-of-abortion-in-america-leah-savas/
- The Case for Abortion and How to Refute It - www.crossway.org/articles/podcast-the-case-for-abortion-and-how-to-refute-it-scott-klusendorf/
- Roe v Wade Has Been Overturned Now What - www.crossway.org/articles/podcast-roe-v-wade-has-been-overturned-now-what-scott-klusendorf/