Sanctity of Human Life Month

"He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?"


~ Micah 6:8 ~

esv

Evangelical Pastor - Anywhere USA,

The above clip is from Dr. John Piper of Desiring God Ministries. This was a clip from a series of sermons on the issue of the Christian's concern with abortion in America. I want you to know that there are very sound, very God-centered, and very biblical Pastors who do not neglect to address the sin of abortion, but rather - to quote Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life: "Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:11, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

Evil flourishes when it is hidden; injustice festers when the victim is unseen. And history demonstrates that those who have overcome social injustices have followed Paul’s advice to expose the evil. For instance, those who fought the slave trade in Britain went to the ports to draw pictures of the boats and how the slaves were kept in them like sardines.

Exposing evil causes it to collapse under its own weight, as it confronts the light of human conscience. Overcoming injustice does not require that everyone believe it is injustice. There is, rather, a critical mass at some point in the spectrum, when “enough” people are so convinced. The good news is that those people already have the conscience to reject the evil. The problem is that the evil hasn’t been sufficiently exposed for them to see it."

Each year for the past 11, I write to bible-teaching, evangelical Pastors to remind them that January is Sanctity of Human Life month; exhorting them to expose the prevalence and evil of this dark deed, and to admonish their flock to 'do justice', to 'love kindness', and to 'walk humbly before their God." In all those years, I've been invited to speak before a mere 3 congregations. One church asked me to speak twice. One church put me before a large adult Sunday school gathering. One church only allowed me to write an article for their church bulletin - which they took the liberty to butcher by editing out everything they deemed 'too strong' or 'too controversial'.

There are many ways to honor the sanctity of human life. I am always willing to provide a testimony concerning our prenatal diagnosis. I offer this to you again this year. It is an important message for the Church to hear as nearly a quarter of a million professing born again Christians in America abort their babies - and largely the pulpits remain silent on this controversial issue.

After Nicholas was born, and our life as a family with a special-needs child had hit a comfortable rhythm, I was asked to write about our prenatal diagnosis and the 'bedside manner' of the perinatologist and OBGYN who discovered our third son would be born with the severe birth defect of spina bifida and hydrocephalus. It was a horrible story, as I was treated poorly because I would not terminate my pregnancy. I was fired from my OBGYN who claimed he couldn't care for me since I would not follow his course of treatment. I had to beg an area group of perinatologists to 'take on' the care of my developing baby so he would have every chance of health and safety. With much groveling and persuasion (and excellent medical insurance), they agreed to steward over the rest of my pregnancy. That said, when asked to write about this for a national special-needs newsletter, I hesitated. I felt God prompting me to do something bigger with this experience...something that could help other parents who get a heartbreaking prenatal diagnosis.

That was the beginning of the process of writing what is now called The Heartland Hug - A Help for Prenatal Diagnosis. The Heartland Hug is a 100 page book with practical suggestions and words of encouragement for parents who have been given an adverse prenatal diagnosis. This book is free for the asking.

This past year, a friend of mine published a book about the death of three of her children. She has a very biblical perspective on pain and suffering. The title of her book is
In Faithfulness, He Afflicted Me. It is a powerful read. Her website is no less powerful and needful. The introduction on the home page is the actual emergency call when her daughter was dying. It will make you cry. Lynnette asked if she could use some of my material to augment her website and help the people she is ministering to. Here is a link to the little part that was useful. (For some reason, the PDF parent packet is not coming up, but you can read my letter of motivation for writing such a help manual.)

http://www.growingthroughaffliction.com/AdversePrenatalDiagnosis.html

Choices Perinatal Hospice, here in Wichita, also uses the The Heartland Hug - A Help for Prenatal Diagnosis manual I wrote several years after Nicholas was born. By God's providence, a regional-specific copy of this helpful tool is now in every city we've lived in and several we haven't. I was privileged to have been asked to consult with mothers facing a heartbreaking prenatal diagnosis at the perinatal hospice. Choices is a wonderful show of the hands and heart of God working through His people. Dr. Stringfield and Pastor Joe Wright were quick to offer support and free medical/perinatal care to one area mother who phoned me for support when her OBGYN washed his hands of her after their unborn baby was diagnosed with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. They offered this expensive help without me asking - their kindness made me weep. I did not get kindness when our OBGYN fired me after Nicholas was prenatally diagnosed....

Christians are getting prenatal diagnoses every day. Prenatal testing is becoming a standard of care. 80% of the unborn diagnosed with spina bifida and hydrocephalus are terminated. Over 90% of the unborn diagnosed with Down syndrome are terminated.

It is my prayer you will seriously consider allowing a sanctity of human life testimony of some kind this month to recognize the issue publically; and bring a face to it, and to stimulate defense of those who cannot defend themselves - both in word and deed. I realize there are several at church serving in the pro-life arena, but it is important to speak truth as well as live truth. Life in word and deed. It is important from the pulpit because silence can be taken as apathy or tolerance - or, God forbid, - permission. This coming Presidential term has promised to levy a severe blow to the sanctity of the womb and the frail.

I'm sure there are many people within the church who have testimonies they can offer....

Thank you for your consideration.

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

~ James 1:27 ~

esv

Serving His Kingdom Here and Now ~