A New Year for Life

2008 has begun with the promise of great things to come. Our family is in a new home, I will soon graduate (finally), and the Church is having an impact on the community of McEwen, Tennessee. There is much to be excited about and to look forward to, but there are also things to be concerned about.

2008 is obviously a presidential election year and the political scene appears to be heating up more than ever. Candidates are struggling to win the nomination of their party with intensity and passion. Over and over again these men and women try to make their point of view stand out to be embraced above the others, with mixed and varying success. Sometimes it is hard to know where a person stands on anything, but it can be found out, if you listen closely enough.

Most of what has been talked about so far revolves around "the economy" and "the war," while other equally important issues concerning the future of our country have barely been mentioned. But that was not the case this past weekend. Sunday (January 20) was a special emphasis day in Churches across the country concerning "the Sanctity of Human Life." Each year this day coincides with the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, which is the court decision that legalized abortion in the United States of America on January 22, 1973. The Tuesday following "Sanctity of Life Sunday" marked the 35th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. The body count has added up into the multiple millions since that day, leaving a stain of innocent blood on our country that God cannot ignore.

This week, each of the presidential candidates, except one whose position is already clear on the matter, released statements either in support of or in opposition to Roe vs. Wade. These statements leave no doubt as to where these candidates stand one way or another. There was no middle ground and there can be no middle ground on this issue. You are either "Pro-Life" or you are "Pro-Death!" No candidate said that they are "Pro-Death," but several of them said that they are "Pro-Choice." "Pro-Choice" is far too general a statement to be used for what they refer to. Hopefully every American is for freedom, which at its most basic is the freedom to make your own decisions, but that does not include the freedom to commit a crime and get away with it! Through the rule of law, we work to prevent and punish crime. For example, we lock murderers up in prison once we catch them, try them, and convict them. It is unthinkable that anyone would condone and approve of the murder of unborn children and call it a legal "choice," but that is exactly what many of those who want to lead this country have done. When it comes to abortion, to be "Pro-Choice" is to be "Pro-Death," having fully approved and condoned a person's decision to kill unborn, human life.

For Christians this is not a political issue; it is a values issue! Do we value human life or not? As this year progresses ever closer toward November, every candidate should be examined carefully to see where they stand on those things that should concern Christians, especially the issue of abortion. To read a concise report on what each candidate said this past week concerning Roe vs. Wade and abortion, go to this link at Baptist Press: http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27247.

I would like for you to consider a few verses from the Sunday School lesson that we had on Sanctity of Life Sunday. When David felt defenseless and feared for his own survival, he prayed to God, saying, "O LORD my God, in You I put my trust; save me from all those who persecute me; and deliver me, lest they tear me like a lion, rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver" (Psalm 7:1-2, NKJV). As we discussed these verses Sunday, a thought struck me. If an unborn child was able to pray and knew who to pray to, would it pray this way if it was threatened with the prospect of being aborted? For thousands of unborn children each day, this threat becomes very real as it is being carried out, often resulting in that child literally being torn to pieces. Much like David, that child's only hope is God. I believe that God's answer to the prayer for the unborn to be delivered from being torn "in pieces" is the faithful response of His servants in this world. If we say and do nothing to help the unborn, there truly will be "none to deliver!"

Let's make a difference this year! If you value what God values, then live your values, spread your values, and vote your values for the sake of God, family, and country!

"Dear Lord, help us to be wise in our decisions, faithful in our conduct, and influential in all things. Help us to stand in Your strength and make a difference for those who have no other hope. Forgive us for what we have done and what we have not done concerning abortion. Please hear from Heaven and heal our land! Amen."