This morning, the first text message I received was from a dear friend who informed me that our local crisis pregnancy center (Heart To Heart) had been vandalized over the weekend. It is certainly not the first news you want to receive as you start the week. To be honest, this news was not at all surprising; yet, it was still so devastating to hear. Even in our rural part of the country, there are those who are so angered about not getting their way that they would dare take it out on an organization whose sole purpose is to help women and children (and provide a safe alternative to abortion).
After the Supreme Court ruling this past week which overturned the federal right to abortion and left the matter to be decided by each state in the union, the response from those all over the country have been mixed. Many have celebrated this decision as a great victory for human rights (specifically, the right of unborn children to live). Others have mourned this decision as a devastating loss to what they claim to be "women's rights." As we have watched the mixed responses to this issue, what we have witnessed has revealed the true colors on both sides.
The response from those who are pro-choice can be described as nothing short of violent. Immediately after the Supreme Court's decision was made public, notable government officials began to speak out calling for violence from their followers. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) joined protestors outside the Supreme Court last Friday publicly calling the institution "illegitimate" and urging her supporters repetitively to go "into the streets" to fight for abortion. Representative Maxine Waters (D., Cal.) soon after the ruling declared to a group of protestors outside the Supreme Court, "To ---- with the Supreme Court!...This turnout here?...Women are going to control their bodies no matter how they try to stop us...We will defy them. We're going to make sure we fight for the right to control our own bodies."
As we witness these atrocities taking place, it puts those of us who are pro-life in a position where we really have to wonder what our response should be. Even more so, it puts those of us who are believers in Jesus in a position where we have to wonder how to respond to all this. Especially as the violence has gotten closer to home, it has provoked me to consider how to respond.
Let me offer to you several ways the Bible encourages us to respond.
Pray.
The single-most important response any pro-life, God-fearing person can take to the things that have been taking place in our society today is to pray. The Bible tells us, "Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Instead of being anxious over what it taking place in our society today, we must choose to turn in faith to God and ask for God to work in the hearts of people.
We must pray for those who are in authority to make the right choices in navigating us through these times. (1 Timothy 2:1-2) We must pray for those who are inciting violence, asking God to use our love to change their hearts. (Matthew 5:42-45) We must pray for those who are standing for the truth and serving those who are struggling - for your pastor who stands to declare the truth about life, for those who serve in crisis pregnancy centers to help give an alternative to abortion and many other such individuals. (1 Thessalonians 5:25) Most significantly, we must pray for those who are hurting (or at have been led to believe they should be hurting) because of this ruling. There are many women today who, because of the rhetoric of our society, feel there is no other option for them beyond abortion. We must pray for them to see the truth and to have the courage to value the life of their child. (Galatians 6:2)
Participate.
Another important response each one of us should have to recent events it so get involved with the stand for life. The Bible gives us this principle, "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." (Proverbs 3:27) Furthermore, the Bible also tells us that by "well doing [we] may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." (I Peter 2:15)
For too long, those of us who claim to be pro-life have sat on the sidelines, remaining uninvolved in standing and supporting the cause of life. That needs to change today! We must do our part to help further this cause. Edmund Burke put it this way, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Doing nothing can no longer be an option.
How can you participate? For starters, get out and vote. Don't vote along party lines, vote for those who will most stand for biblical principles (including the sanctity of life). Do your research on the candidates you are voting for. (The recent overturning of Roe v. Wade is directly connected to God using conservative, God-fearing citizens to vote in individuals who stood for biblical principles.)
Another way you can get involved is by volunteering in your local church or at your local crisis pregnancy center. Get involved with helping single mothers successfully parent their children. Help mothers in crisis find a solution other than abortion. Love them through their hurt and confusion.
Be Patient.
As a red-blooded American, when I hear about someone going to vandalize a crisis pregnancy center it makes me want to go do something about it. It makes me want to retaliate - an eye for an eye. But, that is not at all what God tells us to do. In fact, so far from this, the Bible tells us this, "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourself, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:17-21)
God has not called us to retaliate in kind to those who are acting out in violence. Rather, He instructs us to trust the matter of vengeance to Him. He is the Almighty Judge who, in His own time, will most certainly right all the wrongs in our evil society. But when and how He chooses to do so is up to Him. For the time being, He has called us to let Him handle the injustices and to focus rather on loving people to Jesus. Instead of fighting evil in kind, God calls us instead to be kind to those who are unkind. In the end, such a response of faith will cause us to overcome.
It is downright difficult to know how to respond to some of the atrocities we see taking place in our day. But, as we submit to the wisdom of God's Word, we learn how to do so God's way. May God gives us the courage and the strength to do so.
Comments
Post a Comment