As a chaplain, I care about people in crisis and try to be particularly attentive to "the least of these." As a denomination we talk about social justice, compassion, and mercy; but I sense that we are no longer giving a lot of attention to the immense issue of abortion.
I believe that Alistair Begg may be correct when he says in a recently broadcast sermon on the 6th commandment that there are no serious discussions going on between the pro-life and the pro-choice advocates of our society because we have simply resorted to repeating our slogans rather than inviting one another into a serious dialog. That dialog must begin, according to Alistair, with an understanding of creation and the image of God.
“Once you begin to dismantle the first 11 chapters of Genesis you are left with the most unbelievable implications.” Murder statistics skyrocket (including random violence by gang members) as well as deranged and premeditated death (Jeffrey Dahlmer and Silence of the Lambs becomes cinematic entertainment). Suicides also escalate, and might even be celebrated and encouraged by those like Dr. Kevorkian. And last, but not least, abortion becomes an accepted fact of life (over 30 million pre-borns snuffed out in 20 years).
Arguing that at some point the fetus in the womb is a child only goes so far. “Believe me, the day will come when they will decide that it is ok to murder children.”
But before we can have effective dialog, we must confess our own guilt of “hidden murder” (Matt. 5:22). Thinking or suggesting that someone with whom we disagree is simply a “fool” is to be guilty of a murder that is just as repulsive to God as a saline abortion. (You can listen to this very effective message at: truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/life-is-sacred).
What I fear has also become true (and I regret even more) is that we have simply given up on the idea that the church should say anything about this subject because it has become such a political hot potato. Or we resort to apathy, because it is too late to change the tide. But to not have these serious discussions is to accept that two things will inevitably result: 1) every life will be devalued, and 2) the moral decay that we see around us will continue unabated, with no reason to challenge it unless it simply becomes uncomfortable or interferes with our own personal pursuit of happiness. The issues of the image of God and the sanctity of life deserve more than that.
