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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –
November 13, 2005
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – In Life, In Death,
Abide With Me was the theme as nearly 300 Lutherans gathered from
across the United States and Canada for the national conference of
Lutherans For Life (LFL). Lutherans For Life, the only pan-Lutheran
pro-life organization in the nation, is based in Nevada, Iowa, with 15
state/regional federations, 155 local chapters, and 745 Life Ministry
Coordinators nationwide.
Wesley Smith, an award winning author, senior
fellow at the Discovery Institute, an attorney for the International
Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, and a special consultant
for the Center for Bioethics and Culture, gave the Friday night keynote
and a Saturday plenary address.
Mr. Smith said many in the field of bioethics
no longer believe that human life has value “simply and merely because
it is human.” Rather, ideologies such as Personhood Theory see human
life as “expendable, exploitable, and disposable.”
Too often, according to Mr. Smith, the
question seems to be, when talking about a human embryo, an unborn
child, or the elderly or disabled, “Who can we kill and get a good
night’s sleep?” He said “no human life should ever be seen as an object.
Every human being should be seen as a subject.”
Also on Saturday, Rev. Todd Wilken, host of
the nationally syndicated radio show Issues, Etc. told the
gathering that “we have a cross-shaped theology of life.” Sharing how
Christ took the path to the cross through the virgin’s womb, Rev. Wilken
asked, “How could Christians not be pro-life when the very means by
which God redeemed fallen men was a human life!”
Earlier, LFL President Diane Schroeder said,
“we equip people to make life-affirming decisions,” adding, “you can
make a difference in the lives around you . . . speak the truth in love
and patiently wait for miracles!”
Saturday’s sessions included presentations on
euthanasia, assisted suicide, the media, the dangers of “the right to
die” and “duty to die” mentalities, biotechnology, Christian care
giving, advance directives, and the mission, message, and manner of
Lutherans For Life.
Sunday featured a Bible study and worship
service centered on the theme In Life, In Death, Abide With Me,
based on Philippians 1:20-21.
LFL Executive Director Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb
said since the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973, “over 45 million
babies have been killed through surgical abortion in this country.
That’s around 3,600 every day or one about every 24 seconds . . . the
legacy abortion gives is that death is the solution to a problem and
that certain people are better off dead.” “As long as God gives life,
then God is at work giving life meaning and purpose.” “Paul reminded us
today that certainly it is ‘far better’ to depart and be with Christ.
But he has also reminded us that the timing is in God’s hands. If He
gives us continued life, then in His plan, it is ‘more necessary’ that
we go on living . . . whether we live or die we know that Christ is at
work and that He will be exalted.” |
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