How Would
Jesus Deal With Abortion?
Dr. Carl Meninger's famous book:
"Whatever Happened to Sin?" is decades old but asks a very relevant
question. Sin - does it exist any longer or is everything a disease or mental
impairment?
It is not surprising that the
secular media and secular society have rejected the term sin. Instead, they have
interpreted evil and misbehavior as sickness or mental illness. Both sickness
(disease) or mental illness thereby relieve individual responsibility and
accountability. This has come about due to the fact that many who have rejected
God's Word and the Bible's pronouncement upon human sin needed to substitute
something for the problems of people. Secular thinking teaches that people are
basically good. Evil is, therefore, an aberration, a disease, a mistake. As a
result of rejecting the Bible's teaching that people are basically sinful and
self-centered we have a society that is at a loss to adequately explain or deal
with the human condition.
It is one thing to deal with a
secular society that rejects sin. It is quite another matter when we find the
Church of Jesus Christ doing the same thing. Adultery, divorce, abortion,
homosexuality, are now "difficult choices." Instead of acknowledging that the
Bible says such choices and behavior are sinful, too many pastors and church
leaders have succumbed to secular interpretation of these things. At one
conference I attended on homosexuality the theologian present insisted that
modern sociology was just as valid as the Bible and even more so in the case of
homosexuality. The end result is that some theologians and pastors have done
Biblical gymnastics getting the text to agree with their current ideas.
In the final analysis the church
has lost, in large measure, its voice. Instead of being prophetic, it too often
is a mouthpiece for the newest idea that is "socially correct." The most tragic
aspect of this is that people, caught in sin, are not being challenged to repent
and trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and new freedom.
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Every year I have an
opportunity to work with hundreds of women who have had abortions. These
women have come to the point of grief, shame and guilt over their
abortion. Each of them has sought help in dealing with their sin and
guilt. As they begin to accept the Lord's cleansing, forgive others
involved, and forgive themselves, they become new people of joy and
confidence. Nearly every one of them said to me: "Pastor, why don't we
hear more about this from the pulpit, church leaders, and church
periodicals? Why is our church leadership sidestepping this sin?" As you
can imagine, this generates a good deal of discussion. |
It is time that the leadership of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the synod, and local pastors
re-examine the Scriptures and return to a Biblical standard of right and wrong.
It is time that we talk about personal sin, responsibility, and the need for
repentance. When we are willing to come honestly before the Lord with our
personal sin, then we can speak openly about the problem of sin.
We must come to grips with this
most central issue of the Christian faith. Instead of merely "standing with"
people in the midst of their problems we also need to have the love, boldness
and courage to speak to the issue of sin. Ultimate cleansing and healing does
not come from justifying sin but in repentance and renewal by the power of the
Holy Spirit.
by Pastor Thomas
Parrish,
Trinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha Falls (ELCA)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
What If Jesus?
What if Jesus came to earth today
instead of 2,000 years ago? Suppose God chose your town as Jesus' birthplace.
Would He have been born in a garage instead of a stable? Would He wear jeans and
a T-shirt or clerical garb instead of sandals and a tunic? Even the manner of
His execution would be different. But none of that would matter. Jesus, and all
that He taught would be the same, regardless of the year, the place or the
people.
A typical day might be different,
though, with Jesus comforting the bag ladies and appearing at the hospital
emergency room, healing accident victims and maybe bringing some people back to
life. Many would really be impressed and word about His great miracles would be
headline news. Barbara Walters might even interview Him for a TV special.
But, then, He'd overstep His
bounds. He'd begin to forgive sinners. He'd go to abortion clinics telling the
abortionists, aborted women and apathetic men that He'd forgive their sins if
only they'd repent and sin no more. Well, that's too much!
Doesn't He know that sin
doesn't exist in our culture? It's been replaced by personal choice and
privacy. Who does He think He is, trying to impose His morality on us,
trying to prick our conscience? So, the ACLU is summoned, whose lawyers do their
usual good job of seeing that anything religious is kept as far from daily life
as possible, and before long Jesus is condemned to death for being judgmental.
He is killed, probably by a physician's lethal injection, but someone hears His
last words: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)
Times have changed but Jesus, the
Savior, remains the same. He is steadfast in His unconditional love for us, and
His invitation is still offered to the abortionist, the aborted woman and the
apathetic father:
Repent. Change your sinful ways, and I will forgive you
and make you whole and clean again.
NEED HELP ?
Are you struggling with any of
the following?
-
guilt
-
intense
grief/sadness
-
depression/apathy
-
lack of self-esteem
-
anger/rage
-
sleeping disorders
-
suicidal urges
-
frequent crying
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These are
problems commonly experienced
by women who have had abortions.
Have you ever thought about talking with
someone about your abortion experiences?
Contact LFL's
Word of Hope
for post-abortion assistance.
This article is available in brochure form from LFL.
Click
here to go to the on-line
Life Resource Catalog.
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