A Deadly Anniversary
Some anniversaries you wish you did not have to observe. 2013 marks the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision of January 22, 1973, striking down all prohibitions of abortion. Somewhere around fifty-eight million abortions have been committed since. Fifty-eight million babies destroyed and even more lives affected forever because they believed the lie of “choice.” As one young woman wrote to me said:
“I really could not see beyond the moment. All I could think of was abortion.”
Some anniversaries you wish you did not have to observe. We look back at forty years and millions of brutal deaths and wounded hearts. This great darkness deepens when we realize it goes beyond morality. It is a spiritual issue that involves souls. Every child aborted is someone created by God, someone for whom Jesus died, and someone the Holy Spirit wants to call into eternity.
Some anniversaries you wish you did not have to observe. As I look back, I realize, that like so many in our society, I can grow numb to the magnitude and implications of this slaughter. While in Latvia and Russia last fall I saw how abortion can become, as so many said to me, “Just a part of our lives.” The perceived need for abortion covers the reality of abortion. In order to keep that reality covered, “We just don’t talk about it.” That’s an easy but deadly place to go. I don’t want to go there. I don’t want our country to continue to go there, and I most certainly do not want the Church of Jesus Christ to go there.
At LFL we concern ourselves with the latter. We do not want to see the Church, particularly Lutheran churches, opt for the easy way out. For those who may have already taken that course, we want to bring them back to being a voice For Life. Then, and only then, will there be a chance to help influence our society and stop the move toward the idea that killing babies is “Just part of our lives.”
Some anniversaries you wish you did not have to observe. But neither do we wish to cover up its horrible reality. So, in this anniversary year of Roe v. Wade, I am bold to ask for your help so we can do even more to carry out our mission to “equip Lutherans to be Gospel-motivated voices For Life.” This may be a good year to offer a special gift in memory of those millions of babies or to remember those wounded or to honor someone who has dedicated years of service to being a voice For Life. But any gift for any reason to Lutherans For Life will be graciously received. How will your gift be used?
A review of an important “forty” in the life of Jesus will help answer that question. After His baptism, the Holy Spirit compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness for forty days. He prayed and fasted in preparation for His ministry. He did something else there, He faced Satan. He faced Satan’s temptations and won. He did it with a simple, Satan-crushing, life-changing phrase, “It is written.”
That is what your gift will do. It helps us apply “It is written” in the life arena so that hearts and lives are changed. We carry out our mission of equipping Lutherans by providing Word-based and Gospel-centered “equipment”—DVDs, Bible studies, curricula, brochures and booklets, speakers, post-abortion counseling through our Word of Hope ministry, this website and Life Blog, our Facebook page, our Twitter feed, YouTube channel, downloadable materials, Y4Life, Renewal For Life®, Teaching For Life®, and more. We provide scholarships to enable the younger generation to attend educational and motivational events. We produce age-appropriate materials for preschoolers to the elderly.
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To all age groups we teach the value of human life because “It is written”—God creates every life (Psalm 139:13), He loves life and paid the price to redeem every life (Romans 6:10), He desires to call every human life to faith in His Son Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:4).
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To the frightened, unmarried pregnant teen we say, “It is written,”—nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39). We put that love into action by opening our homes and volunteering at pregnancy resource centers.
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To those burdened from an abortion decision we say, “It is written”—“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). We put this forgiveness into action through our Word of Hope post-abortion hotline (888.217.8679).
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To those dealing with pain and suffering in their lives we say, “It is written”—“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) We put this promise into action through compassion (“to suffer with”) and providing care.
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To those facing the debilitating effects of aging we say, “It is written”—“He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler” (Psalm 91:4). We put God’s faithful care into action by visiting and caring for the elderly and guiding them in Christian end-of-life decision making.
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To those who do not want to talk about these things we say, “It is written”—“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of those who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9). We back up our admonition with ways and means to do so.
Some anniversaries you wish you did not have to observe. But neither do we wish to cover up its horrible reality. Forty years ago Roe v. Wade ushered in a large-scale spiritual battle with Satan and death. Two thousand years ago Jesus equipped us with what we need for this battle—“It is written.”
A post-abortive woman, who recognized this spiritual warfare, wrote an encouraging letter to me that ended by saying, “I want to give Satan a bad day!” So do I! How about you? Your special financial gift really can help give Satan a bad day!
Your servant For Life,
Jim Lamb
P.S. You can set your own schedule, but I challenge you for the rest of 2013 to pray at least forty times for an end to this battle For Life, for encouragement and strength for those who consistently engage in it, and for more to join in as Gospel-motivated voices For Life.
P.P.S Lutherans For Life is now approved as a Thrivent Choice Dollars® Grant Funds Recipient Organization! If you are an eligible Thrivent Financial member, you can direct Thrivent Choice Dollars to Lutherans For Life either by phone or online. Give us a call at 888.364.LIFE, email us at info@lutheransforlife.org, or click here.