Starting to Plan Part 7
First a quick review in case you are a new Life Advocate or you just forgot! Our training sessions flow from Dr. David Adams’ booklet “Implementing a Pro-life Theology in a Lutheran Congregation.” The basic outline is to have congregations establish a Plan to Teach, a Plan to Care, and a Plan to Witness. We have completed the first two, a Plan to Teach and a Plan to Care. These can be found on the RFL website. Just click “Life Advocate Training” in the navigation menu. Dr. David Adams’ booklet is available there as well.
If you are a new Life Advocate or if you have not watched the DVD on Practical Applications, I urge you do so. You can find this DVD under “Media Downloads.” This can be an outline for you as you plan to do more within your congregation to connect the Word of Life to the life issues.
As you enter into this planning process, please remember it is planning. No one expects you to DO everything at once! But you can start planning to do them this year, next year, in two years. Look ahead. Work with other educators, teachers, DCE’s, etc. and see how you might coordinate some of your ideas into the congregation’s educational ministry.
A Plan to Witness
Dr. Adams states, “It is not enough for a church body to believe pro-life things if it fails to take pro-life actions.” Last time we talked about caring for those affected in one way or another by the life issues. “Witness” is about bringing our Christian influence to bear upon the society in which we live.
Salt and Light
Jesus tells His followers that we are the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-16). Salt was used in Jesus time not just to flavor food but to preserve food. Our culture is quickly losing the idea of absolute truth and, therefore, any basis for morals and values. As Christians, we know the truth and we have a basis for how we live our lives. By living our lives according to this truth and by pointing others to this truth, we can help preserve a moral base in our society.
Christians are also to be light. We live in a sin-darkened world. People walk around in the darkness without awareness of the darkness. By the things we say and do and by the way we say and do things, we can reflect the light of Christ into this world. When it comes to the life issues, people more and more turn to the darkness of death to rescue them from the problems of life. This gives us opportunity to point out the darkness and then to lead them to the light of the Lord of Life.
Christian Citizens
One aspect of witnessing is to use the life issues to preserve the truth and to bring people to the knowledge of their sin and their Savior. Another aspect is our obligation as Christ’s people to be Christian citizens and use our convictions for the welfare of the civil realm. Dr. Adams writes, “Pro-life congregations need to plan to help Christians understand their role as citizens and their responsibility to work for the laws that protect the weakest and most endangered of their neighbors . . .”
The Congregation and Political Involvement
This leads to the question of just what a congregation and its members can do in the civil realm. As a 501 (c)(3), your congregation cannot endorse candidates for a political office. However, under the IRS code, your congregation is allowed to lobby. For example they can advocate the adoption or rejection of legislation, contact members of a legislative body, or urge the public to do so with respect to legislation that has moral and spiritual implications. For example, a congregation and its members could lobby for the defeat of a state assisted-suicide law.
But there is a limit to such lobbying. According to the IRS, “No substantial part of the activities of a qualifying organization may consist of attempting to influence legislation.” So a statement in the bulletin about some legislation or even a bulletin insert giving more details would not constitute a “substantial part” of your congregation’s activities.
You can help the members of your congregation understand the importance for Christian citizens to be involved in the political process. It is our responsibility to inform ourselves about a candidates’ position on life and family issues and to elect godly, moral leaders. But always keep in mind that the mission of Lutherans For Life is to “Equip Lutherans to be Gospel-motivated voices For Life.” Our call is to equip our congregation based on the Word of God and centered in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through the Gospel, the Holy Spirit changes hearts and lives. Motivated by this Gospel message, we seek to serve Christ by serving others. That service may be in a pregnancy care center, in hospice care, in teaching children, etc. But that service can also take the form of being active citizens and influencing our society through our Christian convictions.
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How You Can “Speak” |
The little booklet I mentioned last month, “How You Can “Speak,” Is a good practical resource in this area as well. The sections, “Speaking Through the Media,” “Speaking to our Communities,” Speaking Through Government and Elected Officials” will provide a variety of good ideas. You can find this on the RFL website under the “Life Advocate Training.”