LifeDate Spring 2025 – For Such a Time
by Diane Albers, President of Lutherans For Life
“Oh, thank you, God!” you say as you are in just the right spot to catch the baby as she rolls off the bed. Or maybe a friend is distraught and needs someone to talk with, and you just happen to call right when he needs you. Or a teacher calls to get some information about abortion and assisted suicide, and you have just the right resources to give to her.
Have you ever been in the right place at the right time? Of course you have!
“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14-15).
If you are reading this, I’m assuming you are a life-affirming Lutheran. Just like Mordecai tells Ruth, God has put you in your country, your state, your city, your church, and your family. You are personally in a place to change minds at the dinner table, at church, at your job or school, and on social media.
Can we keep silent when babies are killed in the womb? Can we keep silent when people with disabilities and people near the end of their lives are not valued and even made to think that we would all be better off if they were dead?
We believe that God created each life. He sent Jesus to redeem that life and the Holy Spirit to call that life into the one true faith. No, we cannot be silent! Who knows whether you have come to your country, state, city, church, or family for “such a time as this?”
However, for all kinds of reasons, there are many life-affirming Lutherans and other Christians who are silent. What does God’s Word say?
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
“Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet” (Isaiah 58:1a).
We should be daily proclaiming the good news that life in all its forms is valuable because God loves life!
How do you lift up your voice like a trumpet? You can become a member of your church’s Life Team (or start a Life Team!), join with other Life Teams to form a Life Chapter, put out a display of life-affirming materials in your church (including LFL membership brochures), support a local pregnancy help center, and make sure your church supports its seniors!
These are a few ideas to get you started! Like Esther, God will bless your efforts!