How does Lutheran theology serve the issues of life, especially in regard to the pro-life position in opposition to elective abortions? For Lutherans there is only one source for Truth and that is God’s holy Word, the Bible. Unlike newspaper editorials that have only one person as both writer and author, the Bible has many writers (prophets, apostles, etc.) but only one Author: God Himself.
As I placed my hands on his head, forgave him of his sins, and uttered Luther’s words, “Go, you are free,” he shook almost uncontrollably. For him, justice had been served.
“We need to train pastors to deal with these issues,” commented someone at an LFL planning meeting. I disagreed. We don’t have to train them. They already have what it takes—the theology they learned at seminary. The Lutheran understanding of biblical teaching makes their theology “tailor made” for life issues …
Is in vitro fertilization morally acceptable or not?
A sign in the Holy Land reads, “Here the Word became flesh.” You will not find this sign in Bethlehem, but in Nazareth. There the angel announced to Mary, not just that she would bear a son, but also that she would conceive a son. By the power of the Holy Spirit, through the words of the angel spoken in Mary’s ear, the Son of God took on human flesh as a tiny embryo. This Scriptural truth is part of our confession. “We believe that the Son of man according to His human nature is really exalted to the right hand of God because He was assumed into God when He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in His mother’s womb and His human nature was personally united with the Son of the Most High.”2 The path to Calvary began, not in a manger, but in Mary’s fallopian tube and womb! The Word of God, incarnate as an embryo, gives value to all embryos! Today, nine months before Christmas, we contemplate the beginning of our Savior’s humiliation.
I recently had a conversation with a doctor who volunteers his time at my Care Net office to perform ultrasounds for women in crisis pregnancies. He mentioned that his wealthy, very prestigious, church had been abandoning specific ministries for hurting individuals. The church had individual pastors for children, youth, and young adults, but there was no one to reach out to divorced families, single parents, etc. He concluded with the statement, “You know what it is? The church really doesn’t want to have people with problems.”
Using situation ethics, even some Christians conclude that abortion is the compassionate solution—the lesser of two evils. Why, asks author Dr. Jean Garton, should we offer a woman an evil of any sort?
Cherish the children. What does it mean to cherish? It means to “hold dear,” to “treat with affection,” and to “nurse.” Some might even say to “love.” To cherish children, then, is to love them, to hold them dear, to nurse them, and to treat them with affection. Cherishing is not only an action, but also an attitude. For all action begins first in the heart and mind.
A worship service format using the Life Sunday theme “Cherish the Children.”
Brothers and sisters say it in a moment of jealousy. Perhaps you have said it to your brother or sister. “Mom always liked you best,” or “You always were dad’s favorite.” I suppose parents can sometimes show favoritism. What about God? Does He show favoritism? Can I point at you or you or you and say, “You always were God’s favorite”? The answer is “Yes!”