The angel’s words announcing the Savior’s resurrection bring light and life to a world which remains in darkness and death. On this Sanctity of Human Life Sunday we ask the Holy Spirit’s guidance so we may lovingly speak the Lord’s truth to our dark and sinful world.
“Villainy wears many masks, none so dangerous as the mask of virtue.” So spoke the main character in a modern movie. But the message is timeless: Evil is more tempting when it appears to be good. Paul told us in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, and his servants appear as ministers of righteousness.
I have Good News for you! Though we live in a world that is dead and dying, though we live in a world that often chooses death over life, God speaks love and life, hope and healing in His Word. He has made us and He has re-made us alive in Christ. That is why we are here. And that is why we listen to His life-giving Word on this Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.
Keeping truth alive is important. The eighteenth century poet, James Russell Lowell, wrote, “Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne.” If we forever lead truth up on the scaffold, if we try to do away with truth or ignore the truth, then we will forever be clearing the way for wrong to ascend to the throne and rule the day.
Paul tells us that as people who believe in Jesus we are to speak the truth in love. I like to call that “love-speak.” Love-speak is speaking the truth and doing so in a loving way. For example …
That Age Old Question … Look up John 18:38 to find out what it is. Why didn’t Jesus answer Pilate?
The memory is clear. It was a Sunday morning and our pastor had something personal he wanted to tell our congregation. His daughter, Katie, was pregnant. Everyone knew Katie wasn’t married. Most certainly, pastor explained, the circumstances were not as God intended. He and his family were surprised and disappointed. But, said pastor, “I am a grandfather.” He and his family promised to give their daughter and grandson all the support they needed.
Pro-life people in today’s culture are often misunderstood.
Myth: Abortion laws were of rather recent origin, and were adopted to protect women from dangerous surgery, not to protect unborn children.
Reality: Throughout almost all stages of history in nations influenced by Christianity, and in other nations as well, abortion has been strongly condemned by the religious and political leadership of these nations.
It is easy to glamorize and romanticize the “abundant life” so it sounds like waltzing through life from one joy or one victory to the next. This is the Christian life “plus.” Then there are the ordinary folk who stumble along living quite unspectacularly. For the most part my life has been of the more ordinary sort. No super Christian here. It might be helpful to ask: did Jesus himself live the “abundant life” that he came to give us?