To put it to a question: What should we do as a result of the overturning of Roe v. Wade?
First off, this is a pivotal moment for the people of God to become the greatest advocates and strongest participants in the foster system. No one should be more present and active in adopting and fostering children than the Church. While we are not all capable or able to adopt or foster a child, we have a wealth of resources and opportunities to come alongside those who can and do. There are countless ways we can support those who are opening up their homes and lives for the sake of the orphan. If we want more and more women to eliminate abortion from the list of options, there has to be a rising tide - maybe a flood is a better description - of Jesus followers who are ready, willing, and able to adopt.
Let me say it this way: If you are anti-abortion, then you are pro-adoption.
As of 2017 statistics, over 92.33% of the women who had an abortion listed "No reason (elective)" as the determining factor in aborting their baby. In other words, very often it is simply an inconvenience. [Further statistics show that .065% of abortions are from the woman's life being in danger, .288% are because of the woman's physical health being threatened, .666% were from a fetal abnormality, and 6.268% were due to social or economic reasons.] I share this with you for 2 reasons. The first is to expose that over 92% of the time, abortion is a decision of convenience. Or inconvenience, whichever way you choose to look at it. The second reason I share this with you is to assure you that standing in the gap - caring for the orphan - is an inconvenience.
This summer we will be affirming 3 new deacons at The Brook. One of those deacons will be Sara Couch, whose husband Matt is already one of our current deacons. Matt and Sara are a vital part of our worship team, and host/lead one of our Missional Communities. As experienced foster parents themselves over the last several years, we have asked Matt and Sara to lead our efforts to effectively serve all of our foster and adoptive families and to help us cultivate new ways of serving the foster and adoptive community in our city. I do not believe these things are all happening simultaneously by accident or coincidence. This is clearly the Lord's timing.
As I've touched on what we can and should be doing as the Body of Christ, allow me to close by addressing how we should be responding to this watershed moment in our culture. To put it simply, as Jesus has called us to be salt and light to the world around us, the only way to accomplish this is through understanding our own brokenness and seeing the lost world around us through the loving eyes of the Father. While social media or TV will show you the extremes (there are most certainly people out there who are completely driven by evil and darkness), most women who ever contemplate the horror of abortion are consumed by shame, guilt, embarrassment, loneliness, and fear. Hate and anger will not drive them to the Lord. Only the love of God manifested in and through the people of God will overcome darkness. So, these are not days to boast or gloat, but to walk in humility and grace. May we walk and live as Jesus did.
Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in adultery. But he also did not overlook her sin. He told her, "Go and sin no more."
Jesus did not condemn the Samaritan woman at the well. But he also did not pretend that her empty pursuit for hope and peace would eventually pay off. He showed her and told her where to find living water!
Friends, it's time our PRO-LIFE stance become way bigger and bolder than simply being ANTI-ABORTION. If we are going to be truly pro-life, then our own lives will be interruptible. We will most certainly be "inconvenienced." But this is the worship our Lord is looking for.
In describing true fasting and worship, God said, "Is it not to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own family? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise from the darkness..." (Isaiah 58:6-10) [italics mine]
Join me in crying out to our Heavenly Father:
Lord, please open our eyes and break our hearts, that we might be willing to be poured out for those who need you. Make our lives interruptible; living sacrifices for the sake of the gospel. Your Kingdom come; your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
I'm grateful for you and I'm praying for you today. May the Lord transform the world around us as we live intentionally to bring His Kingdom everywhere we go!
