This message is so timely and appropriate for such a time as this in America. Elder David Crawford delivers this challenging and convicting charge to the church of God regarding abortion and the sanctity of innocent life – please take 48 minutes out of your day to listen to this charge for our responsibility in this crucially important issue in our culture today.
Click here to access sermon in a new window – The Sanctity of Life, Elder David Crawford
In the last 46 years since Roe vs. Wade was passed by the Supreme Court, we have condoned the abortive slaughter of 50+ million innocent babies in America. As we zoom out and consider the world at large, the World Health Organization estimates there are 40-50 million abortions every year in the world. That equates to possibly 125,000 abortions everyday worldwide. Read that again, and let the gravity of that number sink in. 125,000 acts of murder of innocent babies every single day.
The third item listed as the things that the Lord hates that are an abomination before his eyes are “hands that shed innocent blood” (Prov. 6:16-17). God put up with a lot of wickedness in Judah for centuries, but the final straw for which God would not pardon Judah and ultimately destroyed them at the hands of the Babylonians was the sin of Manasseh who “shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to the another” (2 Kings 21:15) as he offered innocent children as human sacrifices in passing through the fire unto false gods. Finally, the Lord “removed [Judah] out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did; and also for the innocent blood that he shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the Lord would not pardon.” (2 Kings 24:3-4) We have to be honest, we are guilty of the same sins. We have allowed the unrestricted perpetuation of an abomination of what the Lord hates; we have legalized and supported hands to shed innocent blood. I feel that it’s become such a black (dare I say scarlet, blood-stained) mark on our culture that we are just as justly condemned as Judah under Manasseh; we have allowed the shedding of innocent blood from one end of America to another. First, we have to realize the gravity of our sins and repent. I have not committed these sins firsthand certainly, but we are all guilty before the Lord in a collective sense for allowing the freedom for wicked hands to perpetually shed innocent blood.
If there is any issue where the church has to let our salt be the saltiest and our light be the brightest, it has to be in the defense of innocent life. We are at a peak and crucial time for the topic of abortion in America. We have seen New York essentially fully legalize full-term abortions. Other states are quickly following suit. There have been multiple comments from political leaders advocating the taking of a baby’s life after birth – full-scale infanticide. Praise God there have been some state legislatures that have also recently enacted legislation trying to prevent late-term abortions – particularly heart-beat protection – but they have seen mixed success.
Possibly in fear of political pressure (Lord forbid we would ever offend anyone with the truth), the church has become too silent and passive on this crucial issue. As, Bro. David clearly articulates in this message, it’s through that passivism that a vacuum was created that led to the atrocities and slaughter of innocent life in Germany and Russia in years past. There is no issue where the church’s salt and light has to be manifested more publicly than in our vehement opposition to abortion and the hands that shed innocent blood. Our salt and light obligation does not end at the political arena, it has to permeate that area of our lives as well.
Since Jesus redeemed his bride, his church with his own blood, you aren’t given the option to allow Christ to be Lord of only 50-75-90% of your life – God demands total submission to his authority and commandments. That total submission extends to every aspect of our lives – that includes the voting booth. Politics is not separated and isolated from our obedience to the standard of God’s word, and the Lord left us no room to doubt his opinion on the sanctity of human life, and how God views those who violate and slay that innocent life. I agree with Bro. David, the church going forward now needs to be a one issue electorate. I don’t care how a candidate’s platform stands up on fiscal policy, foreign policy, immigration, etc. – if you support abortion, you will not get my vote. Period.
Jesus called us (the disciples of Christ, the church) the “salt of the earth”, but right after that, Christ gave the caveat, “but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men” (Matt. 5:13) I can’t think of a more apt application of the salt losing its savour than the church’s silence and complacency in abortion and the shedding of innocent blood that the Lord hates. Jesus himself said that if we reach that point, then we are deemed fully unsavoury, we’re not good for anything but to be thrown out and cast under foot of men.
Kindred, we have to be active in the political process on this issue. Vote with this at the forefront of your mind. Contact your representatives (especially state and federal) and let them know exactly where you stand. But more than anything, pray for the Lord’s mercy on us for our sins and for converted hearts to repent of this atrocity in the future. As Bro. David gives us such a great example, one person can make a difference, but our salt has to savory and our light has to be shining bright.
This issue coldly reminds us of just how wicked this world truly is. Praise God this world is not our home for the child of God, and Christ has overcome this world and given us a hope of a better life of peace in heaven. I hope our redemption draweth nigh. Lord Jesus, come quickly!