PPL RESPONDS

Forty-six years ago the Supreme Court legalized abortion-on-demand with Roe vs. Wade in 1973. Abortion rights advocates have progressed from a whispered aspiration of abortion as “safe, legal and rare,” to cries of “shout your abortion!”  Ethical and ecclesial “authorities” pronounce that abortion is a moral good, compatible with Christian faith and practice. Now, women in obscene pink hats march in the streets and scream and claw wildly at the doors of the Supreme Court, while governors and legislators in a dozen states advance laws expanding protections for those seeking and performing abortions up to birth, during delivery and post-birth (infanticide).  Pink lights on government landmarks celebrate the legislative “victories” of state-sanctioned murders of viable infants who are accused of “threatening the lives” of their mothers.  Governors and legislators applaud themselves, write editorials mocking church teachings and calmly describe keeping abortion survivors “comfortable,” as they decide whether or not the child should be killed outright.   Women of all races demonstrate for “control” over their own bodies, even as they end the lives of millions of females with distinct bodies and DNA of their own.  The words of God in Isaiah declare, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Isaiah 5:20

 

These exponential expansions of abortion have not only taken the lives of 61,000,000 unborn human persons, they have set the rights of women and children backwards to a point nearly parallel with ancient pagan cultures.  The utilitarian view of human life necessary to advance abortion is the same lens that sees women and children as property and objects for sexual exploitation.  This effort for reproductive “freedom” has destroyed the social, legal and financial safety nets of marriage and family, endangering and impoverishing millions more.  Men are freed to use women and reject children without social sanctions.  Employers can continue to penalize women of childbearing years by denying advancement to mothers with children.  The “fetus as alien enemy” has led to the logical end of women who view their own children as threats and opponents, with child abuse on the rise.  This objectification has led to the sexualization, abuse and trafficking of women and very young children, by those who use abortion as a tool of the trade. Unrestrained “freedom of choice” has left women and children in a sexual and economic prison with an unlocked door, which they believe they cannot open to gain true freedom, because everyone - the government, the education system, the medical establishment and popular culture – has convinced them they are only free inside the cage that their exploitation helped to build.  “…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”  2 Cor. 4:4

 

In its pursuit of the idol of freedom of choice on its own terms, the world has set itself against God’s sovereignty over all of life. All human beings bear the image of God; all human lives are worth the price that Jesus paid for them and all human lives belong to God.  All persons are invited to hear the Gospel proclaimed; and all persons who accept the gift of God’s grace through faith will be added to the coming Kingdom of God.  Therefore, Evil must set itself against the humanity that God loves and redeems, marring the image we bear and the witness of marriage and family by:  the perversion of innocence and devaluation of marriage; tearing unborn humans apart in the womb; killing those born alive; setting mothers against their children; confusing gender distinctives; fostering racism; disrespecting and abandoning the infirm and the elderly; stealing life through euthanasia and assisted suicide. Ultimately such an Evil, setting itself against the True God will have its own religion and sacraments.  In the United States, we’ve seen clearly that abortion is the sacrament of this false religion, with adherents who are willing to do anything to keep worshipping at its altar of death.  “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.” Jonah 2:8

 

Every child conceived – whether inside or outside of a marriage, wanted or unwanted, or even through rape or incest - is an unspoiled image-bearer of God, the Imago Dei: Unlike any other person ever conceived; a potential Christ-follower; a person with unique gifts and contributions for the betterment of humanity and advancement of the Kingdom of God.  Because of this, the womb is where the Enemy focuses the most violence.  Because of this, PPL calls upon the People of God to stand in the gap between the unborn and those who seek to destroy them.  “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” Psalm 82:3

 

PPL calls on every pastor to proclaim God’s view of life from the pulpit; and calls upon every congregation to support and encourage their pastor to speak God’s truth about the value of all life. Objections that “abortion is too political” for the pulpit collapse when words like “slavery,” “child abuse,” “infanticide” or “human rights” are substituted for the word “abortion.”   The Gospel itself is “political”: the incarnate Christ breaking into our polis of community, human rights and justice.  The words of God in the mouth of the preacher decrying the sin of the murder of innocents, and offering God’s forgiveness to the repentant, is indeed Biblical, and rightly belongs in the pulpits of God’s church and in the hearing of God’s people.  To withhold the truth about sin is not loving, and to withhold the good news that forgiveness is available in Christ Jesus is a perversion of the Gospel.  “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

 

We call on pastors and congregations to engage in ministries to the preborn including parental catechism, pastoral care for expectant families, perinatal hospice, pastoral care after miscarriage, child death and, yes— even abortion - as well as adoption support and assistance.  We call on every pulpit and every parishioner to oppose the murder of innocents and speak words of life into every conversation.  We call on every congregation to equip, offer and publicize to their communities that their church will come alongside women and children in need.  We call on every citizen who loves God and creation to call, write, and speak against unjust laws to their local, state and federal government representatives.  And most importantly, we call on all people to pray in repentance for past silence and that God’s truth will prevail over the arguments of hopelessness and death, and cause people to turn to Christ in hope and faith.  “…we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength…” Romans 15:1

 

This is the human rights issue of our age.  This is the moral test for our generation.  May God strengthen our hands for this work.   Neh. 6:9

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PRESBYTERIANS PROTECTING LIFE

 

Rev. Deborah Hollifield, (HR), Executive Director  PCUSA

Rev. John Sheldon, President of the Board  PCUSA

Mrs. Marie Bowen, Administrative Director PCUSA

Jack Sharpe, Esq., Vice-President PCUSA

Rev. Justin Lee Marple, Recording Secretary  PCUSA               
Patricia Lee June, M.D., Treasurer  PCUSA

Rev. Lowell Avery  PCUSA

Rev. Craig Kephart PCUSA

Martha E. Leatherman, M.D.  PCA

Rev. Dr. David Mauldin  ECO

Rev. Ryan Mowen   EPC

Mrs. Amy Scherschligt  EPC

Rev. Terry Simm  ECO

Rev. Scott T. Wiest  EPC    

 

 

For 40+ years, PPL has been equipping Presbyterians to champion human life in the church. God clearly demonstrates the value of human beings in the Gospel. Jesus, God's Son, took on human form to bring us into relationship with God. This good news is why we pursue our mission. We want all Presbyterians to be equipped champions of human life at every stage.