Four Elements Of The Pro-Life Movement: LEAD

Pastor Dave Brown (Severna Park Baptist Church) / MD Students For Life Rally March 12, 2018

Life

• We must value life to the full extent, from the womb to the tomb. Humanity is unique and made in the image of God. Your body is made with beauty and your life with purpose. Every person has a God-given destiny.
• Pro-Life = pro-women, pro-men, pro-children, pro-ethnics, pro-diversity, pro-world.
• As Christians, we know life physically and spiritually comes from the Lord. When we value life from God then we cannot help but stand and speak for the issues that distract and destroy the image and intent of God placed inside of us. God forms, sin deforms, but Jesus transforms.
• John 10:10 “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

• Each one reach one: make it a goal to speak about the hope of Jesus to one person each week. Telling your testimony doesn’t have to be threatening. Share Jesus and let Him shape individuals worldviews.
• Each one reach one: make it a goal to speak and stand up when you see life being discredited: those different, those disabled, those diseased, those dying, and yes even those unborn.

Empathy

• How To Hug shouldn’t just be an extended volume in an encyclopedia, but a method to offer compassion for people who are hurting or seeking.
• There are times to discuss and debate, but ultimately Christians are not to be known for debate and hate, but love. The world knows if we are fake or if our faith is different by our message and our methods. It’s essential to have the right substance as well as the right style.
• People may not like us or agree with our message, and that’s ok. We should still lead with love and empathy, because that’s what Jesus did and does through us.
• John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

• What’s the Pro-Life brand? It’s not power or politics, but compassion; and love shows up and never gives up (1Cor 13:7). Get involved to influence local and national laws, but most of all love people.
• One great way to empathize is to listen to others. Sympathy (sym = with) but empathy (em = in), going deeper into the hurts, hangups, and hopes of people. Building sincere relationships with people and extending empathy to love others is the heart of the Pro-Life movement.

Answers

• The Pro-Life movement is not silly talk but science; it’s morality and medical integrity. We have truth on our side. And it behooves us to continue listening and studying the arguments from the other side in order to legitimately address their concerns and persuade with winsome answers.
• The Pro-Life movement is about unique DNA & Blood Type, Eyes & Ears, Heads & Heartbeats, Skin Tissue and Sonograms – all these precious elements of humanity and so much more that bring us face to face with life.
• Colossians 4:5-6 “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

• Scott Klusendorf, The Case For Life and Randy Alcorn, Pro-Life Answers To Pro-Choice Arguments are essential reading material.
• Talk with these student rally leaders and your church leaders to understand how to be equipped and engage for the Pro-Life movement.

Donate

• As Christians, we proclaim the truth with our lips and our lives. Therefore, we must get involved to donate our time, talents, and treasures. The Pro-Life movement is more than just a single day or rally or march; it’s about people who are focusing resources to reflect the value of life God has for every single person.
• The Pro-life movement has an air war with public messaging, but the ground war is completing the mission through pregnancy clinics, personal relationships, and even public policy.

  

• Get involved with Students for Life / Pregnancy Clinics / Vote
• Many don’t get involved in a movement because they don’t believe there’s a personal impact. Yet, the issues of the Pro-life movement are womb to tomb impacting each generation and segment of society. The time is now for Christians to engage the culture and for the church to realize that engagement doesn’t imply losing the gospel (Russell Moore, Onward).