Every Life Matters: 4 Simple Ways To Advocate For The Sanctity Of Human Life
Recently, I read a statistic that there are 55 million abortions worldwide annually.
If you’re anything like me, it’s hard for my mind to process that reality. Each one represents a child in the womb, made in the image of God but was never given the opportunity for life.
It’s a heartbreaking statistic pointing to a casual devaluing of human life that has serious cascading effects.
In other words, devaluing human life in the womb influences devaluing life out of the womb. Here are a few examples:
– Human trafficking.
– Abandonment.
– Pornography.
– Euthanasia.
– Racism.
– Abuse.
While I’m thankful for the laws put in place around protecting life, laws are limited. Only the gospel has the power to accomplish what a law cannot — the transformation of a human heart.
Because “God so loved the world (every human life) that he gave his one and only son that none should perish, but all who believe would have eternal life” (John 3:16), we should not separate the message of the gospel from the message of the sanctity of human life — or any area of human life for that matter.
Every life matters because they are created as an image-bearer of God.
The value of anything is based on the cost that is willing to be paid. God proved his love for every human being by giving up his Son.
Every life matters because God demonstrated his love for all through Jesus.
What can we do to advocate for the value of every human life?
This coming weekend is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, an opportunity to direct our attention to this part of the gospel message.
Keith Yoder, a long-term member of Worship Center who has been engaged in the pro-life movement for many years, shared with me some practical ways every follower of Jesus can do something.
Here are four simple ways to advocate for the sanctity of every human life:
1) Connect the value God’s love gives to every stage and condition of life.
In personal conversations, you can champion the value of children in the womb, as well as orphans, those who deal with a handicap, the terminally ill, and the elderly. A beautiful distinction of Christianity is how we love and advocate for those who may be otherwise forgotten or disregarded.
We love because Christ first loved us.
2) Redirect conversations around the sanctity of life from being political issues to concerns of God’s heart.
Most conversations around these issues can become divisive very quickly. It requires skill and discernment to redirect conversations about abortion, human trafficking, pornography, and abuse from being addressed solely as political issues.
Speak out against human injustices where people have been treated as objects or property by focusing on the value God’s love brings to every human being.
3) Get involved with pregnancy resource ministries.
Since the way we value the lives of children in the womb sets the posture for how all human life is valued, supporting pregnancy resource ministries who are doing great work is another step to take. You can get involved by volunteering, praying, and giving financial support.
A few local options include Align Life and Bridge of Hope. Align Life helps those in crisis pregnancy situations, and Bridge of Hope supports single moms through financial coaching, housing needs, and more. There are many local foster and adoption ministries to get involved with as well.
4) Offer redemptive ministry to those impacted by abortion, abuse, and more.
If you have been impacted by abortion in some way, there is hope and healing through the gospel message of Jesus Christ to find freedom from guilt, shame, and grief. As a church, we are here to help or connect you with the help you need. If you want to talk with a pastor, please call us at Worship Center at 717.656.4271.
Every life matters.
Let’s champion the value of every life in everyday life by pointing people to the gospel of Jesus Christ.