"For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you." - Psalms 86:5 (ESV)

Sunday's sermon at Maple Glen Church was entitled, "God's Supremacy Over All Life."  With the installation of Barack Obama as President this week and the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade on the 22nd, the topic was mostly about abortion and the pro-life movement.  The evangelical leaders of the movement are growing weary over their 30-plus years responding to the nation's greatest cause for guilt.

I wanted to share some of my thoughts on the topic and hopefully draw some encouragement and perspective.  There's a lot to be discouraged about.  1.2 million babies are being aborted every year in America - which amounts to more per day than the carnage of the terrorist attacks on 9/11.  However, there is still reason for hope.

Speaking of hope, I did not read Barack Obama's book - the Audacity of Hope.  To me, it means "daring to dream."  After reading a review on Amazon, that seems like the general gist of what Obama was trying to tap into during the presidential campaign over the past year.

Of course, my argument for hope is not just the character of fortitude in pursuit of the American dream, but that those who cry to God will be heard, forgiven and loved.  In fact, my reaction to the whole pro-life vs. pro-choice battle in America is simply, "Where's the love?"  If there was any one issue that showed just how broken we are as human beings, it is this.

Yet, the Lord still reigns supreme over all of life.  When we usurp his authority and rebel against God, then we are defying our purpose to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.  Submitting to His authority means every area of life, including life itself.

If He has authority over all of life, is he not capable of handling our guilt as well?  There's a lot of guilt associated with the abortion issue.  Of course, guilt also lies on the pro-life side.

The guilt of the pro-life side is "what are we doing about the problem?" and "are we doing enough?"  The sermon outlined how we can do more with the acronym, M.O.R.E.  That stood for sustained Mercy, sustained moral Outrage, sustained Repentance and sustained Example. 

I thought the R really missed the mark.  It surely identified the need for repentance, but focused more on the feelings of guilt in our churches and condemning our culture.  The culture drives the abortion industry through idolatry, immorality and greed.  Meanwhile, people are hurting physically, emotionally and spiritually.  Instead of taking care of our responsibilities, abortion teaches people to avoid responsibility.  I believe responsibility holds the key to repentance.  We have a responsibility to nurture the life God begins, care for the children God gives us and teach others about the God of all creation.  Knowledge of God and his authority of all of life should drive us to repentance.

Despite their claims, the pro-choice side doesn't elevate guilt either.  No matter how much we say we can control our own destiny and have our independence, it is a vain pursuit.  The pro-choice side only makes the matter worse.

However, if we are fully pro-life, then wives shouldn't take birth control pills.  We should be trying to have as many babies as possible.  There should be baby farm ministries attached to every evangelical church where Christians who can't have their own children can adopt other Christian babies.

Really, I am not a big fan of picketing, protesting or otherwise exercising public demonstrations for the cause.  After all, isn't God supreme over this issue as well?  Is it wrong of me to ask God to fix the problem that He's allowed to happen?  I think deep down inside, we don't really believe our efforts are helping much.  Yet, the numbers are down from 1.6 million American babies aborted a year to 1.2 million a year, so God must be working on it. 

The message Christians need to take to the abortion issue is to drive people to the gospel.  This is where our feelings of guilt are nailed to the cross and His righteousness is placed upon us.  Then, our natural response is to repent of our sins and submit to His authority for our lives.  His love for us can cover over a multitude of sins.