19 Jan Mark 3:4 (Sensationally Tangled)
Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (website, Facebook).
“‘Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?’ But they remained silent.” Mark 3:4 (full readings)
Pat’s Reflections: With nearly one in four pregnancies ending in abortion, the death/damage has caused a sensationally tangled mess that has silenced many friends, families and professionals from sharing the healing Truth. After sharing this eye-opening video about a twin surviving an abortion, I received a message from a pro-choice therapist friend who said, “sensational videos can be very damaging.” Abortion is by definition sensational (“arouse strong reaction”), much like a horrific mass murder trial or the unthinkable Nazi extermination camps. Abortion causes death/damage…Truth leads to abortion regret, reconciliation, healing. The therapist friend said, “life is too complex to make blanket statements for all people in all situations.” Life is indeed complex, but all babies do have the right to simply live…in all situations. The simple Truth is that abortion kills a baby and damages a family…but Christ heals. Fear and convenience make some mothers feel like they ironically have no choice but to abort. We need to love those mothers to pregnancy centers, adoption services and churches that will help take the crisis out of the pregnancy. For those hurting with post-abortion damage, we need to love them to faith reconciliation resources (Sacrament, Project Rachel, etc)…see Monday devotion. The Body of Christ (us) has the power to untangle this evil abortion mess and weave a culture of Life.
Faith Challenge: Courageously speak the simple Truth about abortion…for death/damage prevention and eternal healing.
Counter-Culture News: LSN, Vatican, AFA, Priests for Life, Live Action
* Unborn twins interact with each other as early as 14 weeks
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). Add Prayers on our website. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, running, etc. Consider a mid-week family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
* The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally celebrated every year from 18 to 25 January.
Feast Day: St. Fabian (martyr)
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Through Christ Our Lord,
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (23% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa
* Evangelize:Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.
karla
Posted at 3:37 PM, 19 January 2011I believe Christians should use love and justice in attempting to evangelize or persuade others of Scriptural principles such as the value of all human life made in the image of God. In love we need to ask: ‘what does this person most need from me right now? how can I bring about the greatest possible good in his/her life? what will be the short/long term effect if I attempt to communicate in this way?’ Still, love must be balanced with the requirements of justice: ‘what does God expect of me in this situation? What ought I to do or say? what is the right thing for me to say, regardless of this person’s response?’ Love and justice are both ambassadors representing the kingdom of God…I must pursue justice in a loving way. Perhaps pro-life needs to reconsider an emphasis on ugly imagery that repels and many times becomes a misread message of harsh/unloving judgement? A more effective bridge to those in this situation may be presenting the truth through stunningingly beautiful images found within ultrasound technology of life present…let’s win people with grace and truth. Sensationalism and horrific images leading to guilt will not draw these women to the merciful heart of God. Truth given in grace. Christ came to seek and save the lost…we must ask how did he minister to those like the woman at the well? Loving dialogue led to a recognition of truth and ultimately salvation!
Pat Castle
Posted at 7:13 PM, 19 January 2011Hi, Karla (aka “coach on the road”)…thank you for sharing! As the Body of Christ, I agree that we need to constantly ask, “what would Jesus do?” Yes, like Christ, we need to seek and save the lost. As fellow beggars for Christ, we need to humbly (could be us) meet people where they are at, provide Truth at the pace of Grace (Steve’s line), and love/escort our neighbors/enemies to the feet of Christ (regret/Reconciliation/healing). As you said, for the woman at the well, His loving dialogue was enough for her to recognize the Truth. As you suggested, the LIFE Group Devotions uses loving dialogue and “stunningly beautiful images found within ultrasound technology of life present” to convince others that Life is worth defending. However, the LIFE Group also has a footnote link for those who need to see the horrific images to understand that abortion (freedom of choice) is an evil lie. Fr. Frank Pavone believes that America will not end abortion until they have seen abortion. For some, only seeing is believing which, like St. Thomas, leads to regret…then being drawn to the “merciful heart of God” (Reconciliation)…then personal healing. Rob Rysavy shared this: “Abortion, the greatest mass murderer of them all, has been hailed as a break through in women’s rights. Words are important, and it is clear satan retains his incredible mastery of language. Only satan could catalyze more innocent deaths than the worst dictators in history and have those deaths be praised as a good thing, a necessary thing, by society. satan’s title as of “the great deceiver” is seen most clearly in abortion.” Although abortion is by definition sensational (“arouse strong reaction”), I agree that Truth should always be given in a state of God’s amazing grace…always in prayer…seeking to do as Christ did for us. Glad we are collaborating towards the same goal…a greater Culture of Life. Gratefully, Your bro Pat (Jer 1:5)