No 'bigger fish to fry' than abortion

Baptist Press ^ | June 05, 2015 | Allen Raynor

[Graybeard58]

ROGERS, Texas (BP) -- We live in a world where the truths we have always known and relied upon are being cast aside in favor of new paradigms, most of which are not for the better.

Christians are being forced to scatter their attention and fight the culture war on many fronts. The battle for the biblical definition of marriage is certainly worth our fight. But it is, by no means, the only front in this culture war.

We still need to confront the legally sanctioned atrocities of abortion.

People may believe they have "bigger fish to fry," to use an old expression. Make no mistake: I am appalled at all that is going on in our declining social and political climate, but I still would argue that abortion remains an ominous indicator of our descent into the morass of hedonism.

Legalized abortion on demand, at a minimum, is the utter contempt for God and all that He has said and done. It is an attack on Him as the Creator of life; it is counter to His command to be "fruitful and multiply"; it is dismissive of all He says about the hope a new life represents for the future; it violates the natural God-given bond between a mother and child; it lays aside what Scripture says about the protective and provisional responsibilities of fatherhood; it violates God's Word concerning murder; it is a grievously sinful practice, often used in an attempt to otherwise deal with other previously committed sin. The problem of sin, though, is never solved by committing more sin.

The old argument that a woman should be able to do what she wishes with her own body is, at best, a declaration of selfishness. By contrast, many selfless and bighearted people stand with open arms waiting to adopt children who, otherwise, will have their lives snuffed out "legally" by an already born doctor financially profiting from the demise of small babies.

Now 42 years after the famed Roe v. Wade decision and nearly 60 million abortions, "Sanctity of Human Life" Sunday, once widely recognized by churches each January, has faded as many services go on as usual. The problem is actually bigger than ever, but the sense of urgency has diminished.

I was deeply moved by an expression of concern for the unborn on the most recent "Sanctity of Human Life Sunday." The church I pastor hosted our Baptist association's annual meeting on Sunday evening (Jan. 18). I noticed one group of about 12 men and women all dressed very well, but in black -- the men in black suits and the women in black dresses. Out of curiosity, I stopped one of the gentlemen and asked why everyone from his church was dressed in black. He said to me, "We always wear black on this Sunday."

I felt myself fighting back tears as his simple explanation touched a spot deep in my heart. Even though I had preached a message on the sanctity of human life that very morning, I knew that mere words or even a sermon could not begin to touch the depth of injustice that is going on every day, in every state, in every community. In John 11, Jesus stood at the tomb of Lazarus who had died. He was about to raise him from the dead, but before He did, verse 35 says, "Jesus wept." Death of all types grieves the heart of God and causes Him to weep. How much more is He grieved by senseless death, which so greatly devalues the previous gift He gives each successive generation.

I am convinced that every day for 42 years, since Roe v. Wade, one of the biggest stories in America -- regularly ignored in the newspapers and, too often, in our hearts -- is that an otherwise civilized society would legally allow a practice that rivals or tops any torturous act of ancient or medieval times and, by and large, indifferently look the other way.

Allen Raynor is senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Rogers, Texas.

[surroundedbyblue]

It’s a pro-life forum. It’s Jim’s site and he can set the rules he wants which means...no abortion supporters. You are an abortion supporter

[Boonie]

Thank you for the invitation...That is a truly worthwhile endeavor to encourage the people who, for other than the reasons I listed want to end the pregnancy...

I agree with you on this wholeheartedly.

[Graybeard58]

I fought for the right to have an opinion and express it

You are on private property here, on a pro life site. Your "opinions" could get you evicted. Keep it up and find out.

[editor-surveyor]

.
No abortion has ever saved the life of anyone!

Thousands of pregnant women have died because of the malpractice of abortion.

God’s word gives no justification for abortion, and rape is not a reason to give a child a death sentence.

[surroundedbyblue]

This is FYI......
http://www.rebeccakiessling.com

This woman’s mother was raped at knifepoint. The woman on the website was a product of that rape. Is her life really worth less than yours?

[Salvation]

Can you tell the difference?

[Graybeard58]

The woman on the website was a product of that rape. Is her life really worth less than yours?

But, but, but he, like John Kerry, was in Viet Nam.

[Salvation]

What a message!

[surroundedbyblue]

Love the tag line

[surroundedbyblue]

Yes. Somehow that makes him better than the rest of us. Just like, to him, some babies have more rights than others.

[Jim Noble]

If you could ban 99% of abortions by allowing 1% would you do it? (Pretend the scenario is real, I know no abortions are going to be stopped).

[Boonie]

This is my last post on this issue...I did not mean to cause such an upheaval...
I do agree with most all of your points and I will say this lastly...

I do not feel anyone should ever be forced into any abortion...If the mother wishes to carry through with the pregnancy, I am 100% behind her on this...

My only point was that the things I mentioned were the only times I
feel the mother should be given the opportunity to end
the pregnancy...

Agaim, I apologize for creating such an uncomfortable situation...

I do love Free Republic and am a supporter.

[saleman]

I think that the reason people aren’t “frying more fish” in terms of abortion is because the mind of caring people kinda shuts off when thinking of things as horrible as abortion. Like the holocaust. Like genocide. Like the purges in the USSR. China. Cambodia. Rwanda...

Sometime you just gotta face the truth. And the truth is, for some reason, prayer is just not working to stop abortion. So you have to ask yourself. What will stop abortion. NOW. Certainly not the law. Then what?

And that’s the part that people don’t want to think about, much less discuss.

So keep praying preacher. Can’t hurt. Won’t do anything. And that’s a truth that people don’t want to talk about either.

[wintertime]

What would stop abortion?

Here's an Idea:

Those against abortion simply drive their cars past the abortion clinic. If millions show up for a month or two, the clinic will not make a profit. It could also mean that the staff might not be able to make to work and the patients may not be able to get through the traffic jam.

Instead, the Pro Life people enjoy throwing a party every year in Washington. They have a great time and it makes them feel good.

[mlizzy]

There are many people who think abortion can be okay in cases of rape and/or incest. You are not unique in that regard. It is the hard-core pro-lifer who understands that all babies, no matter how they were conceived, should be given a crack at life.

That this site is pro-life is good that it stands that way, but they also allow people to rip another’s heart on the Religion Forum, just because they dare to worship Jesus differently from another, so is that really pro-life? To me it is not, because the Christ Child is involved, so a mixed message is sent on these forums from the get-go.

Thank you for serving in Vietnam. Not an easy war to fight; it’s good you made it through.

[Boonie]

Thank you, mlizzy...

To all other posters in this thread...

I apologize for thinking this was an open forum...I thought I was in the general forum, but realized I had clicked on everything...I did not realize this thread was in the religion forum...

Again, my apologies...
I am going back to general....

[Morgana]

surroundedbyblue allow me will ya?

Okay first of all on the rape/incest issue, why are you giving the death penalty to the innocent person? The baby is innocent. It is the rapist/molester who should receive the death penalty and before Kinsey that person did in this country.

Also many who have had abortion after rape say they feel more violated by the abortion than by the rape.

As for saving the mother’s life, yes sometimes it’s necessary it’s called an ectopic pregnancy however your local abortion mill can’t do this type of abortion. Only a real doctor in a real hospital can.

I have seen some very rare examples of mothers who needed one because of other health issues, like cardiac or cancer but some of those mothers chose their baby over themselves. Some chose to abort. Once again, those are rare. I mean rare as in we don’t need an abortion clinic in every town to handle those women. You got me?

[Jim Robinson]

This entire site is a pro-life forum. You can either keep the abortionist opinions to yourself or post elsewhere.

[cotton]

Of course it is not thought of as an abortion, as there is no intent to kill a baby, but to save a life. Indeed some times the child is already deceased, but sometimes he or she was alive at the beginning of the procedure. I am sure you have seen the famous picture of the live fetus still in his/her amniotic sack. A miscarriage is called a spontaneous abortion. When an unborn dies and a d and c is required to remove the little body in is called a missed abortion. When a 29 week baby is removed from the womb and put in the intensive care unit it is called a premature birth, when he or she is purposely killed before birth it is called abortion. The difference is the intention to kill or to save. My point is the idea of saving not taking human life which is created at conception in the image of God, and is scared.