Social norms, abortion and some thoughts

 

Choose life, and life will be your portion.

Choose death, and death will follow you all your days.

For a long time I have wanted to write about abortion. I will state here and now that I unequivocally support life from conception to natural death.

As I prepared to write about abortion, I realised that one must begin with a much broader conversation about social norms, of which abortion is only one aspect. As in centuries past “all roads lead to Rome” so must all considerations lead to God and His word. If one does not believe in God, one will not behave in His ways.

Since the end of World War II there has been a massive upheaval in social norms that were static for centuries. The extended family transitioned to the nuclear family, then the single parent family to the blended family. The pill and contraceptive advances changed sexual behaviour. Same sex marriage has been legalised. Partnerships replaced marriage. Divorce is commonplace. Gender identity has become fluid.

Technology influences like never before. The internet explodes with information and ideas across the world. Mobile phones allow instant communication.

As never before, children and young people are influenced not be a cohesive family unit consisting of two loving married parents, grandparents, uncles and aunties but by media and friendship groups. The examples of relationships demonstrated to them may be unstable and impermanent. Yet they are expected to make good choices in their own lives.

An era of economic affluence in the western world following WWII ushered in the reign of two “gods” now pervasive in our society- the god of self and the god of sex. We are encouraged to amass far more than we need with status assigned to money, clothes, material possessions and travel. We hear phrases such as “follow your dreams” and “don’t settle for anything less”, not inherently bad in themselves but can be used at the expense of others and which can ultimately lead to disappointment a depression. Women in particular are encouraged to “have it all” – career, relationships and family. Economic systems are now designed so that two working people are needed to rent or buy the family home.

 Sex has become glorified in advertising, pornography and myriad forms outside of marriage. The words chastity and celibacy are hardly ever heard. Casual sex and serial monogamy are commonplace.

So we come to abortion, the disposal of the unwanted product of sex for the advancement of self. I grieve to even write these ugly words.

We have a complex society with complex issues and solutions and without doubt there is no going back to the lifestyles of previous centuries. How do we negotiate the world as it is and more to the point, how do we help our children to negotiate this world?

All roads lead to Rome.

All considerations lead to Jesus Christ, the only hope for this world.

Without a moral compass one is adrift in a sea of conflicting values. Relative morality does not bring relief, or peace or satisfaction. The is only one positive hope.

Christianity in our modern world, for those who are not Christians, is often misunderstood, is stereotyped and is mocked. At this point we as Christians gently ask that others consider the precepts of Christianity and you may find it very different to what you might expect. Yes, it may impact on your life. You may think it will change your lifestyle for the worse, but amazingly, it may change it for the better. That is where programs such as Alpha, available to the public through churches or online, are a great resource for considering Christianity.

Many in the western world fail to appreciate that the most stable and prosperous societies were founded and built on Christian values. The tenets of western law, medicine, business dealings and charitable institutions can all be traced back to the Bible. Moral principles and social directives found in the Bible have withstood the test of centuries. The Bible is clear- when we follow the precepts that God determined for His people, your life is blessed.

Rejection of God does not lead to peace and lasting joy. Ultimately it leads to unhappiness, confusion, sin and death.

The Bible, God’s word, is all about life. People are created in the image of God. The world, from the sky above to the waters below was wonderfully created, in its myriad abundance of living forms- plants, animals, mankind and all the inanimate creation that amazes with its complexity and interrelationships. The Bible is the history book of humanity encompassing creation, sin, complex problems and relationships and redemption through Jesus Christ and the hope that is found in Him.

God’s word is also all about love. The love of God for His people and His desire to bless and uphold them through good times and bad. This redemptive love is contained in perhaps the most well -known verse of the Bible:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (NIV) John chapter 3, verse 16.

Life and love, that is the promise of those who follow Christ. It’s not just an insurance policy for the afterlife as some might imagine, but a reality here and now- that being a Christian ensures the best possible life to live now. God says

“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. “  NIV Jeremiah 29: 11-13

 

 

 

The Gospel and How Do I Become a Christian ? (reprinted periodically)

 

The Gospel

 

In the beginning, God, (God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit), created the heavens and the earth and everything in it, including the first man, Adam and the first woman, Eve. God created humans to live in relationship with Him, but gave them free will to either obey Him or be disobedient. Satan, the devil, whom the Bible identifies as a fallen angel, tempted Eve to sin by disobeying God and she in turn tempted Adam to also disobey God. For their disobedience Adam and Eve were cast away from God’s presence and the wonderful life God had created for them and through them all their descendents were destined to be born sinful.

 

Yet throughout history there have been men and women who sought after God. Humanity became so depraved that God destroyed the earth with a global flood, but saved Noah and his family. Through Abraham God established the nation of Israel, who would be God’s favoured people. Moses, Abraham’s descendent, led the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt and received the Ten Commandments and many laws of conduct. Because of the sinful nature of man, these laws were not kept, and a system of animal sacrifices was instituted to make atonement for the sins of the people. However, the people both individually and as a nation continued in a cycle of falling away from God and returning to Him.

 

During the history of the nation of Israel there were prophets who foretold that a Saviour would be born, to save humanity from its sinfulness. Their prophecies were fulfilled when Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. Jesus is the only Son of God. He was sent to this earth and lived amongst us as a human, without losing His divine nature. In all things Jesus honoured and obeyed His Father, God. During His ministry on earth, Jesus performed many miracles and taught us regarding God’s nature and way of living. He was tempted by Satan but was without sin. He travelled with a group of disciples who were the foundation of the church – God’s people on earth.

 

In the same way that animals had been sacrificed to make atonement for man’s sin, it was the purpose of God to send Jesus to earth to become a total sacrifice, once and for all time, for fallen humanity. As was His destiny, Jesus was arrested, tried for heresy and crucified on a hill outside Jerusalem called Calvary. At the time of Christ’s death the curtain in the Jewish temple was torn apart, symbolising that the old system of God only being able to be approached by certain people and in certain places, was finished.

 

Now all could come into right relationship with God through the shed blood of Jesus, by committing their lives to Him in repentance and faith.

 

The Bible tells us that Jesus descended into hell and has total dominion over Satan and evil. On the third day Christ rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples and many others on earth. He gave his disciples the “great commission” to go into all nations and preach the gospel. Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven.

 

After Jesus ascended to heaven, God sent the Holy Spirit to the earth at Pentecost (ten days after Jesus’ ascension). The Holy Spirit is not only alive in the world, but indwells in those who have committed themselves wholly to God and gives such attributes as comfort, counsel, power and discernment.

 

The Bible tells of spiritual battles between good and evil in both earthly and heavenly realms. It includes indications of great tribulation yet to come. We are told that Christ will return to this earth, the second coming, when He will defeat the evil forces raging in the world and will judge the living and the dead.

 

We who have committed our lives to Christ still struggle in our humanity with temptation to sin, and must choose daily to live in obedience to His will. We grow in our faith through prayer, study and reflection of God’s word, the Bible; and by meeting regularly in fellowship with other Christians.

 

 

How do I become a Christian?

 

The Bible tells us that there is only one way to relationship with God and that is through Jesus Christ:

“Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. John 14:5-6

 

To become a Christian, you need to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died on the cross to honour God and for the forgiveness of sin and that He rose again and ascended to His Father God.

 

You also need to admit or confess that you are a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness through Christ.

 

You then need to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Just as a wedding ceremony begins a marriage, so a prayer of confession and faith can begin, but is just the beginning, of a relationship with God. An ongoing relationship includes learning about God through Bible study; conversations with God through prayer, and encouragement through Christian fellowship in a caring church.

The following is a prayer which could be used to begin this relationship. You may wish to pray it alone, personally, or you may wish to discuss your decision with a Christian friend or pastor first to fully understand:

 

Dear Heavenly Father God,

I come before You acknowledging You as the only one God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thank You for revealing Yourself to me. Thank You, Father God, for sending Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross, honouring You and making a way for sinful people to come back into relationship with You. I acknowledge that I am a sinner. Please forgive my sin and cleanse me I pray. I receive Jesus Christ into my life to be my Lord and Saviour for the rest of my days. May You give me strength through the power of the Holy Spirit to live my life as a Christian. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour. Amen

 

May God bless you with an ever-increasing knowledge of His wonderful presence and endless love as you continue to seek and serve Him.