A Call to Action

As Christians, we often bemoan the state of our nation, but how many of us are trying to change what we don't agree with? The sixteenth chapter of the gospel of Luke records a parable told by Jesus in which a rich man charged his manager with wasting the rich man's possessions. Upon hearing these accusations from his boss, the manager proceeded to call in his master's debtors and reduce the amounts they owed so he would have friends when he lost his job. The master praised the manager, not for being dishonest, but for being shrewd. "For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light." (ESV). The founders of NARAL (originally the National Association for the Repeal of the Abortion Laws) launched a specific campaign to make abortion legal in the United States and, within five years, saw the Roe v. Wade decision legalize abortion on demand. According to founder Dr. Bernard Nathanson, there were three key steps involved in this effort: (1) capture the media, specifically by fabricating results of fictitious polls; (2) make the Catholic hierarchy look like the villain in opposing abortion; and (3) suppress all scientific evidence that life begins at conception. Like the shrewd manager, NARAL founders set their goal and achieved it utilizing dishonest means. The founders of NARAL were shrewd in dealing with their own generation. What about the sons of light who, although under constraint to act righteously, are likewise called to deal with their own generation? In fighting legalized abortion, are Christians being "wise as serpents and innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16b; ESV)?

Concerning the state of civic engagement in America in 2009, statistics collected by the Pew Research Center show only 30% of adults made at least one contact to a national, state or local government official about an issue; only 15% of adults were active members of a group that tries to influence public policy or government; only 12% of adults attended at least one political rally or speech; only 10% sent a letter to the editor to a newspaper or magazine; only 8% worked or volunteered for a political party or candidate. It is time for all Christians to work for an end to legalized abortion in our nation. We are called to act! Please pray and ask God what you can do to save the helpless victims of abortion. Each one of us in the body of Christ has a role. We have been blessed to be born in a free nation, but our freedom was purchased at a high cost. Let us not sit by and watch this nation sin before the Almighty through legalized murder. Although we are not members of a royal household like Esther, we have been given citizenship in a free land. "And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14b; ESV).