I WILL NOT KEEP SILENT (Isaiah 62:1-5)
Delivered on January 17, 2010 to Smith Chapel UMC
Part One
Part Two
What I Didn't Say
Life--There's nothing I like better than life, and I don't mean the cereal. I realize that's rather all encompassing, but there is an alternative (as they say). As a Christian, I know the alternative is not so bad, but I still like life a lot. I think it's pretty apparent the Lord instilled in us a desire to live. Some of us are quite passionate about it. Some of us live it with great gusto. Some of us cling to it like we do to our guns and religion (sorry, couldn't resist).
Abortion--When I was young, I didn't care two whits about abortion. In fact, when I was in college, I had a homemade sign on my door that said, "Acme Abortions...You Rape 'em, We Scrape 'em." I thought it was really funny at the time and was mildly surprised when some of the other guys on my floor didn't think it was appropriate. Of course, looking back on it, I realize it was not only unfunny, but grossly inappropriate on several levels.
I became a committed Christian when I was twenty (1970). The Roe v. Wade decision was handed down in 1973. At that point, I still didn't care two whits about abortion. As I look back on it, I don't remember anyone ever discussing it in the Christian circles I frequented. Maybe we did, but it just didn't sink in.
I don't even remember the Roe v. Wade decision being in the news. I've discussed it with people in more recent years who remember it well and were quite concerned about it at the time. It got by me, however, without so much as a whisper in my brain.
I fathered two children before I even gave abortion a second thought. My wife and I even considered one early in our first pregnancy because she came into contact with German Measles early in the pregnancy. I don't remember it hitting me as any kind of moral issue...merely one of convenience.
Because of that, I understand why young people are so indifferent about the subject. When I, even as a young Christian, didn't give it a second thought, how can I expect others to be any different. I suspect they are often the victims as much as the babies.
Silence--Because (at least in part) of my personal experience, I have a passion for protecting the life of the preborn. They are the most vulnerable, the most helpless, and the least able to speak out for themselves in our society. The Bible is clear about the spilling of innocent blood and about sacrificing babies, Unfortunately, that's exactly what we do. So I speak out. I am silent on many issues...rightly or wrongly. But when it comes to life, I cannot be silent.
