Introduction:
Brothers and sisters, today we're diving into a sensitive and important topic that touches on life's sanctity. It's an issue often avoided or tiptoed around, but the Lord calls us to speak truth in love. We're here to examine the reality of abortion and, specifically, how the enemy uses truth to hide a greater lie. Satan is a master of distraction, often pointing to the small, undeniable instances of good to obscure the overwhelming tide of sin behind it. Today, we'll shed light on that tactic using the authority Jesus gave us.
Let's begin by looking at the facts: most abortions are not performed because of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother, although these are the justifications most often held up as reasons to protect abortion rights.
The Numbers Behind the Issue:
1. Abortions due to rape: About 1% of abortions are due to rape.
2. Abortions due to incest: Even rarer, only about 0.5% are due to incest.
3. Abortions to save the life of the mother: Roughly 3% of abortions are performed because of health risks to the mother or child.
That means approximately 94-96% of abortions are performed for other reasons—most often reasons tied to convenience or life circumstances like financial instability, the desire to not be a single mother, or not wanting to have more children.
Now, this is not to minimize the pain of those who have experienced trauma or life-threatening conditions. Still, we need to ask ourselves: why is the conversation so focused on the exceptions, while the overwhelming majority of abortions are for reasons of convenience?
Scripture: Calling the Church to Speak Truth in Love
1. Ephesians 5:11 (NIV):
"Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."
Paul's message to the Ephesians speaks directly to our responsibility as believers to not simply turn away from evil but to expose it. Satan wants us to focus on the small percentage of abortions due to rape, incest, or life-threatening conditions. But Scripture reminds us that when we allow darkness to remain hidden, we become complicit in it.
2. Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV):
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."_
The unborn cannot speak for themselves. They are the most vulnerable among us. As the Church, we are called to defend and advocate for their lives. Regardless of how uncomfortable it may be to speak, silence in the face of injustice is not an option.
Illustration: The Master of Distraction
I would like to give you an illustration. Picture a man who builds a wall and places a beautiful, ornate door in the center of it. He points to the door and says, "Look at this magnificent piece of craftsmanship. This is why this wall exists." But he doesn't want you to see that the rest of the wall is crumbling and made of rotted wood. The door is just a distraction.
Satan operates the same way. He highlights the heartbreaking cases of rape, incest, and life-threatening pregnancies, but behind that small door are millions of abortions performed for convenience. He uses a little truth to hide a much bigger deception.
The Church's Responsibility: Confronting the Lie
1. John 8:44 (NIV):
"You belong to your Father, the devil, and you want to carry out your Father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the Father of lies."
The enemy has always been a deceiver, and his most excellent tactic is to twist the truth just enough to make evil seem palatable. He wants us to focus on the small percentage of abortions that result from tragic circumstances to avoid confronting the real issue: most abortions are a matter of convenience, not necessity.
2. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV):
"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline."
Church, we are not called to be timid in challenging issues. God has given us the spirit of power, love, and self-discipline to speak truth into the world, even when it's complicated. Our goal isn't to condemn but to expose the lie with grace and love.
Grace, Love, and Redemption
1. Romans 3:23-24 (NIV):
_"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
Every single one of us needs grace. Our message today is not one of condemnation but of redemption. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was for all people—those who have had abortions, those who have supported it, and those who have stayed silent in the face of injustice. We must remember that we are all sinners saved by grace.
2. John 1:14 (NIV):
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Jesus came full of grace and truth, and that's how we must approach this issue. Grace for those who are hurting and lost, but truth that exposes the darkness of abortion. We cannot shy away from the truth but must always present it with love.
Call to Action: Speaking the Truth in Love
Today, the Church has a choice: will we be silent or speak the truth in love? We must expose the lies that Satan uses to hide the truth. We must speak up for the unborn, who cannot speak for themselves while extending grace and redemption to those who have been misled or caught in this deception.
We need to:
1. Pray for courage: Ask God for the courage to speak the truth in love, even when it's complicated.
2. Educate ourselves and others: Be aware of the real numbers and the truth behind the statistics. Don't allow the enemy to use a small portion of truth to hide a greater evil.
3. Extend grace: Remember that we all need God's grace, and our message must always be redemption and hope.
Conclusion:
Let's remember that Jesus has given us the authority to confront evil, not with harshness, but with the strength of His truth and the depth of His love. Let's not shy away from these challenging issues but approach them with the heart of Christ. He came to bring life and life to the fullest (John 10:10). Let's speak that truth boldly, in love, and grace.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, give us the wisdom and courage to speak truth in love. Help us to confront the lies of the enemy with the authority of Your Word, and let our hearts be filled with grace as we extend Your love to a hurting world. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Comments