I once saw a statement that said the reason the abortion industry does not embrace Christmas is because Christmas is not about an abortion, but it’s all about a birth. Not just a birth, but the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Yes, Christmas should serve as a meaningful reminder of the sacredness of life in the womb. It also serves as a reminder that there are those who are eager to convince others to take the lives of babies.
As Adrian Rogers pointed out, the same evil blueprint of the devil that undergirded Herod’s plan to kill baby boys born around the same time of Jesus is the same evil blueprint that works to bolster an abortion-on-demand culture.
In Oklahoma, we are not immune to this. In fact, those committed to abortion-on-demand are as fervent as ever, including groups like Planned Parenthood, which opened a new facility in Oklahoma in 2016, one that will perform abortions.
Of what other important things does Christmas remind us? It reminds us of how God’s people conduct themselves. Recall that the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary while she was at prayer. People in the pro-life movement must, above all, be marked as a people of prayer.
Next, notice that Joseph, who would become the earthly father of Jesus, became of a force for good. Too often, women facing unintended pregnancies have a man in their life pushing them to abort the child, instead of seeking loving options like adoption or parenting.
Also notice that God’s grand plan was achieved through a surprise pregnancy. Many women who find themselves in an unplanned pregnancy need to be reminded that God has a plan for their life and the life of their child. In these ways and others, we can allow the heart and story of Christmas to inspire our efforts to protect unborn boys and girls, to protect all human life.
In some ways, the pro-life movement is standing on as strong of a foothold as it has in decades, with the rise of ultrasound technology and with the growth of faith-based pregnancy resource clinics. As Russell Moore says, a new generation committed to life is coming of age, Christian millennials who grew up seeing ultrasound photos of their siblings on the refrigerator and who consider themselves to be pro-life.
In other ways, we still have so much work to do to convince all people of the value of human life at every age and stage. That is why Oklahoma Baptists ought to take part in two upcoming opportunities.
On Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, churches across North America will observe Sanctity of Life Sunday. Free resources for churches are available at www.bgco.org, www.ohbc.org and www.erlc.com related to this day. A few weeks after that, many Oklahoma Baptists will participate in the annual Rose Day Pro-Life Rally, which takes place inside the Oklahoma State Capitol on Feb. 8, 2017. For more information on these pro-life emphases, visit www.bgco.org/roseday.
Through these two upcoming occasions and by harnessing the glory of Christmas itself, I believe we can greatly advance the cause of life in Oklahoma and this nation. What a great way to celebrate a birth—the Birth—of Jesus Christ!
