Call Sin What It Is
Last Tuesday in the state of Virginia an abortion bill was presented that would remove all restrictions to abortion in the third trimester. This was the same as the bill that was passed in New York, which means that up until the point of actual delivery, the child could be aborted.
Then on Wednesday last week, the governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, commented on this bill and gave an example of a third-trimester abortion. He said,
I can tell you exactly what would happen, the infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.
And that discussion he is referring to is whether or not the mother wants to end the child’s life. Which means, just to be clear here, we’re talking about infanticide — this is the murder of infants. To have no restrictions on third-trimester abortions allow for this, and the reason why pro-abortion delegates advocate for no restrictions is because they realize the logical contradiction of their position. They know that if they protect the child’s life outside the womb it would confer human rights to the child, and that would then undermine abortion altogether. Because the question would be: If the child should be protected outside the womb, why not inside? And if the child should be protected at, say, 38 weeks, why not 32? Why not 24? Why not 12? And see at this point the whole discussion becomes philosophical and scientific, and pro-abortion advocates do not like to go there — because it does not work.
The governor of Virginia does not want to have that discussion, but instead he thinks that discussions should be had between a mother and her doctor about whether to end the life of an infant who has been born.
And millions of people applaud him … until it is exposed that he is racist — which deserves its own exhortation next week.
But for right now, we just need to say plainly that this man’s view of children is morally repulsive. And no nuance is required.
Now life is complex, and there are many times when nuance is helpful, but there are other times when things must be said straight. We don’t always have to say, “Yeah, but.” Especially when we’re talking about sin. That’s the exhortation. Know how to call sin what it is, and know how to say it plainly.
When it comes to abortion …
It is sin to intentionally kill innocent human beings; and
Abortion intentionally kills innocent human beings; and therefore,
abortion is sin.
Prayer of Confession
Father, the only reason we can be honest about our sin is because of your mercy. Forgive us for the ways that we belittle the depths of your mercy by smoothing over the surface of sin. Thank you, Father, for your revealed will — that you have told us what is right and good, and you have told us what is not. And now as we ponder our own hearts, we acknowledge that we have offended your will in thought, word, and deed. We have sinned against you in the things we have done, and in the thing we have left undone. Lead us now, please, in our silent confession. …
Now, Father, we celebrate your mercy. You are sovereign in your grace, and overflowing in your love. We know you can forgive every sin. We embrace that forgiveness now. Jesus loves us and he has set us free. We were dead, but Jesus made us alive; we were lost, but Jesus has made us found; we were your enemies, but Jesus has made us your sons and daughters — all because he lived and died for us in our place, because he is risen from dead, because he is reigning for us now and coming for us soon. And it’s in his name we pray, amen.
Congregational Prayer (Joshua Whetstine)
Father, thank you for your mercy because to you belong mercy and forgiveness.
We were all once with No Mercy, but you Lord, patiently, gracefully and freely gave mercy to us, turning enemies into allies and strangers into sons. In your mercy you transfer us from the Kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of light.
Father, may mercy, peace and love be multiplied to us. We find our satisfaction in your mercy and the deepest joy in being the people of mercy.
We wake up to great mercy every morning. We walk in greater mercy day after day as we long for the full manifestation of your mercy in the return of the King.
Great has been your mercy to us, so may we have mercy on others. Let mercy keep us from repaying evil for evil. Let mercy anchor our families, vocations and neighborhoods.
Because of the mercy you have poured out on us, let us be a people that proclaim the mercies of God to the world around us.
Father, we know that no one is outside of your mercy’s reach, so we ask this morning for you to use us to display and proclaim that mercy to them.
Father, we ask that your great mercy be poured out on those who cannot defend themselves, the helpless and the hopeless.
Father, we ask for your mercy to invade the hearts of those who would take the lives of babies and those who stand in applause of such treachery.
And while we hope your graceful mercy extend, if, in your providence and pleasure, it does not,..
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and bend their backs forever.”
Father, we don’t pray such things lightly, but with heavy hearts to see your glory displayed throughout the whole world until the King returns. In Christ's merciful name we pray, amen!
