41 years ago today, the United States Supreme Court issued the famous Roe v. Wade decision. See below a blog post that I wrote a year ago while serving in Huntsville on the 40th anniversary of this decision. I am looking forward to learning about the pro-life ministries that we have in the Birmingham area where I am presently serving. Here is my post from one year ago….
Why January 22nd is a day you should mark on your calendar.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013 will mark the 40th anniversary of one of the saddest days in the great history of the United States. It was on January 22, 1973 that the United States Supreme Court handed down the famous “Roe vs. Wade” decision that paved the way for legalized abortion in our country. Since then, tens of millions of abortions have been performed. A number of years ago, this led many churches (including the church I serve) to observe Sanctity of Human Life Sunday on the third Sunday in January. This issue is one that I care deeply about.
In thinking about any issue, it is most important to look to the Word of God and make sure we build our perspective on it from the foundation of scripture. On the issue of life, scripture is crystal clear on two points. First, from the beginning of creation, God makes a distinction between human life and animal or plant life…
“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:26–27, ESV)
Much has been written about what the Bible means when it says that human beings are made in the image of God. You might consult five different Bible commentaries on the issue and find five different perspectives. However, it is clear that God intends to make a distinction – while God created all life, only human beings are made in the image of God. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with having a beloved pet or enjoying the beauty of nature, but human life is a special type of life created by God and valued by God above all others.
The second crystal clear perspective of scripture is that life begins at conception and that God is involved in our lives even while we are in the womb….
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:13–16, ESV)
We can stand firmly on scripture and declare to anyone that they are not an accident and the God of the universe fashioned their existence. Consequently, every single human life is precious in the sight of God and should be precious in our sight as well. So, why is January 22nd a day that you should mark on your calendar? Mark your calendar and be reminded to pray especially on this day that our nation might once again return to the value of life and end abortion. It is also a great reminder that if we really believe every human life is precious, that will also greatly affect how we treat others. Think about it.
Finally, I could not conclude this post without mentioning some unsung heroes of mine who are on the front lines of ministry right here in our own state. The folks at Choose Life of North Alabama are there for women to offer free services like pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and counseling. They share the gospel of Jesus Christ with every single one who comes their way. They exist to help women choose eternal life in Christ Jesus and to choose life by having the child that is growing in their womb. After you support your local church with your tithes, I do not know of an organization that is more worthy of your support than Choose Life. I personally know many of the leaders in this front line ministry and encourage you to pray for them and support them financially as the Lord leads you. For more information, go to http://www.chooselifehuntsville.org
Interestingly enough, “Jane Roe,” the lead plaintiff in the Roe v. Wade class action lawsuit, was actually a 21 year old pregnant young woman named Norma McCorvey. Two Texas attorneys recruited her in order to bring the case. However, Norma McCorvey never had an abortion. Instead, she gave birth to a little girl that she subsequently gave up for adoption. You see, “Jane Roe” actually chose life forty years ago. Join me in praying on January 22nd.
gregcorbin.com 