Sanctity of Life, Politics and God

This week is Sanctity of Life Sunday, which is a day that the church sets aside once a year to pray for our nation regarding life and the rights of the unborn.  Since Roe vs. Wade in 1973, there have been over 50 million abortions in United States.  Because we see each life as a gift from above and created by God, our hearts should rightly be torn over this tragedy.   

While the abortion debate has certain political aspects to it, I believe it is more important for us to understand the spiritual component to it.  King David in Psalm 139:13, acknowledges it is God who “formed our inner most parts, knitting us together in our mother’s womb,” that each of us have been “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

God is the author of life and we should understand that no nation can escape God’s judgment that gives credence to the slaughter of the unborn.  And so we pray and ask God to revive us and guide our nation to see things through His word and that we would have the will to obey Him on this issue.

How does God’s word guide us in our response to civic authority and government?  While the Scripture does not guide us to be a Republican or Democrat, there are some rather pointed Scripture that can guide us as we live out our faith in a nation that is facing moral decline and conflict.  First we see in I Timothy 2:1-2 that God’s first call to us is a response to pray.  We are to “pray, intercede and give thanks for all people, including kings and those in high positions.”  A second response can be found in the very next verse, to live “peaceful and quiet lives” and to live “godly and dignified in every way.”  God’s way to bring influence to a world in turmoil and conflict is for His people to pray and live a certain way.

This call to godliness we also see in Romans 13:1-7, which includes submission to authority and then honor in I Peter 2:17.  While we are not to violate Scripture or our God given conscience in response to authority, we are called to live in submission to governing authorities and extend honor to those who rule over us.  And what is interesting is that all of these things were written during the time of Nero, who brutally persecuted the church.

Why does God want us to live our lives out prayerfully and with godliness, I Tim 2:5 goes on to tell us that when we live well before others it “pleases God,” who desires that “all people be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  Here God is telling us that His primary concern is the salvation of men through Christ and that our lives we carry forth that message.

So as we head towards a tumultuous year of politics in our nation, let us pray, live well before God and get involved by voting in accordance with values and principles that reflect God’s word.  And if God is calling you to be directly involved in the political process, may you have the courage to step out and serve.  May God bless our nation and revive us and turn our hearts back to Him.