Sanctity of Life Sunday: It's so much more

Larry Page
Arkansas Faith & Ethnics Council

This year, most churches will be emphasizing the sanctity of human life on January 15 or 22.  The 22nd is the date on which the Little Rock March for Life will be held. The peaceful, prayerful and reverent celebration of human life will begin at 2 p.m. with a march from the intersection of Capitol and Louisiana Streets and proceeding to the State Capitol where a brief ceremony will be conducted.

PageI know many of you cannot attend due to the distance you would have to travel after church services; it presents a conflict for most not located near the center of the state.  However, you can support those who do participate in the march by announcing it in your church services and by praying for the event and for an end to the taking of defenseless, innnocent human life.

I've been involved with the pro-life effort since its inception.  I've heard all the arguments on both sides, I've seen what virtually unrestricted abortion has wrought, and I am more convinced than ever that the taking of innocent life is wrong - violative of bedrock biblical truth.

Christians today seem to be suffering a bit of "battle fatigue" in the abortion debate.  There is a way to energize the pro-life movement, to improve how we are perceived, and to enliven our evangelism.

We are calling on Christians to step up and serve in the most selfless, sacrificial way. We are asking that Christians consider adopting children into their families, not unlike God adopted us into His family.  Others may be more equipped to serve as foster parents for those children awaiting adoption by a loving family.

Can you imagine a more pragmatic way to evangelize a child?  How could the truth of the Scriptures regarding taking care of "the least of these" be more meaningfully realized? And how could our pro-life efforts be given a greater shot of energy, credibility, and viability?  Could any one doubt the sincerity and depths of our sanctitiy of life message when we are taking care of the already born while pleading for the plight of the unborn?

My intention in writing this is not to be controversial.  I really believe that it is past time for the church to put into action in even greater ways its testimony that we love our neighbors as ourselves and that we are willing to give of ourselves in fulfilling that clear mandate from Christ.

Larry Page is executive director of the Arkansas Faith & Ethics Council. Read more at www.arfaith.org.