‘Our opportunities to provide care and support for those who see babies as a bane rather than a blessing are greater than ever before’
August 1, 2022
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The Supreme Court ruling on the Dobbs v. Jackson case that overturned the infamous 1973 Roe v. Wade created a veritable uproar for both pro-life and pro-abortion advocates. While the pro-life community rejoiced at the ruling, the abortion activists argued that the rights of women were being stolen.
For the Christian community, the strong— even violent — reactions from the Left make it difficult to start open dialogues about such a sensitive subject. This is why D. L. Moody Center (moodycenter.org) President James Spencer recently released an innovative guide titled “20 Questions: Christians, Abortion, and the United States.”
The guide is designed to answer 20 pressing questions that the Christian community might have in a post-Roe world, such as what the Dobbs ruling really means for the future of abortion or how to best discuss the issue with pro-abortion friends and family members. In the guide, Spencer thoughtfully offers insight into the way Christians might discern truth and be a witness for Christ.
Spencer commented, “‘20 Questions’ is intended to help Christians adopt a posture of compassion toward those who are committed to a pro-abortion stance, as well as offer biblical and theological insights regarding the topic of abortion overall. It seeks to offer a unique take on the abortion question by evaluating the relationship between the church and state, taking a decidedly theological approach to the way Christians should respond to those in the pro-abortion camp, and offering key insights from the Old Testament about abortion.”
In the guide, Spencer clearly and concisely identifies the Dobbs ruling, clarifying that it did not make abortion illegal, but it allowed states to regulate abortion within their respective borders. Next, Spencer poses the question, “How might Christians respond to the Dobbs v. Jackson decision?”
“Christians are right to rejoice because our federal government has acted in ways that align our country’s policies regarding abortion more closely with God’s established order,” Spencer explains in the guide. “That said, political victories, as important as they are, are not ultimately important, nor does this particular political ‘win’ (a) solve the problem of abortion completely or (b) address the challenges facing those who have unwanted or unplanned pregnancies. As such, the church would do well to recognize that in a post Roe v. Wade world, our opportunities to provide care and support for those who see babies as a bane rather than a blessing are greater than ever before.
“We must take care not to defame those who oppose us but to remember that our primary desire is not to convert people to a pro-life perspective but to see them proclaim ‘Jesus is Lord.’ With that in mind, we need to recognize that those who do not know Christ will see the world differently than we do. They need a reorientation that rational argument and ridicule cannot always provide. Christians need to be quicker to listen, less defensive, and more compassionate toward those with whom we disagree, even as we disagree with them. We cannot surrender the truth, but we must express the truth in love.”
“20 Questions: Christians, Abortion, and the United States”is offered at no cost from D. L. Moody Center as part of its “Shine Bright 365” initiative. “Shine Bright 365” is a year-long comprehensive campaign designed to encourage believers to shine bright for Christ in a dark world.
Spencer concluded, “As Dwight Moody once said, ‘In the place God has put us, he expects us to shine, to be living witnesses, to be a bright and shining light. While we are here, our work is to shine for him.’ We have recently been placed in a post-Roe v. Wade world. Our task now is to shine brightly for Christ in this new world.”
The D. L. Moody Center is also pleased to announce the launch of its new eight-day Bible plan, Useful to God, on the YouVersion app. Drawing on Spencer’s book titled “Useful to God: Eight Lessons from the Life of D. L. Moody,” this Bible plan examines eight characteristics evident in the Scriptures and in the life of D. L. Moody (e.g., surrendered, prayerful, humbled, undistracted, and studious). Thousands have already completed the plan, with hundreds more subscribing daily.
The D.L. Moody Center is an independent non-profit organization located in Northfield, Massachusetts. Dedicated to preserving and advancing the legacy of Dwight Moody, the D. L. Moody Center is a catalyst for spiritual formation in New England and beyond through evangelism and discipleship.
As a destination for spiritual renewal, the D. L. Moody Center is not a school. Nevertheless, there is much to learn by studying D. L. Moody and what God accomplished through his life which began in New England, at the Northfield, Massachusetts campus, the heart of Moody’s ministry as well as his childhood home.
Learn more about D. L. Moody Center by visiting moodycenter.org or follow the ministry on Facebook or Twitter.
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