Celebrating Life!

March 9, 2023 | Uncategorized

By Jay Brown, Pastor of Mission and Discipleship

On Friday, Jan 20^th, a group of 14 people from King Street Church travelled together to the March for Life in Washington, DC.  This was the 50^th anniversary of the March which began in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade, legalizing abortion across the country in 1973.

For the group of 14 from KSC  – 5 adults and 9 “young adults” from King Street’s young adult group The Porch – gathering with tens of thousands of people on the National Mall was different this time.

The atmosphere of the huge crowd was infused with a sense of celebration.

As most people are aware, the Supreme Court overturned Roe last year, returning the regulation of abortion to the States for the first time in 50 years.  While abortion has not stopped everywhere across the country, this removed the notion that the U.S. Constitution enshrines a federal right to abortion.

Several states had laws pending that immediately halted abortion with the Court’s decision, while others are in the process of enacting such laws.  A few states unfortunately are moving to codify abortion rights in their state constitutions and become “abortion destinations,” so the efforts of the pro-life movement to protect life everywhere carry on.

For the King Street group, the importance of the issue is rooted in the Scriptures that speak of God’s role in creating human life.  Perhaps the most well-known of these is Psalm 139, which speaks of God’s intimate knowledge of each of us.  As the author, David, reflects on this with awe, he says “For you [God] created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place… Your eyes saw my unformed body.”

In one of the oldest books of the Bible, Job takes up a similar theme in the midst of his suffering: “Your hands [God] shaped me and made me… remember that you molded me like clay.  Did you not… clothe me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews?  You gave me life and showed me kindness” (Job 10).  Because of God’s intimate involvement in creating every person and endowing them with His own sacred image (Genesis 1), Christians of all backgrounds have come together with people from every worldview to strive for the value of life in our nation.

These themes were celebrated by the speakers at the March.  Many people of faith and courage made an appearance to stand for life, such as renowned NFL coach Tony Dungy and his wife; actor Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in the Chosen series; and many members of Congress and government.  One of the common themes highlighted by the speakers was that not only do vulnerable babies need to be protected in the womb, but women who are facing very difficult circumstances or an unexpected pregnancy also need tremendous support.  Many false claims are made that the Church and pro-lifers do not care about women in such situations, but the reality is that Christians and the pro-life movement are at the forefront of providing this kind of care.

As the culture around us staggers from lack of respect for life – in incivility, social fragmentation, abuse, and violence – it was encouraging for our group to stand with many thousands who risk speaking up for what is right.  Slowly, as people of faith and goodwill have been willing to speak for the unborn, attitudes in our culture are shifting.  There is hope that through this hard work, one day the unique imprint of the Creator in every person will be protected and celebrated.

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