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Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

January 16, 2019

This Sunday, Park Hills and hundreds of other churches across America will celebrate the sanctity of human life.

National Sanctity of Human Life Day began in 1984, when President Ronald Reagan instituted the national observance. January 22, 1984 was the eleventh anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Roe vs Wade case. Not all presidents since Reagan have continued to observe this day, but many have.

Roe vs Wade was a landmark court case in which the Supreme Court essentially legalized abortions in America. More specifically, prosecutors in the case targeted a Texas state law that banned abortions and the Supreme Court ruled that banning abortions violated a woman’s right to privacy, as established in the 14th Amendment.

According to Life Matters Worldwide, National Sanctity of Human Life Day is meant to “celebrate God's gift of life, commemorate the many lives lost to abortion, and commit themselves to protecting human life at every stage.”

It may not be an easy stance to hold publicly, but Scripture is absolutely clear about life in the womb:

Psalm 139:13-16 says: “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.”

Although babies in the womb are somewhat of a mystery, God knows each one of them personally. In His infinite power and wisdom, He knows who each unborn child is and already has plans established for them.

Unborn babies are quite possibly the most vulnerable group of people on the planet. They cannot speak for themselves and are completely at the mercy of the communities around them. While it is important for believers to stand up for the rights of unborn children, it is vital that believers understand that they are called to do much more than simply vote for a pro-life candidate during the election season.

Throughout history, countless women sought abortions even when they were dangerous and illegal. What makes us think that women in the 21st century would be any different, should abortions become illegal again? Voting for pro-life candidates is just the start of really being pro-life.

Being pro-life means caring about both the mother and the child. It’s about befriending the mother, supporting her, guiding her in making the right choices and providing material needs when required. Being pro-life also means supporting adoption when it is best for the mother and baby. Just because a mother can’t care for a baby on her own doesn’t mean that no one can. Adoption honors life, and honors Jesus as the author of life.

The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission believes that “the greatest strategy the local church has is to create a culture where this cause matters and real action is taking place. If a church is seeking to be pro-life, there are proactive ways to accomplish this.”

Here are five actions that the ERLC believes will have real and lasting impact:

1. Talk About It: Pastors and those in leadership roles have an obligation to educate and equip their congregation to be clear-minded, confident, and on mission.

2. Speak with Justice and Justification: Believers must not only condemn the practice of killing unborn children, but also whole-heartedly proclaim the gospel’s message of redemption and forgiveness. Both truths must be proclaimed together.

3. Create a Church Culture that Respects and Reveres Women: Many pro-choice women believe that pro-life rhetoric is aimed at oppressing women. By creating a culture where women are valued and respected, believers can push back against this belief.

4. Get Involved at a Local Pregnancy Center: These organizations need so much help carrying out their powerful work. They are the people helping women practically understand that abortion isn’t the only option. Give them your time and resources.

5. Be Pro-Life in All of Life: Don’t confine your pro-life believes to election season.

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Our King

September 19, 2021 • Larry Elliott

Our King The older I get the more moved I am when reading of the stately, regal presence of kings. Where does this innate, at times emotional, honor come from? Why am I so drawn to Aslan as the rightful King of Narnia? To Aragorn, King of Gondor, as he steps down from his throne to honor Frodo, Pippen, and Merry? To prince Kardia as he rids the realm of the evil sorcerer Hocoino? When I think of kings I do not think of evil kings, though there have been far more evil kings than beneficent kings in the history of the world! Why do really good kings reside primarily in the minds of men longing for the reign of a righteous ruler? Perhaps because we have a “heart image” of the perfect King in Christ Jesus. This perfect King was promised by God to come from King David’s lineage (you can read about it in II Samuel 7) For several hundred years the kings of Israel proved that they were incapable of fulfilling the hope of the people that “this might be the one!” The prophet Isaiah wrote his 66 chapters with this king theme as a primary focus and gave us this amazing truth: “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.” Is. 9:2,6,7 Some 700+ years later this prophecy was fulfilled! “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Lk. 1:31-33 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Mt.2:1,2 The narrative of Jesus birth is filled with O.T. references to this future king who would fulfill the promise of God to have a righteous King on the throne of David. None of the kings in Israel’s history proved to be the picture promised by God – while there were a handful of good kings who “…did what was right in the eyes of the Lord…” even these often reverted to sinful, selfish leadership. Ultimately, the ministry of Jesus provoked the religious and civil authorities to see him as a rival king and have him crucified. Even in this mock trial and his subsequent crucifixion his real identity surfaces. Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” Mt 27:11 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Mt. 27:37 And so, the only truly sinless King offered himself as a sacrifice for man’s sin. As a righteous, compassionate, and gracious King he “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord!” Completely!! Just as the prophetic literature was fulfilled in Jesus first coming it speaks clearly about his second coming. He will return, not as the lamb of God, but as the Lion of Judah to restore his creation and subjugate all the rebellion and evil against him. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelation 5:5 “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” Rev. 17:14 “On his robe and on his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Rev. 19:16 Those who serve other kings and refuse to honor him will ultimately be confronted with the Truth “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 2:10,11 Yes, we should get goose bumps and choke back tears as we envision the rule of our future righteous King. He comes to conquer evil, to establish justice, and to fully restore his creation. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Real Marriage

August 23, 2021 • Larry Elliott

Real Marriage Written by: Larry Elliott Marriages often travel through three stages over some period of time. The new couple may well begin infatuated with each other and, over time, with the realization that this person has flaws and issues, the relationship may move to one of disenchantment. Healthy relationships move through these stages on to maturity and genuine love. How do we get to this maturity stage without getting derailed by anger, bitterness, or apathy? What could we identify as the disciplines and practices that are the marks of a healthy relationship? What sets us up for success or failure? What should I do to prepare myself for a healthy marriage? Is there anything I can do to turn a troubled marriage around? Hundreds of books, sermons, and seminars have been written and presented by wise, skillful professionals on this topic. As I read my random list of questions, I must confess there is no way I could possibly answer them in the next six hundred words! 😉 Or six hundred pages for that matter! What follows here are two grossly oversimplified truths that I believe give the greatest prospect of success in marriage! Forgiveness is the most essential element of any healthy relationship. Consider: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Eph. 4:31,32 “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” I Peter 3:8,9 I know, to some these are just words on a page – what happens when my raw emotions are introduced into the equation? But what if we actually predetermined to forgive as God in Christ forgave, to extend a blessing instead of reviling? Can anger, bitterness, and evil survive in such an environment? No, it cannot. As Christ followers, do we really have the right, the audacity, to ignore the commands of scripture? Do I get to pick and choose what parts I believe and practice or are they all “God-breathed?” What if I am genuinely hurt and feel rejected? Am I still to forgive and give a blessing!!?! Yes, you are. The real out workings of these truths are hammered out in open, candid, sometimes excruciatingly difficult communication. Which brings us to our second grossly oversimplified truth. You would do well to read the book of Proverbs and highlight every time this wisest of all men talks about communication (words like heart, lips, words, speech…). Consider: “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Pr. 12:18 The topic of communication is addressed multiple times in nearly every chapter of Proverbs. Listen to the byproduct of negative communication according to Solomon: poverty, destruction, foolishness, regret, strife, corruption, hatred, separation, contention, shame, crushed spirits… This is the short list, but it is a sampling of what you can expect if your communication is negative and destructive. Listen to the byproduct of positive communication according to Solomon: wisdom, understanding, delights God, sweetness of life, honor, patience, protection, caring, healing, truth, peace… This also is the short list, but the contrast should be more than apparent. We have great power in speech and forgiveness - power to destroy and tear down or to heal and build up. The fact that any marriage survives is due to the goodness of God. How can two sinful, broken, selfish people ever hope to come together in such a way as to portray the good purpose of God? Observing and obeying his truths of forgiveness and communication allow us to become men and women who possess the power of God to calm, heal, and preserve life. It’s a good start!

Messiah in the Psalms

July 7, 2021 • Larry Elliott

Messiah in the Psalms The Psalms are filled with references to the “anointed” one and to many of the things that Jesus went through and said in his earthly ministry. How is it that literature dating back, in many cases, more than a thousand years before Christ could so accurately and specifically relate to the ministry and life of Jesus? Just before his ascension Jesus states clearly how this could be: Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (Luke 24:44) The Old Testament was not a random collection of writings about the Jewish people but a supernatural treatise on how God was planning to rescue man from sin through the work of Messiah Jesus. Jesus was saying that all that was preserved in the ancient writings foretold his life. Consider Psalm 2, written in four strophes likely about David but clearly representing the ultimate King to come. In the first strophe, the nations are seen as raging or “noisily assembling” against the king. They meditate on evil as the godly man in Psalm 1 meditated on the law of the Lord. “Why?” the Psalmist inquires, would the nations devise such futility? In the second strophe we see God’s response of derision because he has established his king and it is utter folly to think they can so easily dismiss his authority. They have deceived themselves about who they are and the power of this king! David was God’s anointed and essentially the representative of the Messiah. The third strophe makes the statement, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.” Brown, Driver and Briggs, O.T. Hebrew scholars, describe begotten as “formally installing the king into theocratic rights.” God had anointed David as King and he would do so with Christ as well. This king holds office by divine appointment! The final strophe is a warning to all who “plot in vain,” taking their stand in opposition to the king. Their only hope is to “serve the king with fear” or perish in the king’s wrath. The parallels to King Jesus are unmistakable and there are dozens more woven throughout the Psalms. Consider a few of the most readily recognized (not in any order). --“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 22:1 --“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” 118:2 --“All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” 22:7,8 --“…a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” 22:16-18 --“Into your hand I commit my spirit” 31:5 --“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage.’” 2:7,8 --“You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek” 110:4 --“Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” 41:9 These are but a selected sampling of what Jesus must have instructed the disciples in as he “…opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:45) By some counts there are over 90 prophecies in the Psalms that are fulfilled in Christ! Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms (that covers the whole of the O.T.) spoke of Jesus and he wanted the disciples to know that he was ultimately the subject of all of the sacred Hebrew Scriptures!