By James Lansberry
One of the following things is true about you:
You haven’t been on Facebook or Twitter AND you haven’t turned on a TV or radio in the last six months.
You’re aware there’s an election coming up next month.
Since you’re reading a blog post, I’m going to assume you’re in group #2.
Elections can be fun and crazy. Even when there’s no Presidential candidates at the top of the ticket the even year elections can cause quite a frenzy on social media and at dinner parties. People have a lot of passion about their candidates and issues and sometimes we find the conversations descending into arguments faster than a Ferarri gets to 60 MPH from a standstill.
Because of that, you may be tired of talk of the election. You may be telling Facebook “show me more” of the cute baby and cat pictures while muting some of your friends on Twitter for the next 30 days. And you’re here, reading this post and thinking, “what have I gotten myself into now?”
I don’t want to talk to you about the election. You can get that elsewhere. I’m not going to rehash the recent SCOTUS confirmation hearings. For 5 minutes today I’m going to tell you I don’t care who you vote for or even if you vote because you have plenty of people reminding you about that.
But I am going to talk to you about politics.
When we started the Morning Center in 2011 one of the driving factors behind our efforts was that the phrase “Pro-Life” was perceived as a political position. An issue that people vote related to. Something that senators and congressmen were or were not. And we didn’t like that.
Not that you shouldn’t care about your leaders’ views on abortion: but that it shouldn’t start there, and it definitely shouldn’t end there.
The Morning Center was started as one of many ways we can create a society that doesn’t need to vote pro-life because nobody seeks out abortions anymore. It is one way that we can say to a woman faced with a crisis pregnancy, “Jesus loves you, and so do we. Let us show you. Let us serve you.”
But we need to leave the politics at the door.
One of the desires of the Morning Center is to see ourselves as part of the solution. Part. Of.
There isn’t a single thing that God is doing to take back this part of our society. Not one single thing but a myriad of things through thousands of people who won’t do it all the same way. Whether someone is a volunteer at a local CPC, standing in the line of fire at an abortion clinic and praying and preaching, giving free ultrasounds in the back of a really nice van or simply taking a meal to the single mom in your neighborhood who is pregnant with her second baby: we are here to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ and to honor God’s image in His creation. All of us are on the same team: we march in the army of the Lord Jesus and follow our King into a battle with weapons not made with hands.
Too often in the non-profit community we have seen ministries look at one another as competing for the same donors. Perhaps in some strange twisted way that may be true in some cases, but is it the reality we should be seeing and seeking? Should we live like we believe God is running out of resources? Should we act as if that single potential donor is our last best hope to help one more person?
No.
Not now. Not ever.
Our God owns the cattle on 1,000 hills. His resources are endless. And we should walk around as children of the King who know that He can and will take care of all of the needs of the works He has called us to do.
Down to your last $5 in the giving budget and want to give it to Save the Storks? Good job! They’re doing amazing work.
Budgeting out a $10 monthly donation and think it’s best given to the Women’s Care Center in your city? Praise the Lord that they’re getting that help.
Want to give to the work of the Morning Center in Memphis or Atlanta? We’d love to let you designate where that is going and to give what you can and desire to the work that we’re doing. And even if your last donation dollar went somewhere else we hope you’ll join us in praying for the doctors, nurses and staff of the Morning Center who are giving maternity care and telling people about Jesus.
We want to see the people of God, the body of Christ, participating in the work of the Gospel ministry to people in need in ways that save the lives of the unborn and the souls of the women who bear those children. We want to see a powerful, vibrant Church in the suburbs and the inner city working together to fulfill the needs of people and point them to Jesus. We want to see the army of God marching forth into victorious blessings as God’s Spirit works in our lives, our communities and the world around us.
So please do vote for pro-life candidates. But more than that, find a niche in the work that Jesus is doing to reduce the demand for those awful places to exist. They will lock their doors and stop murdering babies when women stop bringing their babies there to be killed. And we can reach out, via the work of the Morning Center or so many other ministries, to tell those same women about the forgiving, merciful love of Jesus Christ. Please join us in prayer and labor to see Jesus work for His glory. He will reign until He puts all His enemies under His feet: and death will be the last enemy to die. Let us strive together, without competitive politics, do be his hands and feet in that battle.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
