Praying to end abortion a powerful witness and necessary to hold back other evils

“Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.  If you say, ‘Behold, we did not know this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? 
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not requite man according to his work?” 
Proverbs 24:11-13

Although the spotlight this week is rightfully on the diabolical End of Life Choice Bill and its attempt to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide, I would like to turn our focus to the atrocity of abortion.   While thousands of innocent human beings lives are tragically ended each year in the name of choice and health care, we will not be able to hold back for much longer the juggernaut of euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Abortion leads to an overall lowering of respect for human life in all its stages.  Its wider acceptance at all levels of society, even among Christians, tempts people to judge particular circumstances in order to justify abortion as a legitimate solution in a certain situation. This, rather than objectively noting what abortion actually is and realising that taking innocent human life can never be justified.  Meanwhile, individuals – most especially mothers – are wounded, families suffer and spiritually we as a nation become ever more blinded to truth. 

Those who advocate for euthanasia and assisted suicide propose the same arguments and conclusions.

Until legal abortion is abolished, we will struggle to hold at bay the demon of euthanasia and assisted suicide.

It takes every day heroes who are willing to face the evil of abortion head on, offering truly compassionate alternatives, acting out of sacrificial love, and faithfully relying on God’s grace, that will bring an end this scourge on our nation and on our families.

Unplanned – A movie showing one woman’s journey from death to life

Many will have heard of the new US movie “Unplanned”.  This film tells of the incredible conversion of former Planned Parenthood Clinic Director Abby Johnson.  After two weekends, the movie is still in the Box Office Top 10.  People who identify as “pro-choice” (read pro-abortion) are walking out of the theatre questioning their beliefs and becoming pro-life! 

Some readers will have had the blessing of meeting Abby and hearing her story first hand when she toured New Zealand in December 2014.  Her journey is quite remarkable.  It was through the courageous loving witness, and deep abiding faith, of ordinary people that Abby’s conversion came about.

I am certain that God could have used any manner of means to open Abby’s eyes (and there have been a great number of people in her life integral to her conversion – most especially her husband Doug), but God also called his little ones, complete strangers, to help remove her blindness.

After God Himself, his “little ones” are the real heroes of this inspiring story. 

Hour after hour, day after day, sacrificing reputation, heat, cold, pain and ridicules, ordinary people, standing in love to witness to the reality of abortion.  They reach out in love to mothers, fathers, abortion workers and the local community sharing hope.  In their humility, many do not receive public acknowledgement for the sacrifices they make.

The fruit of their prayers, presence and sacrifices is evident.  Among them, we see Abby Johnson’s conversion, the closing of her Planned Parenthood facility (and many others), the spiritual healing of wounded mothers, and thousands upon thousands of babies lives have been saved because ordinary people made extraordinary sacrifices while faithfully trusting God that he would hear their prayer.

Invitation to Pray

All pro-life and pro-family work is vitally necessary.  The unborn and abortion vulnerable women need people to advocate for them at every possible turn.  Together we must do all we can to protect and serve. 

However, praying and bearing witness to the dignity of all human beings outside of an abortion centre is an extremely powerful, moving and fruitful exercise in faith.  Here we confront the evil of abortion in a unique way and in love reach out to those who are hurting and in need of truth and hope. 

I invite you to join us in a beautiful candlelight prayer vigil this coming Sunday 14 April at 7pm, outside either the Auckland Medical Aid Centre (AMAC) or Wellington Regional Hospital.

If you are housebound or live outside these regions, please do pass the message on to friends and family who may be able to attend and then take the time to join us in solidarity, praying for the intentions of the Lenten Prayer for Life.

Thank you

In New Zealand there have been a great number of people who, despite many hardships, have prayed and given witness to life outside of abortion centres.  It is always humbling to hear the stories of those who are driven to be physically present.  We have many everyday heroes whose prayers and sacrifices have led to the saving of lives – both physically and spiritually.

A special thank you to those who have given of their time over this particular Lenten period to pray on a Wednesday outside of AMAC and Wellington Hospital.  Your efforts have not been in vain.

Together, we can end abortion and in doing so hold back the great threat of euthanasia and assisted suicide. Yet, let us not think we can do it without love and without the Grace of Almighty God, who alone has the victory!