A child is a blessing to the world

G
race and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As my wife was reading the pastor’s article in this newspaper last month, she noticed on the opposite page an advertisement stating that abortion was “essential healthcare.” Let’s be perfectly clear, the death of a child is never essential. Some would argue it is murder; actually, it is worse. 
It was common among some cultures of the ancient world to offer the ultimate sacrifice, that of a child, to a pagan god as a way to appease them or gain their favor. In Leviticus 20:1-5, there is a stark warning against the offering of a child sacrifice. The punishment was severe; not just for those who committed a child sacrifice, but also for the community that stood by and
did nothing.   
This reminds me of a quote from a person who knew something about standing against the face of evil. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was pastor and theologian in the midst of Nazi Germany. He was hanged for refusing to remain silent and standing against the evil perpetrated in his country and around the world. His famous quote was, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” 
With this in mind, let’s call this thing what is. Abortion, this so called “essential healthcare,” is nothing less than child sacrifice to a pagan god; the ultimate sacrifice to the ultimate pagan idol — ourselves. When God says, “You shall have no other gods before me,” we are included. Even worse than worshipping another god, is worshipping ourselves as if we are god. 
The devil speaks to us in half-truths or manipulations of the truth and tries to convince us that we don’t have choice. There is always a choice. That voice tells us that it is impossible for the mother of the unwanted child, or the child, to have a life worth living. In God, all things are possible. A child who knows the love of God is a blessing to the world.   
Peace and blessings in Christ, from Pastor Robb Carr.