I have just returned from vacation and am excited to be in church on Sunday. Next week will be Vacation Bible Adventure and I am hearing that it is going to be a wonderful week. Registrations are coming in; people are stepping up to help make this a life transforming week. If you haven’t had the opportunity to sign up, then call the church office. We will need help on Sunday to clear the Worship Center after the 3rd service. Then we will need help on Saturday, July 16 at 1pm to put things back and prepare for Sunday Funday. There are other needs throughout the week as well. I am clearing my schedule to be a part of the fun and excitement. I hope you join me.
A lot has happened in our world since I have been on vacation. One major event was the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs Wade. It was in 1973 that the Supreme Court affirmed the constitutional right to abortion. This is a big deal. I have been shocked at some of the response to this decision. We as a church, believe in the sanctity of life. We don’t apologize for that because it is what we believe the Bible says on the matter. Below I want to pull out a statement from the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene: “Induced Abortion. The Church of the Nazarene affirms the sanctity of human life as established by God the Creator and believes that such sanctity extends to the child not yet born. Life is a gift from God. All human life, including life developing in the womb, is created by God in His image and is, therefore, to be nurtured, supported, and protected. From the moment of conception, a child is a human being with all of the developing characteristics of human life, and this life is dependent on the mother for its continued development. Therefore, we believe that human life must be respected and protected from the moment of conception. We oppose induced abortion by any means, when used for either personal convenience or population control. We oppose laws that allow abortion. Realizing that there are rare, but real medical conditions wherein the mother or the unborn child, or both, could not survive the pregnancy, termination of the pregnancy should only be made after sound medical and Christian counseling. Responsible opposition to abortion requires our commitment to the initiation and support of programs designed to provide care for mothers and children. The crisis of an unwanted pregnancy calls for the community of believers (represented only by those for whom knowledge of the crisis is appropriate) to provide a context of love, prayer, and counsel. In such instances, support can take the form of counseling centers, homes for expectant mothers, and the creation or utilization of Christian adoption services.” (Paragraphs 30-30.1). As people were weighing in on this decision by our Supreme Court, some from personal experience, some from a Biblical Worldview, some from a selfish standpoint, I couldn’t help but think of how ignorant we can be at times. Social media posts lit up the sky like fireworks on July 4th. Facebook or Twitter is not a good place to have discussions on this matter. I think some heartfelt conversations and understanding would be the order of the day. We have an opportunity to minister to so many through these times. I am proud and humbled that we support the Women’s Resource Center who are on the frontlines and working with families struggling with these issues. They have been able to help so many people make decisions for life for over 23 years. We support them as we line up on the issue of life beginning at conception. I also want to mention that there are several families in our church that have adopted or are fostering children. This gives so many families hope in knowing that there is someone there to love these children. We must take the position of being the hands and feet of Jesus as we respond to so many on this issue. It is a great day concerning matters of life but there is no room for gloating. We must respond with grace not knowing the events that have led up to people’s opinions. You may even be talking to someone who had an abortion or was part of the decision to have one. Let’s join together as we make a difference in this world by prayer, reflect the heart of God, and give people hope in Jesus. Your response to this historical decision can change the world one person at a time. I am looking forward to worshipping together on Sunday as we look at the final chapter of the Book of Acts. Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike
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Rev. Mike McClurgSenior Pastor, Findlay First Church of the Nazarene Archives
March 2020
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