Imagine you are at a high school graduation ceremony. You notice
that ¼ of the chairs are empty. You ask around and the school tells
you, "they never made it to graduation, because they were aborted,
they were not given a chance to enter the education system." You see,
every year there are about 3 million students graduating from high
schools in this country. Since 1/22/1973, when the US Supreme Court
legalized abortion on demand, every year an average of 1x106 infants
are aborted; that is: one fourth of the graduating class.
In recent years we have witnessed the continuous liberalization of
the abortion laws. Now, anytime up to the 7th month, the mother can
have an abortion for any reason. In Sept of year 2000, the US government
approved RU486, the abortion pill. Even though both the congress and
senate have both times passed a bill to ban partial birth abortion
procedure, both were vetoed by the former president.
Whenever there is a debate over such issues, it also raises more
questions such as when life begins and the value of human life. Even
though abortion is an important issue, yet I feel its important that
we do not become a single issue minded person. We need to remember
to look at the bigger picture, about life in its entirety. Not just
the unborn child, but human life in all stages of growth. This includes
the healthy and the not so healthy, the weak and the strong, young
and old.
This morning, churches across the nation are celebrating the Sanctity
of Human Life Sunday. I think it is beneficial for us to listen to
Jesus' teaching on human life.
I. A new participation in society. V13-16
First, let's take a look at some background information on two groups
of people in Jesus' time. There was a group of Jews, called the Essenes,
who had been living on the shores of the Dead Sea. Their community
was called the Quamran. They isolated themselves from the rest of
the society to pursue a close relationship with God. They were very
exclusive, and lived a monastic life-style.
Then there were the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day.
Their responsibility included the teaching and keeping of the OT Laws.
Their mission was to preserve the purity of faith. They would not
mingle with the ordinary people. They stayed away from the sinners,
tax collectors, prostitutes and other social outcasts.
But as Jesus began his ministry on earth, he taught his disciples
something very different from the religious community of that day.
Instead of staying away from the people, they were to participate
in the society. They are the salt and light of the world.
Salt is an indispensable part of life. In the days before refrigerators,
salt was used to prevent or slow down the rotting process. It also
added flavor to food and could kill germs. Light exposes evil, shines
the path and provides direction.
In order for the salt to manifest its effect, it has to come out
of the salt shaker and be mixed with meat, vegetables or other spices.
For the light to be seen, it must not be hidden in the closet or under
the table.
When Jesus told his disciples to be the salt and light of the world,
he wanted them to be different from the Essenes or the Pharisees.
He wanted them to participate in the society, rubbing shoulders with
each other. What does it mean to us?
Look at this country. Among the developed countries, US consistently
ranks very high in the area of rape, murder, robbery and motor vehicle
thefts. The government reports that there are about 1x106 abortion
per year. One percent of all abortion results from rape. It is estimated
that about 300K people per year die of gunshots. The occurrences of
the abuse of children, wives and elderly suggest that the value of
life is indeed very cheap here. Not much respect for life.
When the meat on the table is tasteless, we ask, "Where is the salt?"
When the room is dark, we ask, "Where is the light switch?" When society
is rotting, we don't just keep blaming or analyze the whys and how's,
we ask, "Where are the Christians?"
To be the salt and light in this society could mean involvement in
the governmental decision making process. I think of a friend in Seminary.
Upon graduation, he began to be involved in the local and city government.
And the last time I read in the newspaper was that he was involved
in the state government. We need more Christians, who have the courage
to speak out in the governmental decision making process. We can also
let our voices be heard thru votes and by writing to our representatives
in the local and federal governments.
There is also taking part in ministries that help the hungry, the
homeless and those in prison. I think of one young man who just graduated
from Stanford with both a BA and Master degree at the same time. He
is now living in the inner STL city, working with a ministry reaching
out to the poor and the homeless. Last week I heard of another young
couple living in the City of SF, involved in an Urban ministry, reaching
out to the street people and other disadvantaged individuals.
A group of STL Christian businessmen, who every month, would organize
a BBQ dinner for the inner city residents.
A group called the Master Media, has been quietly working with decision
makers in the movie and TV industry. Doing bible studies with them,
sharing with them Christian values and principles.
In our own Chinese community in Houston, you must have seen and known
about the increasing family problems. The high divorce rate, domestic
violence, and marriages where everyone is just tolerating, treating
each other like strangers. Sometimes we treat strangers better than
our spouses. What do we do? Just shake our head and let out a long
sigh? You see, God puts us in the midst of such rotten and dark conditions,
so we can be the salt and light. How? We can reach out to them to
listen and understand and love them. We can enrich ourselves by taking
some basic counseling classes that we offer here, and use such skills
to help those that God brings into your lives. Of course, we also
know the importance of referring them to the professions. God wants
to use you and me to bring healing to those who are hurt.
May I also encourage you to carefully read the insert on Compassion
International in our bulletin. For $28 a month, you can help a child
in another country to have decent clothes, food and an education.
Please visit the display table in the lobby.
In this rotting, dark world, this is how salt and light can slow
the decaying process, adding flavor and pointing others to the God
who is the Way, Truth and Life.
II. A call to a new relationship with people. V21-22
Jesus tells us to be salt and light in the world. He also teaches
us how to relate to others. You see, how well we function as salt
and light, depends a great deal on how we relate to people, how we
view life.
Exodus 20:13,"Thou shall not kill". This is a prohibition of murder.
Why? Genesis 1:26, 27, Later, when God established his covenant with
Noah, he said, "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood
be shed; for in the image of God has God made man."
Why is there the prohibition of murder, of taking another life? The
reason is simple yet profound. Each person is made in the image of
God. Yes, we have sinned, but we still carry his image within us.
We have this intrinsic value. Therefore, no one is to take another
person's life. However, Jesus went one step further, in v22, When
we are angry with someone to the point of hatred, when we call someone
"you fool,", besides being disrespectful, we are degrading that life.
It's the same as murder.
God's word teaches and explains that each person is very precious
because each one is made in God's image. Therefore, Jesus wants us
to respect life in all stages. Whether its that unborn child, the
handicapped or the elderly person, we are to treat them with respect
and dignity. That means the words we use, the tone of voice we carry,
our body language should all demonstrate that we treat them as someone
who is very valuable and precious. Every life has dignity and value
because we all are made in God's image.
It is in this context that we need to look at the Embryonic Stem
cell research. Embryonic stem cells are cells that can develop into
different cell types such as: nerve cells, muscle cells. If we take
these muscle cells and put it into someone with muscle disease, then
the healthy cells will take over the sick cells and the person will
get well again. Or to place the healthy nerve cells into someone with
Parkinson's disease, it will cure them of the disease. From the medical
perspective, this is certainly very promising. However, we have to
remember that if we leave that embryo in the mother's womb, it will
continue to develop into an infant, born 9 months later. Therefore,
the essence of the embryonic stem cell research is that in order to
heal a disease, we have to rob another being of his/her life. This
is wrong. One paraplegic policeman said, "if by taking another person's
life so that I can walk again, I would rather stay with my wheelchair."
However, stem cells can also be obtained from adult cells too. We
need to encourage more research using cells from adults instead of
robbing an unborn life.
Since life is valuable and sacred, we are to do our best to stop
and slow down the rotting process, so life can be whole and meaningful
again.
III. A call to a new obligation to our neighbors. V38-48
Jesus wants his followers to participate in the society, to build
relationships with others based on the value and dignity of life.
And there is also new obligation towards those around us.
Lets look at some of the words here. V38ff. Someone hurt your eye
(literal or symbolic), sues you and takes your gown, forces you to
walk one mile on your day of rest, asks you for help or to borrow
money from you. Who are they? They are the ones who want to harm you,
take advantage of you, impose on you, inconvenient you and need your
help.
Don't we all have plenty of them around us? We don't want to communicate
with that person for fear of being hurt again. We weren't sure about
the unborn child, the handicapped child or elderly parent that will
cause great inconveniences in our life-style. There are those who'll
call on us only when they have needs or want us to do something for
them or the church. Some will deliberately take advantage of our professional
skills, positions at work, wanting us to do something for them free
of charge. Then there are also those who may deliberately hurt us
so they can move ahead of us.
What do we do with these individuals, the undesirable ones in our
lives? Don't we have the tendency to avoid and stay away from them?
We may not even want to come to church because some will hurt or manipulate
us. Some resort to abortion or euthanasia. If it's inconvenient for
me or the society, get it out of my way.
However, if human life is truly sacred, valuable and with dignity,
what are we supposed to do with them? In v44, Jesus said, Boy, its
hard, isn't it? To those whom we want to have nothing to do, Jesus
tells us to love and pray for them.
We associate love with feeling and emotion. Biblical understanding
of love has little to do with feeling, but closely associated with
actions. Like or dislike is an emotion. Sometimes its hard to control
whom we like or dislike. For some reason, I just don't like you. It
could be the way you look, or your body language. Since I don't like
you, I don't want to get close to you, I don't want to talk to you.
But love is different. Yes, I may dislike you, but I still have to
love you. To love you, among many things means, I show my concern
for you, I help and nurture you when you are in need, I'll be patient,
loving and kind with you. I will not keep record of the wrongs you
have done against me, I will not be rude towards you.
Moreover, I am also to pray for you. If you are not a believer, I'll
pray for your salvation. If you are a Christian, I'll pray for your
spiritual growth, that you will become more Christ like.
Why do I have to treat you like this? Because we each carry God's
image in us, each human life is valuable. No matter who you are, how
different you are from me, or how I dislike you, I will treat you
with respect and dignity. Love is a matter of will, expressed in visible
behaviors. Conclusion:
In today's lesson, we heard Jesus issues a calling to us. It is a
calling to participate in our world, a calling to a new relationship
with people and a calling to a new obligation to our neighbors. If
you are to closely look at this, isn't it true that this is indeed
a calling to be like him? Vs48, For he is the God who came into the
world and became one of us. He lived among us. He is the Word Incarnate.
He is the Salt and Light in this rotten and dark world. And now, he
is calling his followers to become like him, be the salt and light
of this world.
On this Sanctity of life Sunday, we are once again reminded of the
sacredness of each life. Each life is very precious, with value and
dignity. For each one of us is made in God's image.
Having said this, I also understand that some of our hearts may feel
stirred by the Holy Spirit, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. In the
past, out of ignorance or selfish defiance, we may have aborted that
child. Every year, at a certain time, we may feel sad and even depressed.
This morning I want to invite you to come to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Tell him how sorry you are and ask for his forgiveness. The scripture
tells us that if we confess our sins, he is faithful, and will forgive
us and cleanse us of all our unrighteousness. Listen to these words
of comfort and promise: Psa 103:11-13
