“Life points” immediately are extremely contentious. A lot in order that many caring Christians wrestle to consider, discuss, or reply to them in loving and constructive methods. The end result may be an unintended quietism, the place we do nothing. Once I train pastoral theology lessons, life points come up. Beneath, is a mirrored image I usually share and one during which we have interaction with the seminary Life Staff and scholar physique extra broadly by way of a observe in day by day chapel.
My first expertise with this got here from a congregation I served earlier than being known as to the seminary. It was in a politically “purple” a part of the state, so life points had been usually not mentioned. However we found one thing that helped us ponder these points and open the dialog in a extra unified spirit. This additionally resulted in larger life affirming exercise. It was the observe of praying collectively for all times.
Within the weekly prayers in worship, we started together with a petition, praying for the lives of the unborn, of moms and dads with baby, and of these dealing with the tip of life. These prayers had been typically ex corde, typically scripted. And so they had been weekly. They weren’t political in nature. They didn’t handle public coverage or cultural conflicts. They merely appealed to God in Christ to guard from “harm or hurt our neighbors of their our bodies.” (cf. fifth Commandment rationalization)
After all, we prayed for our personal members relating to being pregnant, marriage, sickness, finish of life, consolation in demise, and no matter life points they had been dealing with. I consider most congregations supply such prayers, that are really essential petitions to the Lord of life. However what was insightful for me, was that as their pastor, I led the congregation members every week in praying a petition for others we have no idea, whose lives had been threatened by abortion, misguided beliefs about sexuality and marriage, hurtful practices on the finish of life, and so forth. Once more, these petitions weren’t political in nature, simply expressed love for neighbors in want. Whereas being life affirming, they weren’t contentious.
Due to this fact, identical to we prayed weekly for unbelievers relating to their want for “everlasting life” (crucial life situation of all), we additionally prayed for the safety and affirmation of temporal life.
Once I bought concerned with the Life Staff at Concordia Seminary, I discovered about one other group I had missed in our prayers within the congregation, that’s, those that are post-abortive. These are the men and women who, having been concerned with abortions, could now be coping with the guilt, remorse, and bodily hardship that may end result from abortion.
On the seminary, to assist us extra absolutely ponder life points and open the dialog about them even outdoors of sophistication, we requested the Dean of Chapel to have weekly prayers relating to life points. Chapel had actually included them earlier than. We merely requested that they turn out to be constant and weekly. The chapel management responded positively. For those who entry chapel providers on-line, you’ll hear every week prayers on all method of life points. On the finish of this submit, discover one such prayer.
Thanks for studying about and pondering the observe of affirming life by way of praying collectively as we now observe it on the seminary. For those who don’t already do that in your house and/or congregation, please contemplate it.
Gracious Father, writer of life, in love defend all unborn kids, information moms and dads into brave paths of life, and heal the guilt and remorse of those that are post-abortive. Give consolation to the barren and allow us to be their true household; as you served us in our weak spot, assist us to serve the weak, the troubled, and people who strategy the tip of life; by way of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
