Issachar was one of the more obscure offspring of Jacob’s Dozen. Very little is known about him, but there is an interesting note in 1 Chron 12.32. There, we read that the descendants of Issachar were “men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do”. The church needs men and women of Issachar in our day. Christians should strive to be “understanders of their times”. The world is a confusing place, and conflict abounds in almost every corner of the earth. That reality notwithstanding, believers have a responsibility to try to understand the struggles of their times so they can engage them with the good news of the gospel. Though the world is a very troubled place, the gospel offers hope that overcomes the troubles of this world (John 16.33). Because the Lamb who was slain is risen, our hope does not rest in these times.
By God’s grace, as hopeless as our times might seem, we can be thankful for signs that God is still sovereign and that Satan’s influence is not without restraint. Two such signs have come our way in recent days; both of them involving the law; both of them involving the sanctity of life. Life won two victories recently. You’ve heard about them, no doubt.
Life won a victory a few days ago as the Supreme Court struck down a Minnesota law that required ‘voices-for-life’ to remain at least 35 feet from the entrance to any abortion-providing facility. (We don’t know what distance might be determined to be lawful, but it will no longer be 35 feet.)
Life won another victory on Monday as the Supreme Court ruled that for-profit companies with objections to abortifacient birth-control methods do not have to provide insurance coverage for those employees who want to utilize that means of birth control. (This was the Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood case.) Much of the media is describing this ruling as a limited victory for right-to-lifers because it does not apply to any and all corporations that simply want to avoid having to provide (pay for) that type of coverage. This ruling appears to apply only to what the Court would call “closely-held” corporations, where the religious beliefs of a relatively small number of owners determine the policies of the corporation. (That is a very simplified statement of the actual ruling, but I think it captures the gist of it.)
The Hobby Lobby case is a big deal! Whether or not it’s a limited victory is not the issue for our attention. However one may try to diminish its impact, it is a victory for life. So, besides shouting a great “Hallelujah, the Lord God almighty reigns!”, what else should we do? Here are a few suggestions:
- Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice (Phil 4.4). Refuse to let any arguments about “narrow rulings” or “limited victories” rob you of this opportunity to praise God for His goodness.
- Engage those who disagree with the rulings with a spirit of grace that makes the gospel attractive (1 Pet 3.15). How do we do that? Two suggestions: (1) Don’t boast. (2) Avoid legal debates. The law is not the issue, the gospel is the issue.
Help those who disagree see that life is a gift from God and that every life has dignity and worth because every life contains the image of God (Gen 1.26-27). Tell those who oppose the rulings that Jesus died for them, also (John 3.16). Use this opportunity as a platform to talk with non-believers about the hope that comes in Christ (Rom 5.1,5). (Many non-believers do value the sanctify of life, and this may be an open door to show them how defending the unborn is consistent with trusting in Christ.)
- Continue to pray for all of those who are on the front lines of protecting the sanctify of life: elected officials, sanctity-of-life lobbyists, pro-life pregnancy resource centers, etc. (1 Tim 2.1-2)
- Continue to pray for those who are not pro-life (Matt 5.44). The rule of law cannot change hearts (see the Old Testament). But, the power of the gospel can and does change hearts (Rom 1.16).
- Use these two victories as reminders that you need to be/remain actively engaged in supporting the sanctity of life effort (Eph 2.10). Through prayer, of course; but also with your finances and your time.
Death by abortion is a particularly gruesome horror in our times. It is a great stain on our country’s conscience, and it should break our hearts. We are grateful for every roadblock against the abortion industry. As believers, we grieve over every death because death is the ultimate reminder that sin is real and we have not yet escaped its curse. Death will continue to be the last enemy of man until Jesus returns. Believers grieve over every death, but not like those without hope (1 Thess 4.13). At the cross, death was rendered impotent over those who surrender to Christ. At the empty grave, the resurrection proved that life won an eternal victory over death for all who place their faith in Jesus. Believers hang on to hope through the grief of death because we look at death with resurrection eyes.
By God’s grace, and for God’s glory, in the last week or so, life won two victories on the national stage. Yes, and Amen!! As we praise God, we remember that our hope is not in the law courts. We lobby (with the gospel) and we fund (out of our abundance) and we pray (with confidence that God agrees with prayers for life). Like the descendants of Issachar, we work to understand the times. While we seek to understand, we remember that our ultimate hope is in the power of the gospel to win victories for life over death.
Rejoicing with you – this is truly good news.
Pastor Gary