CrossPoint Community News 07/08/2022

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

       You go on vacation for two weeks, and the world changes. (Also I know the picture is outdated, but you get the idea.)
       Since I began vacation on June 23, the SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) handed down the historic ruling putting an end to the federal right to an abortion. This decision had a draft opinion leaked months ago, and both sides of the abortion debate have been preparing for this day. Those who maintain that human life begins at conception rejoice that abortion is no longer federally guaranteed. This was something they have disputed since Roe v. Wade. Those who maintain that a woman has the federally guaranteed right to abortion lament that our country is going back to the 1950-60s regarding reproductive rights. They are concerned that women’s health and lives are at risk.
       The topic of abortion is complicated, with lots of assumptions on both sides. What is clear from Scripture is that we, the Church, the People of God, are called to care for widows and orphans. We are to care for the unwed, pregnant mother as well as the unwanted, yet full of possibility child. We are also to care for the mothers who feel like they just can’t have another child, and work at developing support systems that enable life to flourish for both mother (and father) and child(ren). We are also to encourage a healthy, godly sexual ethic which maintains that sexual intimacy is best expressed within context of Christian marriage, so that the child has the best context for human life. May the Lord grant us grace, wisdom, and courage to care for others with significant needs since God has given us significant resources to be used for His purposes and His glory.
       The War in Ukraine continues with Russia advancing into the West of Ukraine and into the South. This war has caused the displacement of some 17 million Ukrainians, as well as disruptions in the global food market, oil market (think high gas prices in the US), and other diplomatic difficulties (such as the trial of Brittany Griner). May God have mercy, and please continue to pray for Ukraine. Here is a suggested list of prayers if you are at a loss for words in how to pray: https://send.org/story/hh_pray_for_ukraine. Thank you for kneeling on behalf of the people of Ukraine and Russia, and taking a stand (or a knee in prayer) against the forces of darkness in this present age.
       And just yesterday, in Japan, the retired yet longest-serving prime minister in the history of Japan, Shinzo Abe was assassinated after an election campaign speech. It seems that even with a police detail, he was not safe from the two gunshots which took his life.
       In the midst of all of these changes, including the protection of and loss of life, we keep our focus on the One who is Life, who gives life, who sustains life, who knows our end, who knows every day of our lives before even one of them came to be. If the past couple of weeks have had you reeling, turn to Him, our Heavenly Father, and seek for His will to be done and His kingdom to come on earth as it is in Heaven.