Speak with Gentleness and Respect!

Speak with Gentleness and Respect!

Why should we speak up and promote God’s word, the Gospel, and a life affirming message to family, friends and those within the community? Why should we always be respectful and God pleasing as we speak? God’s Word in Proverbs 31 tells us to, “open our mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.” But God’s Word also says, …"Sanctify Christ as Lord in your heart, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence" (1 Peter 3:15).

When we witness for Christ, there can be a fine line between being rude and abrasive when we speak up for Christ and being patience, kind, gentle and caring as we speak up for Christ. So, let’s speak with gentleness and respect at all times!

Certainly we should always speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. And who is more in need of our help than innocent babies still in the womb? But, many times women are pressured into abortions by parents, boyfriends, and husbands.

Recently I was invited to join a group of Christians after church at a local St. Louis Bread Company. I only knew two of the 10 people at the table so I was doing more listening then talking. I sat across the table from a woman I didn’t know.  She said, “I just get SO ANGRY when I hear that a woman is going to get an abortion or has had one. If I had the chance I would tell her what I think of her!”

I responded, “I understand your anger and agree that abortion is wrong. But rather than getting angry at the woman who is contemplating an abortion or who has had one maybe we should find better ways to assist her and others like her. Many pregnant women are under tremendous pressure to have an abortion and need our help.” I tried to tell her about Our Lady’s Inn (www.OurLadysInn.org), a place for homeless women who are pregnant. The ministry offers them so much more than a place to stay…it helps them obtain jobs, learn life skills, and gets them connected to important resources. The woman wasn’t interested and went on ranting about abortions. Her words, in my opinion, weren’t helpful. So my suggestion is to be careful how we speak up for life. Try to encourage others (Philippians 2:1-4) rather than condemn them or show anger toward them.

We certainly must speak up for life. Over the years I have become acquainted with teens, young women, and older women who have had abortions and needed help. I frequently taught Bible studies at homes for pregnant women and got to know many of them well.

Let me introduce you to three of them:
Jean was a young mother of two children when she got pregnant again. Her husband told her he would leave her if she didn’t get an abortion. He didn’t want a third child. As a stay-at-home mom she knew it was wrong, but after some time and much pressure from her husband she had the abortion. It forever changed her life and helped her later in life to become a pro-life leader.

Many years later her 16 year old daughter became pregnant. Jean lovingly walked with her daughter through her pregnancy. The baby was adopted by a wonderful Christian family. Jean and her daughter established an open adoption and were able to build a wonderful relationship with the adoptive parents and the baby. Today Jean and her daughter are in regular contact with her.

Today Jean is a shining life for life in today’s world! She always speaks up for life, but in a loving and caring way. For many years Jean volunteered for Lutherans For Life helping hundreds of people. Today she is retired, but still lovingly speaks up for the Lord and for life.

Over my many years of working within the Body of Christ I’ve met many women who are now pro-life leaders and involved in lovingly speaking up for life. Jean is one of them.

Some years ago I taught a series of Bible studies at a residential home for women who were pregnant and had chosen life. Most were just teenagers.

Sherry was 17 years old when she arrived. The home required that the residents attend a weekly Bible study and become actively involved in spiritual life activities. Most were unchurched or knew little about the Lord. I led many of these studies. Sherry was active and involved during her pregnancy. She decided to release her baby for adoption. A few days after the baby was born, she came to the Bible study crying. She had released her baby the day before into the hands of loving adoptive parents. She showed us a picture of the baby. It was heartbreaking to see her pain, but she knew she had done the right thing for her child.

Tonya was 16 years old when she came to the residential home. Her mother had tried to force her to have an abortion. She refused. Because she refused, her mother kicked her out of their home…for a while she stayed with other relatives and later with some friends, but eventually she found herself pregnant and homeless. At the time she came to us she was already eight months pregnant.

I heard this story of pressure from family members over and over. “My mom wanted me to have an abortion and when I wouldn’t, she made me leave our home. She thought that would force me to have the abortion.” “My mom and stepfather didn’t want to be embarrassed and told me I could no longer live with them.” “My boyfriend didn’t want the baby and wanted me to have an abortion. He put a lot of pressure on me to have an abortion. Finally I decided to leave him and came to live here.” And the list of those who needed help and received it goes on.

Speaking up for life with a caring, loving focus on the forgiveness offered through Christ is what we need to continue to do. Many times the women do not know Christ. We also need to introduce them to their Savior.

I want to thank you for loving the Lord and sharing the Gospel message beyond the walls of the church in partnership with us. Thank you again for your prayers and support. Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you (Matthew 7:7).

In His service and yours,

Kay L. Meyer