Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, Jan 21, 2007, Phil 1:20-26

Philippians 1:20-26

From a Sermon by Dr. James Lamb (Abide With Me, 2006).

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Howard, SD – Sanctity of Life Sunday

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, So that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. (Phil 1:20-26, NIV)

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

This week we are observing Sanctity of Life Sunday because the anniversary of Woe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision is January 22. That decision effectively legalized abortion for all nine months of pregnancy for virtually any reason. Since that day in 1979 over 45 million babies have been killed by this procedure. That’s about 3,600 every single day and one every 24 seconds.

Do those numbers make you feel uncomfortable? Well, they should. Some of you might be uncomfortable for another reason, you believe that this issue is political and should be avoided in church. In fact, when the Vote Yes on 6 campaign was active some in our congregation complained that I put up the sign in the parsonage yard. It’s just too political. It’s just too controversial. It’s just too private. Well, you are right, in a way. It is political and controversial. But you are wrong when you say it’s private. You are wrong when you say it isn’t an issue for the church. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…” the bible starts. We clearly have a God who wants to be known as the creator of all things. He tells us in His Word that he is the Creator of Life; the Giver of Life and the Redeemer of Life. Killing unborn infants in the womb is an insult to God. That’s exactly what Abortion is, killing of a helpless human life. We have to talk about this issue in church. In fact we’d better start waking up and not callously ignore what is happening in this country every day. Think about it this way. It isn’t something that is killed in an abortion. It’s someone. That someone was created by God. That someone is someone for whom Christ died. In fact, if I didn’t point out the sin of abortion to you, I’d be failing in my role as your pastor.

Now some of you may be among those who have been affected by abortion. Over 36,000 are every day. Maybe that makes you uncomfortable. Maybe you’ve been involved in an abortion directly. Maybe you’ve had one or counseled someone to have one. If the reality of that decision has caught up with you and you are feeling guilty I have Good News for you. In fact, that’s another reason why the church can’t remain silent on this topic. We must talk about the sin of abortion to be able to assure those who have been caught up in it that God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ even covers this sin. Because of Jesus death on the cross for you, you can begin again in Him, with hope and healing.

So it is time to talk about abortion in church. But today we aren’t going to talk about abortion directly. Instead we are going to talk about the legacy of abortion has given us. It is a legacy that effects us all, especially the elderly, the disabled, and the cronically and terminally ill. Because we so readily accept abortion, the killing of an innocent child as a means to dispose of a problem, we very easily accept the idea that certain people are better off dead. A couple of years ago we saw it very clearly in the case of Teri Schiavo. Lot’s of people thought she was better off dead. Some of you may have though so. But we don’t have to go that far to get personally entangled in this issue. Maybe you have someone who you care for who is old or ill, someone that you’ve thought would be better off dead. Maybe someone you care for has expressed the worry of being a burden to the family, or wondered what possible good they could do, or what purpose God could still have for them. I’ve been with older folks who have asked the question, “Why doesn’t God just take me home?”

If you’ve felt this way, or know people who have felt this way, I’ve got good news for you. Jesus is able to work through your life and your death. Christ can be exalted in either. It is the abiding presence of Jesus that enables us to both live and to die in joyful faith. This congregation’s favorite hymn is Abide With Me. That’s exactly what it is talking about. “In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.”

The second reading for today is from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he says:

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, So that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. (Phil 1:20-26, NIV)

St. Paul anticipates death. He’s in prison and doesn’t know what will happen to him. But he is ready for death. All that he wants is for Christ to be exalted in his death. He says, “do die is gain” and “to depart and be with Christ is better by far.” That confidence is what exults Jesus, that is makes Jesus the most important thing. Paul is confident, not because he is strong, but because of all that Jesus has done for him. Jesus life, death and resurrection give Paul to confidence to know that death isn’t the end for him.

Is it OK to want to join Paul and be with Christ? Is it OK to want our friends and family members to have and end of their pain and sorrow in death? You know it would be better. You know it would be an end of pain. The answer is yes it is OK. In fact, when faith like that is expressed Christ is exalted. Christ becomes the all important thing because He is the one who gives confidence to believe that this is true. When we believe in the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation won by Jesus on the cross; when we believe that his resurrection points to our resurrection that’s Christ’s abiding presence in our lives. He comforts us, calms our fears, and gives us patients to wait for his timing in these matters. We pray in the hymn, “in death, Oh Lord, abide with me.”

Death isn’t the only possibility for Paul. He seems pretty confident that he will live longer yet. And in that case he knows that Christ will be exalted, too. He says it would be “far better” for him if he should die but “more necessary” that he live a little while longer. God has “fruitful labor” planned for him. Paul writes, “through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.” Christ will be exalted through His abiding presence as He works in Paul’s life.

Death isn’t the only possibility for the elderly, ill, disabled or even the unconscious. People in these situations can live many years. As we said it would be “far better” for them to die and be with Christ. But it is God who is in charge of their time of death. There is a children’s book by Joanne Marxhausen, If I Should Die, If I Should Live (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1975). It says “God will decide when I should die, and the time will be just right . . . because God is very wise.” But as long as we live, as long as God gives us life, we must believe that in God’s Wisdom it is “more necessary” for life to continue, no matter what that life is like. As long as God grants life, he gives meaning and purpose to that life. God has “fruitful labor” in mind, no matter what it looks like from our perspective.

We must not forget that God can do whatever he wishes. He doesn’t only use healthy people to accomplish his purposes. We are not in a position to judge things from God’s perspective. Christ was exalted in Paul because Christ was at work in Paul’s life. We are very limiting of God if we think that He can’t use whom ever He wishes to accomplish his good purposes. He can work in your life. He can work in my life. He can work in the life of ill people and even the life of a bed-ridden grandma who doesn’t even know where she is or who she is with. He is God! He is exalted because of what He does in our lives, not because of what we do. In fact, you could say that the less we are able to do the more he is exalted as He does in us what we can’t do for ourselves.

I once visited with a man who was dying of cancer. He was a big and strong man who God had used to care for many people. He raised a large family, supported the church, and worked hard to improve the community. But it was faith that told him in his illness it was time for others to have the opportunity to practice their faith by serving him. It wasn’t easy to let that happen. He struggled with his own pride until the very day he died, but the Holy Spirit showed him again and again how others were able to grow in faith because they could serve.

It is the bible that tells us that when we serve those in need, we are serving Christ himself. Think of it. When we are ill or dying, when grandma is being served by those around her she may well be Christ to those who are serving. The same is true of all the Teri Schiavo’s out there, those who are brain damaged and those we so easily say would be “better off dead.” Jesus may not be done exalting himself through them yet.

We never know how God is going to work in people’s lives. We never know how Christ’s abiding presence may show itself. What we do know is that Christ is always at work. Remember that as long as God gives the gift of life, God gives purpose to life. As long as God gives life, he gives value to life. That’s why in the hymn we pray “in life, O Lord, abide with me.”

You and I live in a culture that is more and more seeing death as a solution for those who are “better off dead.” St. Paul said it is better for Christians to be “with Christ.” But he also reminds us that the timing of death belongs to God alone. If he continues to give life, he gives life purpose. But you see, whether we live or die we know that Christ is at work and that He will be exalted. And so we pray, “Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes. Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies. In life, in death, O Lord. Abide with me.” Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.