Life Receipts

One of the marks of Bible-believing Christians is that we are concerned for the needs of others, and allow the compassion of Christ to flow through us. In Zechariah chapter 7, we can read these words:

8 Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying,
9 "Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Execute true justice, Show mercy and compassion Everyone to his brother.
10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, The alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart Against his brother.'
11 "But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear.

The question for each of us is: to what degree are we walking in the love of Christ?  There are needs around us, and we have to be careful that we are not so consumed with our own selves, living our own lives and reinforcing our own pleasure, that we are not willing to give of ourselves, to make a Christ-like sacrifice, in order that people may experience the love of Jesus.  We can open our eyes and our hearts so that we can be prepared to do what God directs.

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When we consider the great love of Christ that He has shown for us, we can also think about how we can be prepared to share compassion. Psalm 86 states:
15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
16 Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, And save the son of Your maidservant.

Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, wants you to believe that it is concerned about women.  Pregnancy resource centers, or pregnancy help centers, have been demonstrating their concern for women - and unborn babies - for over five decades, according to a Ministry Watch story, that leads off in this manner:

While there has been a prevailing narrative since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in June that pro-lifers don’t care about women, the facts tell a different story.

Here are the receipts:

A recent study by the Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI) pointed out that “better women’s service providers” outnumber Planned Parenthood clinics by a ratio of 14 to 1. Planned Parenthood is the nation’s largest abortion provider.

It found there are over 8,000 “better women service providers,” including Federally Qualified Health Centers and private pregnancy help centers in comparison to the estimated 558 Planned Parenthood clinics in the country.

“We describe ‘better women’s service providers’ as locations which are actually focused on holistic women’s care, including Federally Qualified Health Centers which provide mammograms, prenatal care, and cervical exams, or pro-life pregnancy centers, which either offer women’s health services or connect women to life-affirming medical resources in their community as part of journeying with a woman during her time of need,” CLI clarified in an email to MinistryWatch.

The story says that the pro-life ministry Heartbeat International "compares private pregnancy help centers, about 2,825, to all abortion clinics, about 700—a ratio of 4 to 1."

A summary found on the Lozier website states:

The more than 8,000 women’s service providers identified by Charlotte Lozier Institute include more than 5,300 Federally Qualified Health Center sites and 2,700 pro-life pregnancy centers.

It also notes: 

• Pro-life pregnancy centers support pregnant women facing difficult circumstances with medical care and referrals, education, mentoring, and material support including diapers, car seats, and clothing at virtually no cost to the client.
• Community-based support at pro-life pregnancy centers is offered through nearly 15,000 staff and almost 54,000 volunteers, which includes 10,200 licensed medical professionals (both staff and volunteers).

These centers are saving and transforming lives.  The Ministry Watch story says: "A recent analysis by CLI showed that from 2016 to 2020, over 828,000 babies’ lives were saved through the work and services provided by pregnancy centers."

Lozier Institute President Chuck Donovan, a true pro-life pioneer, having been involved in pro-life work since before the Roe v. Wade decision, is quoted on the Institute's website, in that article published a month ago:

“It is ironic that Federally Qualified Health Centers and pro-life pregnancy centers were established to support the very people that Margaret Sanger established Planned Parenthood to eliminate, including the poor, the marginalized, and those whom political and media elites seek to cast aside.

“As pro-abortion politicians grandstand at a series of Capitol Hill hearings this week, the real-world data show that life is winning. Women’s health and pregnancy centers outnumber Planned Parenthood facilities 14 to 1. In the Dobbs era, women have real choices for comprehensive medical care and tangible support that meets real needs while affirming that life is a human right.”

I am so thankful that Chuck Donovan joined me on The Meeting House the day that the Dobbs decision was handed down.

There are alternatives to the life-destroying work of Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers who are posing as women's health centers.  Through involvement in pro-life work, people can be part of a life-affirming movement.  Remember, for so many of these organizations, it's not about caring for women, it's about abortion.

We can also consider how we can be involved in affirming others.  We can do that by speaking truth into their lives, regarding them as people created in the image of God, and loving them unconditionally.

And, just a note: you cannot be a champion of so-called "women's rights" while still trying to play around with gender identity.  You have politicians and other activists who will not admit that only women can bear children, preferring the term, "birthing person."  Biology is exposing the charade - and the absolute truth of creation is trumping the dangerous path of so-called "gender identity."  But, please be consistent - you cannot support gender identity and defend "women's rights," since you deny the precious God-given gift of womanhood.