Life Report 09 - Josh is Frustrated with the Modern Church
Download | Duration: 00:45:27
Show Notes:
Josh comes to the show frustrated with most protestant churches lack of involvement in pro-life activism. He starts the show by telling the "straw that broke the camel's back" last weekend when he talked to an usher at one of the largest protestant churches in Fresno that is pro-choice. Afterwards, Josh, Carrie and Liz discuss several reasons why many churches don't get involved. (Ignorance, being overwhelmed, apathy and fear.) The discussion is closed with a list of practical things the church CAN do without losing its tax-exempt status.
Show Links:
Click here to check out After Choice, the program Carrie is involved in. Information about their 2008 symposium will be going up soon.
"7 out of 10 women having abortions identify themselves as Protestant or Catholic." Does this statistic shock you? Here's the source to the stat, off of the Alan Guttmacher Institute's own website. (Scroll down to Question 14.) (Note: If you want to get into the original research publication that noted these statistics, click here and scroll down to the 7th page.)
Things Churches Can Do Without Losing Their Tax-Exempt Status:
Here are some of the things we mentioned on the show. Perhaps you might want to encourage your pastor to enact some of these at your church!
- Pro-life Bible study: Thorough study of scriptures relating to: shedding of innocent blood, loving one’s neighbor, being salt and light in society.
- Pro-life preaching and teaching: Institute regularly scheduled education and motivation instruction based on the scriptural emphasis on this topic.
- Pro-life prayer and strategy sessions: Encourage ongoing prayers of repentance and intercession appropriate to the issue.
Pro-life evangelism: Offer pro-life apologetics training to equip congregation to confront culture of death in their spheres of influence. - Pro-life political involvement: Educate church as to their privilege and responsibility to vote for righteousness, particularly in areas clearly delineated in scripture and church history. Register voters (after education efforts).
- Post abortion counseling: Familiarize congregation with various options for private and confidential post abortion counseling services.
- Purity training for teens: Provide cutting edge quality purity training for adults, parents and teens to lead church “not into temptation” and strengthen commitment to all aspects of purity.
- Develop and resource Pro-Life Committee: Enlist wisest of church to participate in and oversee pro-life education and advocacy within the church.
- Create seamless pro-life education from children’s church through teen and adult programs: Foster fervent yet balanced prayer and activism on behalf of the pre-born, teens, women and society placed at risk by abortion.
Public Pro-life Activities:
- Sidewalk counseling: Legal “free speech” outreach to those entering an abortion clinic by offering caring pro-life encouragement, educational materials, alternatives and prayer.
- Pregnancy Care Centers support: Direct financial and/or volunteer support. Provide resources such as maternity and baby clothes, formula and food, pre-natal medical attention and aftercare. Ongoing support such a parenting classes, family counseling, etc…
- Support best RTL organizations: Join or start local efforts to engage the culture of death.
Tell us what you think of the show!
Josh@ProLifePodcast.net
Carrie@ProLifePodcast.net
Liz@ProLifePodcast.net
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Life Report is sponsored by Right to Life of Central California
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