Move to Change is an a-political group, whose vision is to see a greater value placed on the intrinsic value of human life. The group emerged around the recently submitted “Infant Viability Bill” that was introduced by Dr Rachel Carling-Jenkins, into the Victorian Legislative Council (upper house) earlier this year.
The IVB sought to limit abortion to no later than 24 weeks and give greater support to pregnant women so that they had genuine options and support apart from abortion. The bill was defeated 27 to 11. It did though, see support from Labor, Liberal and DLP MP’s as well as the largest petition ever submitted in the history of the Victorian parliament.
It also saw many people who had no idea about our current laws informed regarding this legislation. This is a story of one person impacted:
Our group meets in Western Melbourne and afterwards we often go to a local cafe for lunch. Lotus, a waitress there, is a young women I’ve got to know and say hello to over the last couple of months. Two weeks ago as I went to pay for my coffee she said, “I’ve seen you guys come in here several times, what are you meeting about?”
So here I am a middle aged pastor talking to a very hip, blonde 20 something. My head is thinking “Don’t say anything, she’ll only ‘box’ you as another
regressive nutter,” but in my spirit I have the sense of the Spirit saying “Tell her the truth.” So I told her the truth.
Lotus’ response was amazing. “That can’t be right…”, “How long has this been happening for?”; “Why hasn’t the media told us about this?”
After I shared with her some quick answers, came Lotus’ amazing response. “Young people are looking for causes that are right and good, can you get me some information? I want to tell my friends at Uni. We would support this cause and march to see this changed…”
As a Christian and a Pastor I’ve wrested in the past with getting involved in political causes. My get of jail card has been Jesus’ words, “beware of the yeast of Herod and the Pharisees”. But over time I have reflected on why I’ve used these words to stay quiet when Jesus call’s me to be a “city on a hill.”
In time I think I’ve read Jesus’ words through the lens of the enlightenment that tells me my beliefs need to be private, but that’s certainly not what Jesus lived. So how do I reconcile this? When “Warned” by the Pharisees to keep quiet and move on because Herod wanted to kill him Jesus said, “Go and tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons. I will keep on healing people today and tomorrow. And on the third day I will reach my goal.’”
In the face of intimidation to keep quiet, Jesus said that he would continue to keep his Fathers Kingdom agenda first. While I don’t see politics as the solution to our issues as a society, the Gospel is the only solution, I do believe as Disciples of Jesus our “goal” is to bring the yeast of the Kingdom into every sphere of life, including politics.
On Tuesday November 29th at Warnambool Baptist 1pm, and Wednesday 30th November at Barrabool Hill’s Baptist 10am, Dr Rachel Carling-Jenkins MP, will be consulting Pastors and church leaders about where things are at now with our late term abortion laws and how we can see a movement emerge to see our parliament place a Kingdom value on life.
I’d encourage you to come and bring other Christian Pastors and leaders who you believe would benefit by gaining greater information and understanding about this important issue.
People will criticise when we share about this issue, yes they’ll draw assumptions about us and how we see people, but Jesus promised us this would happen when we stand for, his glory, his name, the Kingdom. People are looking for the real Kingdom and this is another opportunity for us to point people to it.
I’m looking forward to my next coffee in Lotus’ coffee shop, hopefully I’ll have the opportunity to point her to the loving King behind the Kingdom.
If you plan to come to the session at 1pm on Tues 29th (Warnambool), RSVP to David Hodgens: wdbcdeh@tpg.com.au
or
10am Wed 30th (Barrabool Hills) November, RSVP by November 28th to David Rock: office@churchbythebay.com
If your church would like to host a meeting like this for church leaders please contact David Rock office@churchbythebay.com
David Rock is Lead Pastor of Church by the Bay, Portarlington
Source: BUV News