Of Cathedrals and Churches

Sanctity of Human Life weekend (January 20th and 21st) was absolutely, unbelievably great for me this year! I was able to witness the Catholic and Evangelical communities coming together as one body in a March for Life that was bigger than us all…bigger than life. Six to seven hundred strong, 3 to 4 to 5 deep extending nearly three quarters of a mile long – our March for Life made a serious statement to the community.

People waved and honked their car horns in support of life; no one griped when we blocked traffic on our way from St. Augustine Cathedral to Holy Hope Cemetery; and those in attendance were touched deeply by the memorial service that was held in memory of all the lives that have been lost to abortion since 1973 when Roe vs Wade was upheld by the Supreme Court as the law of the land.

It all started that morning with the Catholic community celebrating Mass in the Cathedral and the Evangelicals gathering for prayer in St. Augustine Cathedral’s great hall. After prayer, I had the great pleasure of speaking to approximately 1500 of the faithful in the Cathedral right before we began our 4.5 mile trek. I don’t believe I have ever felt so welcome. My job was to rally those ready to march. Instead they blessed and encouraged me and those with me beyond measure.

Say what you will about our theological differences, we all owe a great deal to the fervor, dedication, passion and energy of the Catholic community which has carried the torch for life over these past 35 years and continues to educate and mobilize men, women and children about the horrors of abortion. Thank you.

The following morning at Catalina Foothill Church (PCA) I had the privilege to preach at both services about forgiveness and God’s plan for our lives. My sermon was entitled “Love is More Powerful Than Death,” taken from Song of Songs 8:6 (Contemporary English Version).

Between services though is where I was able to witness God’s transformative power in the life of a very nice woman who approached me quietly with great news. She related that because of how the Holy Spirit spoke to her that morning, she would no longer hold a position other than pro-life. You know what? I’ll never forget her because there in front of me was a woman who had just had a real encounter with our God. I could stand next to her forever – know what I mean?

Since then I have wondered what was said that God used to prompt this glorious outcome. I believe that God’s love for those who turn to Him won the day. You see the pro-life community is about love and the softening of hearts. Our message is about love and nothing can stop it. It is truly “more powerful than death.”

I believe she was also affirmed in her belief, that God sets the sin of abortion right through forgiveness by the death of his Son in our place, so that the entire wrath that we deserve for the sin of abortion – and every other sin – was put squarely and entirely on Jesus. Can love be any greater that that? Can we be any freer than that to honor Him with our minds, souls and spirits in all that we do? What great days!

Blessings.