The Vision
A national day & resources to bear witness that life is a sacred gift from God.A public witness
Mission & Purpose
This initiative seeks to resource Christians to lead a transformation of the culture of Australia into one which affirms the sanctity of life and supports national leaders publicly doing so.
Sanctity of Life Sunday is a national day for God’s people to bear witness that life is a sacred gift from God, to minister forgiveness and healing for past abortions and to promote community resources supporting women facing an unplanned pregnancy.
We do so by inviting Christians of all denominations to publicly participate in a national day affirming what God’s Word is, always has been and always will be on this important public issue.
We also seek to collaboratively resource ministers to navigate the issue with wisdom and compassion. Inspiration for sermons, church services and other communication is freely provided, along with connections to community organisations professionally qualified to provide counselling to people who are post-abortive or abortion-vulnerable.
A ministry opportunity
“Feed my sheep.”
Teaching about abortion may leave some people feeling condemned and ashamed, the exact opposite of how spiritual shepherds want to care for those in their precious flock.
Far from being a reason to avoid the issue, this apprehension acknowledges the fact that there are people in our churches who have been affected by abortion; people who need ministry to receive the forgiveness & healing only Christ offers.
It also reveals an opportunity for ministry the Body of Christ can be lovingly involved in helping prevent the harm of abortion by being an intentionally supportive community.
“I felt completely alone in the decision to keep or abort my baby. I didn’t go to see my normal doctor, as I was too ashamed. I thought I made a ‘well-informed’ decision, but now I look back on that day with such regret. My ‘choice’ was made knowing none of the consequences of abortion, or anything about the baby inside me.
Later, during a University course in human physiology, I burst into tears when I realised that the fetus I had aborted actually had a heartbeat when I’d had the abortion. This devastated me. I had no reason to think abortion was wrong to this point, but I knew it had hurt me. It wasn’t till I realised it was a ‘who’ I’d given up, a baby, my baby, and I’d never be able to get it back, that I began to grieve. I had lost something.
Grief is a lifelong journey, but admitting there was a life, and it was gone, helped me to cry tears I hadn’t known were there. They weren’t tears of guilt, but of sadness and loss. I had guilty feelings I needed to deal with too, I needed to forgive myself and seek forgiveness for what tormented me now as one of the biggest mistakes of my life.
I spent the next few years processing what had happened. Some beautiful ladies spent time working through my grief with me, holding me, letting me talk about how it felt, and what I had missed out on. Those times were so precious to me.”
– Madeleine
Essential Doctrine of Life
Human life is a sacred gift from God.
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” – Genesis 1:27
Human life has inherent value.
“Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man.
“Whoever sheds man’s blood,
By man his blood shall be shed;
For in the image of God
He made man.” – Genesis 9:5-6
Human life begins at fertilisation.
“For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.” – Psalm 139:13-16
It’s wrong to take an innocent human life.
“You shall not murder.” – Exodus 20:13
God expects His people to care about justice.
“The Lord looked and was displeased
to find there was no justice.
He was amazed to see that no one intervened
to help the oppressed.” – Isaiah 59:15b-16a
This is a nondenominational, nonpartisan project. As a brand new initiative, the Sanctity of Life Sunday website resources are still being developed. If you can contribute anything to the content here, your collaboration would be truly appreciated. Please send content, links and attachments to admin@ChurchAndState.com.au.