Caution: Babies Taking Flight

Recently, as I was driving into the Denver airport to drop my daughter off for a flight, we noticed a sign warning drivers to use caution as baby eagles that lived in the area were just learning to fly.

My first thought was that the sign actually would make drivers less cautious as they, like me, would start looking at the skies for baby eagles and spend less time watching the road. But as I thought more about it, I reflected on the irony and the tragedy of what it says about our culture.

Do you know that it is illegal to destroy an eagle’s egg? As two formerly endangered species, golden and bald eagles are vigorously protected. You can read about the laws here. And I am glad they are. These amazing and majestic animals have been brought back from the brink of extinction through such vigorous protections.

My own encounter with a bald eagle in the wild just last week reminded me that such sightings are far less uncommon. Thanks to our laws and protections, eagles have made a comeback.

I ran into this majestic guy a few days ago in Estes Park

So I get it when Denver officials want us to look out for the baby eagles.

What I don’t get, is that such care and protection isn’t afforded to unborn baby humans.

I don’t think that many people would argue that eagles, or any animal for that matter, are more valuable than humans. It is rather because we are at the top of the created order that we understand our responsibility to steward this planet we get to live on. Eagles can’t protect themselves from humans, so we must protect them.

So why is it any different with a human, albeit unborn? I am very familiar with the reasoning of those who support “choice,” and I certainly do not think that I will sway any of them with this simple blog. In fact, I’m not trying to. That’s a change of heart that only God bring.

What I am attempting to do is remind Christians of our biblical responsibility to be advocates for and protectors of the “least of these” in our world. I am asking that we be as vigilant, focused and vocal in our protection of the unborn as the Denver officials are in making sure that the baby eagles have room to spread their wings.

Here are several things we can do:

1. Financially support and volunteer at crisis pregnancy centers. These centers are the front lines of helping women and couples think through the long-term implications of ending a pregnancy. They provide grace-based counsel and alternatives to abortion. Give your time and money to them.

2. Teach the biblical view of sex and sexuality. With the vast majority of abortions being preformed on unwed women, it’s obvious that part of our problem is a failed understanding of the significance and meaning of sex. When it’s seen as a covenant act and not as a recreational pastime, we will move much closer to preventing those pesky “unwanted pregnancies.”

3. Teach the image of God. Many unborn are aborted because of the early diagnosis of some form of severe mental or physical deformity. The view is that such people can’t live meaningful lives and are being spared from a life of hardship. The Bible says otherwise. The image of God that is in every human makes them infinitely valuable regardless of their physical, emotional or mental challenges. We need to teach the biblical value of humans–all humans–regardless of their ability or inability to contribute to society.

An unborn human at 12 weeks.

4. Support adoption programs. These programs offer real solutions to women and couples considering abortion. Let’s make sure they’re well-funded and well-promoted.

5. Adopt. Some of you are being called to open your home to one of these “unwanted” children. If you are, don’t resist the calling. God will honor your obedience.

6. Take in an unwed mother. Some young pregnant women simply have no place to turn and no where to go. You can easily get access to these women through serving with pregnancy centers or by just keeping your eyes open. When you meet an unwed pregnant woman, offer to take her in and walk with her through the rest of her pregnancy. You’ll probably be rescuing more than one life.

7. Pray. Ask God to lead our government officials have to the courage and conviction to protect the unborn. Pray that churches and Christians will do all they can serve those in “crisis pregnancies” and those agencies who minister to them. Pray that those with unwanted pregnancies will discover the grace, forgiveness and perspective of Jesus.

8. Share the Gospel. As I said earlier, ultimately God has to change the hearts of those who support a woman’s right to end a pregnancy. From an unbelieving worldview, that right is paramount. Looking at the world from the “What’s in this for me?” and “How will this impact me and my rights?” is normal for a person without Christ.

But Jesus changes all that. The Jesus we follow is the same Jesus who didn’t protect his rights as the Son of God, but readily released them so he could die for sinners, even sinners who would reject him. It is that others-centeredness at the heart of the Gospel that can change someone who is willing to take the life of an unborn child into to someone who is willing to go to jail or even die to protect one.

Friends, be very careful. All around us are baby humans who are seeking to spread their wings. Let’s not get in their way.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

 

 

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