The Annual Pro-Life March
by Jimmy Acree Vol. VI, No. 1, January 1993
[Jimmy Acree is pastor of Bacon's Castle Baptist Church, Surry. This article was written in January 1992 following the 1992 pro-life march in Washington, DC, and saved for this issue of The Banner.]
On Wednesday, January 22, pro-life Christians and others converged on Washington, D.C. to let our leaders know that we would not let the killing of unborn children go unprotested. Among the crowd that day were numerous Southern Baptists, including eight from our church. The Southern Baptist Christian Life Commission was represented on the platform.
The morning began with speeches from senators and congressmen and even President Bush on the need to continue the fight for the right to live for every American, including the unborn. We heard from pro-life leaders from Poland and from around our own nation about the advances that had been made in the past year. Two interesting facts were that live births outnumbered abortions in Virginia this past year, a reversal of last year's statistics, and that more young Americans are rejecting the pro-abortion agenda and choosing to stand for life!
At 1:30 p.m. we began to march down Constitution Avenue from the middle of the mall to the steps of the Supreme Court. The crowd numbered from 70,000 to 100,000. Many folks then went and spoke to their congressmen and senators and appealed to them to vote pro-life. Our group did get an interview with Senator Warner, but Senator Robb would not see us.
I had never before participated in the annual pro-life march, but I was glad I did. It was truly encouraging to see so many people committed to seeing our country reverse its decision to kill its unborn. I know that by the march we most likely did not change anyone's mind on the issue, but it passed a message to America that we will not be silent on this matter.
I want to take this opportunity to encourage and challenge you to lead your church to be unapologetically pro-life. If you are a pastor, preach against abortion and on the specialness of human life. If you are a teacher, teach about it. Lead by your example. Go to the annual march. Be involved in your local pro-life group. Write letters to your congressmen and senators. Let your opinion be heard. Above all, pray for God to help us stop this horrendous evil and reverse the moral decay of our nation. Virginia Baptists officially say this is not a moral issue that needs to be addressed; it is my opinion that there is not a greater moral issue that needs confrontation. If Christians do not lead the way on abortion, we will answer for it at the judgment seat of Christ. Get involved. Get serious.
Editor's note: The annual pro-life march is always on 22 January. This year that falls on Friday. Every reader is encouraged to attend. Every Christian should take to heart the words of Ezekiel 33:2-7: "Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say to them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their borders, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he shall blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword shall come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman shall see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword shall come and take [any] person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. So thou, 0 son of man, I have set thee a watchman to the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me."
Every Christian has been appointed by God as a watchman for his country. We have a duty before God to sound the alarm. Don't be found wanting! TCP