Brothers and Sisters in Christ, this feels like a tumultuous time of cultural tension and change following the Supreme Court decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Center, and the reversal of Roe v. Wade. For some this has been a greatly sought-after moment for years and years, a preservation of life at its earliest stages. There are certainly others who feel this decision is an imposition on women’s rights. And there are probably many others who feel conflicted about the whole issue. As with any other issue, there are many different opinions with people investing a lot of themselves and their emotional energy in the outcomes.

Given these realities, I find myself with two main takeaways for the church at this moment. Firstly, I am reminded of Paul’s words in Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Unfortunately, a good deal of the anger I see presented in social media is towards Christians, but there is affair amount of anger displayed by Christians as well. This is an opportunity for us to show the love of Christ in our interactions with others, our speech full of grace.

Secondly, we need to continue to support young families, and young men and women from all backgrounds. Elective abortions continue to remain legal in the state of New York and that doesn’t seem like it will change anytime soon. There continues to be men who pressure women in relationships. There continues to be women forced to make difficult decisions. There continues to be families that are in desperate need of support and resources to care for their children. There continues to be prenatal health issues. The work of our care ministry doesn’t stop because Roe v. Wade was overturned. The commission remains for us today,

“Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)

God’s Blessings,

Pastor Nyck Greig