As we survey the scene from the vantage point of the year end and look into the abyss of 2018 we have the feeling that history repeats itself. Someone has said that history needs to repeat itself because no-one is listening and there is some truth in that!
Whether we like it or not the battle has moved from matters of faith to the outworking of our faith. Yesterday it was the false description of “equality” given to the Same Sex Marriage debate. Tomorrow it is the ditching of “equality” as it appears in our Constitution giving equal rights to the mother and the unborn child, and the adoption of the phrase “right to choose”.
The choice however is a little one-sided! The unborn baby has no voice – no right to choose. Of course if the child had the right to choose, he or she would choose to live!
The Psalmist knew where life started, “For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139 verses 13/14).
There has been a large drop in numbers of those travelling to the UK for abortion. Has there been an improvement in morals? More likely the availability on line of the abortion pill. Commercial forces are at work and the abortion industry is focusing on Ireland where there is money to be made out of unwanted pregnancies.

It would be good if the church could choose the topics for debate. It would be more familiar ground to be defending theological points but with a Referendum promised for May, planning to introduce abortion into Ireland, we have no option but to meet the challenge.
We can learn from history. We have seen the slaughter of the unborn babies in other countries where laws permitting abortion were soon extended to abortion on demand.
God places an inestimable value on human life. Listen to His pleading through the voice of the prophet Isaiah; “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to grey hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save” (Chapter 46 verses 3 and 4).
We have been created in God’s image, although that image is now fallen, are by his redeeming love members of his household on earth. This love is shown in Jesus by whose death for sinners gave us access to God. We who have placed our trust in Christ, are no longer outsiders but family to protect the weak and vulnerable and see that the voiceless are heard (Ephesians Chapter 2 verse19).