Pro-Life Presentation for Men Based on the Movie '42'

Outline--Men and Abortion: From Backbencher to Game Changer

I. Intro: Branch Rickey—A courageous game changer who didn’t sit out the moral issue of his day.

II. Theme: Being a game-changer when everyone else sits out

III. Topic is significant, because many guys sit out the key moral issue of our day--abortion--instead of courageously stepping up like Branch Rickey did.

Example: Former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels (paraphrase)—“We need a truce on the moral issues. Focus on economy instead.” Well, we can’t make peace with evil! Surrender is not an option. Men must engage! Indeed, it’s in our nature to protect, defend, and fight. But when it comes to the greatest moral issue of our day, many guys don’t engage. They sit the game out. Why?

IV. Thesis: Men aren’t game-changers on abortion for three key reasons:

A. Reason #1: They play by the wrong rules--namely, those dictated by a culture steeped in relativism that confuses preference claims with moral ones.  

1. Objection: “It’s okay to be personally opposed to abortion, but you shouldn’t force your views on others who disagree.” Try this: “I’m personally opposed to slavery, but if you want to own a slave, I won’t force my views on you.” Indeed, why be opposed to abortion at all if it doesn’t unjustly take the life of an innocent human being? Christian men, as leaders, have a duty to clarify moral truths. When they don't lives are lost. 

2. Use this 55-second clip to restore meaning to word abortion for those who think it’s a preference issue. Briefly preview the gospel as solution for those struggling with post-abortion guilt—a topic you will cover in more detail w/ reason #3 below. You can download the video clip here.

B. Reason #2: They lack confidence because they lack training 

1. The abortion controversy, like that of racial equality, comes down to this: Does each and every human being have equal value or do only some have it in virtue of some accidental characteristic like skin color or level of development? 

2. The Biblical case is clear: All humans have value because they bear the image of their Maker (Genesis. 1, James 3). Because humans bear God’s image, the shedding of innocent blood is strictly forbidden (Ex. 23:7, Prov. 6:16-19, Mt. 5:21). How do we confidently communicate a case for human equality that includes the unborn to those who reject Biblical authority? 

3. We do it with science and philosophy: According the science of embryology, the unborn are distinct, living, and whole human beings. You didn't come from an embryo; you once were an embryo. Philosophically, there is no essential difference between the embryo you once were and the adult you are today that justifies killing you at that earlier stage of development. Difference of size, level of development, location, and dependency are not good reasons for saying you could be killed then but not now.

4. Why should we learn this apologetics stuff instead of just preaching the gospel?  Because Scripture commands us to be prepared to give an answer for the hope within us (1 Peter 3:15).

C. Reason #3: They have ghosts in their lockers (that is, they’ve participated in aborting an unborn human being). 

1. Men who’ve participated in abortion don’t need an excuse. They need forgiveness—and Jesus offers it. 

2. Branch Rickey had a ghost—He regretted not speaking up in the past when he witnessed the unfair treatment of Blacks. But he didn’t let that ghost stop him from doing the right thing with Jackie Robinson.   

3. Key question: When you meet God and He asks if you showed up to play, will your answer be sufficient?

Close by challenging them to take home the 5-Minute Pro-lifer article. Tell them the 55-second abortion clip that you showed can be found at prolifetraining.com

(Update: Special thanks to LTI speaker James Jenkins, who helped me brainstorm the idea for this talk and who delivered it to the men at his church earlier today.)