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NATIONAL
DAY OF REPENTANCE
On
1st February 1997 abortion on demand was legalised in South
Africa. The "Termination of Pregnancy" bill was
probably the most controversial and unpopular piece of legislation
to be enacted in South Africa since apartheid was introduced
in 1948.
At
the time, the Ministry of Health reported receiving hundreds
of thousands of submissions concerning the proposed legalisation
of "abortion upon request". Over 98% of these
submissions opposed the legalisation of abortion. Tens of
thousands marched to Parliament to, amongst other concerns,
oppose abortion. Scores of delegations, and thousands of
submissions to the Constitutional Assembly also implored
the authorities not to legalise the killing of pre-born
babies. Many surveys and opinion polls confirmed that the
vast majority of South Africans were against abortion.
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South
Africa seems to be the first country where a vigorous pro-life
movement was already established before the legalisation
of abortion. The Roman Catholic based Pro-Life was launched
in 1977 in response to the legalisation of abortion in the
hard cases of "rape, incest, mother life, deformities,
and the mother's mental health." The Protestant Pro-Life
movement in South Africa was launched in earnest in 1991
by Africa Christian Action and Christians for Truth. Africa
Christian Action published the first pro-life leaflets,
organised the first Pro-Life Handbook for South Africa -
"Fight for Life", and organised the first pro-life
demonstrations and Life Chains.
Africa
Christian Action, alone, in the six years before the legalisation
of abortion on demand conducted over one thousand pro-life
meetings including rallies, radio programmes, school assemblies,
seminars, church services and TV interviews. And hundreds
of pro-life prayer vigils, demonstrations, marches and other
actions were organised. Delegations from Africa Christian
Action, Christians for Truth, Doctors for Life, Pro-Life
and others personally presented the case against abortion
to the Constitutional Assembly, to Parliament, and to the
President. The ANC government in South Africa is perhaps
the first government in history to legalise abortion after
having received expert scientific testimony from medical
professionals demonstrating that life begins at conception
and that abortion is the violent taking of human life.
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Numerous
delegations and submissions challenged the convoluted logic
and mental gymnastics of the government that could interpret
the "right of life" clause in the Constitution
to protect guilty murderers from execution, but not prevent
innocent babies from receiving the death penalty through
abortion!
If
the right to life of the most helpless and innocent members
of society - pre-born babies - is not upheld then the Bill
of Rights is a worthless piece of paper. Any society that
is capable of burning, smothering, poisoning or dismembering
little babies - legally - deserves the wrath of God.
It
is a scientific fact, easily proven by modern medical technology,
that life begins at conception. At three weeks after conception
the baby's heartbeat can be detected. Six weeks after conception,
the baby has its own life-long brain wave. If the absence
of a brain wave is considered a sign of death, how then
could the presence of this brain wave not be accepted as
a confirmation of life? Every abortion stops a beating heart.
Every abortion ends a brain wave. Every abortion is the
murder of a helpless and innocent human being.
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It
is of the utmost hypocrisy for us to denounce atrocities
under apartheid, while we have allowed the abortion holocaust
to continue in our country. It is an incredible and tragic
irony that South Africa has replaced apartheid with abortion.
In the name of "choice" pre-born babies have been
deprived of the right to life.
Instead
of discrimination based upon race, we now have discrimination
based upon age. What worth is "human dignity"
if babies are denied the right to life? The day will most
certainly come when future generations will look back on
the abortion holocaust of our day with the same revulsion
that we now look upon the Nazi Holocaust of World War Two.
Since
1st February 1997, over 333 000 babies have been killed
in South Africa - by abortion - officially, legally.
Legalised
abortion is a national disgrace. The 1st of February 2004
will mark the 7th anniversary of the legalisation of abortion
on demand in South Africa. For this reason, Christians who
respect the sanctity of life will be observing Sunday 1st
February as a national day of prayer and repentance for
the national sin of abortion. Many pastors will be preaching
on the Sanctity of Human Life, and many congregations will
be joining in prayers of repentance.
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On
Monday, 2nd February, Africa Christian Action will be holding
a prayer vigil outside the gates of Parliament (at the corner
of Roeland and Plein Streets) from 12:30pm to 1:30pm. A
short memorial service and wreath laying ceremony will be
held in memory of the babies legally killed by abortion
in South Africa since 1997. This will be preceeded by a
solemn funeral procession to Parliament. (The procession
will gather at the Kaisergracht parking lot below the Cape
Technikon and march down Darling street into Adderly street.
Meet at the Kaisergracht road by 12:45pm.)
In
order to alert Capetonians to the reality of the abortion
holocaust taking place in our land, Africa Christian Action
has hired a hearse and mourners will carry coffins, crosses
and flowers in memory of the victims of abortion. The funeral
procession will be followed by the Africa Christian Action
trailer, a special six metre by three metre display board
with pictures of pre-born babies and with the Scriptures:
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves"
Proverbs 31:8; and "Now choose life so that you and
your children may live." Deuteronomy 30:19. Special
obituary notices will also be placed in newspapers around
the country.
If
it is at all possible, please do join us for the funeral
procession to Parliament, or meet us outside the gates of
Parliament for the prayer vigil.
"Could
you men not keep watch with Me for one hour?" Matthew
26:14
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There are over 36 000 churches and 30 000 ministers in South
Africa. If just half of them could be inspired to observe
Sanctity Life Sunday in repentance and prayer and to study
what the Word of God teaches on the Sanctity of Life then
we could begin to end the legalised killing of babies in
South Africa.
"Rescue
those being lead away to death; hold back those staggering
towards slaughter. If you say, but we knew nothing about
this, does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? Does
not He who guards your life know it? Will He not repay each
one according to what he has done?" Proverbs 24:11-12
Most
of the medical personnel in our country are church members.
Most of the mothers go to church. Most of the voters in
South Africa claim to be Christians.
If
Christians in South Africa could stop and look at the abortion
holocaust in the light of Scripture, if we could understand
something of the heart of God on this disgraceful abomination
- then we would be roused to action. There are 18 million
church members and adherents in South Africa. If most of
these church goers could understand what the Bible teaches
about when life begins, the sanctity of life, and our Christian
responsibility to stand up for the right to life of pre-born
babies - then we could save thousands of precious lives
from abortion.
The
goal of Sanctity Life Sunday is to encourage pastors in
South Africa to preach on what the Bible teaches on the
subject of abortion on 1st February. It is also hoped that
many Christians will also observe Monday 2nd February as
a National Day of Repentance for the national sin of abortion
Will
you mobilise your congregation to observe Sanctity Life
Sunday? Then please contact Africa Christian Action for
Pro-Life resources and a Sanctity Life Package.
These
materials can also be downloaded or ordered from the www.christianaction.org.za
website. There are pro-life sermons, Bible studies, prayers
of repentance, pro-life tracts, bumper stickers, books,
videos and audio tapes available.
Contact:
Africa Christian Action, P.O. Box 36129, Glosderry, 7720
South Africa
E-mail: info@christianaction.org.za
Tel: (021) 689-4481
Fax (021) 685-5884..
"If
My people who are called by My name will humble themselves
and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways,
they will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin
and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
Sanctity
Life Prayer of Repentance
Scriptural
Imprecatory Prayer Proclamation Against Abortion
Imprecatory
Prayer Proclamation
Dr
Peter Hammond
Director
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