A32D
November 2013
The greatest gift Greetings from CARE! Thank you for standing with us as we seek to make a Christian difference. Please forgive me for requesting your financial help at this crucial time. We will soon be celebrating afresh the amazing birth of Christ in Bethlehem, and how the shepherds were amongst the first to be told that He had been born. However, what is often overlooked is that the baby Jesus actually arrived on earth nine months earlier, in the womb of the Virgin Mary. After she conceived, Luke tells how she straightaway visited Elizabeth who, ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.’ So the unborn baby, John the Baptist, was the first human being to acknowledge Christ’s arrival. This was many months before the shepherds were told! This Bible passage for me is a most powerful confirmation of the sacredness of human life, from conception.
Glory and honour I love Psalm 8. Its words glorify God, express wonder at His creation and rejoice in how human beings – have been made ‘a little lower than Elohim’ - which is translated ‘heavenly beings’ or even ‘God Himself’, and crowned with glory and honour. Human beings are of incalculable worth to God, and the writer to the Hebrews, quoting Psalm 8, speaks of
Christ similarly being crowned with glory and honour’. What dignity! Hebrews 2 goes on to say, ‘because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.’ This conviction of the Early Church, that Almighty God had sent His Son as a man to die for the sins of us all, was so radical that it led to fierce persecution and, for many, martyrdom.
Christ’s compassion In fact these first century Christians living in the Roman Empire were referred to as atheists! They refused to bow the knee to Caesar who proclaimed himself as ‘divus’, divine, but worshipped Jesus as Lord. The Jews considered it blasphemous, describing Christians as ‘men who have turned the world upside down ... acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another King, Jesus.’ The Holy Spirit had filled the followers of Jesus with power to speak with astonishing boldness. But what is often overlooked is that Christians living in those early centuries demonstrated such incredible unselfishness and compassion – agape love. Christian apologist Tertullian recorded the Romans’ observation: ‘See how they love one another.’ Justin, philosopher turned evangelist, who was martyred in 165AD, explained: ‘We used to hate and destroy one another and used to refuse to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we live together with such people and pray for our enemies.’ When a devastating plague swept across the region, those affected were often thrown into the streets so their families would not catch the deadly disease. It was the Christians who nursed the sick, at the risk of contracting the plague themselves. They were passionately pro-life, caring for the unborn children that Roman society deemed to be disposable, either abandoning them in the open or suffocating them. One archaeological site in Israel contained the remains of nearly 100 newborn infants. They had not been buried, but cast into a sewer that ran beneath a brothel. Christians throughout the centuries have laid down their lives for others, often literally. Many great missionary heroes sacrificially and lovingly preached the gospel, and died demonstrating Christ’s compassion; politicians and activists campaigned passionately for justice and care for the poor and helpless. The first hospitals, schools and shelters for homeless and hungry people were set up by Christians and this legacy, which they had inherited from the early Church, lives on to this very day.
Love one another Our world is still in desperate need of this love. Before Jesus ascended into heaven He underlined the vital importance of preaching the gospel and making disciples, but alongside this declared, ‘A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ John 13:34,35. Christians all over the United Kingdom are coming to the fore with practical care for the most vulnerable, giving generously of their time and resources for those in desperate need. Although in our increasingly secular culture, religious faith is being pushed to the margins of society, no-one can stop the Church from demonstrating Christ’s compassion! New atheism claims that Christian faith has no role in civil society, wanting religion right out of the public square. ‘If you want to go to church, that’s fine’ they say. ‘But don’t expect to have a voice in schools, prisons, university campuses, politics, national and local government, the printed and broadcast media, or anywhere else of influence!’ CARE, and other Christian organisations we work alongside, reject this outrageous idea! There are more Christian MPs in the House of Commons than ever within living memory. More believers than ever are working right across the board, in positions of influence. CARE’s Leadership Programme has for over twenty years equipped Christian graduates to be effective godly ‘light and salt’ in public life - hundreds of them are out there!
Human dignity From the very beginning we have been passionate about caring for women facing a crisis in pregnancy and their unborn children. The womb of one’s mother which should be so safe has become the most dangerous place to live in the UK, where over 170,000 unborn children lose their lives every year. No wonder it has been described as a silent holocaust. When Jesus began his human existence as a tiny embryo, everything changed. John, ‘the beloved disciple’ of Jesus, wrote: ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us ... the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’ May God enable us increasingly to live out His love – full of grace and truth – particularly for those who are the most uncared for, the trafficked woman or child, the unwanted baby, people who are seriously ill, who have physical and learning disabilities, the disadvantaged or homeless, and frail elderly people. All have have dignity and worth in God’s eyes. His love through us is the most powerful weapon in our armoury. CARE’s particular role is in advocacy. We support men and women in positions of authority and influence who are trying to shape laws and policies that respect human life and uphold ethical and moral values. We undertake research and prepare briefings, seeking to do this in grace-filled ways. CARE works with local churches too, encouraging Christians to demonstrate Christ’s grace and truth whenever we can.
Looking ahead In the coming year CARE will need your financial support and prayers to meet demanding challenges, which include: • ensuring that the Government’s new Modern Day Slavery Bill is as effective as possible and continue support for Lord Morrow’s ground-breaking Human Trafficking Bill in Northern Ireland • encouraging Christian MEPs and other leaders in Europe to speak out about human trafficking and matters of human dignity and bioethics • expanding CARE’s work in the Parliaments and Assemblies of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales; addressing trafficking, same-sex marriage, organ donation, abortion and other life issues • opposing Lord Falconer’s Bill to legalise physician-assisted suicide • supporting MPs and Peers who are promoting internet safety for children • reaching more school children with evaluate, as an alternative to secular lessons and resources • continuing advocacy to protect unborn babies at risk of abortion because of a disability or their gender • expanding our website and social media communication, particularly to attract younger supporters.
We only ever ask you to consider giving to CARE if you are able do so and after responding to the needs of those closest to you, and your local church. Forty per cent of our income comes from regular direct debits, which helps enormously as we plan for the future. Many supporters send one-off gifts which often wonderfully arrive just when they are needed! Others have said that they have included CARE in their will. Every expression of your generosity is deeply appreciated. So as the season of goodwill approaches, let us give thanks and celebrate with joy the greatest gift of Christ Jesus, who came to us in human form, Love Incarnate. God grant that we will demonstrate His love more and more – to the ones who are closest to us and also those who are among the most vulnerable in society. Yours, in His love and grace,
Lyndon Bowring
CARE
53 Romney Street London SW1P 3RF
Tel. 020 7233 0455 Fax. 020 7233 0983 mail@care.org.uk www.care.org.uk
Executive Chairman: Rev Lyndon Bowring Chief Executive: Nola Leach CARE is a registered charity: Charity No.1066963; Scottish Charity No. SC038911, and a company limited by Guarantee No. 3481417