Editor’s Note: Michael Kelshaw is the Head Minister at Trinity at the Marketplace, Albuquerque, NM. He is a member of the Albuquerque Chapter of The Gospel Coalition. This post is a summary of Justin Taylor’s message from Saturday morning at Clarus, March 5, “Abortion: Being Agents of Light in a Darkened World.”

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In this brilliant talk on the urgent topic of abortion Justin Taylor began by showing that, given the right circumstances, no expense will be spared or no obstacle will be deemed to great to save a life that is deemed to be of value. With Balloon Boy, Baby Jessica, and the Chilean miners the fundamental question of “what is in there” determines the response. Determining what is in the womb determines how we will treat what is in the womb.

So arguing from science and from Scripture, Taylor showed that human life begins at conception. God has created us in His image and for His glory. Genesis 1:27 teaches us that we have been created by God and are designed to resemble His character by relating to others, reflecting His glory, and representing His rule. Therefore, Taylor said, “how we treat our fellow image bearers reflects how we think about our Creator.” The Bible teaches us that it is wrong to kill innocent blood, that it is wrong to try and eliminate human beings. Psalm 139 tells us that in the womb God Almighty is doing a work of creation, and Exodus 23:7 tells us that we are not to kill innocent blood, and that is exactly what abortion is. To abort means to bring life prematurely to an end; it is to kill a human being; it is murder, and therefore it is wicked and evil. Since that is true, we are to do something about it, and we are able to do something about it.

God’s Word guides us in what we can do–three things, in particular: 1) we can commit ourselves to taking no part in this evil, but rather committing to attempting to expose it (Ephesians 5:11); 2) seek to rescue those who are potential victims of this great evil (Proverbs 24:11-12); and 3) for any of the ways that we have contributed to this evil, either by commission or omission, we can repent and receive God’s gift of forgiveness. The Lord opens wide His arms to you through the gift of the cross of Jesus repent and return to Him.

This is an urgent topic, so ask the Lord what He would have you do. Taylor mentioned a few ideas such as giving financially to a ministry serving in this area, getting involved in public advocacy on this issue, counseling women, beginning a ministry in the local church, opening up your home for foster care or adoption, using the gifts that God has given you to write a poem or direct a movie or compose a song, or any number of others ways to get involved.

Whatever our involvement might be, Taylor made it clear that “inaction on this issue is not a Biblically permissible option”. We must be moved and we must be involved in the grace of God.