The Light of God in a Dark World: A Call to Abolish Abortion
Delivered on December 9, 2024 at the Connecticut Legislative Office Building Lobby.
Psalm 36:9:
“For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.”
Introduction
Good afternoon, my name is Norman Patterson Jr., and I am the Founder and Director of the Connecticut Foundation to Abolish Abortion. Today, I stand here not as a traditional lobbyist but as a herald of God's truth, proclaiming His light in the midst of darkness.
The Scripture I bring to you is from Psalm 36:9:
“For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.”
This verse reveals two profound truths: God is the source of all life, and only in His light can we truly see and understand. These truths are critical in confronting the grave evil of abortion in our state.
God's Light: The Source of Truth and Understanding
The psalmist declares, “In thy light shall we see light.” This means that only through the light of God can we comprehend reality, truth, and morality. Without God’s revelation, humanity stumbles in darkness, relying on fallible human reasoning and subjective opinions.
Philosophy has long grappled with three primary questions:
Metaphysics – What is real?
Epistemology – How do we know what we know?
Ethics – What is right and wrong?
The answers to these questions are found only in the revelation of the one true God, the self-existing, triune Creator who has revealed Himself through His Word.
The Bible says, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). His Word is the ultimate and objective standard by which we discern reality, knowledge, and morality. Apart from God's light, we are left with uncertainty, confusion, and chaos.
The Darkness of Our Times
We live in a state and a nation that has rejected God's light. The Legislature, the Senate, the Governor, and even many churches in Connecticut have turned their backs on the unborn, refusing to grant them equal protection and justice under the law. This rejection of God's truth has led to the legal slaughter of innocent human beings in the womb.
The Bible is clear: “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). From the moment of fertilization, a human being is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Yet, our society denies this fundamental truth, much like it denied the humanity of enslaved individuals in the past.
During the era of slavery, abolitionists like Harriet Beecher Stowe, Prudence Crandall, and William Lloyd Garrison stood against the sin of their time, refusing to compromise. Today, we follow in their footsteps as abolitionists of abortion, proclaiming that every human life, from conception, deserves equal justice and protection under the law.
The Failure of the Church
Perhaps the greatest tragedy is the silence of the Church. Many pastors and Christians in Connecticut have abandoned their prophetic role, choosing instead to remain within the safe confines of their sanctuaries. Francis Schaeffer once said, “Every abortion clinic should have a sign in front of it that reads, ‘Open by permission of the church.’”
The Church is called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), but in its apathy, it has allowed the greatest moral atrocity of our time to continue unchecked. Just as the Church failed to confront slavery in the 19th century, it is failing to confront abortion today.
The Judgment of God
God's Word warns us of the consequences of rejecting His light. Romans 1:18-28 reveals how God gives people over to their sinful desires when they suppress the truth in unrighteousness. This judgment is evident in the increasing moral decay and chaos in our society.
For example:
“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity…” (Romans 1:29).
This describes a society that has rejected God's light and embraced darkness. The blood of the innocent cries out from the ground, and God will not hold us guiltless.
The Hope of the Gospel
Despite the darkness, there is hope. The same God who is light and life has provided a way of salvation through Jesus Christ. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Jesus, the Son of God, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again, conquering death.
Through Christ, we can be forgiven, cleansed, and transformed. He calls us to repent of our sins and trust in Him alone for salvation.
“For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light” (Psalm 36:9).
This verse points us to Christ, the fountain of life and the light of the world (John 8:12). Only in Him can we find true life and the power to stand against the darkness.
A Call to Action
As an abolitionist, I am calling for the immediate and total abolition of abortion in Connecticut. Incremental regulations and compromises are not enough. Just as slavery was abolished because it was a great evil, so must abortion be abolished.
To the Church: Arise from your apathy. Proclaim the truth of God’s Word boldly and without compromise. Stand for the unborn and demand justice for those who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 31:8-9).
To the Government: Repent and submit to the authority of God’s law. Pass laws that protect all human beings equally, including the most vulnerable in the womb.
To Individuals: Turn to Christ, the light of the world. Repent of your sins, believe in Him, and be saved.
Conclusion
Abortion is not merely a political issue; it is a moral and spiritual crisis. It is a rejection of the light of God and the sanctity of life He has created. But the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5).
Let us stand together, proclaiming the light of God and calling for the abolition of abortion in Connecticut.
“For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.” (Psalm 36:9)
To God be the glory.
Norman Patterson Jr.
Director, Connecticut Foundation to Abolish Abortion