Gaining Positive Momentum in a Negative World

When I was a single parent, I could have listened to all the naysayers about children who grow up without a father. I knew the statistics, but I did not focus on them. Instead, I focused on the goal and vision for my children and prayed God would intervene for them to beat the odds. God answered my prayers, and my hard work paid off. I had a choice: I could be discouraged by the naysayers, and defeated by inaction, or I could do something about it. I chose to do something about it.

We can let the naysayers discourage us from doing anything to save these children's lives, or we can do something about it. We serve a God with whom all things are possible.

If you're doing something to change the status quo - change history - there will be naysayers. The opposition typically comes where you least expect it - a family member, a Christian leader, or a 'prolife' friend. Those conditioned to think a certain way by their peers have the hardest time considering a new approach or paradigm.

It can feel much like playing the old arcade game of Wack-a-mole. As soon as you answer one objection, they bring up another. It's easy to feel discouraged. I've actually spent hours answering every kind of objection and when there were no more excuses left, the man left with no logical reason to object and still opposed us!

So what do you do with naysayers?

Jesus gave His disciples instructions how to deal with those who rejected their message:

Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy there and stay at his house until you move on. As you enter the home, greet its occupants. If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it, but if it is not, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. (Matthew 10:11-14)

Focus on those who are with you, not those who are against you. Gather those who are supportive and let them also gather those who are supportive. The momentum will grow where you focus your attention. Focus your attention on every person the Lord brings to you who is supportive of the efforts. Don't waste a lot of time (like I do sometimes) in trying to convince someone who refuses to consider the facts. Give them direct answers and then let the Holy Spirit work on them, if they are willing. Focus energies on those individuals who are receptive and engage with those individuals and groups who want to help. Enlist their ideas how to further your reach and equip them to reach others.

By focusing on those people who are with you, you begin to gather more and more people to the cause. It is a process of exponential growth as the people you reach, in turn, reach out to others. When you have truth and love on your side, naysayers can bring up any argument, but you focus on the truth and faith in the One who is Truth.

Jesus continues His teaching by saying:

Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils to flog you in their synagogues. On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (Matthew 10:16-20)

Jesus said it was the religious leaders of their day - who should be most accepting of their message - who would be most opposed. Jesus instructs his disciples to be innocent of any wrongdoing, and to be shrewd dealing with people because he sends us out like sheep among wolves. We can use these principles when sharing about saving the lives of children even as our conversations also give opportunity to share about the grace of Jesus. Jesus said, "I have come to give life!" (John 10:10) When we speak, we are speaking life, promoting the lives of children to be born and the lives of those listening to know Christ who is "the resurrection and the life". (John 11:25)

Whatever you say, remember to say it in love, so they may be able to hear you.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13)

Without love, they cannot hear the words.

In answering naysayers, this verse sums it up well:

But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling. And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing. He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)

Most arguments related to our efforts have to do with some rare, hypothetical situation, or "foolish and ignorant speculation". You don't have to know all the protocol already available in medical triage or the legal judicial system to answer them. (You can always look that up and get back to them, later, or refer them to someone who can answer them like our Co-Proponents or a Task Force member or you can trust the prolife medical doctors and attorneys who reviewed the initiatives know what they're doing!) Instead of going down that rabbit hole, you can bring them back to the bigger picture with a question, "Is that an excuse for allowing thousands of children to be tortured to death?" Then leave them alone to contemplate their answer.

Of course, become as educated as you can in the facts, Scripture, and arguments for what it is you are trying to change. And then trust in the hour of your need the Holy Spirit to bring to mind what you have learned that the Lord wants you to say. When it comes to being prepared to speak on why we should protect all living children, there are Scriptures, news articles, videos, blogs, an online Church Toolkit, and magazine on the gotaheart.org website to keep at your fingertips.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Faye Barnhart is a Life Affirming Specialist and Co-Founder of the Colorado Life Initiative. She was a women’s advocate for 19 years, served four pregnancy care centers in two states, including CEO of the largest pregnancy care center in the United States geographically. A prelaw student who interned at the state Capitol and in media, she graduated with honors and pursued master's work in Organizational Leadership and a career in Communications for international ministries. She began in the prolife cause in the 1980’s, raised her children as a single parent, and is now married with an adopted special needs son and enjoys each of her grandchildren, including a grandbaby who needed life-saving surgery at birth. She accepted Christ as her personal Savior and Lord as a small child and continues her walk with the Lord in daily dependence.