Sanctity of Life 2: Why have a Sanctity of Life Sunday

Why Many Churches Don’t Mention Sanctity of Life Sunday and Why They Should

Every January, Sanctity of Life Sunday comes and goes, and in many churches, nothing is said. No prayer. No Scripture. No moment of clarity. No acknowledgment that the issue even exists. And it’s worth asking, why?

Why Many Churches Stay Silent:

I’ve learned that church silence is rarely rooted in apathy. More often, it grows out of tension. I’ve felt that tension myself on more than one occasion and about more than one issue. Pastors are trying to shepherd real people in real pain in a cultural moment when almost every sentence has the potential to be misheard.

Here are a few of the most common reasons churches stay silent.

Fear of being labeled “political.”

Many pastors worry that addressing the sanctity of life will immediately be interpreted as a political statement rather than a biblical one. In a polarized culture, silence can feel safer than clarity. But avoiding Scripture because it might offend says more about us than we may realize.

Concern about hurting someone in the room.

This concern is genuine, and it matters. Many people in our churches carry deep wounds connected to abortion. Pastors fear reopening pain or being perceived as harsh or insensitive. But avoiding the topic altogether does not bring healing. Truth spoken with compassion creates space for grace; silence leaves people alone with their shame.

A desire to keep the focus “on the gospel.”

Ironically, this may be the most common reason. Some believe that addressing issues like abortion distracts from gospel proclamation. But Scripture never separates the gospel from the value of human life. The same God who saves sinners also forms them in the womb. Caring about life is not a gospel distraction; it is a gospel implication.

Uncertainty about what to say.

Many pastors feel unequipped. They don’t want to oversimplify a complex issue or inflame a culturally sensitive one. So instead of risking clumsiness, they choose quiet. But leadership is not about perfect words; it’s about faithful presence.

Why Churches Should Speak Anyway:

Once we understand why many churches hesitate, the question still remains: Should we speak anyway? And the answer, graciously but clearly, is yes. Not because it is easy. Not because it is popular. But because faithfulness has always required clarity, even if clarity carries cost.

Here are a few reasons churches should speak anyway.

Because Scripture speaks.

From the opening pages of Genesis, human life is presented as sacred because it bears God’s image (Gen. 1:26–27). David rejoices that God formed him in the womb (Ps. 139:13–16). God tells Jeremiah, “Before I formed thee in the womb I knew thee” (Jer. 1:5). The Bible is not vague on the value of life. When Scripture is clear, the church should be clear.

Because truth and compassion are not enemies.

Sanctity of Life Sunday is not about condemnation; it is about clarity wrapped in grace. It is an opportunity to say: life matters, forgiveness is real, healing is possible, and the church is a safe place for broken people.

Because being pro-life must mean more than being anti-abortion.

This is where many churches miss the opportunity. Speaking about the sanctity of life also means speaking about adoption, foster care, supporting birth mothers, and walking alongside families who step into hard places. It is a chance to show that the church is not only willing to speak, but also willing to serve.

Sanctity of Life Sunday does not need to be angry, graphic, political, or elaborate. It needs to be biblical, pastoral, and hopeful.

If the church cannot speak clearly about the value of life, we should not be surprised when the culture struggles to see it. But when the church speaks with conviction and compassion, it bears witness to a gospel that values life, offers grace, and calls us to love in costly ways.