It is impossible to remain apathetic toward this relentless horror that continues to pervade our nation.
Dear Church,
I am writing because I see an injustice so rampant and widely sanctioned that it breaks my heart that more of the body of Christ has not risen up in protest to protect the lives being snuffed out every day, even here in our own nation.
Over the last forty-five years, more than 60 million children have lost their lives due to the ruling of the “Roe v. Wade” case that legalized abortion in our country.
I recognize that many of you will stop reading at this point and label this letter as pro-life extremism similar to the people holding photographs of deconstructed undeveloped children on the side of the road. You immediately counter this entire argumentation with your firm-held belief that abortion is to protect the woman and her right to choose. But before you drop this letter and go on with your day, I ask you to take a moment to consider what follows.
A common argument supports women who were sexually molested or raped and did not choose pregnancy, when the child or mother is ill and has little chance of living or when a teenager is not prepared to raise the child. In these situations it is normal and right to feel compassion for these women who have very little options. However, we cannot disregard the ramifications of supporting one victim of violence at the expense of the other. Is it ever justified to end one life to save another? I argue no. It is never our decision to decide which life is more qualified. We cannot put ourselves in the place of God, who is the only one who is able to decide life from death.
Another reason people support the current abortion law is because they believe that reversing the decision will not stop women from having the procedure. I disagree. The legality will always factor into the decision to end the pregnancy, even if does not stop the practice in its entirety.
My plead for you is this: even if you still don’t agree with me on this issue, don’t stop investigating. If there is any uncertainty as to the humanity of an unborn child, we must err on the side of life. Michael Spielman, founder of Abort73, an anti-abortion education movement, and author of “Love the Least (A Lot),” asserts, “… any amount of uncertainty precludes one’s ability to justify abortion. If there’s even a slight chance that abortion kills an innocent, morally-consequential human being, then abortion cannot be justified. The entire pro-choice position becomes untenable."
This injustice is a tragedy in our nation. Do not stand apathetic.
As Christians, we are called to “look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27). The body of Christ is called to care for the helpless — both the women who are in difficult situations and the children who cannot speak for themselves. We should be the first to provide care and assistance to those treading the difficult paths of bearing a child and to advocate for the children who are seen as less than human and who many have decided have restricted rights.
Church, do not stand in the shadows, looking on as great injustices fill the earth. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. advocated for the the rights of African-Americans during the civil rights movement, reflected in his “Letter from the Birmingham Jail,” he realized that, “Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.” As I have read and spoken about abortion, it strikes me how many people do not have strongly held opinions about this topic.
"Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection." Martin Luther King, Jr.
Spend time investigating the issue. It may seem that one person cannot do anything against this great calamity. I myself am just recently coming out of the fog of apathy to become motivated to act. But we serve a great God, with whom nothing is impossible. He does not call us to change the world. He asks us to be faithful and watch him work. Let us live up to our calling as warriors for Christ. Join me in praying for, learning about and speaking openly about the issue of abortion.
Let us stand together to uphold the rights of the marginalized. Let us be active in caring for foster children and supporting adoption in the church. Let us flood the supreme court with letters of our concerns for abortion. Let us volunteer in the local crisis pregnancy centers. Let us, as the body of Christ, love and care for every pregnant woman and orphan child in our midst. And let us never cease to pray for justice for the unborn and the hurting women in our country and all over the world.
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