For most of my adult life, evangelical churches have dreamt of the overturning of the 1973 decision that created a “right” to abortion. It became a litmus test for politicians, and many evangelical Christians were “one issue” voters. The idea was that if we can elect enough people, the laws could be changed on the state level to regulate and limit abortions. The biggest prize would be to elect enough pro-life Presidents to change the complexion of the Supreme Court so that the Roe v. Wade decision would be overturned. On June 24th that became a reality.
Immediately following the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, abortion rates skyrocketed. It is my hope that with the current decision we will see a marked drop-off in the number of abortions.
At the same time, there is much work to be done. The battle to protect life is not over.
There are many who are upset with the Court’s decision. Recent surveys indicate that 62% of Americans do not believe that life begins at conception. Given this understanding, they view this decision as the removal of a woman’s right over her own body. Most of the press coverage of the Court’s decision is reinforcing this perspective. We can expect the legal battles to continue. We can expect most coverage to be of women upset because they could not have an abortion or needed to travel to do so. They won’t talk about the number of lives saved or show pictures of the newborns who otherwise would have been aborted.
The fight to protect the unborn is similar to the abolition movement. Slaveholders did not generally believe that their slaves were fully human. Slaves had no voice and were regarded as mere property. Slaveowners argued that they had the right to do with their property what they saw fit. Abolitionists saw the situation clearly: Humans are human regardless of the color of their skin and therefore slavery is immoral. Those calling for the “right to abortion” are like the slaveholders in claiming that they have the right to do what they want with their property. The language of the abortionist reflects this type of thinking when they use the term “fetus” or “product of conception” to describe the unborn baby. They conveniently forget that they are dealing with the life of another human being. A life that begins at conception.
We need to patiently explain the fact that science teaches that human life begins at fertilization and that the Bible clearly says that the unborn is a person (Psalm 139:13-14). The decision of the Supreme Court protects the rights of the unborn person. This is a good thing and we need to help people see it from that perspective.
We who are pro-life must recognize that our job is not over. We must continue to educate and help people understand that human life begins at conception. Most people’s perspectives do not change quickly and there are powerful voices trying to convince people that life doesn’t begin at conception. It will take time, effort, and patience to change their perspective, but the truth is on our side. Here in Minnesota, nothing has changed. Abortion is still legal. In fact, the abortionists in this state are expecting an increase in business as women from other states come to terminate their pregnancies here.
As we work at educating people we need to be mindful that there have been over 60 million abortions in the United States since Roe v. Wade. Statistically, 25% of women under the age of 45 have had an abortion. Some of these women are strong supports of abortion rights because it affirms the decision that they made. Laws against abortion imply that what they did was wrong (it was). We need to help them find the forgiveness and peace that is only available through a relationship with Jesus.
Not only that, but many abortions are sought by women who are in a difficult place in life. They are seeking a way out of the pressures that they are facing. As believers in Jesus, it is important that we help these women, not only through their pregnancy, but also in the establishment of a healthy family. There are women around you who need help. We need to continue to help ministries like New Life Family Services. We need to do what we can individually, as churches, and as a citizens to create an environment where abortion is not seen as an attractive alternative for women who are at a moment of crisis.
So let’s praise God for this decision, roll up our sleeves, and get to work!
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