At a time when this nation is likely as divided as it has been since the US Civil War, one issue has remained in the spotlight - Abortion. There is no easy way to address this heartbreaking issue, but to speak to it "head-on".
The numbers speak very loudly - in the 40 years since the Roe v Wade decision, over 55 million (Lets put that in numerals to help it sink it - 55,000,000) pre-born babies were violently removed from their mother's wombs. Some were ripped from the womb within just a few weeks of conception, while many others were put to death all the way through a "gestational age" beyond the age my first daughter was born at!
There are many "reasons" given for terminating a pre-born child's life - everything from "the health of the mother", to "it's just a bad time". Laws that have been enacted in the last several years in an attempt to save as many of these infant's lives always include language that exempts the practice in cases of incest, rape, and "to protect the life of the mother". While these exceptions are included in an attempt to skirt the courts, the reality is - even those are not "excuses" according to God's Word, or even in what some refer to as "natural law". Is rape evil? Yes. Is incest horrible? Yes. Both have far-reaching impact on the victims and on the very moral fiber of society. Yet these two "crimes" are the only ones that bring the penalty of death on an innocent 3rd party. In the relatively rare instances of conception as the result of rape or incest, those babies had no choice. They did not commit the act that caused their conception. Those unborn babies are the closest thing to truly "innocent" mankind can ever be in the flesh. "But I don't want to be punished with a baby out of rape" we hear - when the answer is so simple - adoption. There are huge waiting lists of willing and qualified families seeking to adopt. That unborn baby could be such a blessing to one of those loving families.
And if we really want to get down to it - regardless of what act brought that baby into existence ("For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13), that child deserves the chance, the opportunity to live.
The catch-all excuse for abortion has become "to protect the life and health of the mother". This is likely the most misused "excuse" in the book. Just read the medical release forms at your local OB/GYN's office. The warnings and dangers of childbirth are clearly listed. The travails of birth have always been "dangerous". Further, how far is it to stretch the meaning of "protect the health of the mother" is it to include mental health, headaches, stress, backaches, and so many other parts of parenting? Those all are connected to and influence health. The statistics, where they have even been kept, are rather revealing - as the actual number of abortions that are "medically necessary" to save the life of a mother is so extremely small, that they become statistically insignificant. Further, with reasonable medical care, even that very tiny number continues to shrink. Even in these very few cases, every step should be taken to try to preserve the life of both mother and child. If in the course of treating the mother, the baby does not survive - that is a far different path than the arbitrary destruction of a child.
And lest we forget the likes of Jennifer Morbelli or Christin Gilbert, both victims of the same notorious abortionist LeRoy Carhart. Neither of these women went to him to "save their lives'. Christin was a young lady with Downs Syndrome who was convinced to not only have an abortion, but to not seek emergency medical care when things went wrong. Jennifer Morbelli, the latest high-profile victim of Carhart, was a conscious, "of normal capacity" adult who chose to have her 33 week old baby removed from her womb and killed (this is very personal, as this is the age of my first daughter when born). I have no idea what could possibly possess someone to abort a child at all, but particularly at that late of a point - where the child is quite "viable" with minimal support. What I do know is, decisions have consequences. While I in no-way celebrate the death of Ms. Morbelli, when one plays with death...
But the most common cause of abortion is selfishness and pride. Imagine that, the sin of abortion is caused by the same disobedient, rebellious, and prideful heart as every other sin under the sun! Yet this makes abortion all the more saddening, as a child pays for a "mother's" selfishness with his or her life.
If you are still reading this post, then you will be relieved to know that all of the previous being said, there is still hope for those who have "chosen" abortion in the past. There is healing. There is grace. And there is forgiveness. While the practice of abortion is quite literally a pagan sacrifice to demons (Psalm 106:37-38), God's forgiveness is available. But you must be willing to repent, to trust Christ implicitly, and to humble yourself before His throne of grace.
I and many others who hate abortion, are still more than willing to lend our hands and hearts to help you find the healing that Jesus Christ offers.
If you are currently pregnant and desperate for answers - Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers are not the answer - they see you as a source of income. There are many organizations, often called "Crisis Pregnancy Centers" that will help you with the alternatives to abortion. For Central Arkansas, there is the Crisis Pregnancy Center.
40 years of legalize murder of the unborn is 40 years too many. But it must stop, one mother's heart at a time.
A few other resources for those willing to stand up against the practice of abortion in this nation:
AHA
Defend Life
Abort73
Christian Answers
Abortion as part of Genocide
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