Pro-life or Pro-choice (The Right to Choose)

“Look, children are a gift of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is a reward.”  Psalm 127:3 Modern English Version (MEV)

Abortion is one of the most controversial topics in today’s society. This is one of the hottest issues in our culture today along with women’s rights, gender equality, freedom of religion and many other topics in the headlines today and should be of utmost importance to every person of faith. You don’t have to spend a long time on the Internet or watching TV before you’re bound to come across a report about laws restricting (or expanding) abortion and presently a political candidate's position on abortion.

I read an article this morning titled “The Right to Choose” that sparked my attention.  In the article the author was sharing the difference between being pro-life and pro-choice as being the right to choose, no ifs, ands, buts, or maybes.  Pro-choice indeed gives the mother the right to choose regardless.  The author’s intent was not to persuade people but to help others understand what saying pro-life really means.  The author stated, “to become pro-choice – it’s about making sure you understand what saying pro-life really means.”  From the world’s perspective, pro-life may mean no ifs, buts, ands or maybes, but pro-life is so much more.

While I don’t agree with the author’s thoughts about pro-choice, I commend her honesty in saying that she could not say definitively what she would do if she were in that situation.  But, I would like to share a different perspective, one that aligns with being pro-life.  Why?  I believe in the fundamental belief of the sanctity of human life. The God who formed each of us in the womb, “…You wove me in my mother’s womb… My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret… Your eyes saw me unformed…” Psalm 139:13-16 (MEV) 

I usually don’t write about issues like these, yet I believe it is time for the Church to speak out vehemently about matters that pertain to life and godliness so that others may know the truth.  Our responsibility is not to judge or debate the issues, but to reach out and show others the love and grace of God. The Word of God says,  “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called us by His own glory and excellence,” 2 Peter 1:3 (MEV)  We have to acknowledge that there are hurting people not only in our congregations, but in the world and seek God’s wisdom on how to bring healing and deliverance. 

Jesus died that we might be set free…. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted,   to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”   The Church has to arise, shine, and make a difference!

The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10, “all things are lawful”.  The law says abortion is legal, but is it the right choice?  Is it advantageous? "I have the right to do anything," you say--but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"--but not everything is constructive.” 1 Corinthians 10:23    

At eighteen years old life was good. I was now free to choose for myself without consulting my parents on critical matters. I had just graduated from high school and entered my first year of college. In college I met a young man and fell in love - losing my innocence. I later found out I was pregnant. I shared the news with my boyfriend who was also in college at the time.  Together, we made the decision to have an abortion, yet I felt very alone. That evening feelings of sadness, guilt, shame and grief engulfed me, but I couldn’t tell anyone what I'd done.  I was in a desperate place and made a critical decision without thinking how it would affect me in the long run.  I just shut off my emotions and never looked back until fifteen years later.  One day I was listening to a radio broadcast about “forgiveness.”  I felt the overwhelming emotions of my decision to abort a child many years ago. At that very moment I felt a need to ask the Lord for His forgiveness for my decision to abort and experienced life-giving redemption.  I felt an overwhelming sense of love, forgiveness, grace and mercy as I faced the sin of my abortion, embraced the truth and accepted God’s forgiveness. I wish I had known then what I know now.

Through Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, God offers us forgiveness.  Christ bore our sins so we could be reconciled with God. Our sins will no longer be held against us, and we are free from condemnation! It is the Father's heart to see people come to know His love.

Ignorance is not bliss.  In the United States, about half of all pregnancies are unintended. Of all unintended pregnancies, 4 in 10 are aborted. Statistics show that each year, about 1.7% of all women aged 15-44 have an abortion.  By age 45, one third of American women will have had at least one abortion, although this figure is now in dispute and may be much lower. Of that, 12% of abortions in the U.S. occurred in teenagers. Abortions in America 

Does the Pain of Abortion Ever Go Away?

Abortion can be devastating and life-changing for the one who makes this decision. Pain has few boundaries regardless of age or stage of life.  Abortion is not just a woman’s issue.  Men are impacted by abortion as well.

Women often believe the lie prevalent in our culture today that abortion is fine. "It isn't a baby; it's just a glob of tissue." If you’ve never had an abortion, do you truly understand the damage that can be done to a woman physically and emotionally?  Sadly, there are deeper emotional and relational scars that are often hidden from family and friends. Women who have chosen abortion struggle emotional trauma. Many struggle with guilt, fear, anger, grief, nightmares, and just want to know how to stop the pain.

I do not advocate pre-marital sex as a Christian.  I do believe that we need to equip our children (daughters and sons) how to live in this culture. How to choose wisely and righteously and not just based on what is perceived to be right by our culture.  Our kids may make big mistakes.  As parents, we are to model Christ's unconditional and unchanging love to our children. God is in the business of redeeming, forgiving, and restoring broken people. Even in those darkest of dark situations, the light of His gospel shines hope. 

Today I am free of the guilt and shame. I have two young adult sons and one two year old grandson.  If you ask him his name, he says, “I’m Rhys!”  He is truly a gift from God.  I am so grateful that my grandson’s mother did not choose to abort him.  As I watch him grow and flourish, I see the goodness of God in his smile and enthusiasm for life.

Women in pain desperately need encouragement and comfort when facing challenging life events.  I'm not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God unto salvation. When I look back over my life, I marvel that God could save a wretch like me and make me a minister of His grace.   My passion and desire is to help women by extending hope and healing, and bringing to light the love of Christ which compels me to be transparent to reveal His forgiveness, goodness and mercy.

Pro-life activism is about helping people — real, unique people with difficult problems and circumstances.  There is a new movie coming out this Friday, October 7^th called   VOICELESS  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeYoqk16yhM). VOICELESS, a pro-life film is the story of one man who because of his wife, found God and is devoted to his faith - who decides to answer God’s call to protect women and their babies from the abortion facility right across the street from his church.  The producers of  this pro-life movie opening in theaters nationwide this weekend chose to give the film its debut outside the Supreme Court of the United States of America which legalized abortion nationwide in 1973.

Go see the movie in support of this volatile issue. We have to value life the way God values life!

May God Bless!