In 1973, the United States Supreme Court released a decision that has forever changed the life for roughly 50 million individuals. The passing of the court case of Roe v. Wade has allowed for abortion to be legal across the United States of America. As believers, we need to ask ourselves, “How can I serve?”
Before going any further however, I would like to disclaim a few things of how this post is going to be handled. I do in fact believe that abortion is the murder of innocent unborn human beings. I have read the research behind the evidence that life begins at conception. I have looked at legislation that has been both passed and presented to either support or reject the act of abortion. This post, however, is not about these issues.
This post is to look more deeply and empathically at the people most affected by abortion. What they have to go through, and what the struggles are after the abortion occurs.
Two people to consider on this issue:
- The Unborn
- The Mothers
The Unborn:
Every year nearly one million human beings are denied the opportunity of life. This is the reality that occurs from the horror that is abortion. This atrocity can happen through a variety of procedures. This most common of which, being aspiration, which is the process of a vacuum-like tube being inserted into the woman, to suction out both the fetus and the placenta through a tube that has a device to shred the fetus and placenta apart.
These are people. Human beings denied the chance of life, most often for convenience. These are future fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters, and our actions tell them, “You aren’t worth it.” May we as a Church stand up to say that all people are made in the image of God and because that it true, then may we believe and encourage the importance that every person deserves the opportunity of life.
The Mothers:
This group is probably the most marginalized group as abortion has increased in being a “hot topic” issue. This group is not all mothers out there, I am referring to this group by the women who had an abortion, as they are in fact, mothers. During the heat of wanting to defend the rights of the unborn, I feel there has come a point that we have forgotten to come alongside and love on these women who have had an abortion.
Research has shown that some of these women struggle with a host of emotional issues. Many women are going through hormone changes as their bodies return to their pre-pregnancy state. This often leaves them sad and highly emotional. Along with this, many women are pressured into having an abortion which can leave them with a tremendous amount of guilt from their actions.
Similar to the unborn, these are people. These are human beings that Jesus Christ came to save. These are daughters and sisters of people. We cannot abandon them. Did they make a mistake? Yes. Have we all made mistakes? Of course. We must allow them to know they have a place where they can turn to where they will be welcomed and loved. We must help them in this time of their life, in the midst of regret we as the Church must love as Christ first loved us.
Our Response:
Today is the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision about Roe v. Wade. Legalized abortion has now plagued the United States for 43 years now. Thankfully science is continuing to expand evidence of what the Bible has long since taught us that life begins in the womb (Psalm 139:13). While we wait for that day that abortion is made illegal, may we as believers PRAY. This is by praying for a host of people. For scientists to arrive at the conclusions, we have long since known. For politicians to enter into this arena with legislation to defend the unborn. But for us as well, as a Church to come alongside these mothers who have been through an abortion and love, serve, and mourn with them.
Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Sloan Stephenson 