By now you’ve heard and/or read many things about the decision by the Supreme Court last Friday to deem the previous case of Roe v. Wade unconstitutional. I agree with this decision and am very grateful for this outcome. I hope you are too. My purpose for this post is to share what I’ve found to be some helpful resources about this monumental decision and share some pastoral counsel about what to do now that Roe is gone.
Resources
Crossway, a publisher I appreciate very much, has made a very extensive list of resources re: abortion. Instead of re-invent the wheel, I simply point you there for a free ebook, articles, and podcasts. (Note, I can’t endorse all of these as I haven’t engaged with all of them. However, I’d be surprised if I disagreed significantly with the content.)
Counsel
1. Rejoice
Rejoice because children have the opportunity to live. Rejoice because as more children are born, more of God’s creative design will be displayed. Rejoice because the less we as a nation kill what God intends to live, the less we attempt to put ourselves in the place of God.
2. Do not be afraid.
The rhetoric from some of those who claim a woman should be able to kill the human life inside of her is increasingly bombastic and defamatory. We’ve heard this kind of speech from public officials and radio pundits.
The more hurtful reality is that this kind of speech is begin spewn by people we know and love—friends, neighbors, and family. Because of the climate of today, it’s extremely difficult to disagree with someone on such a hot-button topic without someone becoming angry.
Because of this, there’s a temptation to be afraid. We don’t want to lose friends and loved ones over this. I understand that. But we must also not be ashamed to rejoice when good things happen, even if people accuse or malign us for doing so.
3. Speak with gentleness and respect to those who disagree.
It is very difficult for me to understand how someone could think it’s okay to end human life in the womb. It is easy to pass someone off who is pro-choice with an anathema. But that person is an image-bearer herself. The reason we believe human life in the womb should be protected is the same reason we should treat those who disagree with us with kindness and respect. God’s Word has instruction for us from 1 Peter 3 that applies to this instance. If you’re having trouble with anger toward those who are pro choice, spend some time meditating on that passage. Here’s a link.
4. Be mindful of how the downfall of Roe will impact people more vulnerable than us.
Before I say this next part, let me be abundantly clear: it is always better for babies to live than to be killed. Along with that, we must realize that the people who are most likely to have abortions are people who do so because they are in a difficult life situation. They’re very young, they’re not financially stable, they’re not married, they don’t have support from extended family. That makes having a baby much more difficult than someone like me and my wife, who do not currently face any of those challenges.
It will help us as people who value life from the moment of conception until death to recognize that banning abortion could cause challenges for women already in vulnerable situations. The challenge will be worth it, of course, but the challenge will still be real.
Although I doubt abortion will become illegal here in Michigan, how can we help young mothers in other places? How can we help young couples having babies that otherwise wouldn’t? How can we help with adoption? Surely the people of God have a very important role to play in this.
5. Remember the kingdom of God is bigger than this.
The kingdom of God is here with us right now being built. That is, Jesus has saved and is saving people from every tribe and tongue to belong to His kingdom. The influence of His people is evident in things like abortion being limited. But let’s not fall into associating the kingdom of Jesus with the pro-life movement. The kingdom of Jesus has a better, bigger agenda than just life on this broken earth. We must rejoice appropriately as ambassadors here while keeping in mind where our true citizenship lies.
Pastor Jacob’s Blog 