The Rest of the Story/ Topic: Abortion

Statistics state that one out of every three women has had an abortion. That statistic includes the women sitting on church pews. And in the Land of Facebook, this means chances are good that one or more women on our friends list have had an abortion.

Whether these post-abortive women/girls have a relationship with Christ or not, His arms never tire of reaching out to them, desiring them to come to Him for forgiveness, healing, and peace. So, why aren’t we doing the same? When I read posts regarding abortion by fellow Christians that spew out disgust with a tone of hatred, a deep ember of anger and sadness ignites in my heart.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been there, as someone who has been outraged by the injustice of abortion, I’ve said some things I wish I could take back. But what I’m about to share with you comes from my own personal experience of working/volunteering in the pro-life ministry field for a total of 8 years. It was during this time, in fact it was during my time training as a volunteer, that the Lord opened my eyes, changed my heart, and corrected my attitude. And for that, I will forever be grateful to Him.

I want you to picture someone who is locked in a room of darkness. Someone who used to know the beauty of sunshine but has succumbed to the lie that sunshine is only an illusion.

Have you ever watched a little girl play with her dolls? Some are a little rougher than others, but most are caught up in caring for their “babies.” The natural inclination is to nurture. Who hasn’t got a kick out of watching a little “mommy” as she feeds, clothes, kisses and cuddles her children? At this point, she has no concept of abortion. She has absolutely no thought of taking a life. Even though she is born with a sin nature and may very well smack a sibling because she doesn’t want to share a toy, she still has that inborn desire to care for and protect her baby dolls.
This is the beauty of sunshine.

Have you ever listened to what the world says about abortion? The word “baby” is replaced by “it.”  The word “abortion” is replaced by “simple procedure.” The phrase “this is a decision that will affect you for the rest of your life” will not be stated, but instead you will hear “this is the answer to your problems right now.”

You will not hear that at the moment of conception, all DNA is present – hair and eye color, male or female, tall or short – all are determined at that moment when the child is smaller than a pencil dot. You will not hear that the child’s heartbeat begins during the fourth week after conception nor that most abortions are performed during the time period that the babies can be viewed on the monitor, sucking their thumbs. You will not hear that there is video of an actual abortion that clearly shows a 12-week-old baby girl trying to get away from the horrible suction instrument that will soon sweep her life from the womb and from this world, nor the story of that abortionist who broke down after seeing his work for the first time on the monitor after performing thousands of abortions, and determined to never perform another abortion again – who then dedicated his life to expose his former practice.

You will not hear that there are lasting effects of abortion, that there are post-abortive women who cannot bear the sound of a vacuum when they are cleaning their house because it brings back memories of the suction machine as they lay on the abortion table, that some seek numbness from the pain and guilt in a bottle, a needle, or in the arms of many men. You will not hear that some show up at the doors of churches and pro-life ministries seeking healing because they are still haunted 60 years after their abortion. Let me say that again, they are still hurting and seeking healing 60 years after their abortion.

This is the darkness.

They have succumbed to the lie that sunshine is only an illusion - their innate, God-given desire to nurture and protect their children has been snuffed out. Much like times of old when parents sacrificed their children by fire on the altar of Baal, the world is teaching us that it is acceptable and good to sacrifice our children to the altar of self.

The two leading emotions that steer the actions of the vast majority of women or teenage girls who find themselves with an unexpected pregnancy and decide to abort are fear and desperation. Fear of how family and friends will react, fear of losing the boyfriend or husband, fear of giving up plans and dreams, and desperation to avoid all that will come with the pregnancy. The desperation has been described by one post-abortive woman to feel “much like an animal caught in a trap that gnaws its own leg off in desperation to escape and survive.”

Scripture states:
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:8
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

We need to tell the truth – life begins at conception. Life should be protected. To take the life of an innocent person is wrong, it is a sin and yes, it is murder by definition. But we should remember that there are many people that have been told and believed the lies of darkness that know no better. This doesn’t make them innocent, just ignorant of the facts. Verse 8 of 1 John 1 states that none of us is without sin – we were born into it, sin nature and all. Abortion is a result of a sin nature not yet yielded to Christ, just as lying, cheating, stealing, gossiping, and jealousy is. And let’s not forget the sins of spiritual adultery – when we depend on ourselves or man’s philosophy instead of the finished work of Christ.  

We need to tell the truth in love – ALWAYS followed by the hope that is in Christ Jesus. We cannot forget to include verse 9 if we proclaim verse 8. What self-righteous creatures we are if we spit out the truth in an attitude of disgust towards those who have had an abortion or have anything to do with abortion and then fail to share that He desires to bring them to Himself to forgive and heal and set free? Why are we not sharing the Hope that is in Him, that He has made a way for them to seek and find forgiveness and live a life submitted to Him that will provide for their every need?

I think of the cry of the heart of the broken women, full of guilt:

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:2

And how they need to know that He answers:

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee
Psalm 86:5

I think of David, an adulterous murderer who, without question, found mercy and forgiveness when he humbly confessed his sins and sincerely sought the Lord:

I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
Psalm 32:5

And I know there is hope for ANYONE who has done ANYTHING if they turn to Christ, call on His name, ask for forgiveness with sincerity, turn from their sins, and ask Him to be their Lord (submitting their will to His) and Savior (believing that He died in order for them to be forgiven and adopted into God’s family). There is no one beyond His reach and these women and families and those in the abortion industry need to hear this. 

Mixed Messages

There seems to be many versions of the same Message going around. They go from one extreme to the other: from looking away to pointing a finger, from a lackadaisical attitude to a fiery passion, from anything goes to outright condemnation. I can’t imagine what this fiasco must look like to an unbeliever or a new believer…or any believer for that matter. I know that it grieves my heart. But the promise He made still holds true as I see it working in my life now amongst the mixed messages, the slander, and the mess of half-truths:

And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

All of the complicated noise has given me a stronger desire to tune those contradictive voices out and instead, delve deeper into His Word and seek His face. So easily we can begin to lean totally on others to feed us the Word of God while failing to study it for ourselves. Most times we find it simpler to take in what we are being told without using the Word of God as our plumb line. And even though there are some wonderful preachers and teachers, the Bible still tells us to search the Scriptures daily:

And the Brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the Synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts 17:10-11

Old Testament Prophets searched the Scriptures diligently (1 Peter 1:10) and when Jesus spoke to the crowds, He oftentimes pointed out their lack of knowledge of the Scriptures. This gives a clear depiction of the importance of knowing the Word of God.

All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in Righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:16-17

There are times when opening The Book is overwhelming and even confusing. But we have been given a Promise as believers. A Promise we so often don’t take advantage of: the promise of the Holy Spirit to guide us in all Truth. We have a precious gift through Him, Who will come alongside us to help as we search the Scriptures:

Howbeit when He (Holy Spirit), the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.
John 16:13

While we’re on the subject of mixed messages, I’d like to cover the confusion it can bring when one practices the dependence of observing fellow Christians for an example of a Christ-like walk. Too often we get our eyes on man instead of Christ. Until we can come to the understanding that our fellow believers are very much fallible and Christ is the only One to look to for an example, we will not be able to say in our hearts:

Show Me Your ways, O LORD; teach Me Your paths Lead Me in Your truth, and teach Me: for You are the God of My salvation; on You do I wait all the day.
Psalm 25:4-5

It is a fact that we are bombarded with the ways of this fallen world on a daily basis and like a magnet, it beckons to our dormant sin nature. Even the most mature of believers can compromise the convictions brought about by the Holy Spirit working in their lives because they are not yet incorruptible. If we do not come to Psalm 25:4-5 again and again, we may become confused or resentful, but a certainty is that we will ultimately rely on “self” for sanctification. Or we can begin to think it is our job to “fix” everyone else instead of “fixing” our eyes on our own relationship with our Lord and Savior.

I’ve written this piece as much for myself as anyone else. It’s been a reminder to keep my eyes on Him as people and events around me change, disappoint, pull me in, or break my heart. I hope it has been an encouragement for you, too. It only seems fitting to close out this out with Scripture. And lots of it.

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your Faith in Christ. As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the Faith, as you have been taught, abounding there-in with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power.
Colossians 2:4-10

Thus says the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises Lovingkindness, Judgment, and Righteousness, in the Earth: for in these things I delight, says the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24

For it has been declared unto me of you, my Brethren, by them which are of the House of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you says, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to Preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the Preaching of the Cross is to them who perish foolishness; but unto us which are Saved it is the Power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the Scribe? where is the disputer of this world? has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the Wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching to save them who believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we Preach Christ Crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock and unto the Greeks foolishness: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, Brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are Called: But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yes, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His Presence. But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us Wisdom, and Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption: That, according as it is written, he who glories, let him glory in the Lord. And I, Brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the Testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my Preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your Faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the Power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them who are perfect yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the Wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have Crucified the Lord of Glory. But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them who love Him. But God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who has known the Mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the Mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:11-2:16