Archive for the 'Abortion' Category

In the Abortion debate, those doing the real work are often overlooked

In the midst of all the political debates and finger pointing surrounding the pro-life / pro-choice debate, millions of women across America find themselves dealing with fear, guilt, confusion, shame and isolation as they face the occurrence of an unplanned pregnancy or deal with a past abortion. Who do they turn to? Who can they trust? What is the right decision?

Photo Courtesy of John Ovington

 

Too many of these women are failed by our current system by not receiving access to the appropriate counsel and guidance regarding their options. Pressures resulting from the glorification of “The American Dream” and the interruption an unplanned pregnancy may present too often drive the advice and decisions surrounding this sensitive topic. Many under informed decisions in this area leave women alone to deal with the effects of regret and shame and result in the unnecessary loss of life.

Gladly, at the same time, a faint voice of grace, mercy and healing is emerging. While the arguments rage across the public spectacle, a quiet courageous army of saints is changing the world and redeeming lives. They willingly chose to enter into the lives of those actually dealing with the isolation, fear, guilt and shame produced by an unplanned pregnancy, past abortion or other sexual purity issue. They love and care for those impacted by this crisis and offer life affirming counsel and assistance rooted in Biblical principles.

This growing army of saints is made up of Christian Crisis Pregnancy Care Centers across the nation. They promote sexual purity; provide a life-affirming ministry rooted in Jesus Christ to those touched by an unplanned pregnancy as they make decisions regarding pregnancy, parenting, adoption, and relationship issues.; and offer grace filled counsel to those dealing with a past abortion. They are dedicated to showing the unconditional love and acceptance of Jesus Christ to clients without being judgmental, and without betraying confidences while offering practical alternatives to abortion. They may also offer educational and counseling services with the hope of meeting physical, practical, emotional, and spiritual needs when requested by women and families facing an unplanned pregnancy.

While these miracle working pregnancy care centers are redeeming the lives of hurting women, unborn children and others impacted, they are heavily dependent on volunteers, often under resourced, underfunded and too often unknown. As a result, many people in our culture who are impacted by unplanned pregnancy and abortion miss out on the redemptive solutions available through these care centers. Given more resources, these care centers will not only change the public debate, they will change our culture.

Redeemlife, a non-profit organization, exists to mobilize a movement of advocates for these miracle working care centers across the world. It is Redeemlife’s desire to expand their voice and reach, connect them within their community and provide needed resources to meet the daunting needs within our culture.

Abortion Debate – Well Intentioned Efforts Gone Awry

Each year in the United States there are over three million unplanned pregnancies (1) and over 1.2 million abortions (2). Nearly one half of all women in the U.S. will experience an unplanned pregnancy (2) and one third will have an abortion by the time they reach their 45th birthday (2). It is easy to debate politics or argue opinions on this issue, easier still to point fingers at the bad guys, but what about the women and families actually touched by this crisis.

As we contemplate the upcoming 39th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling in the Roe V Wade case that deemed abortion a fundamental right under the U.S. Constitution and the observance of Sanctity of Life Sunday on January 22nd, I cant help but feel deep concern for those actually touched by the effects of unplanned pregnancy and abortion.

During this season each year, many well intentioned efforts to overturn the legalization of abortion too often fail to consider the impact of the message on those who have actually been touched by or will be touched by an unplanned pregnancy or abortion. As we consider the vast number of individuals who have faced or will face the fear, isolation or shame of finding themselves in the midst of an unplanned pregnancy or the guilt and condemnation of a past abortion, we must reconsider our message and method.

We should ask ourselves if our efforts are caring for or further oppressing those who have dealt with this issue personally. Certainly the cause is worthwhile, but we must love and care for those who are so easily alienated, further oppressed and left behind in the midst of this effort. Too often, pro-life and anti-abortion comments, posters and tee shirts heap judgment and condemnation on those we should be caring for. It may be that many of these messages are actually driving women to the apparent safe hiding place offered by the abortion clinic because the prospect of facing the judgment and condemnation of family, friends and fellow church members is too much to bear.

Those of us who have not personally been touched by this crisis too quickly forget that for many of us, it is only by God’s grace that we have avoided an unplanned pregnancy and the prospect considering abortion as the solution. If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that we go to great lengths to hide our weaknesses and failures and often make many foolish decisions in the process. Millions of women and their mates across the U.S. are dealing with such an issue in relation to a past unplanned pregnancy and or abortion. They are no greater sinners than those who have not personally dealt with this issue, and their sin is no less forgivable than any other.

You may recall Jesus interaction with the woman the Pharisees placed before him who was caught in adultery in John 8: 2 – 11. To the Pharisees, Jesus said “If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” and after they all left without casting a stone, Jesus told the woman “Then neither do I condemn you”.

We must be careful that our message and method avoid casting stones at those impacted by unplanned pregnancy or abortion. Certainly, abortion is a sin against God’s will, but God’s grace extends to those involved. We must recall that Jesus’ death was sufficient to cover all sin and we must recognize our own personal need for forgiveness as we approach this issue. We should confess our sin of failing to see and care for the women and families impacted by this crisis and we must repent and turn toward caring for them without judgment or condemnation.

Thankfully there is a small army of saints who are doing just that. This army is made up of many Christian Crisis Pregnancy Care Centers across the nation that choose to enter the lives of those touched by unplanned pregnancy or past abortion.

In an effort to change the message and method, Redeemlife, a non-profit organization based in Winston Salem, North Carolina, is proposing a message and method aimed at redeeming the lives of women facing an unplanned pregnancy or past abortion; infants in the womb; and others close to the struggle by mobilizing advocates for the life affirming work being accomplished through Christian Crisis Pregnancy Care Centers across the country.




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