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.
