On this historic day, the US Supreme Court reversed the decision on Roe v. Wade, which has protected the rights for abortion in America since 1973. What has God revealed to us in His Word about life, and what is a follower of Christ to do in such a historic moment?
Creation of Life
There’s no doubt that since God breathed everything into existence with care and intention in Genesis 1 that God is deeply concerned about life. He made it, He sustains it, and in Psalm 139 we read how He knits every child together in their mother’s womb.
“For it was you who created my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you
because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.”
Psalm 139:13-14 CSB
According to the Psalmist, the Lord intricately wove together his unborn body in the womb. He cared deeply about how he brought everything together, from the hands to the feet and everything in between. There was no mistake or flaw, rather by God’s lovingkindness He remarkably and wondrously made everyone of us. Here there is no room for discussion or interpretation, biblical anthropology has no category for a “fetus”, there is only a God-fashioned human from the moment of conception.
Messiah for Life
One of the questions we are left asking ourselves then is what are we to do with this. Even in light of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Christians have a responsibility to be disciples of life. We need not make much of politics, or make much about activism, but rather we must make much of Christ.
Christ left his heavenly abode to take on flesh and become completely man in the womb of a virgin, trading the immortal life for a temporal one.
Christ was born in the humblest of towns, where there was no room for Him, in the form of a servant.
Christ was concerned all throughout His life and ministry for the lives of others. Outcasts, liars, thieves, murderers, and adulterers frequently experienced His loving grace. Pious religious leaders who oppressed them frequently experienced His scorn.
Christ was so determined to bring us life, that He came in our place to lay His own life down so we might live.
“A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 10:10-11 CSB
Disciples of Life
With the example of Jesus Christ, we have to live differently than the world. They seek to destroy, to tear down, and to kill. Never have I seen in my life such a worldly passion to kill than we see unfolding before us right now. Yet, we do not fight fire with fire, but as Christ loved and laid down His rights for others we must do the same. Below in no particular order are some ways you and I can simply follow Jesus in these times
1. Foster Care & Adoption
Aside from marriage, there is no earthly institution that so clearly represents the gospel than that of adoption. The gospel states that we were spiritually orphaned, and God in Christ adopted us into His family (Ephesians 1:5). There are so many kids in need of a forever family, many are not yet even born. Unexpectant mom’s need Christians to step up and demonstrate passion for life by being willing, as God provides, to sacrificially offer children a forever home that their birth parents cannot offer them.
2. Supporting Pregnancy Ministries
Maybe your like my wife and I and you’d love to be able to foster or adopt but God has simply not opened that door. There is another way you can help, support a ministry like Resource Health. They are a crisis center alternative to Planned Parenthood, that offer free services to those in need. They are faith based, and they do what they do because they love Jesus and they love people. Partner with them and show your commitment to life, not merely your dedication to political agendas.
3. Be Willing to Listen & Care
One of the reasons I love Resource Health is that they do what all Christians ought to do well, they take time to listen and care. They don’t engage in debates or arguments about abortion, they get to know mom’s and hear their stories and treat them like all people should be treated. Maybe you know someone who is contemplating traveling for an abortion. Maybe you know someone who has already had an abortion. Talk with them, listen and cry with them like you would want them to talk with you. Maybe you had an abortion, talk to someone and if you think nobody will listen then talk to me.
4. Use Your Voice Well
There is a time to listen, and then there are times to speak up. When we speak up, do people know what we are for first or do they know what we are against? Use social media, blogs like this, or whatever platform God has given you to offer your voice to spread life in a world of death. People who have been loved by God are a people who love others supernaturally, so we should talk like it.
Certainly this is only the beginning of a divisive season, and not just on abortion laws. Culture is changing, but Christianity is not. God is still the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Use your voice to speak up and show them Jesus.
5. Fighting for All the Sanctity of Life
So Roe V. Wade is overturned, for now, does that mean the fight for life is over? Consider the 25 million victims of sex trafficking worldwide, or the 135 million orphaned children without a home, is the fight for life over for them?
We know the answer is certainly no, and unfortunately it doesn’t take long to realize that there is so much more than Roe v. Wade.
Let’s be people who fight for all of the sanctity of life, and may we be people worthy of our calling in Christ.
