By Gabrielle Stafford
Abortion has been a huge hot topic of our day for years.
In 1973 abortion became legal in the United States at the federal level with the case of Roe v Wade. Just this year (June 2022) Roe was overturned, which means that the issue of abortion has been given back to the states as a states issue instead of a federal issue.
This is a huge win in the prolife movement in America as many states have declared abortion illegal and multiple abortion facilities have been closing, but still there are other states in America where babies are still being murdered. Not to mention all the countries across the globe (such as China, Canada and many in the European Union) that embrace and celebrate the intentional killing of innocent children in the womb, whether it’s only early in the pregnancy or up to nine months.
In the last year, I have thought a lot about what the church can do in regards to the issue of abortion given that clients that I’ve talked to who were going into the local abortion facility have told me they were Christians, or stated they at least believe God is real and abortion is wrong but still went inside for other services.
Not everyone who attends church belongs to God. Some may have grown up in church but their life has not yet been transformed and changed, and are therefore not children of God. And there are others that just attend church for special occasions and may believe in God but are not intrigued enough to learn more and accept the gospel message. This is definitely important to note when talking about the church. I’m talking about the real church, not a building, but a body of believers across the entire world whose lives have been transformed by the truth of the gospel and power of the Holy Spirit.
I believe the church, as a whole, has been too silent on the subject of abortion for too long.
There are churches that are too afraid. Afraid of reactions from their congregation. Afraid of being “politically correct.” Then there are churches, that may or not be ordained by God, that somehow justify abortion, and therefore, those that attend that church are led to believe that abortion is okay, especially in “particular” situations.
As a child of God who has been transformed by Him and now have God’s Word as the standard by which you live, you begin to understand that abortion is a sin against God, no matter how you slice it. You begin to understand that abortion is the intentional killing of a human life.
For those who are truly a part of the household of faith, there is no way we should be supporting something God hates. As God’s people we don’t even want to support abortion facilities in any way.
I’m speaking to the true church. Those who have been set apart by God to speak the truth of His Word, despite what culture says, embraces, or celebrates. Those who are a part of the Body of Christ and have denounced the world and all of its lies and wickedness.
Talking about the issue of abortion among the people of God from a biblical standpoint, and also purity before God, is so important. Not only do we need to be addressing the evil of abortion and that it is a sin against God and a direct slap in His face, we should also be talking about purity and holiness. We should be talking about God’s design for sexuality and marriage, and the beauty in following God’s order instead of giving in to the world’s distortion of what God originally created with eternal purpose.
From my experience, there are certainly individuals that feel slightly on the fence about abortion within the church, but it’s more because of a lack of understanding than the belief that abortion’s actually okay, therefore if God leads, it could be beneficial to actually talk about the common arguments, or the issues that could arise during a woman’s pregnancy that some believe call for an abortion. Giving understanding in this area will help the inner battle that some have and settle them, helping them be able to just walk in God’s truth and not be swayed.
As THE CHURCH of the LIVING God, there must be unity on the topic of abortion, and simply addressing questions or any doubts or concerns could be what’s needed to bring everyone in a given local assembly into unity, so that we’re all speaking the same thing, and with understanding. Unity is so important.
Praise God for the pastors who have spoken, and do speak, the truth about life beginning at conception and abortion, and have addressed the truth about God’s order, abstinence, and purity from a biblical standpoint! But Christians still need to wake up and start standing for life.
So what can the church do in regards to the issue of abortion?
1. Pray
One of the number one things that the Body of Christ can do is pray. Prayer is powerful and can go places we can’t.
Pray for the women, babies, fathers and families, the abortionists and everyone involved.
Pray for God to reach them, pray for women to encounter Jesus. Pray for women to encounter someone to walk alongside her, and provide her with the help and resources she needs.
Pray for an end to abortion. Pray for God to reach the hearts of those involved in the abortion industry.
Pray for fathers, family members and friends to step up, not encourage an abortion. Pray for those who are actively in the fight for life, for strength, boldness, wisdom, courage, and protection.
Pray for God to guide you if you’re supposed to join the fight and get actively involved in some way.
Our prayers are so powerful, and we know that when we pray in accordance with His Word He hears us and honors our prayers, even when we don’t see the outcome. Pray!
2. Educate, Teach & Inform about abortion
Taking the time to teach about abortion from a biblical perspective and educating God’s people on a few details surrounding the issue of aboriton could be helpful – such as the surgical vs chemical abortion, and what both methods do to a woman’s body and mental well being.
Something that could be helpful too is having a local pregnancy center or organization that directly deals with clients during and after pregnancy, and those that deal with high risk abortion clients, to give information on what’s going on out in the battlefield.
3. Pursue purity and holiness
Talking about purity is another key topic, especially when addressing young people.
Walking in purity and holiness before God flows out of a personal, intimate relationship with Him, and you really can’t even do it without the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it’s so critical to point people to Christ and the pursuit of a relationship with Him.
Ideally, for those who have encountered God and have been transformed by the power of the Spirit and the good news of the gospel, they want to seek to please God in all things, which includes pursuing purity. Not purity that sometimes is only taught within the confines of waiting for marriage to have sex, but purity before God as His child, which includes more than simply abstaining from sex.
God’s Word in 2 Timothy 2:22 commands us to, “Run away from youthful lusts—pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those [believers] who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
4. Be a safe place for those that may be facing an unplanned pregnancy
We pray that those around us, especially within the church, never find themselves facing an unplanned pregnancy out of wedlock, but as the Body of Christ we should be a safe place. Both as individual members of the Body and the physical local assembly in a given location.
How will they know that we are a safe place? It might involve communicating and talking about it at church so people know that if they were ever in that situation they can open up and seek help, or just in personal relationships and connections with those around you.
One thing that breaks my heart is that people, for whatever reason, don’t feel safe enough to open up and talk to someone at their church, so instead they struggle alone and decide to get an abortion. The reason could be embarrassment, shame, guilt or fear of rejection, and sometimes it’s simply pride.
As God’s hands and feet, we should be ready and willing with open and loving arms to love, forgive, and help those in pregnancy situations. Love might look a little hard when coupled with rebuke or exhortation, when led by God, but in the midst of any discipline or conversation from leadership, parents, or family in Christ there should be the love of Christ at the heart of it all.
In some situations directness might be needed, but at the end of day, people should know that we care and love them with the love of Christ.
5. Partner with pregnancy centers & organizations
Finding local pregnancy centers and pro-life organizations near you is another good way to get involved as the Church.
Individually or corporately, there might be opportunities to volunteer, partner with them by giving financially, and maybe even develop something where everyone can host a family and donate supplies, finances, care packages, etc.
You never know how you might be able to partner with a local pregnancy center or pro-life organization until you reach out and ask.
6. Walk alongside women and host baby showers and diaper drives
Whether you have people in your life or individuals within your local assembly that are in pregnancy crisis situations and need assistance, you can walk alongside her during and after her pregnancy. A couple of practical ways can be hosting a baby shower and/or diaper drive!!
Walking alongside a woman could mean inviting her to live with you for a time, taking her to doctor appointments, just being there and available to talk to, connecting her with the resources she needs and doing follow ups to make sure she received what she needs. If she’s struggling more practically and financially, you can help her find a job, buy groceries, baby supplies, etc.
Ask God how you individually, or as a corporate Body of Christ, can and should get involved in serving women and fighting the evil of abortion.
As God’s children there is something we can do about abortion, and remaining silent is not an option. Lives are literally at stake, and at the very least we should all be praying and be open to God using us to stand for life in practical ways!
Thnx