https://thepreachersword.com/2018/01/22/45-years-of-shame/#more-11818
45 Years of Shame
It was on this day, January 22, 1973, that the United States Supreme Court handed down its infamous decision in Roe v. Wade legalizing abortion. The vote was 7-2. As a result, the state laws against abortion violated the Constitution and were struck down.
Since then almost 60 million babies have been slaughtered upon the altar of “a woman’s right to choose.” Fortunately, women’s pregnancy centers promoting a pro-life agenda, the advance of scientific understanding and use of sonograms has decreased the number of abortions in 2017 to its lowest number since Roe v Wade. Yet, there were still nearly 1 million babies denied the right to life last year.
It is ironic that in the “land of the free and the home of the brave” that guarantees three “unalienable rights”–“life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”–almost 60 million have been denied that sacred right. It is a disgraceful blight on our land. And a shameful record that has and will continue to reap serious spiritual and moral consequences.
I don’t claim to be a political pundit, but I doubt that Roe v Wade will ever be repealed. When you consider the number of conservative organizations, the evangelical influence, and the enormous amounts of money poured into pro-life causes, very little has changed in the past 45 years. Even with conservative, Pro-life President and politicians being elected to Congress the law has not been repealed.
While we are not against individual efforts of Christians to enact change through the political process, march with pro-life groups, or petition our elected leaders with our concerns, we believe there is a better way.
You and I can be the moral “salt of the earth” and the spiritual “light of the word” (Matt 5:13-16). We can use the opportunities we have to do good works (Gal. 6:10). That may come in the form of supporting local pro-life pregnancy centers that provide women with better options that taking an unborn life.
We can support adoption as an alternative to abortion. Obviously, not everyone can or should adopt a child, but we can support those who do. There many wonderful groups worthy of our moral and financial support like Sacred Selections.
We can teach the truth about the sanctity of life in our homes, churches, and communities. We can impact people one person at a time within our circle of influence. And what is the truth?
The Bible uses the expression “with child” 26 times to refer to pregnant women. The term fetus is never used. Luke, the physician, records that Elisabeth, the mother of John the Immerser, conceived a son (1:35). In verse 41 the doctor wrote, “the baby leaped in her womb.” The baby! Not the fetus! It is the same Greek word that Luke uses to describe Jesus after he was born (2:12, 16). God views the unborn baby and the newborn baby in the same way. Both are living human beings.
In the midst of his suffering Job cries out, “Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child. Like infants who never saw light?” (3:16). The unborn child is called an infant!
In describing the greatness of Jehovah’s power and majesty, the Psalmist, David, describes himself as a person, unborn in his mother’s womb.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Ps 139:13-16)
We cannot erase these 45 years of shame, but let us resolve to do what we can to make a moral difference. And let us pray, “Lord, heal our land.”
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman