Christians Must Be Informed
“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. 11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his works?” Proverbs 24:10-12
Christians Must Move to Have Mercy Upon the Weak
“And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” (Mark 10:46-47)
Roe vs. Wade vs. the Word of God
On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court handed down their decision in the case called Roe v. Wade, District Attorney of Dallas County. Justice Blackmun delivered the opinion of the court in which Justices Burger, Douglas, Brennan, Stewart, Marshall, and Powell joined. Justice White and Rehnquist filed a dissenting opinion. By a split decision 7-2 the lives of some four thousand babies per day were to be legally terminated.
The setting for the case was simple.
“A pregnant single woman (Roe) brought a class action challenging the constitutionality of the Texas criminal abortion laws, which proscribe procuring or attempting an abortion except on medical advice for the purpose of saving the mother’s life. A licensed physician (Hallford), who had two state abortion prosecutions pending against him, was permitted to intervene. A childless married couple (the Does), the wife not being pregnant, separately attacked the laws, basing alleged injury on the future possibilities of contraceptive failure, pregnancy, unpreparedness for parenthood, and impairment of the wife’s health.”
The Court Agreed to Hear Her Case
It was first argued December 13, 1971, reargued October 11, 1972, and finally decided on January 22, 1973. Before deciding the case the Justices examined the history of abortion and looked at several things.
From ancient attitudes and the Hippocratic Oath, the court traced the history of abortion through common law, the English statutory law, the American law, and to the position of the American Medical Association, the position of the American Public Health Association, and the position of the American Bar Association.
With a shifting historical position in mind, the Court then argued for abortion based upon the following considerations: the medical harm to the mother, the medical stress to the mother, and the emotional harm that might result if a woman was forced to go through an unwanted pregnancy, The embarrassment of an unwed mother was also considered.
The social stigma, it was felt, would be reduced if abortion was made more accessible. And so it has come to the point that leading feminist like Gloria Steinem, can stand in public, and tell college audiences that she had an abortion.
The court concluded its decision in favor of abortion.
From Roe v. Wade, attention can be turned to Roe v. the Word of God. At the heart of this whole issue is when does life begin. The Court avoided that question altogether in its deliberation.
For centuries the Church has contended that life begins at the moment of conception, and is inherently a sacred gift of God not to be terminated at the mere whim of man or woman. While the Bible does not mention abortion, as such, it is very clear that the developing fetus is already human life in God’s eyes.
“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalms 139:13-16)
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jer. 1:5)
“And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.” (Luke 1:39-44)
If life does begin at the moment of conception, and the nation is killing babies at the rate of four thousand per day (one million per year 1975 est.), then this pollutes the land, as Numbers 35:33 says and God will hold us accountable. As a Church, and as individual Christians, we can do something about the moral blight on America.
We can pray for mercy, and time to change.
We can become informed.
We can discuss the issue with friends, family, and make an impact.
We can teach the younger women to love children.
We can vote into office men and women who can make a difference.
Some feel led of God to picket. Others of us can write letters, educate the students, etc. We can refuse to have abortions as Christian women. It is not an easy decision. In 1980, in Rogers, Arkansas, I was a teacher in a Christian school where one of the students became pregnant, by choice. The fourteen-year-old girl was counseled by her parents to get an abortion. She refused, and was glad. She kept her baby. Instead of abortions, the Church can support adoption programs.
Moreover, Christian parents can insist that local schools teach sex education with morality. Technical facts are not enough. The fear of pregnancy is not enough, especially in a cultural that allows for immediate termination of the child in the womb. What is at stake is a fundamental respect for life. What is argued for to cover up sin is the exceptional cases of rape, incest, and deformity.
Before even these cases are permitted there should be the reading of Angel Unaware by Dale Evans. Entertainers Roy and Dale Evans Rogers were thrilled when their little daughter Robin was born. But their excitement turned to concern when they were informed that Robin was born with Down’s Syndrome, and advised to “put her away.” The Rogers ignored such talk, and instead kept Robin, and she graced their home for two and a half years. Though Robin’s time on earth was short, she changed her parents’ lives, and even made life better for other children born with special needs in the years to come. Her life was not in vain.
Angel Unaware is Robin’s account of her life as she looks down from heaven. As she speaks to God about the mission of love she just completed on earth, the reader sees how she brought her parents closer to God, and encouraged them to help other children in need. This book, has helped to change the way America treats children with special needs, is now available to a new generation. It is the perfect gift for parents of special needs children, parents grieving the death of a child, or anyone whose life has been touched by a special child.
Roe vs. Wade was an immoral decision, a blight on the character of America, an affront to God, and a death penalty for millions of unborn babies. It must be reversed followed by gospel repentance and sorrow.
