Abortion: How Can Pastors Engage Women – and their Congregations as a Whole?
“We have people sitting in the pews … women have had abortions. But it’s not something I’m going to tell anyone unless I trust them deeply….. I really am not going to share with my pastor, because I’m afraid what he’s going to think about me.” - Seminary Viewpoints
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During this past Christmas season I used the following article to try to bridge the gap from abortion to the gospel:
We have 5 children. Our youngest came 11 years after our fourth. Some have speculated that she was a surprise since it appeared like we were done after not having more children for so many years. I have grinned and said that she was the only one who was planned. Our first four came so quickly that when our fourth was born, our oldest had not yet turned four.
For a short time, we had four children under four years old. We understand that having another baby can be very overwhelming- especially when we were not planning for them.
Fortunately my wife and I were married and I had income when each of our children was born. Further, both my wife and I had younger siblings as well as supportive extended family. We both knew how to take care of a baby. For those who do not have those benefits, pregnancy can be even more overwhelming.
Still, we looked forward to each of our babies being born. We got excited when we felt them kick, when we could hear a heart beat, and when we could see the ultrasound. We were amazed at how much more detail was shown on the ultrasound of our fifth child compared to our first.
The Cleveland Clinic has a great website that shows how the baby develops at each stage of pregnancy. By 3 months, facial features and limbs are clearly identifiable.
As expectant parents, each phase was extremely exciting for us. Not every parent gets to see their babies being born though. Sometimes the life ends for reasons beyond our control. Other times the fears and realities of a baby coming into this world overwhelm a mother and she makes a choice that cannot be undone.
Some of these mothers did not even think of the pregnancy being an actual baby. It is not unusual for a mother to later feel regret over what happened. There are so many reasons to feel compassion and to show grace toward such a mother. First of all, we need to have compassion for her because she felt so overwhelmed that she thought she only had one choice. Second we need to show compassion over that fact that she may not have know the full implication of her decision. Finally, we need to show compassion towards those who knew their decision was wrong, did it anyway, and later feel regret.
Unborn babies are the most innocent of human lives and the taking of an innocent human life is wrong. Many actions that we do in life are wrong, but that is why Jesus came to earth. We should not sin so his grace can abound, but, he came to show grace. He was born as a baby himself to a mother who was not planning to get pregnant at that time, but then he grew up to give his life so that others could be forgiven.
As we celebrate the birth of Christ, I am not asking anyone to defend or to justify the taking of an innocent human life, but I will ask that we never forget that this is the perfect time of year to remember that Jesus came to forgive, no matter what we have done.
Many people today are carrying the heavy burden of guilt over past decisions that they have made. If you trust the Lord Jesus, you will find both forgiveness and eternal life. Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (NASB).
We cannot get the babies back that have been lost, but we can trust the one who loved us enough to become a baby himself. That one is Jesus. When he grew up he promised, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”
(John 6:37 NASB)
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