Abortion

We’re glad you asked about life in the womb. With 1.5 million abortions performed annually in the United States, the womb is the most dangerous place for babies. It is estimated that 29% of all babies conceived die from abortion. Who did this get to be that way? On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that babies inteh womb were not persons under the law and therefore had no rights. The mother was the only one with rights and could choose for any reasons to have the fetus (Latin for “little one”) terminated (killed).

How are Christians to respond to this epidemic in our land? There are three areas of concern that we can bring to our Lord in prayer and then take action. Frist, the laws of our land; second the women who have been victims of the law; and third, the children still to be protected.

In 1979 the Evangelical Lutheran Syond passed the follow resolution: “Be it … resolved that our Evangelical Lutheran Synod encourage its congregational members to confess publicly that the unborn child is a living person whose right to live must be protected.” We can make the public confession in our respective political party meetings where people are selected to represent us. We can write letters to our elected officials and to newspapers in an effort to restore laws that protect the life of the unborn child.

We also need to have compassion and concern for women who have had an abortion. Our Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for the sins of the whole world, including the sin of murdering an unborn child. The forgiveness of sins is the only healing for a conscience burdened with guilt from having an abortion.

Finally, to help protect the children yet to be born, we need to be informed about God’s view of life in the womb and tell others. The pro-abortionist argues that the fetus is not human. God’s Word tells us that human life begins at conception: “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…” (Psalm 139:13-16a). God even protected the unborn among the Old Testament Israelites with special laws “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life…” (Exodus 21:22-23).

“…the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23b). We who have received this gift from God are to help unborn babies, because they cannot speak for themselves. “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” (Proverbs 31:8). May God bless us to that end.