Life is a precious gift that begins in the womb. Since abortions' legality in 1973, the United States has witnessed laws that oppose protecting the most innocent of life--the baby. Now, with technological advances and young people taking a stand for life, the pro-life movement continues to rise as many are saying the murder of the innocent is enough. In "Turning the Tide in the Abortion Struggle," Timothy Dalrymple relays the current landscape in the abortion battle.
Guest blogger, Michelle Reeves, speaks from experience in working in a pregnancy center with women who have had abortions. Her insight and passion relay the importance in how the pro-life movement relates to saving the baby's life as well as promoting the mother and father's well-being. Enjoy!
Mrs. Reeves' Bio
Michelle Reeves is twenty-five and lives in Greenville, SC. She is currently working on her Masters in American Government through Regent University. Michelle is on staff at her local medical pregnancy care clinic.
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By: Michelle Reeves
June 2, 2011
The Voice of the Unborn
Most pro-lifers will say that they fight for their cause in order to give a voice to the unborn. The Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade and its companion case Doe v. Bolton, neglected to define the rights of the unborn child. Therefore, through the legalization of abortion, the unborn child was silenced and equated with nothing more than property, a possession with which the mother could decide to keep or discard. As a result, pro-lifers have united to stand in the gap for those in the womb.
The good news is that pro-lifers are making an impact. Medical pregnancy care centers located all over the world (and often next door to abortion clinics), are continually shedding light on abortion alternatives. The Church and the government have both stepped in to make parenting and adoption more attainable. Protective pro-life legislation has been passed that further regulates and restrains abortion. Technological advances have proved with perfect certainty and precision that each person in the womb is unique and that even in the early stages of pregnancy, life is present.
As a staff member at my local medical pregnancy care clinic, I am encouraged by the energy and dedication given towards protecting life and giving the unborn a voice. However, I have realized that the voice of the unborn is not the only voice that has been stifled through legalized abortion. There is another voice that has been silenced for too long. It is the voice of the post-abortive woman.
The Other Unheard Voice
We now live in a post-abortion culture. It is estimated that at least one in four women have had an abortion. Many women have often had more than one abortion. These women are in our Sunday school classes, they stand next to us in line at the grocery store, they are our neighbors, and they are our co-workers and best friends. While Planned Parenthood will try to argue that abortion is a safe option, the truth is that many women are forever changed after having an abortion and the causalities extend far beyond the womb into the soul of the mother.
Much like a soldier in war, these women are traumatized by their experience and the weight of their choice haunts them. For the post-abortive woman, there is often a deep regret and sense of shame that silences her. As our society edges closer towards forty years of legalized abortion, it is imperative that pro-lifers acknowledge the women that suffer from the consequences of abortion and work to give them the same voice that we are giving the unborn. If we protect the life of the unborn, but fail to protect the life (the soul) of the mother, the abortion industry wins. Further, for every mother that chose abortion, there is a father that was involved. There are brothers, sisters, grandparents, and friends who suffered a life lost. Very few of us remain unscathed by abortion.
A Christian Response
Thankfully, campaigns such as “Silent No More”, along with courageous speakers like Abby Johnson, have worked to break the silence of being post-abortion. As Christians, we know that abortion is a product of our broken and sinful world. However, we also know that God can redeem anything. To this end, the Church must offer God’s restoration to those affected by abortion. It is only through the power of the Gospel that any person can ever find healing. Too often, we place a value on sin. There is no denying it—abortion is horrendous, and I believe God weeps over His children. However, He also weeps over my own pride and arrogance. Truthfully, many post-abortive women live in silence because they fear the judgment of the Church, a judgment that often mirrors man more than God.
During my time in the pro-life field, I have met many women who are post-abortion. The ones that have found restoration through Christ are by far the strongest women I know. At their weakest, God displayed His strength. What a magnificent embodiment of the Gospel! I am honored to work in a ministry that provides recovery to those in need, and I would encourage every church to offer this same chance of restoration to its members and their communities.
Some might fear that I am promoting tolerance, as if abortion is something to include into our culture’s accepted relativistic ideology. On the contrary, I’m suggesting that we increase our efforts in the war against abortion by offering aid to our foot soldiers and stopping some of the ripples of abortion. Like a devastating fire that destroys a house, we must not only work to prevent future fires; we must give aid to those that suffered losses. Because of God’s healing, many post-abortive women have dedicated their lives to sparing other women from such a horror. This is God’s uniquely beautiful way of redeeming our sinful natures.
2012: Why We Must Continue to Fight
I have often heard people say that being pro-life is simply not their calling. I disagree. If the Supreme Court can fail to give rights to the unborn, there is no doubt that our society would also place a value on existing humans as well. What if our worth (our right to live) was based on our productivity, skill, or appearance? We see these questions arise in the recent administration’s health care agenda and in the continued push for euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.
Further, pro-life Christians say that they feel disillusioned with the staggering statistics on abortion and the sphere of influence that Planned Parenthood and other abortion agencies have. Post-modernism continues to strip our society of Truth, and it seems as if we are fighting a losing battle.
In some ways, we are. As long as sin exists, abortion will also exist. However, C.S. Lewis describes Christ’s return and God’s reclaimed authority over all as an “unraveling” of sin. All that is broken will be restored. There will be a day in which abortion and all the pain it has caused will be undone.
In the meantime, it is imperative that we continue to fight for the right to life, at every stage of life. To this end, education is our biggest weapon. With another presidential election around the corner, we cannot afford to sit still. In fact, it is wrong to remain passive. It is our moral and civic duty as citizens and as Christians to shine a light on the ramifications of abortion and the reality of life. For too long now, the abortion industry has covered up the ugliness of abortion. It is nothing less than genocide. Education allows us to expose the Truth. I encourage all pro-lifers to read up on current legislation, talk with elected officials, and reach out to women in need. Do not miss the opportunity God has given to turn the devastation of abortion into a field of redemption.
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