Since the 40th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, abortion discussion has dominated my twitter feed. I have a conviction based on a straightforward reading of the Word against abortion. I also have a conviction based on a straightforward reading of the Word that the sanctity of life doesn’t end when a mother does not abort her baby.
Sanctity: The quality or condition of being considered sacred; secure from violation or profanation. www.freedictionary.com
The sanctity of life. That phrase means that life itself is sacred and should be secure from violation. What makes human life sacred? God does. He did this when He created man and woman in His image. He set human life apart in that moment, and when He handed down His law, “Thou shalt not kill,” He gave us a clear parameter for how we as humans are supposed to view life. It is set apart. It is inviolable. Don’t violate it.
After the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I asked myself, “Does not this sanctity of life extend to all the days of the life itself? Is this only about a moment in time where we choose to end life or not?” We know of course it isn’t! We are image bearers of God all day of every day of our lives. From snotty infant to gray haired maturity, we are image bearers of God, instilled with the dignity that He put on us when He created us, a dignity that is distinct from animal, plant, or natural resource.
The set apart, inviolable nature of life involves the whole of life. And I wonder how well pro-life believers are stewarding the lives saved through the influence of the pro-life movement. I want to focus on the state of Mississippi, which now has only 1 abortion clinic in the state. It also has the highest rate of births to unwed mothers in the nation. Abortion rates have steadily declined in the state. In 2009, the CDC reported a rate of 4 abortions per 1000 women in Mississippi, as compared to 15 per 1000 in the nation as a whole. Interestingly, Jackson, Mississippi just last week was listed as one of the most Bible-minded cities in the United States, #5 out of a list of the 96 largest cities in the U.S.
So, the state with only one abortion clinic and the highest number of births to unwed mothers in the U. S. also houses one of the most Biblically minded cities in the U. S. I think the state with the fewest number of abortions and largest number of births outside of marriage represents a good place for believers to think through what we are going to do with successes we’ve made against abortion. How are children born to single mothers faring? How many end up in foster care? How are believers and churches in this Biblically minded state meeting the needs of children who would have been aborted if their mothers had access to it?
I have found one place online that support mothers in the moments of trying to make a decision for or against abortion for themselves. It sounds like it also supports after birth for a while as well.
I am interested in highlighting organizations that support moms throughout the toddler years with more than just diapers and formula (though those are important too). Are you aware of organizations that offer food, clothing, education, and/or childcare? Or an organization/church/ministry that in some other way has shown the value of the sanctity of life after birth? I’d like to highlight ministries among demographics that often feel pressure from life circumstances to abort— the immigrant, the poor, and the uneducated/undereducated. Please help me highlight those who have embraced a full-fledged conviction of the set apart, inviolable, eternally valuable nature of life. I’ll tweet those I know with the hashtag #proalloflife. Please tweet it too, if you’re into that. I’d love to see more pro-life believers becoming pro-all of life believers, as many already are. And I’d love to garner support by raising awareness for those individuals and ministries who are already living out this lifelong work.
On the 40th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the greatest thing believers can do to show the dignity of life is to … show the dignity of life. To the children who weren’t aborted but are living in poverty or abuse. To the women who did or did not abort often living with shame in either case. To mankind in general including the immigrant or homeless. May we strive to treat man and woman, adult and child, with the dignity deserved as image bearers of God.
Matthew 25
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
#proalloflife
