An old country preacher suggested, “Throw a rock into a pack of wolves, and the one that howls is the one that got hit.” The secular world is currently howling because the Alabama state legislature passed a law banning all abortions except to spare the life of the mother. This gutsy bill carries a penalty of extended prison time for any doctor who performs an abortion.

The media is abuzz with the vehement protests of secular-minded opinion writers and talk show hosts. Liberal pundits are screaming that Alabama’s law is just a bunch of old white men trying to turn the clock back to a more primitive day. The state legislators are accused of being, “Extreme,” “Lacking compassion,” and even “Barbaric.”

Talk about extreme! When New York state legislatures applauded the passing of a bill granting permission to kill a baby the very day it is to be born…that’s extreme!

Talk about lacking compassion! Stating “the goal is for abortions to be ‘safe, legal and rare’ and then allocating millions of government funds to Planned Parenthood and other agencies that have snuffed out the lives of 60 million unborn children since 1973…that’s lacking compassion!

Talk about barbaric! When the Virginia governor advocated allowing a baby born alive to die from neglect…that’s barbaric!

I would challenge those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ to:

1. Be Supportive of Alabama’s politicians. For years those of us who are pro-life asked, “Why doesn’t someone do something?” Alabama’s lawmakers have done something. Rather than second-guessing their timing or terminology, be supportive with constant prayer and frequent encouragement.

A critic once challenged Dwight Moody, “I don’t like the way you’re handling the invitation in your crusades.” “Okay, how would you do it?” Moody asked. The critic responded, “Well, I’m not sure, but I certainly don’t like the way it is now.” The wise evangelist answered politely, “Sir, I like the way I’m doing it better than the way you’re not doing it.”

Before you criticize Alabama’s legislators ask yourself what you have done. They merit our support.

2. Don’t fall victim to the world’s propaganda. The Bible urges us not to be deceived by the devil’s schemes and to, “Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).  Think with the mind of Christ and don’t be beguiled by the world’s shallow cliché’s.

You will hear:

“It’s my constitutional right.”

No, it’s not. Abortion is never mentioned in the constitution. It was illegal and not considered a constitutional right for nearly 200 years. Besides, if you’re a follower of Christ, you are governed by a power higher than the constitution.

“It’s my body.”

Not if you are a Christ-follower it’s not. God’s Word says, “You are not your own; you were bought with a price, therefore honor God with your body.” Your body is one day going to return to the dust of the earth. It doesn’t belong to you; it belongs to God, who has loaned it to you temporarily.

“It’s my right to choose.”

To choose what? To kill the baby developing in your womb? Would you say after your child is born, “It’s my child. It’s growing up in my home. It’s demanding my time and attention. It’s my right to choose to abuse him/her?” Of course not. When you gave your life to Christ, you agreed to deny self and put the interests of others ahead of your own.

“This is just a bunch of ignorant, old white men trying to subjugate women.”

The Scripture teaches that regardless of whether the governing authorities are women (Judge Deborah in the Old Testament) or men (The tyrant Nero in the First Century), God’s people are to be obedient, respectful citizens. By the way, the Alabama bill was signed by Governor Kay Ivey, a woman.

“It’s better to have an abortion than to give birth to an unwanted, neglected child.”

Really? Thousands of good, caring couples are begging to adopt. And history is replete with examples of magnificent citizens who have grown up in less than ideal circumstances and yet contributed significantly to the betterment of society. To deprive babies of the privilege of living because you doubt they will be worthy of it is playing God.

3. Choose sides! Elijah asked, “’How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’ But the people said nothing” (1 Kings 18:21).

The revered Baptist preacher, Vance Havner once told about a soldier in the civil war who wore a blue jacket and gray trousers because he wanted to be neutral, and he got shot at from both sides.

This is no time for neutrality. We are in a spiritual war. If you are not willing to stand courageously for what you believe in an attempt to keep the peace, you’re living in the wrong era. Preachers, if you’re more concerned with appeasing the potential seeker than you are with preaching the Word of God in season and out of season, your silence will only aid the enemy. It’s time to “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so” (Psalm 107:2a).

Jesus said, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household’” (Matthew 10:34-36).

The momentum is currently swinging toward the pro-life side. Medical science has enabled children to live at an increasingly younger stage of development. Four-D ultrasounds reveal babies recoiling with pain during an abortion. Former abortuary workers give testimony of repenting of their participation once they understood what they were actually doing. God is using these dramatic revelations to help reverse public opinion.

When momentum is on your side, it is not a time to ease up but a time to increase intensity. The battle is fierce, and the stakes are high. The Bible urges us to put on the full armor of God and take a stand against the devil’s schemes. “Where sin increases, grace increases all the more.”

I believe Roe vs. Wade will be the equivalent of the 1857 Dred-Scott decision a century from now. Equal civil rights for the unborn will be as valued as civil rights for minorities is today. Those who campaign for the right to kill the unborn will one day be held in contempt the way former slave owners are disdained today.

Joshua challenged the Israelites. “Choose you this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

4. If you have participated in an abortion, repent and receive God’s amazing grace.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).

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