As a result of the leaked draft opinion of the Supreme Court indicating a possible reversal of Roe v. Wade, I have been praying for an appropriate way to address this contentious issue. As a Christian, I am staunchly pro-life and therefore elated that it appears the Supreme Court is reversing its position. However, should the court be courageous enough to follow through with overturning Roe v. Wade, the choice may be left for each state to decide. Consequently, there would still be much work left to do. Remember, therefore, we must not grow weary in doing good.
It has been disturbing to watch the outrage and threatening behavior of many political progressives who think abortion has become a sacred rite. I do not understand the heart of a person who harasses or resorts to violence at the possibility the Supreme Court ruling might create additional barriers to killing unborn babies. The Bible says that Satan, our adversary, comes to “….kill, steal, and destroy.” Indeed, Satan and his helpers are showing their true selves as our nation appears hopelessly divided.
The one principle that keeps coming to my mind is this: We cannot be neutral, but we must be civil. Some Christians avoid conflict, so they bend over backward to appear impartial. Yet it is impossible to remain neutral about killing an unborn child who is “knit together in the mother’s womb” (See Psalm 139:13).
You cannot be lukewarm on this issue. Otherwise, you are like the Civil War soldier who wore a blue coat with gray trousers and was shot at from both sides. Elijah drew a line in the sand for the Israelites and demanded, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him” (1 Kings 18:21).
On the other hand, we must remain civil. Jesus told us to “…love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5: 44-45). It is not easy to support a pro-life position and refrain from getting into heated debates with those who disagree. Yet God’s people are specifically instructed, “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
Solomon wrote, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Notice it is not silence that turns away wrath, but a truthful answer given in a soft, confident tone is the most effective response to rage. The pro-life movement has truth, logic, and compassion on its side. This is not a time for us to retreat into cowardly silence, nor a time to outshout the opposition. It is a time to follow the clear instruction given in Ephesians 4:15-16: “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
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