Abortion,
A Continuous Battle
I
was startled when a TV reporter approached me during an annual Central Illinois
Pro-life rally outside the Peoria Courthouse. He asked me, “When is this
battle going to end?” From his question, he assumed that the abortion debate
could be put to rest once and for all by having anti-life forces or pro-life groups
gaining the upper and decisive hand. He was sadly mistaken to think that a fundamental
issue such as life in the womb could be decided like a major league contest. Real
life issues cannot be quickly decided like the winner of a baseball game.
The
battle to secure the inalienable right to life for each child cannot and will
not be decided in one contest. It will not end even with a Supreme Court decision
to overturn abortion on demand. Neither will the election of a pro-life President
settle the issue. Certainly as Christians, we are to pray and labor hard toward
that goal of securing the God-given rights of the unborn. The Bible itself tells
us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will
reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9)
However,
we should never assume that the war to save children will have a nice and easy
ending like the children’s stories we read to our kids. The nature of this
battle is constant and involves an arduous struggle.
The sanctity
of human life identifies who we are and to whom we are accountable. On the one
hand, Christians vehemently reject any attempt to separate human life from its
Creator whose image we bear. We will not remain silent when human life is degraded
to mere animal life that can be discarded at will. On the other hand, secular
humanists of our day rebel at the premise of divine authority over our lives.
They refuse to acknowledge any moral absolute from a personal God. The diabolical
forces of evil refuse to rest and they work steadily into the night.
Though
I am encouraged by the lobbying efforts of devout Christians who have affected
political and public opinions, my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’
blood and righteousness. The Bible reminds us, “For though we live in the
world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not
the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish
strongholds.” (2 Cor. 10:3-4)
The Lord Himself must change
people’s hearts and the sentiment of a nation. Only through a saving relationship
with Jesus Christ can the blinders of darkness be removed and new life be imputed
to the heart. Only believers have the capacity to completely appreciate the divine
value of life and safeguard its future. We must pray not only for unjust laws
to be reversed, but for hardened hearts to be renewed in Christ. We pray for the
sanctity of human life cause along with the people involved in the struggle (on
both sides!) With each convert to Christ, we have one less opponent to fight and
we gain a brother or sister in the everlasting Kingdom of God.
May
I encourage you to do three things in our perpetual battle for life:
1)
Give financially. I have found that my financial gifts to Pro-Life groups are
the most tangible expression of my dedication to saving children’s lives.
There is a cost.
2) Commit to the long-haul. If you are looking
for community service that carries a quick solution to a contemporary issue of
the day, then join a Save-A-Whale campaign. However, if you are serious about
protecting human life, you must commit yourself long-term. You cannot work short-term
and expect lasting progress.
3) Pray fervently. Ask daily
for the Lord to change people’s hearts. People desperately need the light
of Christ before they can ever see the light on moral issues. Ultimately, the
battle is the Lord’s and He will defend His name and His honor, and reward
His servants who love and uphold the truth!
Kerry Frantz
Former
Pastor of Hanna City Presbyterian Church in Hanna City, IL 08/97
