No More Excuses

With the release of the undercover videos on what is taking place behind the doors of Planned Parenthood, can Christians continue to ride the fence on the subject of abortion?  Can the population as a whole continue to bury their heads in the sand and pretend that this is not happening?  If we refuse to admit that something is happening, then typically we don't have to do anything about it.  Or at the very least, we don't have to have an opinion on it.  But is this something that we can really get by with?

As a homeschooling mom, I have studied WWII and the holocaust with my older children as well as many other teenagers.  Every one of them has asked me, "Why did the German people not do something?  How could they let this happen?  How could they not know?"  And in fact, as history unfolds, we find that the majority of Germans did know, or at least, had a good idea of what was happening. 

What were some of the reasons they did nothing? Some had been prejudiced by anti-Semitic propaganda.  They believed the Jews were a problem and that they needed to go away.  Others simply didn't want to be inconvenienced.  They weren't Jews, so what concern was it of theirs.  And others were legitimately afraid.  If the German people had banded together at the beginning of the nightmare called the holocaust, then they could have stopped the Nazi regime.  Once it came to power, however, there were real reasons to be afraid.

Many have rightfully compared abortion to the holocaust.  In fact, at over 57 million babies being slaughtered, the death toll has far exceeded that of the holocaust.  The callousness of those involved as well as the horrific abortion practices also equal those of the Nazis.  So, the questions that beg to be asked are, “Why don't we do something?  How can we let this happen? Do we not know what is going on?"

As strange as it may seem, at least some of the same answers are swirling around us.  What are they?

First, we as a culture, have been prejudiced against the unborn.  The abortion community has infiltrated much of our thinking.  The feminist movement has equated the "right" to have an abortion with women being treated fairly and equally in our society.  We hear, "My body.  My choice."  They believe that their so called "reproductive right" trumps the right to life for the baby.  The baby is pegged as "the problem", and so, he or she has to go away.  Along with this, the abortion community has brainwashed us to believe that the unborn child is subhuman...just tissue...and has no rights.  (Those of you who know anything about the holocaust should recognize this theme.)

It doesn't take a lot to negate either of these reasons.  First, the baby may be living inside of a woman, but the baby is a separate person with his or her own distinctive DNA.  A woman has no more right to end this child's life than she has to take the life of any other person. 

Secondly, it is clear to us all that life begins at conception.  At this point, the baby, as you and I are, is completely human.  You are either a human or you or not a human.  Even the abortion community knows this.  Abortion activist and writer Mary Elizabeth Williams wrote an article titled "So What If Abortion Ends Life?"  In it, she clearly states that she knows that the mother is, in fact, carrying an unborn, human child.  She just doesn't think it matters.

So this leads us to the real reason for abortion...inconvenience.  The reasons most abortions are performed is because it is inconvenient for the woman to have a child at the time she becomes pregnant. It's that simple.  Having a baby just doesn't fit into the lifestyle of the mother or father and so, it must be disposed of.

Inconvenience is also the reason many other people refuse to stand up for life.  It is quite easy to refuse to have an opinion on this issue.  It doesn't take any effort to bury your head in the sand and pretend you don't know what is going on in our society.  However, we know that this is how things have gotten so out of hand. 

Being afraid is another reason why some people refuse to stand for life.  There are those who are afraid of what it might require of them.  It is true that one might need to make sacrifices to save the lives of unborn children.   But more than that, there are those who are afraid to even voice their opinion for fear of appearing too conservative, intolerant, radical, or even anti-woman.  Let's face it, it is popular to be prochoice.  If you speak up for the unborn, you will be labeled as one of those crazy Christians.  For some, this is just too much.

I believe there is yet another reason why some do not want to become involved in the prolife movement.  They, themselves, are guilty of being some way involved with an abortion.  The wound is either too tender to allow anyone to touch it, or they have become calloused about it.  And a hard heart encourages others to do the same evil.  This somehow makes their deed less so.

Romans 1:32 says, "Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but they also approve of those who practice them."

I also believe that God is waiting with His arms open wide, if they would only seek His face and the forgiveness that He offers.  Instead of leading others to commit the same evil deeds, they could be healed.

Bottom line, it doesn't really matter what your reason is for not being involved in saving the lives of babies.  God's Word is so clear on this. Proverbs 24:11-12 speaks plainly to us; my favorite version of this Scripture is in the Message:

"Rescue the perishing;
    don’t hesitate to step in and help.
If you say, “Hey, that’s none of my business,”
    will that get you off the hook?
Someone is watching you closely, you know—
    Someone not impressed with weak excuses."

In my opinion, every excuse we give for not helping in some way to stop the massacre of millions of babies is a weak excuse.  I know that one person cannot do everything.  God brings different ministries to different people at different times.  But I also know that most people can do something. What is the "something" that God has asked you to do to help save the unborn?

Think about this:  In 20, 30, 50 years, when your grandchildren or great-grandchildren see what was happening at Planned Parenthood and abortion clinics across the country, what will you tell them when they ask, "Why didn't you do something?  How could you not know?  How could you let this happen?"  Better yet, how will you answer our Lord when He says, "I gave you opportunity after opportunity to help, and you refused."

Lose the excuses and take a stand for life!

 

The Next Step...One response to the CMP's videos

I ask that you bear with me.  This quarter's newsletter should have concluded our series on "What does HOPE stand for?"  But with the release of the undercover videos by The Center for Medical Progress, I feel that it is more important that these videos are addressed.

When I watched the first video released on July 14th, 2015, I sat in stunned horror that anyone could be so callous as to speak of selling aborted baby parts in between sipping wine and eating salad. I wasn't ready to act on it, because even though I had heard rumors that this was going on, I wanted to make sure it was legitimate.  As the day progressed, I received several emails from ministries that I trust,  including the NC Values Coalition, so I felt comfortable sharing it. Since that time, three more videos have been released.  The third and fourth actually show the aborted body parts of a baby boy, with a person moving the body parts with tweezers as they decide if someone would buy them.

With each video, my heart is more broken for us as a country...as a people.  How did we get to the point where, when looking at a dead baby, we just want to know how much money  we can get for his body parts.  As a country, how did we get to the point where we send our tax money to help fund this atrocity?  Indeed!  How did we get here?

In the words of my 17 year old daughter, "As horrible as it is, isn't it the next logical step?  They're killing a baby! Why would they care if they sell the body parts?"  Her words echo in my heart as I think about what we, as a nation, are doing. 

The idea that abortion providers sell the babies that they dismember makes me sick.  It is sick! But let's not forget that they are suctioning these little ones out of their mother's womb with a high powered vacuum first!  That is also sick!

The idea that abortion providers manipulate the baby in the womb so that he will deliver feet first and thereby allow them to "harvest" the brain is disgusting.  But partial birth abortion, which is illegal by the way, is also disgusting!

The idea that the abortion provider will use a "less crunchy" approach when they tear the baby apart is appalling!  But the fact that they dismember a precious little one in the first place is also appalling!

When did we lose sight of just how important and how precious life is?  Our lives, our children's lives, these aborted babies lives are precious!  Every life is precious!  Psalm 139: 13-14 tells us:

"For you created my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;                                                                                                                                                         Your works are wonderful,
I know that full well."

We all know this Psalm.   But do we really understand and believe what it says?  I(you, everyone) am fearfully and wonderfully made.  "Your works are wonderful" is speaking about God's creation of humankind.  It goes on to say that God has "ordained" all of our days before one of them came to be.  He has a plan for each and every one of us!  You matter!  I matter!  EVERY ONE MATTERS!  We are all precious in His sight! 

As a nation we have lost this.  We no longer see life as a gift from God...one that only God has the right to end.  We think,  if this life, whether an adult or a baby, gets in our way or is inconvenient,  we have the right to end it. 

We are not God!  This is not our right!  To kill a person because you are mad at him is wrong.  To abort a baby and claim that it is the reproductive right of every woman is just plain ridiculous!

Bottom line, the abortion industry  is a sick, disgusting, and appalling business!  When you add the fact that it is done in such a way as to "harvest" body parts to sell, makes it even more so. 

As hard as these videos are to watch, watch them I will.  And I hope and pray that you will do so as well. Hopefully, they will be the straw that breaks our camel's back.  Hopefully, they will be our wake-up call.  Hopefully, we will see that this has gone too far!

So, what is our next logical step?  First, we need to seek God's face.  We need to ask for forgiveness for  callous hearts that have allowed such atrocities to happen.  We need to pray for those who are in the battle, and it is a battle, for life.  Pray for the women who find themselves in unexpected pregnancies, that they would choose life.  And even for the abortionists, that God would convict them.   And last, ask God to show you what He expects you to do.

Then do it!

Whatever it is, stop making excuses and do it!  Whether it is reaching out to a woman who needs help, volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center,  going to the abortion mills to reach the ladies who are scheduled for abortions, getting politically active against abortion, or donating your money, do it!

There is something that everyone can do.   Do it!

Take the next step!