Dear Family and Friends,

In case you missed it, a news organization recently reported that our nation’s Supreme Court voted to strike down Roe v. Wade, the Court’s landmark decision that guaranteed federal protection of abortion rights. This decision is expected to become law in a month or two.

Do you have a personal opinion on the rights of a woman to have an abortion? I’m guessing almost everyone in America has a one, ourselves included.  

Would you like to know my opinion on abortion rights? Here it is.

We who follow Jesus Christ should act and react towards this matter and all other contentious matters in the way Jesus would.

And we should use the Bible as our only guide.

I’ll elaborate on my opinion as we look at a few verses to use as our guide.

First, the Bible teaches us to be prepared for what’s to come.

It’s likely our country will experience another contentious period. Polls show most Americans are against this recent Supreme Court decision.

Similar to the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, people across the country have already started to protest. (Doesn’t it feel like we’re reliving the 1960’s?)

And this we all know – when people are mad, they look for someone to blame. That blame may very well fall on the Christian community, along with the label: ‘zealots wishing to impose their religious beliefs on the populace.’

Jesus once told His disciples, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” ‭John‬ ‭15:19‬ ESV

I never thought it possible, but if there ever was a time when Christians would be hated and persecuted in this country, this could very well start it.

So, how do we prepare ourselves?

Second, the Bible teaches us a way to discuss abortion rights and all other contentious matters.

Let me say up front that if we find ourselves in a “discussion” defending our views on abortion rights, it’s best we not start by celebrating or protesting this decision.

Paul gave his young protege the following advice on how to respond to controversies that arose in the church.

“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”  2 Timothy 2:23-26 ESV

While it’s safe to assume no one in Timothy’s church was quarreling over abortions, this passage applies well to our controversy of the week.

Allow me to summarize what Paul is sharing.

  • Let’s not be quarrelsome. We all know that winning an argument is a losing proposition when you’re trying to convince someone to change their mind, not only on abortion but any other matter.
  • Let’s instead be kind when responding to someone looking to pick a fight. There is no better way to deflate someone’s anger than by returning their hate with your love.
  • And be prepared to teach or share how you feel and what you considered in forming your belief. Yes, you could quote scripture but keep in mind that scripture to a non-believer is nothing but words.
  • Then patiently endure the backlash. Remember that James 1:19 ESV tells us to, “be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”
  • If correction is necessary, love first. And if you must speak, do so gently.
  • Finally, pray for the person. Pray that God speaks the truth into their lives. Do your part and allow God to do His.

Third, the Bible provides us another way to look at this and all other contentious matters.

Let’s begin by reviewing the final verses in the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus’ final words to His disciples before ascending to Heaven.

I say review because we are all familiar with the Great Commission, the same commission Jesus gives to each one of us.

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20 ESV

Jesus was clear on what He wants us to do – to bring others into God’s Kingdom. Jesus was clear on the steps we are to take.

And He was quite clear on the order in which to take them.

The first step is to go and make disciples; make believers who follow Christ.

The next step is to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

And the last step is to teach them to observe or obey all that He commanded.

When Christians get involved in advocating for laws that support our values, laws that enforce obedience, are we not skipping steps one and two and going straight to step three?

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that the heart of a person who does not believe in Jesus may not be ready and willing to obey Him.

And the result of going directly to step three can very well be what we all fear – resentment. Why?

Because a person pressed into obedience may end up resenting the church or Jesus Himself.

And helping that person through steps one and two will become that much harder.

While this may not be what is intended, this may very well be how people feel if we bypass steps one and two.

We may end up losing a soul that is just as precious to Jesus as the unborn child.

Perhaps this is a good time to remind us of Jesus’ Parable of the Lost Sheep found in Matthew 18:12-14 NIV which ends with these words, “In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.”

Perhaps we need to take a take a deep breath, step back and reassess if we are doing as Jesus asked, in the way Jesus would. 

In love always,