I have never held a picket sign. I have never threatened an abortion clinic. I don’t believe in scare tactics and emotional manipulation. I don’t really “fight” abortion.
For years I have seen the reprehensible nature of abortion. I have studied it enough to know of its destructive nature. I have counseled enough to hear the weeping of mothers who deeply regret the decision they made. Yet I still don’t “fight” abortion. So, what do I do? I choose to:
Show Love Not Condemnation
In preparation for a sermon that I preached back in 2011 ( http://vimeo.com/26501478 ) I came to the realization that there are two victims with every abortion. The child and the mother are both victims when an abortion is considered. The defenseless child is taken away without an opportunity of living a full life and the misinformed mother is often rushed into a decision that saddles her with regret, anger and deep-rooted bitterness that stays with her for many years. The church is unable to show love to the first victim and many are unwilling to show it to the second. THIS IS WRONG!
Understand that these dear young women have grown up in a society that has pushed them into premature sexuality. Having sex in the teenage years is considered normal and acceptable. When a pregnancy does occur they are encouraged by our society, media, school system, selfish boyfriends and often parents to pursue the easiest solution… to terminate the life of the child. When they walk into a clinic that is motivated by funding rather than humanity they are sold on a procedure they are told will be quick, easy, and without side-effects. Yet these dear young women are never warned of the emotional damage they will endure and the subsequent scares they will carry for life. Then, when they meet the church, they are condemned and hated and ridiculed. And it’s wrong. We stand behind our stained-glass windows and wooden pulpits and scream acceptable obscenities at the very ones that Jesus would have reached out to with love and compassion.
Reveal Christ Not just Common Threats
Do we not remember what our Lord said in Mark 2:17? Jesus came for the sick not the healthy. Too many times we Christians resemble the Pharisee with a stone rather than the Savior with an outstretched hand. We must reveal Christ to these dear girls who society abuses and abandons. For it is only through Christ that anyone can find peace, forgiveness and restored joy. It is in Christ that we find acceptance, love and a love that will never leave nor forsake us. I am so very passionate about this because I have too many personal friends, I consider sisters, who have in tears revealed to me the threats they felt from Christians, and their judgmental religion. The unholy epitaphs “christians” place upon those who Christ would go out of His way to love. This is one reason Southern Hills Baptist Church is uniting with the Women’s Resource Medical Centers of Southern Nevada. ( www.wrmcsn.org ) They too believe in compassion, love and the importance of bringing Christ into the life of each dear young lady.
Save Lives Not just Fight Abortion
I believe that the American church has been counterproductive. In our attempt to fight abortion we have missed the main goal of saving lives. Reach the mom, save the child. Save the child, change a generation. Change a generation… well, I think that’s the purpose of the church. For the members of Southern Hills, let’s make a determination to give financially to the Missios Fund that will be taking WRMC on for support this year. Sign-up for the “Race for Life” 5-K being held on October 19th. And some of you may even feel led of the Holy Spirit to volunteer for counseling ministry down at one of the centers which you can do at Southern Hills this coming Sunday. Let’s decide to not merely fight abortion, but go further and begin saving lives.
Click the link for more information on the Race for Life.
http://wrmcsn.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1079684
No Comments
Anonymous
September 13, 2013 at 11:21 amAgree with this. Changing hearts is the only thing that will stop abortion. Jesus is in that business and will ultimately make the difference.
It is sad to counsel women who have gone through these procedures and really had no idea what they were about to put themselves through. Not only did they not know emotionally they did not know physically. I will never forget counselling one young girl who had made that choice in the past and was contemplating it again. As I informed her of the physical complications associated with it, she was completely unaware. She then also tells me how horrible it was as she woke up in a room of crying girls, with no one there to comfort her. Yet she was contemplating it again. She had been sold on the idea that she had no other choices, strangely in this “pro-choice” world. To show these girls love and support as well as educated and give actual physical help, is what will help stop it long before pickets signs.
Though I do agree with fighting the legal system, that is not all we should do, because minute by minute babies are being lost and women’s lives are being turned upside down as we wait for change.
Love WRMCSN and so glad you are supporting them as a church!
Joshua Teis
September 13, 2013 at 11:28 amThank you for the comment. I agree that we ought to still use our political power we have in this country to protect those who are most vulnerable. Thank you for making this point. And thank you even more so for your willingness to counsel dear young women who are in need of godly advice. You are a hero!
Anonymous
September 13, 2013 at 12:25 pmWOW!! From the bottom of my heart. THANK YOU. To have a pastor so boldly yet compassionately present this. I am just so grateful to you!! I don’t attend your church….but I may now! There are so many hurting women not just “out there”, but in the church.
I had an abortion and for a very long time (well after the abortion) I was angry at everybody – including the church. This is after I became a Christian, I actually blamed the church. I actually stated in my post abortive therapy group (and yeah – abortion affects you for the rest of your life) that “a church is the first place you should think of running to when you need help instead it was the last place I thought to go”. That is a true statement and truly how I felt at the time I had my abortion. I was too afraid to go into a church (I was not a Christian at the time) because I thought they would judge me. Honestly – do you know of any church that has a “unplanned parenthood” program within it’s door frames? I don’t.
I am a Christian now, and I know better. I’m sure most any church would have helped me. But how many unbeliever/non-Christians are out there today thinking exactly what I thought back then? A good majority of them I’m sure – especially in today’s day and age. It would be nice if churches would do something like an unplanned parenthood program that helps pro-life organizations. Find out what the local pro-life org is lacking in and how you as a church can fill in that blank. It would be even better if churches would be open and honest in their youth groups and approach the topic of sex in a real, Christian way – and start young. It’s reported that kids at the average age of 9 are now looking at porn regularly. In Las Vegas, I wouldn’t be surprised if that age was a little younger.
Great post Pastor! Thank you for posting it.
Joshua Teis
September 13, 2013 at 12:57 pmThank you for the kind words. And thank you for opening up and sharing your story. This is an issue that is very close to my heart and we at Southern Hills desire to help hurting people not push people away in judgment. If you are planning on visiting this sunday would be a good one to try. We are addressing the issue of “The Fatherless Society.” Hope you can make it. http://www.shbaptist.com/new-here_1.html
Linette Winsler
September 13, 2013 at 4:54 pmI so heartly agree with what you have said. God doesn’t turn his back on these babies and there mothers, and we shouldn’t either
Joshua Teis
September 18, 2013 at 3:46 pmThank you Linette for your kindness and loving heart.
Alan
September 13, 2013 at 9:28 pmVery good message pastor. Often when one stands up against abortion are anything on the internet one will run upon many that will rebuke you. Some with scientific terms and some with hate. But most just repeating what some one else has said to fallow the crowed. It is like some people that clime to be Christians but never study their bible. But the most I run up against today are evolutionary educated and many are Christian bashers. It is very heard not to loose ones temper and pick up a attitude to fight back. If you do then you loose. It is so heard some times to keep Gods Love out in front when so much hate and deceit being thrown back you. But I never won a fight without Christ. and on the internet you may never see if the seed you sow will fall upon good ground. but I try. Today when so many in our public schools have been taught so long, science fiction as fact and there is no creator we are raising up a generations of atheist that see no sin. Even liberal Christians are denying the liability of the Word of God. So if we do not walk in and with the Spirit and the Word to touch there sinful hearts with the Grace of God we have nothing. I know some will say truth and educated facts in science will help and it does, but most even turn away when that is given in truth because they do not wont the truth in a debate. They become like sophist that winning the argument is more important then finding the truth. Protesting only cause more malice and hate as a church group as we have see in the past were the world can point scoff and laugh at Christians. So what do we do? pray, teach, tell others about Jesus, stand up against sin and love the sinner, as heard as it may be. Its Gods way.
Joshua Teis
September 18, 2013 at 3:47 pmI love how you ended your comment: “So what do we do? pray, teach, tell others about Jesus, stand up against sin and love the sinner”
Well said
Ted Nichols
September 14, 2013 at 7:30 amI have to say you hit another home run with this message. We as a culture condemn the person and not the sin they have committed. We are way too quick to point a finger and scoff someone right out of church.
The mother and the child of each abortion are the victims. The mother who has been lied to and now believes this procedure is ok, and the child who is never born.
I believe this is another curse placed upon our nation by God. We are so arrogant as a people nation that we can kill our own unborn children and scoff at God as if we know what’s best for ourselves and our unborn children. Many treat that unborn child as if it was OUR art project and we can just wipe the canvas clean whenever we want to start another painting and don’t have to have any regrets.
On another topic we as a nation need to make adoption much much easier. A 2 year wait, background checks, financial inquires, and more done by gov employees you would think work at the DMV does not make the option of adoption very easy.
Thanks again for all you do.
Joshua Teis
September 18, 2013 at 3:49 pmTed, That is an interesting point you make about adoption. I’ve heard from many that the process can be rather intensive.
James Pfeiffer
September 16, 2013 at 10:47 amI have to say I’m a little torn by this debate…at least from a political prospective. As a Christian and simply a man who believes in the sanctity of human life, I see abortion is an abhorrent, detestable practice. Regardless of how far along the pregnancy is or when you believe a “fetus” becomes a human baby, abortion is still the killing of an innocent human life as it grows within the womb…period.
Now, all of that being said I still wonder if making abortion illegal will do more harm than good…especially in a post-christian society. Until people’s hearts change, those who want abortions will find ways to get them whether it’s illegal or not. At least now, it’s a relatively safe medical procedure (for the mother). If it were made illegal, women would then be forced to consider trying it themselves (which is possible, albeit very risky depending upon the stage of pregnancy) or to seek out illegal underground abortion clinics that would undoubtedly become available. Howver, these places wouldn’t be gauranteed to follow medical safety and sanitation guidelines, and would likely end up using obsolete equipment and/or procedures putting the mothers at further risk for infections and other complications.
I’m by no means condoning abortion, but I do recognize that there are 2 sides to this coin. Making abortion illegal would be awesome in that we as a society are saying that the killing innocent children is not longer acceptable in the US. However, in doing so, I think we’d indirectly put women at risk for medical complications resulting from abortions many will still be getting anyway, just not under safe conditions.
As other people have said already, I too believe the key is evangelism. The more political we Christians get about these types of powder keg issues, I think more we look like hateful bible thumpers “waging war on women’s rights” instead of allowing God’s love and compassion to show through us. Show people the gospel and allow God to do his work on their hearts…the more people reached the less abortion and it’s legality are an issue.
my 2 cents…
Joshua Teis
September 18, 2013 at 4:00 pmJames,
This is a very interesting point that you bring up. Wouldn’t people still seek an abortion, though illegal, and make the practice that much more dangerous? I believe the answer is obvious. Yes, people are going to do what they want to do regardless of the laws in place. However, I have two thoughts. #1 – As a society we have to determine if we are going to allow something just because people are going to do it anyway, and it will be safer if it is sanctioned. The same argument could be used with robbery. People are going to break into cars and steal stereos but in the process they may cut themselves on glass. Therefore, should that society make it legal to break into cars, abolish locks, and instruct people to leave their windows down so that the burglar will be able to more easily access the stereo. This says something about a society. #2 – If you make car robbery legal it is likely that car robberies will go up in frequency. Those who would have been too afraid to act on their inclinations will now feel no restraint. “It’s legal now. It must be fine.” It becomes part of our way of life. Do we really think that the number of lost lives in abortion would go up if we were able to make abortion illegal once again? I think it might just decrease.
James Pfeiffer
September 19, 2013 at 10:29 amI hear you Pastor and I agree with you…to be absolutely clear, I personally would love to see abortion abolished completely…That’s why you’ll see me at the Race for Life next month! I just don’t think it’s possible considering the current political landscape. Back to your analogy – sadly, I beleive most voters would not consider the comparison btw abortion and robbery/burglary to be apples-to-apples.
Robbery/burglary has very obvious and visable collateral damage: inconvenience to the property owner, insurance companies that have to pay the claims and lose profitability, surrounding property owners having to pay higher insurance premiums and deal with lower property values b/c of higher crime rates…that’s why you’d never ever see this made legal.
Abortion is different, at least in the eyes of the non-believer and the more apathetic masses in this country. To them, abortion affects no one but the mother. After all, it’s just a medical procedure right? And they’re not babies…they’re fetuses…big difference there right? When using that vernacular, aborting a fetus is much less “messy” to deal with mentally than killing children; let alone one’s own child. That view is why you see the same people who scream for tighter gun control citing the Newtown, CT massacre, are typically the same people vehemently fighting to keep a “woman’s right to chose” intact…
This is why I believe that trying to make abortion illegal NOW would do more harm than good – people will still get them and we’d be painted as trying to “legislate morality” again. People’s hearts need to change first then anything is possible!
That being said, I don’t think we should do nothing about abortion. Supporting the Women’s Medical Center is awesome, preaching against it from the pulpit is great, education and spreading the Good News…I just get weary of getting too politically active as christians on issues like this where the secular view on that particular issue is one of “rights, and personal choice.”
Joshua Teis
September 19, 2013 at 11:56 amFascinating argument James! You bring up many valid points. Looking forward to seeing you at the Race for Life!
James Pfeiffer
September 19, 2013 at 2:19 pmI’ll be there!
Jamee
September 18, 2013 at 2:40 pmLoved the blog and the message. So thankful for a Pastor that teaches on the hard topics. I think the best part is that you do it in love not in condemnation. So many want to “counsel” by preaching at someone that they are wrong and they don’t reach out in love. I pray that I can use love to show the truth.
Joshua Teis
September 18, 2013 at 4:01 pmThanks Jamee. Love is the only way. We learn this from Christ! John 13:35