Tenet of Abolitionism—The Sword in Hand (Part 4 of 6)

The third and central tenet of Abolitionism is Gospel Centered.

"And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world" (I John 4:14). 

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief" (I Timothy 1:15).

As abolitionists, we are committed to the unwavering truth of the good news that God the Son, Jesus Christ, was conceived in the womb of a young, unmarried woman who had not been planning on being with child.  The Eternal Word became flesh in the form of a zygote (John 1:14) and went through all the stages of development in the womb, was then born as a baby and grew to manhood.  

Fully God and fully Man, Jesus lived a sinless life, testified of the truth, and laid down His life in the place of sinners, the Just for the unjust (II Corinthians 5:21; John 18:37; I Peter 3:18).  His precious blood was shed to atone for sin, for "without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22).  He died for our sins, and rose again the third day (I Corinthians 15:3-4).  

His payment upon the cross purchased redemption for a lost, wandering, and wicked people from their sin, rebellion, and the just punishment of eternal torment in the lake of fire (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; 21:8).  He came to destroy the works of the devil (I John 3:8). 

  

To be consistently Christian, we must recognize that the chief weapon in the fight against abortion is the Gospel.  Abortion is sin (murdering an image bearer of Almighty God) and the only answer for sin is repentance and a saving faith in the finished work of Christ (Mark 1:15).

We are to use the word of God—His declaration of Creation, the Law, and the Gospel—when addressing the topic. Whether we are speaking directly to a mother walking in to Planned Parenthood or writing a Facebook post to declare our opinion, everything we do and say must be according to the Scriptures.  God uses His holy word to give certainty (Proverbs 22:20-21), convert the soul (Psalm 19:7), and bring faith to the hearer (Romans 10:17).  How dare we venture forth without the Sword of the Spirit?—the word of God, which cannot return void nor be destroyed, which is not bound, nor can fall in vain to the ground!   

So we go into the fray, engaging the culture, unashamed of the Gospel of Christ, knowing it is the POWER of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).  

However, it is the accepted "wisdom" among a large portion of the prolife community to NOT: 

• call out sin, 
• warn their hearers about God's judgment for abortion as murder,
• openly share the Gospel as the only remedy for sin when counseling a woman who plans to abort her baby (whether the dialog be across a table, during a hotline call, on a sidewalk outside an abortion mill, or inside a counseling room at a pregnancy resource center).

Are there any logical reasons as to why the movement would lean this way?  

As already pointed out, a large percentage of people calling themselves prolife do not believe their own need for the Gospel.  In open rebellion to their Creator a humanist, anti-theist, homosexual, and pagan prolifer will not be a champion of the death and Resurrection of Christ Jesus.

There are also many prolifers who are deeply entrenched in a cult or false religion. They follow "...another Gospel: Which is not another" (Galatians 1:6-7).  Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and Catholics do not possess the true message of salvation.  In fact, it has been the Roman Catholic Church, for over 40 years, that has been the main mover and shaker within the Prolife Movement. Sadly, even evangelical prolife groups and organizations have been influenced by Catholic leaders to keep the Gospel out of any initial dialogue with mothers who are looking for an abortion, and do not always contain a clear Gospel message when it is discussed due to ecumenical involvement. 

I do not want to leave out the fact that there are some within the Prolife Movement that are truly saved and hold to the gospel with unwavering allegiance.  They unashamedly preach the Gospel and call their hearers to repent from any murderess intent toward their children and turn to the Savior.  I greatly appreciate the testimony of these saints—our family has ministered with them at the very gates of death—our family was one of them for many years! 

But the problem is that most Christians who rally for the prolife position, take time and opportunity to boldly engage others in dialogue regarding abortion, and even go to abortion mills to pray or protest are carefully trained to NOT bring the Gospel into conflict with abortion.  There are two reasons for this (and perhaps more):

1. Their main objective is to save a baby.  They use pragmatic (not providential) reasoning that moral, emotional, logical, and scientific arguments are what works and that sticking to those facts alone are necessary to persuade a woman to not go through with her abortion. 
2. They are afraid of offending the hearer and therefore losing a conversation. Although they do not deny the true gospel or the need for sinners to come to Christ, they instruct prolife Christians to "keep the Gospel in your back pocket"—having it readily accessible if the other person brings it up!

Here's the deal, as Christians and as abolitionists, we also desire to see babies saved from death.  We go directly to the kill mills with the desire to "brake the jaws of the wicked, and [pluck] the spoil out of his teeth" (Job 29:17). We have personally held tiny newborns that were scheduled to be murdered just minutes before their mother's changed their minds.  We plead outside of Planned Parenthood in order to see babies rescued from destruction.  We do not take issue with moral, emotional, logical, or scientific arguments (in fact we use them)—we take issue when they are not coupled with the truth of sin and the only remedy for it!  It is the Gospel that gives power to overcome the wicked one!

And like the Prolife Movement, we also desire to win our hearers attention and time. We call out to those "stumbling toward the slaughter" with compassion in hope that they will turn from abortion. We speak the truth in love.  But we always speak the truth even if the hearer does not receive it in love.  The Gospel is most often a stone of offense to those who walk in darkness. This means we will be mocked and rejected by those who refuse to acknowledge what they are doing is sin.   This is not reason to leave it in our back pocket.  

The need for, and the power of, the Gospel is so often downplayed by Christians on this vital front line.  Christians within the Prolife Movement who leave the Gospel in their back pocket are engaging the enemy without their sword.  It is foolish strategy. Without the Gospel there is:

• no real truth to stand on
• no reason to seek justice or mercy for the preborn
• no authority as to why abortion is wrong
• and no real cleansing of sin.

Individual hearts, and our society at large, will never seek the abolition of abortion without the Gospel. 

The Gospel alone can save.  The word of God has authority, power, and clout whether someone recognizes it or not.  It pierces even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and goes right to the heart and motives of the matter (Hebrews 4:12).  We go into this world as emissaries of Christ (II Corinthians 5:20). 

He has given clear instructions, and His word is what we obey.

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).  All the world includes abortion mills.  And there happen to be "creatures" there.  "And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious" (Ezekiel 2:7).  We trust God to use His word.  

We go to the battle against abortion as Christian soldiers, speaking the truth about life and life everlasting:  

"We are ambassadors for Christ, pleading a ministry of reconciliation with God.  Do you know Him?"

"Jesus Christ died for your sins: you do not have to murder your baby in order to cover your sin."

"We are here pleading in the name of Jesus Christ, in the cause of little babies made in His image, and for the good of all who will turn!" 

"Your baby is not your problem, your baby is your blessing.  Sin is your problem, selfishness in your heart.  The only remedy for your sin and help when you are overwhelmed is turning and trusting in Jesus Christ alone, Who died for your sins and mine!"

"We call abortion murder because it is murder, and we know the God Who can save and forgive repentant murderers."

We wield the word of God, shine light into this dark generation, speak truth in a world that loves lies, expose sin and declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ Who saves! 

Abortion must be abolished.