To Our Sisters Who Have Had an Abortion
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Obviously, this recent Supreme Court ruling is all over the news. I’ve expected to see Christians celebrating the ruling. But I’ve also been surprised by some professing Christians lamenting it. I see two problems where Christians are confused on this.
First, this has sadly become a political position rather than a moral issue. It is something that the Scripture speaks clearly on. Let’s forget our politics and instead view it Biblically, morally. We know that infants within the womb were designed by God, as human beings with a soul. Scientifically, we know that they feel pain and have a will to live. And they are innocent of any wrongdoing that should lead to their violent death. This is a moral issue, not just a political one.
Second, many of our sisters in Christ have had abortions. After going through it, for some, it’s very hard to face the reality of what the practice actually is and oppose it. My heart goes out to you. It really does. I’ve had many women in tears in my office telling me their story. It’s always heartbreaking.
My message to you is five-fold.
1) God understands. He was there and saw the desperateness in your circumstances. And he heard the lies being told to you, that this was just a collection of fetal cells, not a living human being. He fully understood what your perspective was at the time.
2) God is merciful. He is a God of great mercy, and because of his mercy…
3) He forgives completely. When God forgives, he does something we cannot do. He forgets. Hebrews 8:12 – “I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” Micah 7:19 – “You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” Psalm 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
4) Heaven is real. Your child is a living soul whom God loves and received to himself. You will have the joy of being reunited without judgement or resentment. He/she was ushered into eternity with God because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
5) Defending the practice will not help you. When we mess up our tendency is to defend ourselves and what we did, as well as fight for the right for others to do the same. But that does not alleviate guilt. Only confession (agreement with God) erases guilt (1 John 1:9). Defending the practice will only bury the guilt further, to create more harm than good in your own spirit, as well as others that you are influencing. Of all people, you should be the most vocal in opposing this abuse on innocent children.
We are your family in Christ, the church, and as your pastor, I want you to know that we absolutely love you. You are my sister. There is no judgement here on you personally. You are one of us.