Abortion: a moral choice

Every single day, abortion kills more Americans than were killed on 9/11. Every single year, this silent horror snuffs out about as many Americans as have been killed on all the battlefields in all of the wars in U.S. history combined. This is a national disgrace. At the current time, more than 50 million babies have been slaughtered since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973.

What a tragedy.

The longer I struggle with the abortion issue, however, the more I am convinced that abortion is a moral choice, and the most effective way to swing the pendulum towards righteousness is through a national spiritual renewal.

Legislation has failed us, and will continue to fail us as long as moral corruption infects the hearts and lives of our people. Pass all the legislation you want to and hopefully it will stem the tide, but it will never stop the flow to back alley abortion clinics or to the morning after abortion pill.

Yes, there are major issues involved here, and I am not saying that we should not strive for legislation that is fair and just for all. This we should do. That said, however, does not solve the problem.

If we believe that life begins at conception (as I do) then abortion, any abortion is a horrid choice. What do we do, however, if the life of the mother is at stake. Well, the argument goes, that hardly every is the case. Hold on a minute. What about an ectopic pregnancy? Many times a heart beat is even registered there. There is, however, absolutely no way the child can survive, and in most cases the mother will either die or suffer years of excuciating pain. And, the facts are that ectopic pregnancy remains the leading cause of pregnancy-related death in the first trimester of pregnancy.

So, exception number one in favor of pro-choice.

Now, let’s take the case of rape or incest. The best way to cover this, I believe, is to use the example of Jaycee Dugard who was kidnapped and held hostage for 18 years by convicted sex offender Phillip Craig Garrido and his wife, Nancy; during which time Jaycee gave birth to two beautiful girls which were fathered by Garrido.

Following Jaycee’s rescue, she remarked at the birth of her first daughter that,

"She came out and then I saw her. She was beautiful. I felt like I wasn't alone anymore. I had somebody who was mine."

Now, as horrible as that whole episode is with kidnapping and rape with torture, Jaycee still cherishes her daughters and said she would do anything to protect them, including giving her own life.

Jaycee, by the way, is not a Christian, but she did make a moral choice. That is, she came to the conclusion that these two precious children had a right to live and be loved by a caring mother.

So that we understand what I am saying, please understand that I in no way condone rape or incest for that matter. All I am saying is that one must decide whether life is worth saving under the most dire circumstances. It is interesting to note, however, that in Old Testament times that a woman caught in adultery was stoned thus by extention killing the fetus (if any) within her. Which some may construe to indicate the lack of value placed on a potentially unborn child.

We, have, however, a more humane example with Christ which is best express when the woman caught in adultery was brought to him in John 8:7, he replied,

"Let him that is without sin cast the first stone."

Thereby, saving both the woman and, once again by extention, any unborn child which may have been concieved.

So, let’s call this decision a tie between a pro-choice stance and a pro-life stand. Me? I am a man, that is not a personal choice that I must make; however, even in those circumstances life is a beautiful gift, and I would struggle long and hard to make the right choice.

Perhaps, this is why Billy Graham has said,

“We should accept abortion in these cases: rape or incest or if the delivery of the child is a threat to a mother's life."

Do I agree? Personally, I believe that life begins at conception, and if I were a woman I certainly would agonize before my maker before making either of these choices except for a medical condition like an ectopic pregnancy.

My position is, and really has always been, I am not God, therefore not the final judge and all I can do as a minister is lay out the case and pray with you that you make the right choice.

Thank you for taking time out from your schedule to read this, and may God give you wisdom, understanding and courage to vote with the firm belief that your candidate choice champions the sanctity of life.

May God richly bless you!