In 2014, 652,639 legal induced abortions were reported to the CDC[1]. Abortion not only divides the nation, it divides families. And I’m not just referring to the children lost. We tend to turn our backs on those who become pregnant out of wedlock, but then we judge them when they seek out what they see as a solution. According to a survey, a large portion of women who seek out abortions identify themselves as Christians[2].
I’ve personally been guilty of judging those who seek an abortion, but we must be careful of judgement. God offers forgiveness to woman who have an abortion, and so should we. Jesus didn’t call us to judge, he called us to love. Perhaps if we show more love to those who have had an abortion, we can enact positive change. Traditionally, most women who seek out an abortion are unwed. And traditionally, the church has looked down its nose at unwed mothers. But we must remember that to God sin is sin, and He loves us all.
So let’s support unwed mothers. We don’t have to condone their decisions in order to show them love and kindness. Ostracism doesn’t just affect the object of our scorn. It affects us because we’ve allowed Satan a foothold to exploit, hurting our testimony and the picture of Christ’s love. Becoming a mother can be overwhelming for even a married woman. So perhaps if we offer help no matter the situation, we can make a difference. There are no guarantees, but the Bible does say to love our neighbor.
Support starts with prayer. It starts with looking at ourselves. Let’s pray for unwed mothers. For those considering abortion. Let’s stop condemning and start loving. We’re children of God, a family in the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). Instead of fighting with our family, let’s fight for them. And family isn’t just those who share our last name, it’s those who share our faith.
References
[2] 70% Of Women Who Get Abortions Identify As Christians, Survey Finds
