It has been well over a month since the draft decision from the Supreme Court regarding Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was leaked. It was a shocking move made more stunning by the admission that the draft was legitimate. Now the nation waits with anticipation for the final and authentic decision. As I write this, I expect that decision will arrive in the news within the next couple of days but will be about two weeks old by the time you read my words here.
As that decision day draws nearer, it has been a fascinating endeavor to observe people already reacting. The conjecture about the outcome is relatively similar on both sides, but as I write this, it is just that: conjecture. The reaction is not based upon the actual decision itself but only on their suppositions about that decision. If I may speak a bit openly here, I’m not surprised by some of this behavior, but I will confess to being slightly startled by both the straightforwardness and severity of that reaction already. As believers concerned about the eternal dwelling place of individuals, I want you to think about this reaction with a slight twist.
With this situation lying before us, it’s easy to quickly engage in defense and, sometimes, even antagonistic rhetoric. Submitted to God’s sovereignty and satisfied by the sanctity of human life, Christians have strong biblical convictions on this issue. However, it’s not the convictions that I want to draw attention to here. That may seem slightly enigmatic; after all, our inclination frequently is to take every opportunity to make our case against abortion. But the purpose of this blog is focused on reaching the lost with the gospel message of hope, and that purpose places us in a unique position to consider what this reaction says about the need for evangelism in the current era.
No doubt you have seen some of the reactions. News stations highlighted the protests that were taking place in major cities across the nation. I suspect that by now, we may have experienced even more severe protests after the final decision was released. In some cases, they were marked by confrontations and, even worse, violence. Perhaps some of the most striking pictures are those reacting not just in anger but in tears. The physical expression suggests a radical level of fear.
This reaction should tell us something about people. Even though we do not agree with what is known as a “pro-choice” stance, we should be able to recognize in this behavior that there are those who vigorously defend this position out of resolute conviction. They are there because they are convinced of the “virtues” of this position.
Those last two points are critical to our Christian call as ambassadors. The depraved nature of their stance and the harshness of their reaction combine to paint a picture for us: there is a great need for the gospel. No doubt you already know this. We look upon the world where God has placed us and see a need for the gospel daily. I fear that the desire to proclaim the gospel may be lost in our arguments and altercations on this particular yet very important issue.
In a straightforward evaluation, the issue of abortion is an illustration of the need for the gospel. Until the gospel permeates one’s heart, the value of human life will not be fully realized. We need to continue to defend human life as sacred. However, don’t allow this issue to divert your attention from the continued and central need for the proclamation of the gospel. Let us not forget that all people are created in the image of God, including those that want to see the continuation of abortion rights. May we continue to fight abortion and just as clearly see our need to help our opponents to see Jesus Christ and the beauty of Calvary.
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