A Conservative Court Will Not Solve the Abortion Problem

Abortion is front and center in the news again.

It always is in an election year, but this time more than most with the selection of a Supreme Court justice in the mix. Democrats have all but pledged to stack the court should they gain the presidency and the House. 47 years of Roe v Wade and the push to oppose abortion through the law has done little to avert the killing of human babies in the US. The problem is not just a US problem but extends around the world.

Attitudes of Christians are changing on abortion, and not in a good way.

The support of abortion rights among professing (but not necessarily possessing) Christianity is increasing according to Pew Research. According to the study, Roman Catholics support abortion rights at the astounding rate of 56% even though the Church opposes abortion as murder of the unborn.

Only among white evangelical protestants is there a pro-life majority where 76% oppose abortion rights. Even that number seems to be dwindling, especially among many conservative evangelicals who view themselves as more socially progressive.

God is not elected and morality is not a social construct.

Sin is defined by God not man (Romans 3:10-23). In our efforts to see a transformation in society, I wonder if our strategies have been more humanly pragmatic than biblical. Because the abortion tide of this country turned on a court decision, we have sought to reverse it in a similar fashion. We should rethink that idea. I am not saying we should ignore the Court or prioritize other election issues. I am saying that even if the court is stacked with a 6-3 conservative majority, abortion rights in this country will likely remain unchanged.

The truth is that the abortion problem, as horrible as it is, is more of a symptom than the core issue. Sin itself is the issue.

Abortion should be a crime, but will always be a sin.

Calling sin a crime does not make it a worse sin. It is taking of a human life before God. Our nation wants to have its sexual freedom coupled with life without the consequence of one of God’s greatest gifts—children. That is selfishness on the highest order. Those who take the lives of their children, the doctors and healthcare workers who perform the procedures, the lawmakers who legally facilitate the killings, the judges who rule against the unborn, and the citizens who through their votes and support make all this possible—all of these—will one day stand before a Holy God and give account for their crimes (Revelation 20:11-15, 21:8). This is as sure as there is a God in heaven.

We need to preach abortion as sin–a sin that is an offense to a holy God–a sin that is a crime against innocent children—but also a sin that can be forgiven as a result of humble confession and forgiveness at the foot of the cross. We might succeed in frustrating the young woman who wants an abortion through laws that limit her access to the procedure. In doing so we might save a life and give that woman the privilege of raising a child she would rather have killed. Something more is necessary. What that woman really needs is to see her savage selfishness in the innocence of the life she wishes to extinguish and more importantly in the face of a Holy God. That can only happen as we clearly, honestly, and lovingly preach the truth and God opens eyes.

A Roe v Wade “Do-over” is not sufficient.

God will not heal this land or forgive the genocide we have committed against 61 million unborn children if we simply reverse Roe v Wade. That would be akin to asking God for a mulligan after 47 years and millions of lives sacrificed. That is not how God works. Forgiveness does not come without repentance and repentance is born of spiritual self-awareness and confession of sin. There will be no mercy without it.

Conscientiously, Christians must vote pro-life, but we are deluding ourselves if we think there is a political solution to the spiritual mess in which we find ourselves. It is time for Bible believers to find their voices. Abortion is evil, abortion is sin, and sin is what divides human beings from their Creator condemning them to a Christless eternity—and yes, in a real, literal hell. This is not religious suppression, it is simple Bible truth.

There is only one solution for anyone involved in the abortion process. Agree with God. Call it sin. Ask for forgiveness from God and His Son Jesus Christ who freely gave His life on the cross to provide forgiveness and restoration to God.

We need a revival among God’s people and awakening among the lost.  There is no other hope.