Roe Vs Wade
I wrote this piece before Roe vs Wade was overturned. Then I sat on it and listened in on the conversation to both sides. I didn’t change anything, I just wanted to be sure I was contributing from the right spirit.
But before I share what I wrote, I want to address the Christian reading this. You know that story where Jesus gets the mob to put their stones down? I’ve been thinking about why it feels so good to throw stones. Because let’s face it - throwing stones makes me feel…fantastic, right, important. Who doesn’t like to be right? Who doesn’t like to own an argument and put people in their place? Who doesn’t like to convince with authority and turn people into…themselves…holding the same opinions, beliefs, and understanding of life? I mean, wouldn’t life be so much better if everyone thought like…me?
I have been challenging myself over the last couple of years to have less opinions. It’s been amazing for me, but what I realized through counseling is that I get frustrated when other people have opinions, especially on topics they aren’t well versed in and people they don’t know. This isn’t new, the brother of Jesus challenged his audience 2,000 years ago to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Honestly, we Christians don’t like that verse. Because it’s easier to throw stones and throwing stones feels so damn good!
There has been much debate on the topic of abortion but not a lot of dialogue. Not a lot of sympathy, empathy, or love. Not a lot of compassion. Both sides of the argument continue to point fingers, call names, blame the opposing politicians and those who follow them, all while yelling their perspective without asking any questions.
In 2018, I had a strong opinion on the topic. Then I was asked one question and my answer revealed my ignorance on the subject...
I did not know abortion was legal in the United States BEFORE Roe vs. Wade. The Supreme Court ruling simply made abortion legal on a federal level. Therefore, abortion is still legal in about half the states now that Roe vs. Wade is reversed. I also didn’t know that several states started to pass anti-abortion laws NOT until 1860-1880. That means abortion, while frowned upon, was still legal and practiced before then.
So I started digging and here's just a few startling statistics...
In 1971-1972 (the year before Roe vs. Wade), more than 30,000 women left Michigan to have a legal abortion in New York.
In 1972 there were over 600,000 legal abortions in America (this does not include the estimated hundred thousand plus abortions that were not reported because they were done illegally or by unlicensed doctors). In 2019 there were 629,000 abortions. Which means the numbers haven't really changed since Roe vs. Wade. Actually, in the 1930's (40 years before Roe vs. Wade), doctors performed an estimated 800,000 abortions.
I do believe abortion is a problem - but it clearly isn't solved by politicians and laws. In fact, the politicians on both sides have everyone focused on defending or reversing Roe vs. Wade, therefore, we're missing the local and state policies that are actually impacting abortion right now. This isn't an issue that should cause division but rather action. And not protesting action. The ultimate answer to the problem of abortion is COMPASSION, not the Supreme Court. As Christians, we must remember that Jesus loves the people on both sides of this argument. Do you?
The task of the church is not to protest the world into a certain moral conformity, but to attract the world to the beauty of Christ. We often get most passionate about who's in the oval office while being less interested in the crisis pregnancy center and foster care systems in our own communities.
Did you know the number 1 reason for why people get an abortion has to do with fear? Fear of the unknown, fear of the inabilities, fear of the financial pressure, fear of raising kids alone. Where is the church? Unfortunately, we're usually protesting, condemning, shaming, or putting people in their place on Social Media. Rarely are we actively involved in supporting these women that are contemplating these life altering decisions.
So what's the solution to abortion? It starts with love, forgiveness, compassion, support, and community. It starts by recognizing these abortion statistics have faces and names, real life circumstances and trauma. It starts by getting involved in the pregnancy crises centers and foster care systems. It starts when we're far more loving than we are judgmental. It starts when our actions speak louder than our facebook posts.
We have an epidemic not just with abortion, but also in our foster care systems. You know, those places where children are put when people don’t get an abortion.
Where is the church?
Did you know more than 80% of the inmates in America have been in foster care?
Did you know 1 in 5 will enter the homeless population and 1 in 4 will enter the criminal justice system within 2 years of aging out of foster care?
We want prison reform? We want to solve the homeless situation? We want abortion to change? All three are statistically tied together. Maybe it’s time for the church to have less opinions on this topic because we’re so busy loving our communities. I believe it starts by actively getting involved in organizations that are doing those things. If you live in Southern Indiana, here are the numbers of 2 great organizations doing just that. You can start by either giving your time or your treasure.
Choices Life Resource Center - (812) 941-0872
Childplace Family Services - (812) 282-8248