In a recent debate during the Republican National Convention, Florida Governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis sharply criticized what he described as the extreme stance of many Democrats on abortion. He asserted, "What the Democrats are trying to do on this issue is wrong, to allow abortion all the way up to the moment of birth." Almost immediately, former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted to X (formerly Twitter) saying, “No one supports abortion up until birth.”
Did Psaki forget that the Internet is forever? Did she underestimate the power of a quick Google search, which reveals countless instances of Democrats pushing for, in their own words, "no limits" on abortion? Sure, they might cloak it in political speak, framing it as a healthcare decision or a matter between a woman and her doctor, but the essence remains clear: they're advocating for abortion up until birth.
Critics argue that late-term abortions are a minuscule compared to the estimated 600,000-800,000 abortions performed annually in the U.S. Data from the CDC and the Guttmacher Institute indicate that roughly 1.1 to 1.3% of abortions happen at 21 weeks of gestation or later. In truth, the statistics on late-term abortion may be much higher than that considering the CDC data excludes late-term abortions in some states like California and Maryland.
Even with the conservative estimate of 1.1%, we're talking about 7,000 to 10,000 viable fetuses terminated each year. That's a staggering number. If you’re having trouble visualizing that many people, think about the average crowd size at a professional basketball game.
Maybe, just maybe, it's high time for a resounding wake-up call. As Christians, our divine duty is to advocate for those who find themselves without a voice.
Proverbs 31:8 serves as an emphatic reminder, urging us to "Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed (BSB)."
While this certainly encompasses the poor, the immigrant, and the marginalized, it's impossible to ignore that few possess voices as faint as the unborn children in the United States of America.
Sadly, the American church has been mostly silent on this issue. Many larger churches steer clear of the abortion debate altogether, fearing it will hurt their attendance and financial numbers. Under the guise of staying “focused on preaching the gospel,” they forget that the gospel is more than a ticket to Heaven. It’s the good news for all mankind, including the unborn.
Friends, the battle for life is at our doorstep and it won’t be won by weak-minded believers who shy away from uncomfortable conversations.
Also, the battle cannot be won by simply shouting down the opposition. We must speak truth from the Word of God and back it up with definitive action. The way we act towards all of the marginalized in society proves that we care for people the way our Savior does.
In the end, the battle will be won by God, but our role is important. The reason we speak up is because we care. We recognize that men and women are made in God’s image and have incredible value. We care about the lives of the mothers and fathers that are considering making such a dreadful decision. And even though we vociferously oppose the politicians who believe “No one supports abortion up until birth,” we care about them too.
Footnotes:
Proverbs 12:10 , literally from Hebrew, "(The) righteous (one) knows the life (of) his beast, but (the) womb (of the the) wicked (one is) cruel."
You love abortion, you've had an abortion, the Bible stands is clear about your nature. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, nor an an evil tree bring forth good fruit. Each tree produces according to its nature.