This article is reprinted from the June 9, 1986 edition of A Christian Review, published by the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, Ohio. The piece was written by Paul Jarrett. I believe it's as timely today as when it was first written; very thought provoking.
When you read the title for this article did you think to yourself, "that must be a misprint"? Did you think, "he must have meant 'pro-abortion or pro-life' because being anti-abortion is the same as being pro-life"? If those thoughts or something similar, crossed your mind, you were wrong on both counts. The title is right AND being anti-abortion and being pro-life are NOT the same thing, at least not in my book.
The truth of the matter is I've met a lot of anti-abortionists, but I've only met very few people that I would classify as being pro-life. You can fill the streets with anti-abortionists. You can get a host of anti-abortionists to sign petitions opposing abortion. You can find anti-abortionists to picket abortion centers, prepare literature and films depicting the cruelty of abortion, give speeches (and write articles) and (unfortunately) in some misguided instances, engage in violent acts in their opposition to abortion. However, it is difficult to find a handful of people who are really pro-life.
When I speak of people who are pro-life, I'm talking about people like the two I had had breakfast with recently. People like those involved with "Continue Life." People giving of themselves and their time in a ministry founded by Joe and Dianne Amon, "to saving the lives of unborn babies and helping young women cope with life changing decisions in the midst of crisis." I commend those who staff these clinics in Euclid and Madison (and soon in Chardon) for being truly pro-life, as witnessed by their involvement in people's lives.
Friends and brethren, it is so very easy to write out a creed in which we denote the things we are for and against (especially against!). It is easy to promote the creed and seek to bind it on others. However, the challenge is when we determine to live that creed and get involved in ministering to people. Until we do that we are no better than the Pharisees of Jesus' day of whom He said: "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. And they tie up heavy loads, and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger." (Matthew 23:3-5)
I'm in favor of opposing abortion by every lawful means from legitimate protest, to petitioning the legislatures and courts; to stuffing ballot boxes. However, if we do all of these things and never lift a finger to minister to unwed mothers and their offspring we are merely anti-abortion, not pro-lifers.
If the evil of abortion is ever going to cease in our land, Christians must become pro-life. We must get involved with the aching hearts and broken lives of those shattered by the consequences of sin. We cannot stem the tide of disobedience and wickedness by legislation alone. While legislation has its place in defining the values of a nation, those values must find expression in the lives of committed disciples of Christ who are dedicated to serving as Christ served.
When someone asks me if I'm anti-abortion, I can point to what I write, what I preach and how I vote. However, when asked if I'm pro-life, I cannot point to words alone. In such instances I can only point (with a humility at the limited nature of my own fruits) to my adopted son, the unwed mothers whom I've counseled and aided in small ways and those whom I have in some small way influenced to engage in similar works.
I know I need to do more if I'm going to advertise myself as being pro-life and not merely anti-abortion. It is too, too easy to say to the unwed mother "don't get an abortion" and turn our backs on her as she struggles to raise a child alone and under adverse circumstances. Such sounds way too much like the speech of those whose faith James described as dead. Those who say to the naked and hungry, "'Go in peach, be warmed and filled' and yet do not give them what is necessary for their body." (James 2:15-17)
While it is true that abortion is a national disgrace, it is not true that the guilt and shame should be felt only by those who are pro-abortion. The anti-abortionists who say to unwed mothers "have your babies" (cf.: 'be warmed and filled'.) yet do not give them what is necessary to bear and care for that child also must share a measure of guilt and shame.
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