The Forgotten Trangression
On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States, with a 7-to-2 majority vote, legalized abortion. Since that day there have been over 52,000,000 abortions. To make a comparison, under Hitler’s reign of terror, 6,000,000 Jews were killed.
At the outset of the decision people were outraged. Conservative church pulpits were white hot with holy fervor against the killing of the innocents. Denominations amended their constitutions and made resolutions against the unholy practice. Since that time there have been demonstrations, debates, legal battles, and attempts at reverse legislation. To this day many people carry on the battle against this heinous sin. However, the tragic practice still exists. On the legal front little has changed in thirty-eight years.
Nevertheless, some things have changed. How long has it been since we have head a comprehensive sermon on abortion? Perhaps even more revealing, how many Christians no longer view abortion as sin? Wikipedia cites statistics from the Guttmacher Institute. “In 2011 it was reported that two out of three women having abortions in the U.S. [were] identified as Christian. The same report said that of all U.S. abortions, 37% were undertaken by women who [were] identified as Protestant, and 28% were Catholic. The number of abortions performed on U.S. Catholic women is about the same per capita as the average in the general U.S. population; in the 2000s .... A 1996 study found that one out of five U.S. abortions was performed on a woman who was born-again or evangelical Christian.”
Herein lays a parallel tragedy. First, a sin has become commonplace to the Church. Secondly, a sin is being committed by “Christians.” It is like there is some kind of law of diminishing sensibility at work in the Church. We have tried to fight this battle and have made little progress. So we have just tacitly accept that this is the way things are going to be. When we hear of someone terminating the life of an unborn, we say “How sad” and then continue watching our favorite TV program or eating our lunch. Where abortion is concerned, our hearts are tough as nails and as hard as rocks. No tears. No sick feeling in the pit of the stomach. No sleepless nights. No prayers for change. It is the forgotten transgression. The absence of mourning and a prophetic cry against the sin has resulted in many seeing this as a personal option.
The effect is two-fold. First, the church is weakened spiritually when sin is tolerated. While there are places for discussion of all issues, isn’t it true that we give much more time and effort to many other matters of considerable less importance? We just fail to bring up the subject of abortion. Secondly, many who have had abortions attend our churches. Some may be Christians and others non-believers. They are wrestling with monumental guilt (perhaps unconsciously) because of the weight of this sin. Yet, they suffer in silence because the subject is given little attention.
We need to preach against abortion and do it regularly. We don’t just need quips and clichés that are barbed and impressive. We need comprehensive sermons and teaching that states what God says about the killing of unborn babies. This should include the consequences for the sin, but also an explanation for the inconsistency of people who call themselves Christians believing that such a practice could even be considered permissible. Then, we need to reach out publicly to those who have committed this sin. An opportunity then should be offered to meet privately to discuss this sin with godly counsel. And, we need to call for repentance from them … but we also need to repent for our lethargy and indifference toward this matter of life and death.
When it comes to abortion, there is only one course of action for sinner and saint alike:
“Remember this, and shew yourselves men: Bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. ”
Isaiah 46:8