Shaun Groves
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. – 1 John 3:16-18
1 John 3:16-18 reminds us that God’s love took action to give us life. Not from a safe distance, but by living in the muck down here in relationship with us and dying on our cross.
Then, John inspires us to do the same. To express our faith not just with words but with Christlike action. Not leaving the hard work of love to others, but rolling up our sleeves and living generously.
This kind of living? It’s called “truth” — or authentic. Refusing to personally take action makes us hypocrites — or pretenders.
We American Christians are hypocrites on the issue of abortion.
My Facebook newsfeed, political pundits on the nightly news, and many national polls, all confirm that abortion is the primary passion driving many (if not most) Christians in America into the voting booth. Evangelicals in the U.S. want a president who will appoint Supreme Court judges they hope will overturn Roe v. Wade.
But genuine conviction would move us to do more than vote and hope. True passion and authentic faith should compel us to give our time and money to mothers, fathers and children in ways that glorify God and effectively give them dignity and reduce the number of abortions.
Before giving comes understanding. Here are the reasons women tell us they have sought an abortion.
What can a judge do to address any of the problems above?
But you and I and our churches can do a great deal. Instead of giving you a list of organizations to support or a pile of plans your church can follow, I’d like to learn from you.
Tell me what you and your church are doing – or could do – to meet the needs and alleviate the concerns causing women and men to choose abortion.
Voting is fine. Hoping is good. But God’s people are moved to action.
Live generously.
Keith says:
Human Coalition has a clinic in my community. They serve women in many ways as they choose life for their babies. I hope my church can provide a holiday connection to some of their clients where we’ll provide a meal and some gifts for their families around the holidays. My small group did this a few years ago, and my family gained a friend through it. You can learn more here: https://www.humancoalition.org/.
Shaun Groves says:
Great to hear, Keith! Checking them out now.
Kristin Taylor says:
I love this post – this subject has been on my heart so often lately. As a momma to three children we adopted as infants through private, domestic adoptions, I see the women who don’t choose abortion as brave. I volunteer with a local pregnancy crisis center that encourages women to choose life. They have an earn-while-you-learn program that allows moms with children from birth to 4 years old to earn points to cash in for supplies (diapers, clothes, etc.) while learning life skills (Bible, financial, parenting). If women who have had abortions come there, they provide counseling resources. I actually just shared on Facebook earlier today a little about this and how our family is involved: https://www.facebook.com/khtwriter/photos/a.309895055800035.70608.309363102519897/1126083204181212/?type=3&theater. Our small church (where you sang several years ago!) also has an adoption grant that provides money to families who are in the process of adopting, thus helping women who are choosing life but don’t choose to parent. Thanks for starting this discussion here. It’s a good thing to think about.
Shaun Groves says:
Fantastic, Kristin! Thank you.
Ellen Read says:
Hi! I’ve worked at a crisis pregnancy center at several times in my life. 2 years ago I received a call out of the blue from a woman that I had counseled and mentored while she was pregnant. I had been with her at the birth and found a home for her while she was pregnant. I kept in touch for a year and then moved away. As she was moving she found a birthday card I had sent to her son for his 1st birthday. She began a journey of finding me and called our home. In the course of the 21 years she had given her life to Jesus. My family has also adopted 4 children from the foster care system. One of our kids has adopted 9 special needs children from the foster care system. Our whole family works to support my daughter and son-in-law in their ministry. We also pray for and support 4 children through Compassion and Deaf Child Hope. We live in a very urban part of Cincinnati, OH and regularly reach out to the children in our neighborhood who look a little less cared for than their suburban counterparts. We pray for the social workers who have an incredibly hard job.
Ellen Read says:
Also, one of my sons was a product of rape. I am so glad his mother chose life! He’s an amazingly funny 13 year old who will change the world with his heart.
Ellen Read says:
Sorry. One more pro life organization I love and support is CHASK. It is an organization to encourage women to carry their pregnancirs to ten who have received a diagnosis from the Dr that their child will have some disability. They provide counseling, medical support, and there is an extensive network of families who are willing to adopt child that a mother decided she cannot support but chose not to abort. CHASK was started by the folks at NATHHAN, a homeschool support for families with supervisor needs kids. http://www.chask.org
Kristin says:
Yes! Could not agree more Shaun. It’s frustrating that we can’t seem to look past age old ideas of how to fix these issues and look at things like you have here. Church rise up and BE the church!
Check out Embrace Grace (http://embracegrace.com/). They are teaching the church what it means to have grace for young girls who get pregnant and literally showering these girls with love and grace. Because of their actions they are saving babies and families are learning about God’s love for them. It’s powerful!
Mark Gramm says:
I would encourage you to look into an organization that is addressing this issue. Human Coalition is that organization. I am employed by them at a local care clinic in Pittsburgh PA. I see daily the women and men who face this difficult decision. I operate a mobile clinic that services communities that experience a high rate of abortion seeking individuals. Our ministry is to meet them at their time of need and engage them with Christ Like compassion and offer them solid follow up and assistance to connect them with the available resources they need to be able make the decision to chose life. We can end abortion. But not by a vote, though that is important. It will not be until our culture rejects this practice and sees it for what it truly is. The ending of a human life, unique and individual made in the image of God from conception till final breath.
Sandy G says:
People tend to live and hang around people who are like themselves. Living in a bubble of those like myself does not afford me the opportunity to know those who are vulnerable and may be living more at the margins of society. If I don’t know them, I can’t know their needs or struggles and I can continue to live comfortably in the safe life I’ve built for myself and my family. I’m also missing out by not knowing these folks in my city.
Where is God calling me to? Is he calling me to practice downward mobility? Should we live in the low income apartment block instead of the nice house we could afford? What does this mean for my children who I want to protect? Can I be okay with the awkwardness of spending time with those who don’t look, eat, talk or think like me?
Jennifer says:
My husband counsels fathers at our local crisis pregnancy center and we do fundraisers to provide diapers, maternity clothes, baby clothes and supplies, etc. My daughter crochets baby blankets for them. A local ministry supported by our area churches, Making Miracles Group Home, is a group home for pregnant women, moms, and their babies, giving them a supportive place to live for free, while receiving prenatal care, parenting training, and the gospel. http://www.makingmiraclesgrouphome.org/