LifeDate Winter 2024 – Life Shines in Darkness
by Pastor Michael Salemink
Death thrives on lies. It feeds on them, rises or falls on falsehoods, and needs them to survive. Ever since the devil’s first, “Did God really say?” sin has loved misinformation. Our Lord Himself exposes what friendly bedfellows death and deception make: “[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning … for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). The wicked world and our own sinful flesh love dishonesty almost as much, especially when they work as weapons against the commands and promises of God.
Like rust, though, lies don’t exist independently. They only come about as corruptions or parasites of realities. Every forgery derives its force from correspondence to the genuine article. It can corrode away at but never completely cancel out its original. The Heavenly Father turns even lies into invitations for speaking facts. So here are ten of the most common and popular opportunities to meet deceitfulness with certainty instead of hostility:
“The Bible doesn’t say anything about abortion.” Most English translations may not include the technical term. But whole Scriptures concern how God creates, redeems, and calls every human being to be His own precious treasure from fertilization to forever. And Exodus 21:22-23 prescribes capital punishment for even inadvertent taking of unborn life.
“Abortion is a woman’s choice (and physician-assisted suicide is a matter of personal autonomy).” Pregnancy involves at least two human bodies and responsibilities (father’s and child’s) in addition to the mother’s. Physician-assisted suicide also requires at least the physician (not to mention the multiple other loved ones and neighbors affected). Every one of these lives belongs to the Almighty Maker—and He knows best how to care for them.
“Without abortions, women will die from pregnancies.” Resolving pregnancy complications may require removing the baby, but it never demands intentionally killing the little one (even if we cannot intervene to avoid this dying). Premature delivery does not constitute abortion. Miscarriage (or even evacuation of miscarried remains) isn’t the same thing either. And women do perish every year from “legal and professional” induced abortion procedures.
“Chemical abortion is perfectly safe (but Abortion Pill Reversal isn’t).” Even the FDA acknowledges that abortion pills inflict injuries and casualties necessitating emergency intervention in at least six percent of cases (y4life.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Health-Risks-of-Abortion-Fall-2023-Updates.pdf). Hemorrhaging, septic infections, follow-up surgery, infertility, and cancers can result (along with psychological trauma). An antidote exists (abortionpillreversal.com) that has worked 64-68% of the time to save over 4,500 lives and has harmed zero mothers (www.heartbeatinternational.org/apr-101).
“Untreatable agony makes physician-assisted suicide necessary.” Palliative care (pain management) provides at least a measure of relief in the vast majority of circumstances. So most individuals seeking physician-assisted suicide do not even identify physical discomfort as a primary motivation. Suicidal ideation represents an appeal for community, not for execution. And the Incarnation of Our Lord guarantees a redemptive purpose to even our worst sufferings.
“Sexual assault and adverse diagnoses require abortion access.” Further violence does not reverse or relieve from rape trauma. Victims who abort report compounded grief, while those who carry report finding meaning and healing in it. Discriminating who gets to live based on origin or ability endangers the whole of humankind. And most individuals with disabilities love their lives, as do their families, despite the distinct challenges.
“Abortion eases social crises like abuse, inequality, poverty.” Murdering before birth exacerbates these problems by inflicting them (abusing, disadvantaging, depriving) on those who can do the least with or about them. Putting to death anyone who suffers seems like a lousy strategy for healthy society. On the other hand, the more heads and hands we raise up to address difficulties, the better our chances of success.
“Abortion opponents don’t care about babies after birth (and they’re generally unkind).” The proliferation of pregnancy resource centers demonstrates the profound compassion and commitment of these sensitive and generous communities. For Life Christians participate more in adoption and fostering than any other demographic.
“Pregnancy resource centers mislead vulnerable women.” It is true that PRCs do not facilitate abortions. It’s also true that they prefer birth and do so with explicit Christian convictions. However, they support persons regardless of decisions, materially and emotionally, with patience but without pressure, providing resources and relationships. And almost all of the funding comes from private charity rather than diverting public monies.
“Christians think abortion amounts to an unforgivable sin.” God loves everyone who permits, promotes, or participates in abortion just as much as all the lives lost to it. Jesus came and died to make up for this sin and make us free from its guilt. Anyone who desires His forgiveness already has it along with His everlasting favor. Only believing such forgiveness unnecessary excludes from it.