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My dear friends,
The graphic and stomach-churning depiction you see to the right (click to enlarge)is REAL. Every day, innocent babies in the womb are killed because many in our society have deemed abortion legal because they have placed the choice of the mother above what is undoubtedly morally wrong.
If these tiny children were teens or adults, and the same thing occurred, we all would scream out in indignation, “Stop! You can’t do that! This is murder! This is wrong!” However, because babies in the womb cannot be heard, and are too small and weak to fight off the abortionists prodding tools, we allow this atrocity to occur every day...within our own neighborhoods...at the hands of individuals who have sworn to uphold life through the Hippocratic Oath, and yet, they only destroy it.
We have all heard the same tired arguments, yet, not even sugar-coating or attempts to justify this horror can make this evil and wrong right. Especially in the case of partial-birth abortion where the entire baby except the head is allowed to exit the mother’s body, and the child is then gruesomely killed, how does this act preserve the mother’s life if she obviously was able to safely birth her baby? Abortion advocates also argue, “We already have enough people in this world, we don’t need more! Abortion helps to control the population!” Yes, the world contains many people, but with every birth there is also a death. Death is a natural process we all will face one day, and if you wouldn’t support killing a teen in order to reduce the population, why on earth would you think it is any more justifiable to kill a baby? Pro-abortionists also say, “Should we force women to give birth when they don’t want to? You pro-life folks are just pro-birth and anti-choice!” The reality of this statement is that those who are against abortion are so because, for us, killing an innocent child is not a viable or moral option. If you still need to ask why, look again at the above actual photos. It is also false that we are only pro-birth since, for those in the pro-life platform, most of us believe in true empowerment for women, which is knowledge. It is this knowledge that those in the abortion industry do not want women to possess, for most women, once they fully understand the truth of abortion come to regard it for what it really is: murder. This is why most abortionists purposely use language to detract from a baby’s aliveness; instead referring to it as a ‘mass’ or ‘fetus.’ I don’t know about you but most pregnant women I know when carrying a baby say things like, “oh, my baby just kicked,” not, “The mass inside me just moved, “ or “My husband and I are going to have a fetus!” It is this blatant and purposeful denial of the truth that the abortion industry survives, and thus the reason pictures as the above MUST be shown. While those against abortion regard adoption as a viable option for those facing an unwanted pregnancy, one of our main goals is to inform, especially young women and men about the responsibilities that come with a sexual relationship so abortion will not even have to be a consideration. The time to talk about, ”What if I get pregnant?” is BEFORE having sex, not after. (cont. from previous page) One may compare the proper response to unwanted pregnancy in much the same way society would deal with the issue of car safety. In other words, societies awareness on the importance to buckle up your safety belt, have an air-bag installed in your car, don’t drive drunk or irresponsibly are all safety messages that the majority practices to decrease the risk of accident or death. These are precautions promoted and supported within the media as well as the homes of caring parents. If we can teach our children and young adults car safety, why is it that abortion supporters seem to be against similarly cautioning our nation’s young people on how to avoid unwanted pregnancy? Dare to mention supporting the concept of abstinence until marriage, and the pro-abortion arena tends to act as if this philosophy is simply impractical. Do we think it is impractical and unrealistic to tell our children to wash their hands after using the toilet, or to buckle up before they drive? Sure we are aware some children still may not wash their hands before eating, and some young adults may neglect to fasten their seat belt before they speed off in a car, but what about the majority who WILL take heed to these precautions? In short, we cannot throw away an entire good and healthy philosophy simply because we are aware not everyone will practice it. It was not too long ago that preserving one’s virginity until marriage was standard practice. Today, the norm has drifted to casual pre-marital intercourse is more the norm, and those young people maintaining their virginity are more ridiculed than respected. Again, should our response as a caring people be to give in the pressures of modern society, or do we practice the same path as we would when telling our children to be leaders, not followers; to think for themselves, and not follow pack mentality? If one listens to young girls, more often than not they relay giving in to a male’s sexual advances so she will be better liked and more accepted. Why have we stopped teaching our young girls that their worth as females is about more than just what they can sexually provide a male? Why are we allowing our thirteen year old daughters to stay out till midnight, and letting them attend house parties with no adults around, or ride in cars alone with young males, often not even knowing where they are or who they are with? Many years ago, responsible parents encouraged their teens to group date rather than be left along were temptation could lurk, such as in the back-seat of a parked car. Caring parents also would never even consider letting their daughters out of the house with inappropriate clothing, yet how many moms and dads today don’t bat an eye when their young girls walk out of the house more resembling a prostitute or Madonna in her younger days, than the youthful spirit she is? Let’s face it, with divorce rates sky-rocketing, and children often being raised by a single parent who often must juggle family and work time, sometimes seeking comfort in the arms of the opposite sex is a strong emotional need. If these needs (safety, security and acceptance) are not met within the family, they will be met outside of the family unit. The deeper root of abortion rests in what has grown to become a society which has drifted away from God and godly principles. There is not a single weighing factor, but numerous erosions which have chipped away at our very moral fiber. This is why killing innocent babies is now accepted, and even deemed legal. Abortion supporters argue that abortion is legal so we should mind our own business and shut up. Let us not forget that at one time slavery was legal; it was accepted practice to treat people with black skin as lesser humans, even to beat and murder such people of color. So too were Jews, homosexuals and the mentally-ill murdered during the Holocaust because this too was at one time an accepted practice. In short, just because something is legal or common and accepted practice does not mean it is always right and good. Just as it took a courageous few to challenge these evils, and finally make a difference, so too must we be willing to take a stand to protect the innocent babies who are being slaughtered every day. It IS our business, and we must NOT be silent because WE are all the babies have. These tiny babies can’t speak out, but WE can. The question is, WILL YOU? Abortion supporters often state to justify killing babies, “What about if a woman is raped? Should we force her to keep the child?” The fact of the matter is that the majority of abortions are not a result of rape or incest, but of simple failure to use birth control, or failure to use it properly. Sadly, abortion is now looked upon by many as a form of birth control since young people now know if an unwanted pregnancy occurs all they have to do is abort the child. Once again, birth control is something couples need to discuss BEFORE sex since, as the name implies, its purpose is to control birth (ie: conception). Abortion is not about controlling a birth since once conception begins, a human life now exists. Abortion advocates then argue, “It’s not a life or baby or human until it is out of the womb!” Really? Take another look at the photos of abortion. It’s not a ‘mass’ or ‘clump of cells’ or something that has the ‘potential to be life,’ it IS a life. What saddens and sickens me most in this argument is that those who support abortion have a tendency to fight for animal rights, shouting such slogans as “Save the whales!” or “Save the rain-forests!” or “Save the Trees!” Yet, when it comes to precious and sacred human life, it is “Kill the babies!” Shockingly, I have even been told by abortion advocates, “It is better to abort the babies now than to allow them to enter in to a world of poverty and crime.” What gives us the right to play God by second-guessing what type of future a baby will have? What if we prejudged Mozart, Socrates, Jonas Salk, Thomas Edison and other great men and women of science whose existence impacted our society in a positive way? To condemn a baby to death simply because our world consists of both riches and poverty, sickness and health, is absurd. For all we know, this baby may grow up to discover the cure for cancer or AIDS. It is this practice which many pro-abortion advocates condone which pro-life supporters have coined, “The culture of death.” It is this “culture of death” which allows such individuals to also support getting rid of our nations elderly, who they feel are only a burden and serve little to no meaningful purpose, the severely handicapped and the weakest of our world, babies in the womb. However, not only is a mother’s womb no longer a safe haven, but in places as China, it is common for female babies to be abandoned, and left to die because males are regarded as more useful than females. In other places in the world, euthanasia, even of the non-terminal, is legal and commonly practiced. Once again, it is the disintegration of our spiritual roots which has caused many in our society to no longer respect life. A seal or whale is now given more respect and appreciation than a human baby. The culture of death is a sickness which speaks to who we have become as a people. Rather than progress and advance, we have become more barbaric. Think of what happened to Terri Schindler-Schiavo, the brain-damaged woman from Florida who was forced to die by starvation and dehydration. And yet, we have the audacity to regard ourselves as a civilized people? Shame on us. Abortion advocates have been known to say to pro-life supporters, “You say you respect life, yet you support the death penalty, and have no problem with our soldiers in the Armed Forces who may lose their life in war! That is hypocrisy! ” Firstly, not all people who oppose abortion are FOR the death penalty, and some may even be involved in protests against wars they may feel are not just. Lumping all pro-life supporters in to one group is a huge injustice in itself since we are as diverse as the colors of the rainbow. Secondly, there is a difference between murder and putting the guilty to death. An innocent baby in the womb is guilty of nothing, yet a criminal, such as a mass-murderer, who has proved through his actions that he cannot exist lawfully in society, and has been proven by a court of law to be guilty of the crimes he has committed, IS guilty. Keep in mind that criminals as serial killers typically understand that murder is wrong, yet they continue to commit their wrongful act knowing full well that if they are caught a severe punishment as life in jail or the death penalty may await. Again, a baby is guilty of nothing, and ending his life through abortion is not his choice. Regarding soldiers and the threat of death or injury while serving in the Armed Forces, no person in their right mind wants a soldier to lose their life or be hurt. However, these men and women who have chosen this career walk in to it knowing the risks. They also believe that what they are doing has the goal of homeland safety, and in attempting to do this, sometimes it is necessary to defend themselves. Those on both sides of the battle lines are adults who have made the decision to join their nation’s national defense organization. Soldiers on both sides of the fence understand the risks involved. Once again, a baby in the womb ready to be aborted did not make the choice to be destroyed; someone forced their will upon them, and that other person’s choice caused another innocent human beings death by murder. While the immediate after-effect of abortion may be one of relief over not having to worry about an unplanned pregnancy, many women eventually come to regret their choice. When that time comes, whether it is weeks, months or years down the road, the feelings of remorse, regret, guilt etc. are very real and very painful to women facing this painful time. Many women relay feeling deceived by the abortion industry, and are angry they were too naïve, trusting and frightened to ask questions and think ahead. Such women go may go through the same feelings of grief and loss as a mother who has lost her born child. Sometimes, the trauma is so intense such women fall into depression, have difficulty coping, and even become suicidal because their arms long to hold, protect and care for the child they aborted, but alas, there is no baby to hold. The gnawing knowledge that one has killed their child is a prison all its own, and one that only God’s grace and mercy can ease. You see, I know what I speak of because I am a women who past had an abortion.
Q: Doesn’t that make you a hypocrite? I mean, you speak out against abortion yet you yourself had one!
A: Would you call a former drug user who no longer uses drugs a hypocrite for now teaching young people about the dangers of drugs? Or, would you rather listen to what he had to say because this is a person who has been there and has learned the hard way? As a young woman, I never really had a chance to think about what my views on abortion were. I mean, I have been a Christian for as long as I can remember, but just because one is a Christian does not mean they have arrived to complete spiritual knowledge and understanding. Having children before marriage was not in my game plan so when I found out I was pregnant due to a foolish and irresponsible decision, I was immediately thrust in to “Now what?” mode. You can read more about my abortion testimony at http://www.safehavenministries.com/letters/melanie.htm. As you will read, I too initially felt a sense of relief..followed by a few years of emotional numbness. Dabbling in drugs and alcohol seemed to help keep me from facing the painful truth of what I had done. It was only when I later when I married my wonderful husband and gave birth to our first born child that the reality of my past abortion which I had tried to burry and hide deep within me came to the surface. Here it is over 20 yrs later, and while I know that God has forgiven me of this terrible sin I repented of, nothing can bring the baby I aborted back to life, or turn back the hands of time. I suspect a scar will remain with me always, and if my testimony can help even one person see that abortion is murder, and is thus, not a viable option or choice, then my sharing this private story with you is all worth it. Knowing that such a bitter situation can somehow be turned so God’s glory may be revealed adds a special comfort to my soul, and this too is an important part of the healing process. Our past mistake cannot be taken back, but we CAN make a difference today and tomorrow. If you are a woman who has made a similar bad choice, please know that where there is repentance, there is forgiveness. God’s merciful comfort is real. If you are already a Christian, please know that faith is action, and when we have a light we are not to hide it under a rock, but let it shine for all to see. In short, we have an obligation to share truth and shed light; God’s light. Now is the time to shine such a light on the horrors of abortion so no others will be deceived into believing a baby in the womb is not a precious and sacred life.
He Will Hear
"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; Neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness." - Isaiah 59:1-3
(Also see: Proverbs 28:9, James 4:3, Jeremiah 14:10)
Several years ago, I was talking to a teenaged boy who affirmed that he was raised in a devout Christian family, yet, he now wrestled not only with God's abilities, but His very presence. The boy stated, "What has God done for me lately? I prayed for Him to help me through some tough situations last year, and nothing happened!" When I delved into this young man's life, I found a teen who had drifted away from a family who was worried sick about what appeared to be their son's downward spiral. I also found a teen who had given in to peer pressure, was now using drugs and alcohol, and no longer giving careful consideration to his diet and health. In his attempts to fit into the "cool" crowd at school, he decided that studying was not "hip", but rebellion and disrespect was "in". I asked the young man, "Well, what have YOU done for God lately? I mean, was it God who abandoned you, or was it YOU who turned your back on God?" Why is it that we sometimes expect God to be a door mat that we can step all over, throw to the side, and then pull Him out when it is convenient for us? Then, when we don't get our way, we shake a fist in anger toward the heavens, cursing God for not bestowing upon us the desires of our heart. God always answers a pure heart, but various scriptures declare that there are several reasons why God cannot answer prayer. Such causes for unanswered prayer are hypocrisy, neglect of God's laws, forsaking God, idolatry, self-righteousness, lack of faith, asking amiss and living in sin. Our sins separate us from God, and where there is not genuine repentance, there cannot be forgiveness. Why? Because sin is contrary to the nature of God; He cannot dwell in a heart full of abominations. God always answers the prayers of those who love Him, but just as our earthly father sometimes has to say, "no" or "wait a little while", so too does our Heavenly Father. Just as no truly caring parent will give in to all his child's often selfish requests, we must learn to love God enough to trust His wisdom, because He alone can see the bigger picture. If you feel that God has not been listening to you, please take a good, honest look at your treatment of Him and others. We may be able to fool others, but God knows the true contents of our heart. Call out to God in sincere repentance today. He WILL answer. © 2004 Melanie Schurr |
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