If you've been following Tomi Lahren recently, you most likely have heard of her talking about her pro-choice stance on abortion on The View which led to Glenn Beck suspending her from TheBlaze.
As a Christian, I strongly disagree with her stance on abortion. However, I will say that I'm happy that she said what she thinks, especially since she did bring up months ago that she is socially moderate. It gives me great joy that women like Tomi are joining in national conversations such as on abortion. We need voices like hers because that is what America is all about. To quote Tomi directly, "Whether you love what I'm saying or hate what I'm saying, you're having a reaction to it, and that is exactly what needs to happen in this country." Discussion is our bedrock.
Since I learned about what happened, I figured what better time than now to put in my two cents.
Today, abortion has become an issue not only in Washington but in the universal Church. Growing up in a Christian home, my family and I had the consensus as Christians that standing up for life was the right thing to do just because it simply was the right thing to do.
We know that the two main stances concerning abortion are pro-life and pro-choice. However, I've discovered recently that the two stances don't seem to be enough to cover the issue and at times can be vague.
No matter where you stand on abortion, being pro-life should mean caring about these lives not only after birth but also beyond.
The common Bible verse against abortion comes from Psalm 139:13- For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
Understandably, I notice people stop there. While this verse is well-meaning, I do, however, have other verses that don't necessarily touch on abortion but are a part of my position.
Matthew 18:1-5 - At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Matthew 19:13,14 - Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is these that the kingdom of heaven belongs."
Genesis 1:28,31 - God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.
Matthew 28:19,20 - (Jesus): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
The last verse makes the least sense, but I'll explain in greater detail later on.
Let's go ahead and look at some facts.
In Oklahoma City (my hometown), the poverty rate as it relates to the city's population is around 18.3% (the population as of 2015 being over 630,000), according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source can be found here.
There's a good chance that a part of this poverty rate includes women who have had to wrestle with abortions in the past. Every situation is going to be different, but the reality is that these are going to be the same women who have had struggles of all kinds.
A survey done in 2004 reported that 14% of abortions were done because the husband or partner wanted the abortion done, with less than a half percent being the most important reason. The same survey said that 48% of abortions were performed because the woman wanted to avoid being a single mom or had problems with her relationship, with 8% being the most important reason.
Source can be found here for these as well as the rest of the statistics.
Based on the survey, I can understand the motive behind being pro-choice, although I'm unashamedly pro-life. The question I have here is where do pro-choice advocates draw the line on being pro-choice? Should the choice be given to the woman only, regardless of what parents think or what the husband/partner thinks? If yes, should the term be called "pro-woman's choice" instead? I honestly would love some feedback on this. I know that most pro-choice advocates would also be advocating for women's rights, so that is why I'm curious.
A question I have for my fellow Christian pro-lifers is what motivates you to be pro-life? Is it just to hope for a developed baby to live?
The problem is if we continue to act this way, we won't be able to actively break our hearts for what breaks His, and that includes breaking our hearts for the woman, not just the baby.
The reason why I included the Matthew 28 passage is because that is our main goal as Christians; it's the Great Commission. Having a family and continuing generations are all well and good. Even though we don't know when the world will end, having children is for a purpose: to continue and carry on the next generation and to keep the world going. However, we are called to make disciples, not just make babies. I like others want to see whole families come to Christ, be made new, and be born again- that is how special Jesus is. Positions don't matter if Jesus truly isn't in the picture the way the Bible tells about it.
