A Faithful Sower

As the U.S. Supreme Court enters into a new term, some high-profile cases are on the docket. One of which should be of keen interest to the Christian community: “abortion access.” The eyes of the liberal left and conservative right will also be watching intently. Especially now that the court seemingly leans more to the traditional side of the political aisle than the progressive. Many presume that such a shift came about after Justice Joan Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing in 2020 and the subsequent appointment of Justice Amy Coney Barrett that same year.

The Texas Heartbeat Act that went into effect last month bans most abortions in the state once a fetal heartbeat is detected, occurring about six weeks into a pregnancy. This law is interesting because enforcement will take place in the civil courts, not criminal courts. Moreover, anyone involved with the act of performing an illegal abortion can be subject to a lawsuit by anyone. It is a much-needed and robust measure to help protect the innocent unborn. Since the landmark decision of Roe vs. Wade in 1973, more than 61 million abortions have taken place in the United States. That is 61 million children who were denied the right to live, 61 million children who were slaughtered for nothing more than perhaps convenience.

In December, Supreme Court justices will hear arguments over Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, signed into law in 2018 as the Gestational Age Act. Some view the court’s hearing as just an administrative drill since justices ruled 5-4 this past summer to allow the more stringent Texas Heartbeat Act to remain in effect. In addition, it also seems somewhat irrelevant at this point since Mississippi signed its version of the Heartbeat Act into law in 2019, which also bans most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected.

For Christians, the answer is simple. The biblical worldview sees life as a gift put in motion by the very breath of God. It is a view that sees abortion as a deliberate act that takes another’s life and stands in violation of God’s written word; you shall not commit murder. God commands that we are not to kill one another as a premeditated act based on anger, jealously, and so on. For example, Cain’s mindset as he rose against his brother Abel out of rage and killed him (Gen. 4:8). Another example was King David when he premeditated Uriah’s death because he longed for the man’s wife, Bathsheba, to be his own (2 Sam. 11:15). When asked which of the commandments is the greatest, Jesus replied:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:37-40

If we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, to love our neighbor as we love ourselves will come as a natural byproduct. By loving our neighbor as God loves us, the act of premeditated murder is inconceivable regardless of whether it is a life living in the world or one in gestation. As Christians, our job is simple; we must get out and proclaim the gospel to all that will hear. We must step out and make disciples for Jesus Christ; we must teach them God’s word so they, too, can adopt a biblical worldview. In time, perhaps the madness of widespread murder against innocent and helpless children in their mother’s womb will cease.

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