If God Be with Us
by Stephen R. Burke Vol. X, No. 2, February 1997
These are uncertain times for pro-lifers. In the wake of the 1996 presidential elections, many politicians regard the pro-life vote as not worth pursuing. They have good reason for this -- after outraging pro-lifers (and many others) with his veto of the ban on so-called "partial-birth" abortions, Bill Clinton was handily re-elected with the help of a majority of Catholics, as well as a substantial number of Evangelicals. Clinton's stand on abortion (i.e., "the more the better") did nothing to dissuade countless Christians from voting for him. Scandalous divisions among pro-lifers undoubtedly contributed to our ineffectiveness in the political realm.
When our strategy is clearly failing, the most prudent course is not more tinkering, but an honest assessment of how faithfully we have upheld the basics of our beliefs. It is dangerously easy to assume that we are doing well (or at least doing good) if we mean well. While we will not be held accountable for the pro-life movement's ultimate success or failure, we will surely be judged on our faithfulness to biblical principles. Jesus commanded his followers to be as clever as serpents while remaining as innocent as doves (Matt. 10:16). Many pro-lifers today seem to be failing in both areas.
How clever are we when we repeatedly accept promises that have always been broken? Or when we cling to a political party that has nothing but contempt for us, believing that we have nowhere else to go? How clever (or faithful) are we when we avoid discussing abortion because we are afraid of offending someone whose approval we crave? Jesus warned us that he did not come to bring peace to the world, but rather divisiveness between those who believe the truth and those who do not. He declared that divisions would occur even within families (Matt. 10:35-36). He made it clear that faithfulness to His teachings is more important than harmony among individuals. Lukewarm people repulsed Him (Rev. 3:16). So how can we, in good conscience, avoid our duty to speak the truth?
Do we really believe that every preborn child is a human person, created in the image and likeness of God? Do we really believe that every child's life is of infinite value? Then how can we agree that some preborn children, whether they be handicapped, inconvenient, or otherwise unwanted, should not be under the protection of the law? If we agree that any particular abortion can be justified, then we become unfaithful -- and we are certainly not being clever, since we are agreeing with our opponents that the value of human life is relative.
We should learn from the pro-abortion side: They have been far more successful than we, mainly because they have consistently opposed any restrictions on abortion, even on "partial-birth" abortions. Pro-lifers have repeatedly compromised, and the result has been repeated defeats. When will we learn that our opponents are not seeking some middle ground, but only maneuvering room in which they can defeat us? This is not some polite disagreement -- we must become more assertive if we expect to succeed.
One requirement for pro-life work is a willingness to risk unpopularity when we speak the truth. If we are unwilling to do that, then we are worthless servants. Belief in absolute truth is becoming increasingly rare today, but our divine mandate to "speak the truth, in season and out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2) has not diminished. We must not flinch before the world's attacks, but stand firm in our commitment. This faithfulness is our only chance for success, both in the pro-life movement and in the eternal perspective.
Certainly rejection and hostility are unpleasant. But Jesus endured worse for our sake. Can we do less for our preborn brothers and sisters, who are far more innocent than we?
[Reprinted with permission from Celebrate Life, January-February 1997, published by American Life League, P.O. Box 1350, Stafford, VA 22555.]