Abortion Prevention: Reversing the Underlying Cause

by Glenn A. Brown                                                                                       Vol. IX, No. 2, February 1996

Abortion is a daily business in America - one viewed as a reprehensible solution to tragic circumstances by millions, but defended as an essential human service by millions of others. Each year -- 26 of them since Roe v. Wade -- has registered tragic death for approximately 1.5 million babies in their first weeks or months of existence. And the tragedy plays on.

It seems the war over abortion is largely being waged at the point of legislation. Wise and good laws are needed, but legislation alone can never solve the abortion issue. The demand for abortion is fueled by crisis pregnancies, arising in most cases from sex outside of marriage. A relatively small percentage relates to medical emergencies.

It is ludicrous to think legislation or "safe sex" campaigns will eliminate premarital and extra-marital sex. Neither penetrates to human hearts where understandings and commitments dictate behavior.

Lou Allard, director of BGCO's crisis pregnancy center in Oklahoma City, says that of the young women the center counsels who would consider abortion, 95-97 percent are single women.

What happened to the idea that sex belongs only in marriage? What happened to the belief that human life at every stage is sacred and inviolable?

Forget for the moment those in the secular world who want nothing to do with spiritual understandings and convictions. What are our churches doing to help children and youth understand their sexuality and develop the skills and concepts necessary to cope with the temptations they face? What are churches doing to help adults build happy homes and fulfilling marriage relationships? Precious little in too many cases. Allard says youth ministers tell her that the number one problem with teens in churches is not alcohol and drugs, but sex.

Of all organizations, churches can and should set the pace for teaching children, teens, and adults the spiritual principles for handling their sexuality. The fact that teens across the nation have responded so positively and in such large numbers to “True Love Waits” indicates that teens can and will accept the challenges to postpone sex until marriage and that they are interested in knowing and following proven guidelines for happy and loving marriage relationships.

Tragically, many other teens and adults in our churches don’t really know – or refuse to accept – what the Bible says about fornication and adultery. Some regard the Bible as being out of date and not applicable to their sexual behavior. They have never caught a vision of the joy, happiness, and fulfillment that God intends for marriage, sex, and family.

It is not enough to condemn wrong actions. We must wake up and face the challenge of training and equipping our young people to live exciting, yet godly lives in spite of the temptations they must face everyday. There are many teens and young adults who testify that it can be done. It is a great and worthy challenge.

[Glenn A. Brown is editor of the Oklahoma Baptist Messenger. The above is a reprint of his editorial in the 18 January (1996) Baptist Messenger.]