Remember What is True: Thinking Through and Responding to the Pro-Abortion Staving of the "Red Wave"

Many expected a massive “red wave” in the mid-term elections on Tuesday mainly in response to current painful economic conditions.  It seems that outside of Florida the wave did not materialize.  Some have supposed that the primary reason for the staving of this wave was a popular backlash against the Supreme Court ruling striking down Roe vs. Wade.  This seems likely as numerous states passed constitutional amendments supporting abortion rights, and even the conservative Commonwealth of Kentucky saw pro-life proposal defeated.  It appears that the nation is far more supportive of abortion than perhaps many conservatives wanted to believe.

Evangelicals were rightly enthusiastic about the Supreme Court ruling.  We are rightly disappointed with signs of widespread support for abortion.  However, I’d like to suggest several ways the Scriptures encourage us to think about these things and carry on with our mission as elect exiles.

1. Be calm: God is in control. 

We are tempted in times like these to panic as if our godless culture is a stagecoach being furiously driven by the spirit of the age. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

Psalm 33:10-11 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.  

Proverbs 21:1  The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.  

Job 12:23-25  He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away. 24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste. 25 They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.  

These are great times to the OT as it reminds us that the wills of nations and kings bend to the ultimate control of God.  It certainly appears at times as it the course of the nation and the world lies in the hands of bloodthirsty tyrants and fools.  Yet, if the Bible is true—and it is—behind every decision of a king and every vote of an electorate is a Sovereign God wielding all authority.

2. Be confident: God is moving all things toward His good ends. 

The previous point would be little comfort if God’s control wasn’t exercised for good.  But we know it is. 

Romans 8:28–30 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

The good that God brings is manifold and certain.  He will bring His chosen to salvation and eventually to glory.  Along the way, He will conform them to the image of His Son.  Many passages demonstrate He will inevitably execute judgment upon the wicked (Ps 1:5; 9:16; Rev 20:7-15). 

We may not know how recent events work toward those ends, but given God’s perfect record and promises, we can trust that they do.

3. Be steadfast: God’s Word is true.  

Among a swelling tide of public opinion in favor of abortion, it may also be tempting to reconsider our position on this issue.  We should not.  

Malachi 3:6a “For I the Lord do not change.”

I won’t reproduce an entire Biblical case for the sanctity of life here.  But you can find a sermon on that topic on our website.

As the culture becomes increasingly godless, we can expect it to come into greater non-conformity to biblical morality.  The Bible is wrong nor have we missed the mark.  The culture is further from God.

4. Be vocal: God’s Gospel is the answer.  

In light of the previous point, it is all the more crucial that we become more vocal, not less.  Our temptation in the face of opposition may be to hide our view.  Nothing could be less loving or appropriate under the circumstances.  The world is on fire and we have the only source of water.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

2 Corinthians 5:11–21 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others…14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised…18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Certainly, we should be conversant with the apologetic arguments surrounding the abortion debate.  However, nothing will be more effective than the transformation of hearts through repentance and faith in Christ in response to the gospel.

5. Be kind: God’s character is winsome. 

If in our mission to turn the tide we channel some of the famous talking heads on radio and TV, our demeanor will be harsh and haughty.  But consider Christ: 

Matthew 11:28–30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  

Our hero, our model in this mission is Jesus Christ.  It is His character and kindness that leads the lost to repentance.  As we engage the culture with the gospel, as we stand for the life of the unborn, we must do so with the gentle, lowly character of Christ.

May our hearts be filled with the truth of God’s Word and confidence in the person of Christ in these days.  And may we be found faithful.