What our friends are doing is the work Christians should do if they care about the life of unborn children. In that vein, here is my action list for pro-lifers who want to take the long, arduous road of compassionate love:
- Stop vilifying women and girls who have babies out of wedlock. I've seen the disgusted looks, heard the condemning comments. Yes, from Christians. Yes, in church. This has got to stop. Abortion is blood on the hands of us as Christ-followers. The shame we heap on women who get pregnant outside of marriage often leads them to take the lives of their children. Yes, fornication is a sin. A haughty attitude is also a sin. Which does Jesus dislike more? He hates both sins equally. He died for people who commit both sins. He loves them both.
- Teach your sons to take responsibility for their actions. Our sons' bodies and reputations will not be sacrificed for a child the way our daughters' will be. This is a huge reason to teach young men not only to respect young women, but to honor them the way Christ honors the church. I understand guys are wild at heart, but please. Teach your sons to honor women and take responsibility for their actions and not act like girls are overreacting when they try to protect themselves. The conversation about rape culture has arisen because we do not teach our sons properly and well on this point.
- Welcome and serve single moms in your community without demonizing or "other-izing" them.
- Volunteer for a reputable crisis pregnancy organization.
- Work in foster care.
- Adopt.
These are Christian responses to the abortion debate. The culture will do whatever. We as Christ-followers have an obligation to respond with humility and compassion as well as truth.
