Toward a Pro-Life Reality as Followers of Jesus: 10 Practical Steps
When there is devastating news about children, I sometimes get asked for a response. Sometimes it’s a public response and sometimes private. I’m on staff at a church in the Midwest and the people I’m responsible for are one of our most vulnerable populations in our group of believers-those people from conception through kindergarten and their families. Obviously, I take a stance that is based on a belief that human life begins at conception, so understand that’s where I’m coming from.
I don’t think we admit it but I know it’s true–sometimes talking about abortion feels pointless. What can I really do about it all? It’s overwhelming. It might not change anything. How should I respond? Here are 10 things I think we can think through as followers of Jesus (in addition to the more obvious prayer and fasting):
Adopt or foster
Most recent data from the US government shows that over 400,000 children are in foster care in our country. What would it look like if more families stepped up to foster a child or sibling set? What if we looked at adoption as a first-choice for parenting instead of a last resort? What if case workers knew that they could call the church down the street to recruit people to apply to be foster parents? What if families applied to be respite foster parents or short-term emergency foster parents? What if you weren’t using foster care as a means of completing your family, but you viewed foster care as a way to support a vulnerable family?
Fund adoption and families that foster
I know you might be saying that adoption and fostering isn’t for you. You’re right, it’s not for everyone. I’m not currently doing either one of these things myself. One of my hang-ups is lack of funds and support, honestly. We are a family with two working parents and no extended family around. We don’t have much disposable income to pay exorbitant adoptions fees, either. Also, have you tried to wade through adoption funding materials online? My goodness it’s exhausting. What if church set up a special fund designated specifically to fund local and international adoptions? To fund health care for bringing home babies or children with special needs? To help fund medical costs for moms who choose life instead of abortion?
Become a trauma-informed church
If you support adoption and fostering parents, you’re going to have a lot of children that have had more adverse life experiences (ACEs) than you can possibly imagine. As ACEs increase in a child’s life, so do other outcomes such as: alcoholism, drug use, poor academic and work performance, health issues, and many more negative outcomes. As a children’s ministry, you’ll need to be prepared to welcome families working through these traumatic experiences. Learn what it means to be trauma-informed. Invest in a key leader at your church to train others to work with children and families who have been in hard places.
Advocate for economic policies that support families and support people that are vulnerable
When asked why women seek an abortion, many women cite financial reasons and/or lack of support during and after pregnancy. Advocating for better family support policies would surely enable women to choose life in some cases when they otherwise might not have. Examples of policies that support women and families include: provision of viable paths for job training, extended paid family leave, high-quality affordable early childhood care and education, better access to high quality medical care. And for goodness sakes, VOTE. Taking it a step further, what resources do you personally have available to you that would allow you to support a vulnerable mom? Are you a dentist and could offer your services? Are you a teacher and could help tutor? Are you an accountant and could help with budgeting? Are you a mechanic and could help with car repairs?
Be lovingly vocal about overturning abortion laws
It’s a dangerous path to walk when you seek to simply limit the number of abortions instead of seeking to eliminate abortions. Know what’s going on in your area and stay on top of it. This one’s hard for me. I don’t really enjoy politics and I don’t like calling legislator’s offices. The easiest things for me to do has been to find a form letter and use it, or write something similar. Highlight portions to say out loud before calling (and it’s usually leaving a message).
Note that I said “lovingly.” Doing the work is loving. Saying on social media that people who voted for codifying abortion should burn in hell is neither loving nor pro-life. Pointing those around you to the hope we have in Jesus is loving. Have discussions with those in your influence or voting for legislators with a robust pro-life ethic can be a loving way to be vocal about overturning abortion laws.
Celebrate and value all life
Now hear me out. Being pro-life isn’t just about babies and abortion. Being pro-life is much broader and deeper. Be a church that values all people-immigrants, kids, people with disabilities, elderly, widows/widowers, people living in correctional facilities, the LGBT+ community, people you don’t know on social media, politicians, ALL HUMANS-because we are each made in the image of God. Each person has been created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27) and is worthy of being treated with dignity and respect.
Educate yourself on various pro-life and ethical issues
Read wide and deep on pro-life and ethical issues. Know what you believe and why. Know what’s going on in your community. Familiarize yourself with local and national organizations that are serving vulnerable populations and pick one to support in some way (e.g., volunteer, donate items, give money).
Live out a pro-life ethic
As a church and individuals we have to be ready to support young women who choose life. Help young women finish high school and college. Babysit, provide housing, help with regular childcare, groceries, medical costs, welcome them in to your church family. Learn how to support families working through mental illness or disabilities. Provide meals or transportation. Include people with disabilities into your normal life of your church. Invite them to serve.
Serve at church
Children’s ministry is a pro-life issue. Sure, I’m completely biased because that’s where I live every day of my life but I don’t think I’m way off base here. Is your children’s ministry at your church highlighted? Is the children’s ministry staff part of the global leadership conversation or are they seen as lesser? Do you teach children using developmentally appropriate practices from the time they’re born or do you wait until kindergarten because they probably can’t learn much anyway? Do you plan programs with children in mind? Do people willingly serve in children’s ministry or is it like pulling teeth to find adults who will invest in children? See what I mean? When your age-graded ministries are vibrant and prominent, it shows the world that you value children for who they are TODAY, not for who they’ll be eventually. Same with senior adults. Are they valued for who they are TODAY? Being pro-life is about valuing people for who they are, not for what kind of power they have or what they can contribute.
Remember whose you are
Philippians 3:20-21 says: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Our loyalty isn’t first to our country or our political party but to Jesus Christ. That is true if you are a believer. Also as believers, you can’t expect those that don’t believe the same thing to act as if they do. Expect that your opinion and your beliefs will give you difficulties. John 16:33 tells us that we can expect trouble because of who we’re following. But the Bible then says, “Take heart; I have overcome the world.”
So take heart, Jesus has overcome the world! Love others loud and be a light, pointing those around you to the hope we have in Christ.
