The reversal of Roe v Wade
Last week, the US Supreme Court officially reversed the landmark Roe v Wade decision, opening the door for individual states to decide whether or not abortion is allowed within their borders, and there are a lot of different things going through my heart and mind.
First and foremost, I rejoice that God is still love (1 John 4:8), and he still loves the world (John 3:16). This is an unconditional statement which includes men and women of all colors and socioeconomic situations. It includes people of every political party and both pro-choice and pro-life persuasions. It includes sinners like me, saints, absentee fathers, unwed mothers, and women who have had abortions in the past. Let me be clear: no matter who or where you are, God loves you.
Additionally, I rejoice in the protection that may be afforded to the unborn. I am unapologetically pro-life because the Bible tells me that all humans are made in the image of God, even if they are dependent on someone else for their survival. This includes the unborn, the sick, the elderly, the incarcerated, and the differently-enabled. It is not contingent on a heartbeat or breathing lungs because doctors regularly resuscitate persons in various states of cardiopulmonary arrest. Neither is it contingent on the opinions of others.
On the other hand, I lament the decision because it does not put an end to terrible situations. Babies will still be conceived with terrible defects, and there will still be situations in which carrying a pregnancy to term will be profoundly dangerous or even deadly to the mother. Women will still be raped or impregnated by persons who do not deserve to be called men and even less “daddy.” Parents will still be more interested in their drugs than their newborns. Families will still have to choose between paying rent and buying groceries. Girls will still be utterly unprepared for motherhood, boys will still be ill-equipped for fatherhood, and yes, a baby will still completely disrupt their plans to finish school and such. We can celebrate the reversal of Roe v Wade, but these and more terrible situations remain a reality.
On yet another hand, I rejoice also because this decision begins to return a degree of consistency to our laws. In many places across our nation, the law was shockingly inconsistent concerning the death of an unborn child. For example, a drunk driver could be charged for vehicular homicide and worse if she killed an unborn baby, but that same pregnancy could be terminated at an abortion clinic without legal repercussion. The only difference between the two cases was whether the mother wanted the child. No one’s legitimacy or value should be determined by whether another person wants them.
Then again, I lament also because, in many ways, this decision actually exacerbates the inconsistency of our laws. Instead of a singular federal rule regarding abortion, the matter will now be decided by state legislatures, and a new Mason-Dixon line will be scribbled across our nation. Worse, what was previously a tiny pebble in the political power struggle has suddenly become a profound fulcrum that both political parties will use to rally their bases. In states where abortion rights are retained, pro-life candidates will issue a rally cry; in states where they are removed, pro-choice candidates will do the same. Vast amounts of money will be raised, campaigns will spend it to sling so much caustic mud that we will all be covered, and as the majority parties flip and flop back and forth, so will the laws in their respective states. For two years, then, abortion will be outlawed in a state. Then it will be legal. Then it will be outlawed. Then it will be legal, and so on and so forth.
Perhaps the worst thing of all, though, is that too many believe the reversal of Roe v Wade was the whole objective of the so-called culture war. Thus, victory is now in hand, and the nation is at last saved. On the contrary, abortions will still happen, but now they will be performed in the shadows, away from the regulations and accountability that previously protected women. Some babies that are not aborted will be dumped in trash bins moments after birth, and their overwhelmed mothers will be prosecuted for child neglect or even murder. Others will merely be treated like trash. The foster care and adoption systems of our nation, already strained, may well be broken under the strain. And even those families who heed the new laws and endeavor to raise their children right will resent the law and those who made it.
There is a reason Jesus did not save the world in Rome. In Romans 3:19-20, St. Paul observed that the Mosaic law was written to convict lawbreakers of their sin, and it never saved anyone. No, the law was never intended to bring real life. This truth remains unchanged.
As believers in Christ, we know and celebrate this. We are not saved by law, but the gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23). We are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:5).
More, this grace leads us to conduct ourselves differently. Namely, we do the good works which God prepared ahead of time for us to do (Ephesians 2:10), and we do not return evil in kind, but we overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).
What does this look like? Consider the words of Matthew 14:14: “When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick.” Jesus had compassion; healed; and in the subsequent verses, met their temporal needs by feeding them. And when the disciples followed this pattern in Acts 3, it resulted in thousands of people being saved.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, it is okay to celebrate this victory, but let us never cross the line into gloating. More, let our celebrations always be second to compassion. That is, let us recognize that the work is far from done. The hands and feet of Jesus are still needed in this world. Indeed, they are needed now more than ever, and we must deliver.
Let us, therefore, redouble our commitment to loving mothers and children of all ages. Let us renew our love for women who have experienced abortion. Let us rekindle our compassion for families in need of food, diapers, friendship, and more. Let us be known by our love for God, and let us reflect his love for people. Let us be more concerned to be beacons of compassion and hope than we are to celebrate this very minor victory.