On New Year's Eve we answered a call to GO meet an abortion-minded woman with our Mobile Medical Clinic. She requested a particular location far from her community so nobody would see her. The beauty of mobile ministry is our agility in the off hours, flexibility to go to the client and availability when most of the world is shut down.
We pulled up alongside a department store wall in North Raleigh and there we
watched a beautiful, professional, 30-something walk on board. Her spirit
overwhelmed, her demeanor scared, her disposition sweet and gentle.
As her story unfolded, it seemed every obstacle to choosing LIFE was very easy to "fix". A few financial concerns--done, we can handle that...the check can be ready next week. Professional concerns--done, we will network your business to replace customers lost because "you're pregnant and not married", the First Choice community will rally around you. We talked more and she shared that her family would be supportive, probably excited--awesome. The baby's father is supportive of whatever she chooses, ok--better than pressuring or running.
"I don't get it, her pregnancy should be an easy decision for her", I thought. Then the story unfolded...
The baby's father is a "Christian leader". NOW WE HAVE THE REAL ISSUE! And it's one we can't do anything about unless he sits down to talk with us. It's THE show stopper.
I'll be completely honest--my head and heart were reeling for days. When I called to follow up she calmly said, "we worked through the pro/con exercise you sent me home with and we've just decided it isn't a good time to have a baby for either of us. He found out on New Year's Day he is being promoted" and my mouth fell open. I was glad she couldn't see my face. I hung up and fury set in.
My fury was not with her, it wasn't even with him. My fury was with the Church. Christians could grow up in and not have a conviction for LIFE, the question of whether or not to abort was not a moral one, it was a question of timing and convenience.
I LOVE the Bride of Christ so please don't hear me wrong, my fury lies in the places where the Bride is silent on the greatest injustice of our lifetime, perhaps ever.
Consider this quote from a frontline fighter for legalized abortion:
As her story unfolded, it seemed every obstacle to choosing LIFE was very easy to "fix". A few financial concerns--done, we can handle that...the check can be ready next week. Professional concerns--done, we will network your business to replace customers lost because "you're pregnant and not married", the First Choice community will rally around you. We talked more and she shared that her family would be supportive, probably excited--awesome. The baby's father is supportive of whatever she chooses, ok--better than pressuring or running.
"I don't get it, her pregnancy should be an easy decision for her", I thought. Then the story unfolded...
The baby's father is a "Christian leader". NOW WE HAVE THE REAL ISSUE! And it's one we can't do anything about unless he sits down to talk with us. It's THE show stopper.
I'll be completely honest--my head and heart were reeling for days. When I called to follow up she calmly said, "we worked through the pro/con exercise you sent me home with and we've just decided it isn't a good time to have a baby for either of us. He found out on New Year's Day he is being promoted" and my mouth fell open. I was glad she couldn't see my face. I hung up and fury set in.
My fury was not with her, it wasn't even with him. My fury was with the Church. Christians could grow up in and not have a conviction for LIFE, the question of whether or not to abort was not a moral one, it was a question of timing and convenience.
I LOVE the Bride of Christ so please don't hear me wrong, my fury lies in the places where the Bride is silent on the greatest injustice of our lifetime, perhaps ever.
Consider this quote from a frontline fighter for legalized abortion:
Dr. Bernard Nathanson, one of the
founders of NARAL—formerly the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion
Laws and now the National Abortion Rights Action League, said this:
"It was in the late 60’s when we organized NARAL. Most of our activity and our activism were predicated or premised on the fact that the clergy and Church was not vigilant. The Church was virtually sleeping on the subject that they could not envision such a social revolution as legalizing abortion. We took great advantage of that because once the clergy and Church were caught napping and we moved ahead of them, by the time they woke up to the fact that we were miles ahead of them, it was Roe v. Wade time and suddenly abortion was legal.
"It was in the late 60’s when we organized NARAL. Most of our activity and our activism were predicated or premised on the fact that the clergy and Church was not vigilant. The Church was virtually sleeping on the subject that they could not envision such a social revolution as legalizing abortion. We took great advantage of that because once the clergy and Church were caught napping and we moved ahead of them, by the time they woke up to the fact that we were miles ahead of them, it was Roe v. Wade time and suddenly abortion was legal.
Is the church, is your church, any more awake today than the church of the 1970s who napped while the taking of LIFE in the womb was legalized?
1/4 of the local church have been party to an abortion. Estimates show that 33-43% of American women will have at least one abortion by age 45. 1 in 5 identify themselves as evangelical Christians (http://www.guttmacher.org/media/nr/prabort2.html). Could this be because we've lost our courage to speak up for the defenseless?
So, what happened with "Quinn"? The last time we talked she was still pregnant and she was "all cried out". My hunch says she aborted this weekend, Sanctity of Life weekend...but let's pray together that I'm wrong and that God is working this out as a story of courage and faith, not death and destruction. Either way, this precious woman needs the Body of Christ and God's grace today and each day to come. Either way, this child's life is in God's hands whether he or she is still in the womb or now in the throne room of heaven worshiping the ONE who paid the price on the cross and overcame death.
With a wrenched heart, I ask you to resolve a relentless defense of LIFE in every area of the life that God has gifted you with for His glory.
Sincerely,
Amber Lehman, CEO...and the mother of Victoria Elise who joined the throne room of heaven through an abortion clinic 23 years ago this March.
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