I saw the first Planned Parenthood video early Wednesday morning. It was minutes before our daughter’s catechism and family worship. The images prompted by the footage were still in my mind, as I heard my daughter’s small voice answer the first question: “Jael, who made you?” Her response: “God made me.”
A Grotesque Dinner
In her answer are the voices of the many tiny image-bearers whose abortions were so callously described by Deborah Nucatola, the Director of Medical Services for the Planned Parenthood.
In a video, secretly recorded by investigators, Nucatola details the strategic extraction of intact fetuses for the purpose of organ harvesting. She chews casually on her dinner as she illustrates particular abortion techniques that yield “success” in meeting the needs of her buyers for certain body parts.
Grotesque doesn’t capture the scene. Surely this video serves as a reminder of the conscious-hardening effects of sin, and the evil that can dwell in the heart of humankind (Romans 1:18-21). Admittedly, as I considered the video, I was reawakened, not only to the sinful practices of Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry but, to my own sins.
Past Ideologies
There was a time when I reasoned more from cultural ideology than from God’s word concerning abortion. While I never supported it, my thinking was somewhat swayed by partisanship. I gave focus to the hypocrisy of those who seemingly failed to promote a true “birth-to-death-pro-life-agenda” in the case of marginalized Americans.
This thinking left the main point for a sideline issue—particularly with those who agree with me on the fundamental evils of abortion. In truth, I looked more to sound bites than to our shared and true narrative. [inlinetweet prefix=”” tweeter=”” suffix=””]I repent today knowing that, far from a political issue, abortion is a Gospel issue.[/inlinetweet]
Humans are Made by and For God
It’s a Gospel issue because God made us and that truth is essential to the Gospel message (Genesis 1:26-27). [inlinetweet prefix=”” tweeter=”” suffix=””]Creation tells us that we are not the result of chance, but the direct and unique work of God. He made us for his own glory and for his own purposes.[/inlinetweet] So when defenseless human beings, made by and for God, are targeted for death and then sliced apart and sold for gain, the minutia of political loyalties must fade to the brilliance of God’s truth.
Abortion is a sin against our Creator (Exodus 20:13).
Love Your Neighbor
As a member of the Black church, it seems to me we have passed by to the other side of the road too often on this issue. Where is the outrage and heartbreak for the little faces missing from our own congregations? Before today, I had never cried for the missing children aborted in my church, who may have stood next to my daughter to declare: “God made me!”
Offenders like Planned Parenthood are no friend of women— particularly black and brown women. Nucatola’s cold words in the video express no thought for a woman’s body. Rather her expressed interest appears to be for the baby’s body and the profit it brings. Yet these vulnerable little ones are also our neighbors. And they find themselves among ruthless raiders: men and women who skillfully mine them for their parts. May God help us to be good neighbors to these human beings (Luke 10:25-37).
[inlinetweet prefix=”” tweeter=”” suffix=””]Yes, to mourn is good. To speak and act with mercy, compassion, and boldness is even better. [/inlinetweet]May the LORD help his people do just that.
Daniel Darling offers helpful thoughts on how Christians can speak and act on the issue of abortion.
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