Pro-Life Battlefronts

Life Bible Fellowship Church

Pro-Life Battlefronts

There is no debating the fact that abortion is a hot topic in our culture. And there is also no debate that there is a worldview clash when it comes to conversations about abortion. For anyone who wants to advocate and care for unborn babies, it is wise to know the central battlefronts in our culture right now. This post will walk through three clashes that are current battlefronts when it comes to the conversation about abortion in our country.

My Body, My Choice

It is impossible to delve very far into the abortion debate without hearing the slogan “My body, my choice.” This basically communicates that no one else gets to decide whether or not a woman has an abortion because abortion is a person choice about what she does with her body.

When speaking with Evangeline Sanders, Director of Development at Assure Pregnancy Clinic, she brought out the fact that many women who are reluctant to keep their unborn baby have not even come to grips with the idea that there is another person in the equation. The fears and the objections all relate to the woman’s life—school, work, finances, shelter—without yet thinking about the life of the baby. In fact, many women who end up having ultrasounds are surprised to see how clear and plain it is that it is a baby growing inside their womb.

When the realization comes that there is more than one person impacted by the decision of abortion, this changes everything. Giving dignity to the child—and bringing to bear the undeniable reality that it is a child—is a key battlefront.

I Shouldn’t Speak Up

Related to “My body, my choice” is the idea that other people—especially men—are not supposed to speak up about this “personal” choice that a pregnant woman is making. Some people probably abide by this simply because they think it is the respectful thing to do. Others choose not to speak up because they have been rebuked when they have spoken up. This leads to a culture of silence surrounding pregnancy and abortion.

If nothing else, we need pro-life people to speak up so that when an unplanned pregnancy comes about, seeds have been planted. Seeds of the truth that unborn babies are created in the image of God and are worthy of dignity and protection. Seeds of the truth that men take their proper place in the world not by staying quiet when their wife or girlfriend is pregnant, but by reassuring them and by taking responsibility for the child. Seeds of the truth that a woman’s church family will be waiting and ready with grace and help and support no matter the situation. Silence leads to isolation and fear. When we choose not to speak up, we leave vulnerable people on their own.

As a note, we are wise to realize that there will be blowback if we speak up about abortion. This goes with the territory. Jesus himself said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). The Apostle Paul said, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Opposition does not mean that we are doing something wrong. Speaking up with grace and truth is God’s calling for God’s people.

I Am on My Own

In my conversation with Evangeline, she also said that many of the women she speaks with say that they would never have got an abortion if the child’s father had spoken up and given support. But they chose abortion because they were convinced that they were on their own. And, ironically, the slogan “My body, my choice” is very isolating. It tells a vulnerable woman that the full weight the decision is on her. Abortion is fueled by vulnerable pregnant women being convinced that they are on their own.

This means that one of the greatest things that any of us can do is to partner together with women (and couples) who are pregnant and vulnerable. This can happen in formal effort (like volunteering at Assure Pregnancy Clinic) and in informal ways (coming alongside those who God has brought into our paths). We were not created to be on our own (Genesis 2:18), and so it is profound and powerful when the church of Jesus Christ offers the comfort and help that Jesus himself wants to give.

For a woman who is isolated, abortion can feel like a great option. For a woman who has support, all sorts of other options suddenly become viable.

Free Download
#_form_3_ { font-size:14px; line-height:1.6; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin:0; } #_form_3_ * { outline:0; } ._form_hide { display:none; visibility:hidden; } ._form_show { display:block; visibility:visible; } #_form_3_._form-top { top:0; } #_form_3_._form-bottom { bottom:0; } #_form_3_._form-left { left:0; } #_form_3_._form-right { right:0; } #_form_3_ input[type="text"],#_form_3_ input[type="date"],#_form_3_ textarea { padding:6px; height:auto; border:#979797 1px solid; border-radius:4px; color:#000 !important; font-size:14px; -webkit-box-sizing:border-box; -moz-box-sizing:border-box; box-sizing:border-box; } #_form_3_ textarea { resize:none; } #_form_3_ ._submit { -webkit-appearance:none; cursor:pointer; font-family:arial, sans-serif; font-size:14px; text-align:center; background:#227af5 !important; border:0 !important; -moz-border-radius:50px !important; -webkit-border-radius:50px !important; border-radius:50px !important; color:#fff !important; padding:0px !important; } #_form_3_ ._close-icon { cursor:pointer; background-image:url('https://d226aj4ao1t61q.cloudfront.net/esfkyjh1u_forms-close-dark.png'); background-repeat:no-repeat; background-size:14.2px 14.2px; position:absolute; display:block; top:11px; right:9px; overflow:hidden; width:16.2px; height:16.2px; } #_form_3_ ._close-icon:before { position:relative; } #_form_3_ ._form-body { margin-bottom:30px; } #_form_3_ ._form-image-left { width:150px; float:left; } #_form_3_ ._form-content-right { margin-left:164px; } #_form_3_ ._form-branding { color:#fff; font-size:10px; clear:both; text-align:left; margin-top:30px; font-weight:100; } #_form_3_ ._form-branding ._logo { display:block; width:130px; height:14px; margin-top:6px; background-image:url('https://d226aj4ao1t61q.cloudfront.net/hh9ujqgv5_aclogo_li.png'); background-size:130px auto; background-repeat:no-repeat; } #_form_3_ .form-sr-only { position:absolute; width:1px; height:1px; padding:0; margin:-1px; overflow:hidden; clip:rect(0, 0, 0, 0); border:0; } #_form_3_ ._form-label,#_form_3_ ._form_element ._form-label { font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:5px; display:block; } #_form_3_._dark ._form-branding { color:#333; } #_form_3_._dark ._form-branding ._logo { background-image:url('https://d226aj4ao1t61q.cloudfront.net/jftq2c8s_aclogo_dk.png'); } #_form_3_ ._form_element { position:relative; margin-bottom:10px; font-size:0; max-width:100%; } #_form_3_ ._form_element * { font-size:14px; } #_form_3_ ._form_element._clear { clear:both; width:100%; float:none; } #_form_3_ ._form_element._clear:after { clear:left; } #_form_3_ ._form_element input[type="text"],#_form_3_ ._form_element input[type="date"],#_form_3_ ._form_element select,#_form_3_ ._form_element textarea:not(.g-recaptcha-response) { display:block; width:100%; -webkit-box-sizing:border-box; -moz-box-sizing:border-box; box-sizing:border-box; font-family:inherit; } #_form_3_ ._field-wrapper { position:relative; } #_form_3_ ._inline-style { float:left; } #_form_3_ ._inline-style input[type="text"] { width:150px; } #_form_3_ ._inline-style:not(._clear) + ._inline-style:not(._clear) { margin-left:20px; } #_form_3_ ._form_element img._form-image { max-width:100%; } #_form_3_ ._form_element ._form-fieldset { border:0; padding:0.01em 0 0 0; margin:0; min-width:0; } #_form_3_ ._clear-element { clear:left; } #_form_3_ ._full_width { width:100%; } #_form_3_ ._form_full_field { display:block; width:100%; margin-bottom:10px; } #_form_3_ input[type="text"]._has_error,#_form_3_ textarea._has_error { border:#f37c7b 1px solid; } #_form_3_ input[type="checkbox"]._has_error { outline:#f37c7b 1px solid; } #_form_3_ ._error { display:block; position:absolute; font-size:14px; z-index:10000001; } #_form_3_ ._error._above { padding-bottom:4px; bottom:39px; right:0; } #_form_3_ ._error._below { padding-top:4px; top:100%; right:0; } #_form_3_ ._error._above ._error-arrow { bottom:0; right:15px; border-left:5px solid transparent; border-right:5px solid transparent; border-top:5px solid #f37c7b; } #_form_3_ ._error._below ._error-arrow { top:0; right:15px; border-left:5px solid transparent; border-right:5px solid transparent; border-bottom:5px solid #f37c7b; } #_form_3_ ._error-inner { padding:8px 12px; background-color:#f37c7b; font-size:14px; font-family:arial, sans-serif; color:#fff; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; -webkit-border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; border-radius:4px; } #_form_3_ ._error-inner._form_error { margin-bottom:5px; text-align:left; } #_form_3_ ._button-wrapper ._error-inner._form_error { position:static; } #_form_3_ ._error-inner._no_arrow { margin-bottom:10px; } #_form_3_ ._error-arrow { position:absolute; width:0; height:0; } #_form_3_ ._error-html { margin-bottom:10px; } .pika-single { z-index:10000001 !important; } #_form_3_ input[type="text"].datetime_date { width:69%; display:inline; } #_form_3_ select.datetime_time { width:29%; display:inline; height:32px; } @media all and (min-width:320px) and (max-width:667px) { ::-webkit-scrollbar { display:none; } #_form_3_ { margin:0; width:100%; min-width:100%; max-width:100%; box-sizing:border-box; } #_form_3_ * { -webkit-box-sizing:border-box; -moz-box-sizing:border-box; box-sizing:border-box; font-size:1em; } #_form_3_ ._form-content { margin:0; width:100%; } #_form_3_ ._form-inner { display:block; min-width:100%; } #_form_3_ ._form-title,#_form_3_ ._inline-style { margin-top:0; margin-right:0; margin-left:0; } #_form_3_ ._form-title { font-size:1.2em; } #_form_3_ ._form_element { margin:0 0 20px; padding:0; width:100%; } #_form_3_ ._form-element,#_form_3_ ._inline-style,#_form_3_ input[type="text"],#_form_3_ label,#_form_3_ p,#_form_3_ textarea:not(.g-recaptcha-response) { float:none; display:block; width:100%; } #_form_3_ ._row._checkbox-radio label { display:inline; } #_form_3_ ._row,#_form_3_ p,#_form_3_ label { margin-bottom:0.7em; width:100%; } #_form_3_ ._row input[type="checkbox"],#_form_3_ ._row input[type="radio"] { margin:0 !important; vertical-align:middle !important; } #_form_3_ ._row input[type="checkbox"] + span label { display:inline; } #_form_3_ ._row span label { margin:0 !important; width:initial !important; vertical-align:middle !important; } #_form_3_ ._form-image { max-width:100%; height:auto !important; } #_form_3_ input[type="text"] { padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px; font-size:16px; line-height:1.3em; -webkit-appearance:none; } #_form_3_ input[type="radio"],#_form_3_ input[type="checkbox"] { display:inline-block; width:1.3em; height:1.3em; font-size:1em; margin:0 0.3em 0 0; vertical-align:baseline; } #_form_3_ button[type="submit"] { padding:20px; font-size:1.5em; } #_form_3_ ._inline-style { margin:20px 0 0 !important; } } #_form_3_ { position:relative; text-align:left; margin:25px auto 0; padding:20px; -webkit-box-sizing:border-box; -moz-box-sizing:border-box; box-sizing:border-box; *zoom:1; background:transparent !important; border:0px solid #b0b0b0 !important; width:500px; -moz-border-radius:0px !important; -webkit-border-radius:0px !important; border-radius:0px !important; color:#000 !important; } #_form_3_._inline-form,#_form_3_._inline-form ._form-content,#_form_3_._inline-form input,#_form_3_._inline-form ._submit { font-family:"Montserrat", sans-serif, 'IBM Plex Sans', arial, sans-serif; } #_form_3_ ._form-title { font-size:22px; line-height:22px; font-weight:600; margin-bottom:0; } #_form_3_:before,#_form_3_:after { content:" "; display:table; } #_form_3_:after { clear:both; } #_form_3_._inline-style { width:auto; display:inline-block; } #_form_3_._inline-style input[type="text"],#_form_3_._inline-style input[type="date"] { padding:10px 12px; } #_form_3_._inline-style button._inline-style { position:relative; top:27px; } #_form_3_._inline-style p { margin:0; } #_form_3_._inline-style ._button-wrapper { position:relative; margin:27px 12.5px 0 20px; } #_form_3_ ._form-thank-you { position:relative; left:0; right:0; text-align:center; font-size:18px; } @media all and (min-width:320px) and (max-width:667px) { #_form_3_._inline-form._inline-style ._inline-style._button-wrapper { margin-top:20px !important; margin-left:0 !important; } } #_form_3_ ._x68687019 input { border-radius:50px; padding:15px !important; } #_form_3_ ._x49008316 input { border-radius:50px; padding:15px !important; } #_form_3_ ._submit { padding:15px 35px !important; } #_form_3_ ._form_1 { padding:0 !important; margin:0 !important; }
Pastor Dan has created a list of books and recommended reading that help you get a Biblical perspective on today's issues. Sign-up below to get the free PDF!
window.cfields = []; window._show_thank_you = function(id, message, trackcmp_url, email) { var form = document.getElementById('_form_' + id + '_'), thank_you = form.querySelector('._form-thank-you'); form.querySelector('._form-content').style.display = 'none'; thank_you.innerHTML = message; thank_you.style.display = 'block'; const vgoAlias = typeof visitorGlobalObjectAlias === 'undefined' ? 'vgo' : visitorGlobalObjectAlias; var visitorObject = window[vgoAlias]; if (email && typeof visitorObject !== 'undefined') { visitorObject('setEmail', email); visitorObject('update'); } else if (typeof(trackcmp_url) != 'undefined' && trackcmp_url) { // Site tracking URL to use after inline form submission. _load_script(trackcmp_url); } if (typeof window._form_callback !== 'undefined') window._form_callback(id); }; window._show_error = function(id, message, html) { var form = document.getElementById('_form_' + id + '_'), err = document.createElement('div'), button = form.querySelector('button'), old_error = form.querySelector('._form_error'); if (old_error) old_error.parentNode.removeChild(old_error); err.innerHTML = message; err.className = '_error-inner _form_error _no_arrow'; var wrapper = document.createElement('div'); wrapper.className = '_form-inner'; wrapper.appendChild(err); button.parentNode.insertBefore(wrapper, button); document.querySelector('[id^="_form"][id$="_submit"]').disabled = false; if (html) { var div = document.createElement('div'); div.className = '_error-html'; div.innerHTML = html; err.appendChild(div); } }; window._load_script = function(url, callback) { var head = document.querySelector('head'), script = document.createElement('script'), r = false; script.type = 'text/javascript'; script.charset = 'utf-8'; script.src = url; if (callback) { script.onload = script.onreadystatechange = function() { if (!r && (!this.readyState || this.readyState == 'complete')) { r = true; callback(); } }; } head.appendChild(script); }; (function() { if (window.location.search.search("excludeform") !== -1) return false; var getCookie = function(name) { var match = document.cookie.match(new RegExp('(^|; )' + name + '=([^;]+)')); return match ? match[2] : null; } var setCookie = function(name, value) { var now = new Date(); var time = now.getTime(); var expireTime = time + 1000 * 60 * 60 * 24 * 365; now.setTime(expireTime); document.cookie = name + '=' + value + '; expires=' + now + ';path=/'; } var addEvent = function(element, event, func) { if (element.addEventListener) { element.addEventListener(event, func); } else { var oldFunc = element['on' + event]; element['on' + event] = function() { oldFunc.apply(this, arguments); func.apply(this, arguments); }; } } var _removed = false; var form_to_submit = document.getElementById('_form_3_'); var allInputs = form_to_submit.querySelectorAll('input, select, textarea'), tooltips = [], submitted = false; var getUrlParam = function(name) { var regexStr = '[\?&]' + name + '=([^&#]*)'; var results = new RegExp(regexStr, 'i').exec(window.location.href); return results != undefined ? decodeURIComponent(results[1]) : false; }; for (var i = 0; i < allInputs.length; i++) { var regexStr = "field\\[(\\d+)\\]"; var results = new RegExp(regexStr).exec(allInputs[i].name); if (results != undefined) { allInputs[i].dataset.name = window.cfields[results[1]]; } else { allInputs[i].dataset.name = allInputs[i].name; } var fieldVal = getUrlParam(allInputs[i].dataset.name); if (fieldVal) { if (allInputs[i].dataset.autofill === "false") { continue; } if (allInputs[i].type == "radio" || allInputs[i].type == "checkbox") { if (allInputs[i].value == fieldVal) { allInputs[i].checked = true; } } else { allInputs[i].value = fieldVal; } } } var remove_tooltips = function() { for (var i = 0; i < tooltips.length; i++) { tooltips[i].tip.parentNode.removeChild(tooltips[i].tip); } tooltips = []; }; var remove_tooltip = function(elem) { for (var i = 0; i < tooltips.length; i++) { if (tooltips[i].elem === elem) { tooltips[i].tip.parentNode.removeChild(tooltips[i].tip); tooltips.splice(i, 1); return; } } }; var create_tooltip = function(elem, text) { var tooltip = document.createElement('div'), arrow = document.createElement('div'), inner = document.createElement('div'), new_tooltip = {}; if (elem.type != 'radio' && elem.type != 'checkbox') { tooltip.className = '_error'; arrow.className = '_error-arrow'; inner.className = '_error-inner'; inner.innerHTML = text; tooltip.appendChild(arrow); tooltip.appendChild(inner); elem.parentNode.appendChild(tooltip); } else { tooltip.className = '_error-inner _no_arrow'; tooltip.innerHTML = text; elem.parentNode.insertBefore(tooltip, elem); new_tooltip.no_arrow = true; } new_tooltip.tip = tooltip; new_tooltip.elem = elem; tooltips.push(new_tooltip); return new_tooltip; }; var resize_tooltip = function(tooltip) { var rect = tooltip.elem.getBoundingClientRect(); var doc = document.documentElement, scrollPosition = rect.top - ((window.pageYOffset || doc.scrollTop) - (doc.clientTop || 0)); if (scrollPosition < 40) { tooltip.tip.className = tooltip.tip.className.replace(/ ?(_above|_below) ?/g, '') + ' _below'; } else { tooltip.tip.className = tooltip.tip.className.replace(/ ?(_above|_below) ?/g, '') + ' _above'; } }; var resize_tooltips = function() { if (_removed) return; for (var i = 0; i < tooltips.length; i++) { if (!tooltips[i].no_arrow) resize_tooltip(tooltips[i]); } }; var validate_field = function(elem, remove) { var tooltip = null, value = elem.value, no_error = true; remove ? remove_tooltip(elem) : false; if (elem.type != 'checkbox') elem.className = elem.className.replace(/ ?_has_error ?/g, ''); if (elem.getAttribute('required') !== null) { if (elem.type == 'radio' || (elem.type == 'checkbox' && /any/.test(elem.className))) { var elems = form_to_submit.elements[elem.name]; if (!(elems instanceof NodeList || elems instanceof HTMLCollection) || elems.length <= 1) { no_error = elem.checked; } else { no_error = false; for (var i = 0; i < elems.length; i++) { if (elems[i].checked) no_error = true; } } if (!no_error) { tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, "Please select an option."); } } else if (elem.type =='checkbox') { var elems = form_to_submit.elements[elem.name], found = false, err = []; no_error = true; for (var i = 0; i < elems.length; i++) { if (elems[i].getAttribute('required') === null) continue; if (!found && elems[i] !== elem) return true; found = true; elems[i].className = elems[i].className.replace(/ ?_has_error ?/g, ''); if (!elems[i].checked) { no_error = false; elems[i].className = elems[i].className + ' _has_error'; err.push("Checking %s is required".replace("%s", elems[i].value)); } } if (!no_error) { tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, err.join('
')); } } else if (elem.tagName == 'SELECT') { var selected = true; if (elem.multiple) { selected = false; for (var i = 0; i < elem.options.length; i++) { if (elem.options[i].selected) { selected = true; break; } } } else { for (var i = 0; i < elem.options.length; i++) { if (elem.options[i].selected && !elem.options[i].value) { selected = false; } } } if (!selected) { elem.className = elem.className + ' _has_error'; no_error = false; tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, "Please select an option."); } } else if (value === undefined || value === null || value === '') { elem.className = elem.className + ' _has_error'; no_error = false; tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, "This field is required."); } } if (no_error && elem.name == 'email') { if (!value.match(/^[\+_a-z0-9-'&=]+(\.[\+_a-z0-9-']+)*@[a-z0-9-]+(\.[a-z0-9-]+)*(\.[a-z]{2,})$/i)) { elem.className = elem.className + ' _has_error'; no_error = false; tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, "Enter a valid email address."); } } if (no_error && /date_field/.test(elem.className)) { if (!value.match(/^\d\d\d\d-\d\d-\d\d$/)) { elem.className = elem.className + ' _has_error'; no_error = false; tooltip = create_tooltip(elem, "Enter a valid date."); } } tooltip ? resize_tooltip(tooltip) : false; return no_error; }; var needs_validate = function(el) { if(el.getAttribute('required') !== null){ return true } if(el.name === 'email' && el.value !== ""){ return true } return false }; var validate_form = function(e) { var err = form_to_submit.querySelector('._form_error'), no_error = true; if (!submitted) { submitted = true; for (var i = 0, len = allInputs.length; i < len; i++) { var input = allInputs[i]; if (needs_validate(input)) { if (input.type == 'text') { addEvent(input, 'blur', function() { this.value = this.value.trim(); validate_field(this, true); }); addEvent(input, 'input', function() { validate_field(this, true); }); } else if (input.type == 'radio' || input.type == 'checkbox') { (function(el) { var radios = form_to_submit.elements[el.name]; for (var i = 0; i < radios.length; i++) { addEvent(radios[i], 'click', function() { validate_field(el, true); }); } })(input); } else if (input.tagName == 'SELECT') { addEvent(input, 'change', function() { validate_field(this, true); }); } else if (input.type == 'textarea'){ addEvent(input, 'input', function() { validate_field(this, true); }); } } } } remove_tooltips(); for (var i = 0, len = allInputs.length; i < len; i++) { var elem = allInputs[i]; if (needs_validate(elem)) { if (elem.tagName.toLowerCase() !== "select") { elem.value = elem.value.trim(); } validate_field(elem) ? true : no_error = false; } } if (!no_error && e) { e.preventDefault(); } resize_tooltips(); return no_error; }; addEvent(window, 'resize', resize_tooltips); addEvent(window, 'scroll', resize_tooltips); window['recaptcha_callback'] = function() { // Get all recaptchas in the DOM (there may be more than one form on the page). var recaptchas = document.getElementsByClassName("g-recaptcha"); for (var i in recaptchas) { // Set the recaptcha element ID, so the recaptcha can be applied to each element. var recaptcha_id = "recaptcha_" + i; recaptchas[i].id = recaptcha_id; var el = document.getElementById(recaptcha_id); if (el != null) { var sitekey = el.getAttribute("data-sitekey"); var stoken = el.getAttribute("data-stoken"); grecaptcha.render(recaptcha_id, {"sitekey":sitekey,"stoken":stoken}); } } }; _load_script("//www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?onload=recaptcha_callback&render=explicit"); window._old_serialize = null; if (typeof serialize !== 'undefined') window._old_serialize = window.serialize; _load_script("//d3rxaij56vjege.cloudfront.net/form-serialize/0.3/serialize.min.js", function() { window._form_serialize = window.serialize; if (window._old_serialize) window.serialize = window._old_serialize; }); var form_submit = function(e) { e.preventDefault(); if (validate_form()) { // use this trick to get the submit button & disable it using plain javascript document.querySelector('#_form_3_submit').disabled = true; var serialized = _form_serialize(document.getElementById('_form_3_')).replace(/%0A/g, '\\n'); var err = form_to_submit.querySelector('._form_error'); err ? err.parentNode.removeChild(err) : false; _load_script('https://lbfchurch.activehosted.com/proc.php?' + serialized + '&jsonp=true'); } return false; }; addEvent(form_to_submit, 'submit', form_submit); })();

More From LBF Church