Voices: Support, don’t criminalize those seeking abortion

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I have mixed feelings on the differing viewpoints between abortion rights and pro-life.

I do not believe God wants anyone to have an abortion, and I do not think anyone having an abortion cannot be saved through Christ as our Lord and Savior, nor should we judge them.

Let me explain my position by way of a different story.

Coming to faith

I never went to church until I was 41 years old. When I first walked into Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, I met a kind gentleman named Paul, who asked if he could sit next to me in the church service.

Paul knew I was new to being in a church. He showed me the order of service and held open the hymnal, pointing to the lines to sing and even sang off-key like I did.

In the announcements, they offered a three-session course—Walk Thru the Bible—with two meals and a new NIV study Bible. After the service, Paul asked me if I would go to this course with him. He said it would cost $10, and if I didn’t like the first session, I at least would have a great Bible. I agreed and signed up for the course.

Paul took me to the Fellowship Hall, where they served lunch before the first session. As we walked to the serving line, Paul introduced me to so many people who all were kind and friendly. I felt so wanted.

After the first session was over, we went to get refreshments. Again, I was surrounded by lots of people who made me feel special. We went to the second session that afternoon, and Paul walked me to my car and invited me to come back Monday evening for the final session. I went back Monday evening, and Paul was waiting for me at the front door.

After the session, Paul asked me to come back and visit the singles class the following Sunday. I returned, and Paul was at the front door again, and we went to the church service and then the singles class. I felt like I was with friends I had known forever.


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Paul turned out to be the Sunday school teacher. He became a mentor for me and guided me through the book of John. We met in his office every Sunday after the Sunday school class lunch gathering. Paul was my best friend ever.

Seeing others as God sees them

You may ask what all this has to do with abortion versus pro-life debate.

As a late comer to the church, I met many different people. Most were caring, loving and patient with me in my spiritual growth. There also were those who looked down on me, my ignorance of the Bible and not going to church as a kid.

I look at the abortion/pro-life issue a lot differently than many of the good Christians today.

I see myself and all the other people who never were taken to church as children, as people who have not been introduced to Jesus’ sacrifice and God’s forgiveness for all our sinful lives.

God, Jesus, Paul—my Sunday school teacher—and many Christians saw my sinfulness not as a permanent condemnation to hell, but as an opportunity for me to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. They never beat me up for my stupidity, lack of faith in Jesus, not going to church as a child, or for any of the sins I committed after I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

I look at everyone involved in both sides of the abortion arguments as sinners, but not unsavable.

I believe there is only one unforgivable sin. In the entire Bible, there is only one unforgivable sin—rejecting the conviction of the Holy Spirit and denying Jesus as the only Lord and Savior (Matthew 12:30-31; Mark 3:28-29; Luke 12:10). Beyond that, there is no one sin worse than any others. In God’s eyes, a sin is a sin.

God wants us to be witnesses for salvation through Jesus Christ only, to recognize hostility, never judge others, and pray for their salvation, as Jesus’ words in the following Scriptures make clear:

• “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet” (Matthew 12:14).

• “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

• “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:1-2).

Support, don’t criminalize

Instead of making criminals of everyone involved in abortions, possibly look at the problems from both sides, and offer help to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Here are some suggestions:

• Actively support and help in positive solutions, such as Hope Cottage or Buckner Maternity Services.

• Support comprehensive and medically accurate sex education. Our children need to be taught the potential consequences of sexual intercourse, the importance of abstinence, and protective measures that would lead to a reduction of teenage pregnancies.

• Give loving support to our kids. Don’t criminalize of their ignorance, abuse or mistakes.

• Be positive and loving in all our interactions.

• Pray first that others will see the truth in Jesus Christ, and second, that we can forgive others for their mistakes.

• Love others as God loved us even before we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Phil Howell served on child advocacy boards 1977–1980 and 1982–1985, while serving in the U.S. Army, and was a child advocacy board consultant 1985–1994 in Irving, and 1998–2011 in Brownsville, where he retired as a pediatric dentist in 2011. Howell is a member of Park Cities Baptist Church. The views expressed are those of the author.


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