No Time for the Abortion Affected?

Hooray for Progress!
Pornography has finally made it into many evangelical churches – as a ministry, I mean – and it’s about time. How I praise God that those with pornography addictions are finally being given a safe place within the Church to receive compassionate understanding, accountability, and assistance as they seek godly recovery. For too long either the Church didn’t believe or didn’t recognize how pervasive pornography addiction was within the Church. For a growing number of churches this is no longer the case, and I for one say, hallelujah!

More Progress Needed: Abortion Recovery in the Church
At the same time my heart breaks for the countless Christians suffering silently within the Church because of a past abortion experience. Statistics now report that at current rates at least one in three women will have at least one abortion by the age of 45. One in three. But as we know, abortion isn’t merely a women’s issue. It’s not merely about the baby and it’s not merely a women’s issue. A woman doesn’t get pregnant alone, and it is not her life alone that is affected when she aborts. No, abortion affects everyone it touches – from the grandparents to the children those post-abortive parents have years later, to the medical community…and everyone in between.

Just as abortion isn’t a baby or woman’s issue, it isn’t the “world’s” problem. Jesus said the Church is to be the spiritual hospital for all broken and wounded people. That includes those that have backslidden (there’s a term that takes me back a few years!) as well as those affected by addictions – drugs, alcohol, pornography – and yes, even those that have been wounded by abortion.

Worn Out, Used Up, Uninformed…Afraid
Yet there are still too many pastors that, due to compassion fatigue, because they don’t understand the issue, because of fear of how their congregation will respond, or because their ministry “plate” is already full, they feel they can’t possibly take on another ministry. When did Jesus ever instruct us to only meet the needs of those for whom we had time? When did Jesus ever direct us to only minister to those for whom we have a clear understanding of their sin? Of all the people that have ever walked the earth, if anyone was in a position to feel overwhelmed by the needs around Him or to experience compassion fatigue it was Jesus. Of course Jesus knew how to pace Himself. He knew how and when to steal away for a few hours for spiritual rejuvenation with His Father. [And in all fairness, He didn't have a wife and children at home depending on Him as well.] ;) He also knew the importance of training others with whom He could share the workload. And fear, well, there wasn’t a sin that intimidated Him. Why? Because His heart —and His ministry—was for the sinner. It was for the sinners He died. It was for the sinners He lived too. It was for the sinners He loved that He did it all. Not just certain sinners – but all sinners. From every tribe, every tongue, every nation, and every category of sin.

Of the pastors I know personally, I see many similarities of Christ in them, especially when it comes to ministering to those around them. They too see the needs of those in their flocks and want to give their best to help meet those needs. In that sense they are reflecting the heart of Jesus in amazing ways and I have the greatest respect for those pastors. Unfortunately, it's also those pastors that seem to experience the greatest degree of compassion fatigue and feelings of being overwhelmed. And sadly, I do not have an easy solution for that.

Passing By On the Other Side of the Road
Even so, I would challenge every pastor that would say, “That’s a great ministry you have there, but… (fill in the blank),” to examine the Word of God for support for that response. If Jesus were standing here before you right now would you tell Him you don’t have time for the abortion affected? That you’re too overwhelmed to help them? That your ministry “plate” is full? Again, of the pastors I know, that would never be their response. So what is the solution? I wish there was an easy answer to that question. I believe, however, that while recognizing our limits is good, we should never limit God's ability to minister through us. If He has brought this ministry to your awareness, perhaps it is worth pursuing; perhaps it is worth asking Him, "What would You have me do in regard to this ministry opportunity?"

Who should be ministering to the abortion-affected if not the Church? If we don't do it, who will be Jesus to them?

Another example from Scripture comes to mind… It’s the story of the Good Samaritan – and the religious leaders that passed by on the other side of the road, refusing to help the person that had been beaten and robbed. Did they not have time either? I encourage you (pastors and ministry leaders) to not allow the weight of your ministry burden to prevent you from seeking training and resources that could actually help lighten your load overall, even if it is in the "new" area of ministry to the post-abortive.

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