Many pro-life people in this country have devoted much time, effort, and energy to trying to pass legislation (or see that legislation is passed) that will overturn Roe v. Wade making abortion illegal again. While this would be a tremendous achievement in many ways, and while it would significantly limit the number of abortions performed, it will not accomplish one of the most important aspects of the abortion debate: the changing of hearts.
God's Word says in 1 Samuel 16:7 that, "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." It is the heart of man that matters most to God, and therefore it should matter most to us as well. So what will change pro-abortion hearts in America?
The answer to that question is both simple and logical. The pro-abortion side of this fight has been both crafty and cunning. They have waved high the banner for over thirty years proclaiming that they are all about helping women. They have successfully taken ownership of such noble words and phrases as freedom of choice, women's rights, safe, legal, and the list goes on. The truth however is that they are not helping women. They are not telling women the truth about abortion. In their own pain, denial, self-protection, and spiritual blindness they have shouted the loudest, raised and spent the most money, and received the most favorable coverage from liberally biased news and entertainment industries. While the positive and life-affirming efforts we (pro-life Christians) have made have been twisted and misrepresented to the point that the masses have been led to believe our motives are significantly different than what they are.
The pro-abortion camp may "own" the media and the positive buzzwords, but what we have is the truth. We simply haven't applied it effectively yet! Over the years as I've witnessed the healing of post-abortive women I have noticed a fascinating phenomenon. As these women and men are healed through Christ, they respond in a variety of positive ways - all of which are effective in changing hearts in this country and around the world. Some who find healing begin sharing their story boldly with others, telling how their abortion(s) hurt them - which exposes the lie the pro-choice side has been successfully perpetuating for three decades. Others are so excited about the new freedom, forgiveness, and peace they have found in Christ that they immediately want to help other victims of abortion find that same hope. And as others accept God's forgiveness and their true identity in Christ, they are compelled to serve God and His people in numerous and powerful ways within their churches and communities. As people are healed, more people hear of the real story of the painfulness of abortion. The light of truth exposes the lies and more healing is perpetuated. The natural, organic growth of post-abortion healing multiplies exponentially, changing hearts (healing hearts) and turning the tide one ripple at a time.
So what is the key to turning the tide? Very simply it is telling the truth within the church, loving and accepting this wounded population as Christ does, and helping them find healing through Christ so that they can join the chorus of truth tellers. Very simply, as more people tell the truth, more people will find healing, and more people will tell the truth, and more people will find healing....
The only question that remains is who will begin to tell the truth in your church and community?