September 28, 2024
The good news is that we can celebrate the overturning of Roe v. Wade on June 24th. Under the Lord’s leadership, we can keep working together to build a culture of life in Georgia that stands up for all innocent human life and ministers both to mothers and babies.
We must remember that this important decision that took place in 2022 opens the door for the issue to be dealt with from a state legislative perspective rather than a federal judicial perspective. Those who support the sanctity of all human life must get more involved to make sure that we have true, pro-life laws and candidates in our state legislature.
Now more than ever is the time that churches should educate and inspire their members to be involved in the pro-life movement. It would be great if every church had a message preached from the pulpit on God’s view of human life within the next 30 days.
The church must proclaim a clear and precise Biblical pro-life ethic in our times. The church (and particularly the pulpit) is the single most decisive influencer in our culture. I have been saying for years that politics is downwind from the culture, but the culture is downwind from the church.
Never has there been a time in our country’s history when a Biblical pro-life ethic is more paramount than now. With recent rulings in the court system on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and use of the abortion pill, NOW is the time when the church must speak up on the importance of the sanctity of human life at EVERY stage of development both outside and inside the mother’s womb.
We have to understand that many often use the terms “conception” and “fertilization” interchangeably. However, for example, using the term conception (as meaning the moment of implantation in the womb) in legislation and policy can inadvertently give an excuse to support things like Plan B, hormonal birth control, destructive procedures in IVF (such as selective reduction), chemical abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and more. This kind of language in any abortion-related legislation can leave a loophole that does not properly value ALL human life. Even the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists have changed the definitions of clear biological terms that can undermine the value of human life from its earliest biological beginnings.
It is extremely important that Christians understand that at the moment of fertilization (inside or outside the mother’s womb), we are imparted with the Imago Dei - the unique and holy image of God. This is when actual personhood begins.
Therefore, using this term (fertilization) we ensure that we are encompassing all human life from its earliest biological beginnings and that all innocent human life is respected and protected. It is upon this Biblical foundation that we must build all our pro-life beliefs and arguments.
Because human life begins at fertilization, we need to believe and teach this so that abortion and other unethical procedures will become unthinkable in a post-Roe era. By doing so, we will also have a positive impact on the value and sanctity of human life outside the womb.
Trusting the Lord’s value for ALL human life makes a BIG difference in our culture. See the Georgia Baptist Convention’s 2014 Resolution on Personhood and the Sanctity of Human Life. Also, see the resolution just passed at the 2024 Southern Baptist Convention.
There is no doubt that we need more education in the church on the life issue. A recent study from Lifeway Research tells us that churches are not supporting pregnancy resource centers as much as they ought to.
Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research said, “There is equal opportunity for all churches to point those with unintended pregnancies to help if there is a Christian pregnancy resource center nearby.” He went on to say,“Yet few churches are doing so in a way their congregation notices.”
Going forward, I am so thankful that Georgia Baptists have people like Lorna Bius and ministries such as Mission Georgia and their emphasis on maternity care, foster care, and adoption. Also, for Suzanne Guy and LIV (Life Initiatives and Values) ministry at First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Ga., who are educating and caring for mothers and babies. They are making a big difference in showing how we can love our neighbor in difficult times for God’s Glory and the gospel.
So you see, just because Roe was overturned does not mean that our battle for protecting innocent human life and caring for mothers is over. In fact, the fight for all human life has actually increased in intensity and importance now that states have been given more authority to rule on the issue.
This is why education and implementation of pro-life ministry are so important in our day and time. We must keep up the good fight!
___
Mike Griffin is the Public Affairs Representative of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.
