While sitting at my computer considering what articles to write for the week, I witnessed the reaction of demonstrators to the news that Roe V Wade has been overturned by the Supreme Court by a 5-4 majority.
The decision (depending upon the relative position) is being rejoiced about, or mourned. This is one of the few issues where there is little grey are. It is black and white.
Regardless, overturning Roe V Wade does not end abortion in America. It is doubtful it will make it more rare, as it simply passes on the obligation for determine its legality back to the individual states.
While there is no doubt that some states (Texas included) will either criminalize or severely limit abortion, other states will and have legalized it to moment of birth. Additionally, as of 2020, 54% of pregnancies were terminated by medication abortion (taking a pill up to 10 weeks into pregnancy). It is not yet clear how the prescribing of such medication (by telemedicine providers, for example), will be regulated.
Still, there have been almost 64 million abortions since Roe V Wade was decided in 1973. That is 64 million babies murdered. It is only by God’s longsuffering that our nation remains sovereign with such a stain upon it.
That stain will remain. The onus will now shift to the states. At present, 22 states have laws that could restrict abortion now that Roe V Wade has been overturned, 16 states and the District of Columbia have laws that allow abortion with few or no restrictions, and over half of registered voters in the nation believe that abortion should remain legal. Any woman with sufficient motivation to obtain an abortion will have options available.
The coverage of the event is a bit disconcerting. While watching the response of demonstrators at the Supreme Court, commentators are only discussing the constitutional considerations. Roe V Wade was not overturned because of the belief that the unborn fetus is a human being with rights. It was overturned because conservative judges determined that abortion was not a constitutionally protected right. In other words, the rationale had nothing to do with the welfare of the unborn child. This shows just how far our nation has gone. For many, it is simply a constitutional question. The overriding question, “Is it murder?” is not even being discussed by pundits.
We are familiar with the Bible arguments regarding the humanity of the unborn. The Psalmist’s asserted, “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well” (Psalm 139:13-14). When Mary went to visit Martha, Luke records, “And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:41). In the law of Moses, as recorded in the book of Exodus, the killing of the unborn child was considered murder, “If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life” (Exodus 21:22-23).
A wonderful thing happened today, but it is simply a battle won, the war against the unborn continues to rage in our nation. As Christians, we have a responsibility to be advocates for the vulnerable, the downtrodden. Let your voice be heard!
