How should we respond to the legalisation of abortion in QLD?
On Wednesday night the Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2018 was passed in the QLD Parliament, allowing abortion on request up to 22 weeks and after 22 weeks with consent from two doctors. As followers of Jesus, how should we respond? What follows, while far from comprehensive, is a few simple steps we can take and ways we can respond.
We should grieve: When human life is treated as disposable and dispensable, God grieves (Jeremiah 22:3). And so should we. We should allow ourselves time to lament the reality that destruction of human life in the womb has been enshrined in the law of our state.
We should pray: We should allow our grief to turn us to prayer. We can and should ask God to end the injustice of abortion in our country and around the world, to forgive us for whatever part we have played (even silence), and convict those in positions of power to use their influence to end abortion.
We should not lose hope: The Government of our state can do many things, but one thing they cannot do is put Jesus back in the grave and remove him from his throne. Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth and history is moving towards his good and perfect end. And so, we should wake up each morning and walk through each day with solid trust in King Jesus and the certain hope of his coming, glorious kingdom.
We should love our neighbour: Our struggle is not with other people. Our fight is not with those of a different political persuasion or even those who advocate for abortion. In the words of Ephesians 6:12: “…our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” As we interact with others on this issue and as we advocate for life, for women, and for children, we should remember our real enemy and our real purpose: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” (Matt. 22:37-39)
We should turn to Jesus: Abortion is not merely a political issue, for many of us it is an intensely personal issue. Whatever your experience, if abortion carries hurtful memories and painful emotions for you, the good news is that God loves you and has grace for you. He desires to forgive you for your abortion or your decision to advocate for one, whether or not you knew what you were doing. God doesn’t want you to go through life punishing yourself for your abortion or for any other wrong you have done. Your part is to accept Christ’s payment for your sin, not to attempt to pay it yourself. No matter what you’ve done, no sin is beyond the reach of God’s grace. He has seen us at our worst and still loves us. There are no limits to His forgiving grace. And there is no freedom like the freedom of forgiveness.
“He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” — Isaiah 53:5
In Christ,
Adam
