The Community of God, Post Roe v. Wade
July 10, 2022
The Community of God, Post Roe v. WadeSilence is Not the Solution
Written by Carol Gulliford
I’ve had a multitude of emotions and thoughts rattling around inside my brain since June 24th. Things I can’t express. Words that seem to elude me. How can I articulate what is in the deepest crevices of my heart? With the overturning of Roe v Wade, I felt shock, surprise, joy, relief, pain, and a renewed sense of sadness. This is because my story includes an unwanted pregnancy and abortion at the age of 16. My renewed sadness was the realization last week that if I hadn’t had such easy access to abortion, my baby might be alive today.
In 1982, Roe v Wade was still fairly new. But I had never heard my pastor or anyone in my church speak about it. I remember having a deep knowing that it was “wrong” somehow, but I had no pushback from family, church, or friends. As a scared teenager, so afraid of the consequences to myself and my future, I believed the lie that it would be a quick fix and wouldn’t have lasting repercussions for me.
Through years of healing work, a recovery group, and leading other women towards healing, I am more convinced than ever that as The Church, we need to talk about this issue. We need to educate ourselves on the realities of it, and why it grieves God’s heart. We need to know what the Bible says about LIFE. We need to dig deeper than the world’s lies. In an effort to distance ourselves from the divisive politics of the day, and not to offend, we have chosen to be silent and left many young women (and men) in our churches and communities confused and scared in a desert place of shame, judgment, and unforgiveness. The world’s voice and reasoning is the only one many hear.
Another sad truth is that as Christians, we live, at times, in a place of judgment and pride about others’ sins. We judge someone else’s sin as worse than our own and run from it instead of towards the hurting, broken person. As a community, how can we love like Jesus, serving and forgiving others in the midst of a sin that we cannot fathom or find repulsive? How do we show the kind of grace and mercy that we ourselves have received from God and wish to receive from others when we fail and falter in the pit of our own choices? Can we talk about it? Are You willing to hear my story? To weep with me and not judge me? And I am here to listen to your story. To help you find healing too.
Let’s wrestle together and create a place of healing and mature community that welcomes in the pregnant girl who is all alone, or the woman (or man!) who has made the choice of abortion. Let’s be a place of continued healing and support for all who have been touched by it. In our community, we can show grace and forgiveness and Jesus’ love. In our community, we can study and pray and find answers together. We will protect, honor, and value LIFE. I’m not always sure how to do that well.
But I know we can start here – Many babies will be saved because of this decision. And today, I will celebrate that, and sing a song of praise to God for answering 50 years of prayers.
Will you join me? Let’s celebrate together!