The overturn of Roe versus Wade has changed the lives of many individuals across the United States. This overturn means that access to nationwide abortion is now a thing of the past. For the Christian community, it is a wonderful moment in history to witness, yet for many individuals, it is seen as a tragic loss or even an infringement on women’s rights.
The Overturning of Roe v Wade
With the ending of Roe versus Wade, only select states now have legal abortion, such as in Oregon and California. Other states, such as Texas, Utah, and Alabama have already made abortion illegal. Since we live in America, just because the Supreme Court overturned Roe versus Wade does not mean abortion is completely eradicated. Rather than the Supreme Court having the final call, the decision goes down state by state. In the state that I currently reside, abortions are still legal; however, it is predicted within the next year, this could change. Why I mention this is due to the fact that I live in a southern state where now most states have made abortion illegal. My state is surrounded by trigger states, which means that we are predicted to have an influx of women seeking abortions to come to our state.
As a Christian millennial, I want to use this as a way to reach out to those women in need and help them. Abortions are wrong because they are murder, yet we also have to know that a woman would not seek an abortion for no reason. These women need help physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We need to encourage women away from having abortions, and we need to meet them where they are. Instead of condemning them, we need to extend compassion and kindness to them. In everything we do, we need to show Jesus’ love in our actions and in our lives.
Abortions are illegal now in many states, but it doesn’t mean the struggle is over. If anything, there is much more work to be done. Many conservatives believe that the argument is over, but it is not. As a Christian millennial, I believe we need to step up and help the women who are seeking out abortions. They need to know that they are loved and valued, and so is their unborn baby. No matter how much pain they are in, they are still unconditionally loved by the Creator of the world. The love God has for all of us is agape love, which means it is unconditional and never fades away.
The women seeking out abortions need to know that they are loved by God and also by other people. The love, kindness, and compassion that we extend will help these women know they are valued. Knowing they are valuable and will receive support and help throughout their pregnancy and afterward might save them from having an abortion. Abortions are reported to be traumatic experiences and many women regret having them later in life. It is vital, in my opinion as a Christian millennial, to help these women know that there are people out there who will help them throughout their pregnancy and after the baby is born. We have to show that we not only care about bringing the baby to term, but we also need to show that we love the woman and care about her future as well.
Thoughts & Ponderings
Many people around my age, including other millennials, view the overturning of Roe versus Wade as a terrible thing and an infringement on women’s rights. “My body, my choice” has been a common argument among pro-choice advocates for years. While this phrase may be popular with individuals, it specifically neglects the right of the baby. A baby has no choice in the matter as it is just a helpless unborn baby with no voice. Even if a mother doesn’t want her baby, she can still bring it to term and give the baby up for adoption. There are always options outside of abortion. Every baby deserves the right to live.
As a Christian millennial, I feel it is important to not only help these women as they are experiencing these storms of emotions but to also help them throughout their pregnancy as well as the first years after the baby has been born. It is not enough just to be there for the woman while she is deciding on having an abortion. We have to be with her through it all. In other words, we have to go the extra mile (Matthew 5:41). As a Christian millennial, I want to remain with these women in their struggles and give them the support and help that they need. Everyone in the media is fixated on saving the baby’s life, and the baby’s life is important, but the woman’s life is equally important. Unfortunately, the woman is often forgotten in these discussions.
The Bible tells us that life starts at conception (Psalm 139). This means that every baby is a person from the time they are conceived. Henceforth, they deserve to have the same rights as any individual. Every single baby deserves the right to live. With the overturn of Roe versus Wade, thousands of babies are now going to have the chance to live and see the light of the sun. As beautiful as this sounds, as Christians, we cannot see our job as being “done” or “complete.” Rather, we have to see it as the start. It is vital that we get involved in local ministries that provide outreach and help to these women during difficult post-birth seasons.
A Final Word
Millennials have different views concerning the recent decision of overturning Roe versus Wade, yet it is vital that we approach this decision from a Christian worldview. Yes, it is a great thing that Roe versus Wade was overturned, but our work is far from done. We cannot only be concerned with the baby and forget the mother. We have to be concerned about the well-being of both the mother and the baby. It is not right to neglect either of their well-being or health. Many pro-choice advocates believe that Christians are only concerned with the baby and not the mother or the child’s life. As a Christian millennial, I see this as something that has to change.
There are many ministries located across the United States that can help women in need when they turn away from abortions. As Christians, it is our responsibility to help them to the best of our ability and to extend the love of Jesus in our actions. The Lord would never leave someone to experience their pain alone. He would stand beside them and help them. While we are not Jesus, we are His followers, and it is our privilege and responsibility to help our fellow people in the world. The overturn of Roe versus Wade is a touchy subject, yet it is vital for Christians to know that we still need to help these hurting women, help their child, and help them in their lives. We cannot think the overturning of Roe versus Wade has solved all of the problems concerning abortion because it hasn’t. Our responsibility as Christians has just begun.
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Vivian Bricker obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, followed by a Master of Arts with an emphasis in theology. She loves all things theology, mission work, and helping others learn about Jesus. Find more of her content at Cultivate: https://cultivatechristianity.wordpress.com/.