IMAGE BEARERS OF GOD
Every person, whether they acknowledge the existence of God or not, has been created in the image of the One true God (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6). Because of that truth, which does not hinge on anyone’s opinion, every person has intrinsic value and worth. There is nothing ambiguous about God’s view regarding life in the womb, as scripture clearly points out in passages such as Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13-16; Exodus 21:22-25; and others.
THE FALLACIOUS ARGUMENT OF “FROM WOMB TO TOMB”
There is a growing theme, specifically among those who are seeking to justify their reconciliation of their political persuasions that support a political ideology and the genocidal reality of abortion, by claiming that pro-life needs to comprehensively include all aspects of life.
On the surface, caring for all life “from womb to tomb” sounds right and noble. And it is. But caring for life from womb to tomb can’t even be a thought if life itself, which by the way science has validated begins at conception (I mean, since we’re all about following the science), is terminated within the womb.
In short, what some within the “Christian community” are asking is, “Can a person be a Christian, and vote for/support a candidate who is pro-abortion?” To go one step further, some within the same community have moved passed the question and are seeking to justify why they, as a Christian, are able to vote for a pro-abortion candidate.
The truth is, there is no way to soften the harsh reality that abortion is the murder of an unborn child. If that lands hard and sets uncomfortably on your heart, mind, and soul, it should. If it doesn’t, then there is a much deeper issue.
Consider these facts:
Since Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in 1973, over 60 million babies have been aborted. To try and grasp the genocidal and infanticidal reality that abortion is, that is more than almost 10 times the loss of life of the Holocaust (6 million Jews) and the loss of American lives in all U.S. wars from the Revolutionary War to the Global War on terror (1.1 million), combined over a period spanning 240 years. Or, consider that it is equal to the 60.4 million people currently living in the country of Italy. In 47 years, the United States of America, has murdered over 60 million unborn children.
Abortion in America has contributed to the greatest decline in the African-American population since the first black slaves arrived in the Americas in the 1600s. According to U.S. census data, there were 18,871,831 black American citizens in 1960. Since Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in 1973, abortion has killed an estimated 20 million black babies — more than the entire black population of 1960. (The Washington Examiner, February 28, 2020)
86% of Planned Parenthood’s abortion facilities are in or near minority neighborhoods, specifically the 25 U.S. counties with the most abortions. These 25 counties contain 19 percent of the U.S. population and are home to 28 percent of the U.S. African-American population and 37 percent of the U.S. Hispanic/Latino population. In 12 of these counties, African-Americans and Hispanics/Latinos are more than 50 percent of the population. In contrast, African-Americans are only 12.6 percent of the U.S. population and Hispanics and Latinos are 16.3 percent. Although these 25 counties reflect just 1% of all U.S. counties, they accounted for 30 percent of all abortions in the U.S. in 2014. (Life Issues Institute research, Townhall, September 23, 2020, https://townhall.com/columnists/susanwillkeenouen/2020/09/23/research-shows-planned-parenthood-expands-targeting-minorities-as-it-spurns-racist-founder-n2576680)
For every 1,000 live births, non-Hispanic Black women had 401 abortions. Non-Hispanic White women had 109 abortions per 1,000 live births.
Planned Parenthood of Greater New York removed the name of Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, due to her own documented racist and eugenic ideologies. The Birth Control Review, (Sanger’s journal) frequently highlighted the mission of its parent organization: “The American Birth Control League. Its Aim: To promote eugenic birth selection throughout the United States so that there may be more well‑born and fewer ill‑born children ― a stronger, healthier and more intelligent race.” (Advertisement in the Birth Control Review, Volume I, Number 1, New Series, October 1933, page 8) As well, she wrote, “Before eugenists and others who are laboring for racial betterment can succeed, they must first clear the way for Birth Control. Like the advocates of Birth Control, the eugenists, for instance, are seeking to assist the race toward the elimination of the unfit….Birth control of itself, by freeing the reproductive instinct from its present chains, will make a better race….Eugenics without birth control seems to us a house built upon the sands. It is at the mercy of the rising stream of the unfit.” (Margaret Sanger, “Birth Control and Racial Betterment,” Birth Control Review, Volume III, Number 2, February 1919, pages 11 and 12)
For one who professes to be a follower of Jesus, yet seeks to justify the killing of pre-born children via abortion, what defense do you give to the Giver of life; the One who created these children in His image? I don’t think texting him a link to your favorite podcaster’s woke view on “pro-life” is going to suffice; the well-meaning blog post that seeks to articulate compassion for those who are post-womb and in need of loving care, yet doesn’t have issue with a woman’s choice to have an abortion rings hollow. Seriously though, how would you respond to the Righteous Judge?
Looking at the landscape of our society, it is becoming increasingly clear that life is no longer valued as precious and priceless, but rather it is treated as nonessential and expendable. The issue of abortion may be fought in the political arena and played out in the media outlets of our culture but understand that this issue is not a political one; it is biblical; it’s spiritual. As a culture we want a religion, and a text that bends to our preferences. If what Scripture teaches isn’t convenient, or comfortable we undermine it; twist it; ignore it; reinterpret it; and even re-label it.
DEFUND WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE DEFUNDED
Due to provision’s in Obamacare, Planned Parenthood’s “health centers” are no longer necessary for women to receive convenient care regardless of their financial status. Under the ACA (Affordable Care Act), women are able to receive preventative services, as stated on https://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-womens-health-services/ :
“Women across America will benefit from the new provisions and protections in the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). Under the Affordable Care Act women have access to a large number of preventive services at no cost on health coverage that has to follow the Affordable Care Act’s rules (for example marketplace plans and full benefit employer plans). These services include:
• Well-woman visits.
• Gestational diabetes screening that helps protect pregnant women from one of the most serious pregnancy-related diseases.
• Domestic and interpersonal violence screening and counseling.
• HPV DNA testing, for women 30 or older.
• Sexually transmitted infections counseling for sexually-active women.
• HIV screening and counseling for sexually-active women.
• Mammograms and Colonoscopies (since Sept 2010)
• And more.”
I mention this because the argument has been, and continues to be made, that to defund Planned Parenthood of federal tax dollars would threaten the health care of women and prevent them from having services offered by Planned Parenthood.
Of the over $600 million that Planned Parenthood receives from federal and state tax dollars, the “services” provided by them are made available at other health facilities. For states that have not opted out of the abortion coverage offered by the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), tax payers are in effect paying for abortion coverage.
The fact is that with the ACA’s provisions, Planned Parenthood, is not necessary in order for these services to be made available. Although Planned Parenthood claims that only 3.5% of all services performed at their facilities nationwide are abortions, their numbers are skewed due to how they are calculated.
Alexandra Desanctis of the National Review reports, “To understand why this is wrong, consider how Planned Parenthood obtains this statistic: by calculating abortion as a percentage of its services rather than calculating what percentage of its clients show up primarily for an abortion. For instance, if a woman comes to Planned Parenthood for an abortion but, while she’s there, obtains a pregnancy test, an STD test, and a well-woman exam, and is given contraceptives on her way out the door, the organization would record the abortion she received as just one-fifth of the “services” Planned Parenthood performed. This does little to capture the true part that abortion plays in Planned Parenthood’s business, nor does it acknowledge the fact that abortion is, by far, the most expensive procedure the group offers.”
Haley BeMiller, a reporter for USA Today, reported that in 2019 Planned Parenthood performed more than 345,000 abortions, accounting for 40-50% of abortions nationwide. (USA Today, May 5, 2020). According to Planned Parenthood’s reports, the number of non-abortion services performed between October 2017 and September 2018, decreased significantly. (Washington Times, January 6, 2020)
Planned Parenthood’s 2018-2019 annual report indicated that they received $616.8 million in American taxpayer funds, an increase of 9.4% from the $563.8 million it received in year 2017-2018. In their report it is stated that, “Government health services reimbursements and grants” remain the largest source of income for Planned Parenthood at 37% – largely from the Medicaid program – followed by “private contributions and bequests” at 36 percent. According to Live Action News, Planned Parenthood’s taxpayer income over the last decade has risen 69.8%, “from $363.2 million in 2008, to $616.8 million in taxpayer dollars in 2018.”
In 2018-2019, Planned Parenthood’s total revenue was more than $1.6 billion, and its net assets for the year was nearly $2 billion.
The reason I’m sharing the facts about Planned Parenthood’s “services” and their financials is to point out that at the core this is a money-making industry at the expense of the unborn and women. To look at the facts, which have seemingly become non-essential in our current culture, and proport an illogical argument that this is about “women’s health and reproductive health care” and not about a “non-profit” organization that is profiting greatly from the killing of unborn children up to full-term, is asinine and ludicrous to say the least. As well, that Planned Parenthood would spend $45 million leading up to the election, specifically funding and supporting political candidates and a party that wholeheartedly supports and champions late term abortion, is very telling of the threat that exists to their lucrative, albeit evil, endeavors.
PUT YOUR TAX MONEY AND YOUR TIME WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS
If you want to make a difference, support reallocating federal and state funds from Planned Parenthood to child services, not a platform that champions infanticide and genocide.
For a person who professes to be pro-life yet is in favor of supporting and funding abortion even up to full term, that person has lost any moral authority when it comes to being “pro-life” after a child is born.
If the concern is the care for a child post-birth, then I would suggest supporting local, state, and national candidates and officials who are truly pro-life, as well as pushing for legislation that will reallocate funds directed to Planned Parenthood to government funded child services.
According to Urban Institute’s “Kids’ Share 2020: Report on Federal Spending 2019 and Future Projections” July 2020report, federal spending on children amounted to $408 billion, or 9% of the federal budget. In comparison, 45% of 2019 outlays went towards health and retirement benefits for adults through Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; 15 percent went towards defense spending; and 8 percent went to interest on the federal debt.
Rather than give the $600 million-plus to Planned Parenthood, they should be redirected to organizations that really do focus on specific areas that truly are pro-life: adoption agencies, fighting child poverty, child health services, etc., If you want to make a difference that expresses “womb to tomb,” pro-life beliefs and convictions, get behind these causes by engaging with your time and resources.
Adoption agencies
Only 4% of women with unwanted pregnancies place their children through adoption. Even for those who say there aren’t enough who will adopt, adoption saves the lives of 140,000 children each year.
There is financial assistance available but reallocating federal and state funds used for abortion to adoption and foster care services would help significantly. I honestly don’t know how anyone who is pro-life could argue against it.
Fighting Child poverty
According to a 2020 report from the United States Census Bureau and the Peter G. Peterson Foundation Child poverty remains a very significant and costly issue in the United States. In 2019, the child poverty rate was 14.4%— significantly higher than the 9.4% poverty rate for adults and the 8.9% poverty rate for seniors.
Child health services
There needs to be more attention given to children who are in need of not only medical, dental, and eye care, but mental health care as well. Having recently become involved with helping school-aged students get the mental health care they need, I have seen first-hand the lack of quality resources available that provides consistent, stable, and compassionate care for these kids and their parents/guardians.
Volunteer time to child services
Mentoring kids through organizations and churches.
Coaching local sports teams.
Advocacy groups that speak up and fight for children who are facing difficult and traumatic situations.
Tutoring children who are in desperate need of one-on-one attention.
Give financially to organizations that may be poorly funded yet are legitimately having a positive impact in the lives of children.
EVERY LIFE MATTERS
I understand that pro-life is not just pro-children. But for the sake of the length of this post, just know that what I’ve shared is foundational and speaks to the truth that all life, truly from the womb to the tomb, is of great value.
I’ll close with this: if you profess to be a follower of Jesus, I challenge you to do a couple of things: 1) Study the words of Jesus, the whole counsel of God’s word, and see what He says about “life;” not your definition or adaptation of “life”; not another person’s opinionated blog about their definition of “life.” What does God say? And 2) When you stand before Jesus, and we all will, what defense will you give for the beliefs you held and actions you took, or didn’t take, regarding “life?”
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