March for Life 2017 (Photo courtesy of Life Matters Worldwide via Facebook)

“This was the 44th annual march,” says Lothamer. “We’ve been doing this every year to highlight the sanctity of human life in this country — especially since Roe v Wade — and really rallying the people, hearing great speakers, and it’s more like a real encouragement event but also saying to the public, ‘Here’s this mass of people, men and women, who are committed to the sanctity of human life and we’re going to be here every year as long as it takes until we see Roe v Wade go off the record books.’”

An Inclusive March

The March for Life had interesting timing following the Women’s March earlier last week, which had over 500,000 attendees in Washington, D.C. While the Women’s March touted having an inclusive message supporting women’s rights, it was very exclusive when it came to pro-life feminists.

“When I think of the Women’s March — and I am definitely sure there were a lot of many women there who are really concerned about the issues of women in America and the struggles they may be facing — however, when the Women’s March banned pro-life groups and women from that march, that was very telling that they’re very one-sided, very intolerant.”

Michele Shoun with her sign in front of the Capitol. (Caption, photo courtesy of Life Matters Worldwide via Facebook)

Lothamer continues, “Erik Metaxas, when he was speaking at the March for Life, he said, ‘This is the inclusive march, where as long as you’re alive, and a human being, you are welcome at this march.’ I really believe the March for Life is really the one that was tolerant and inclusive and it was saying we want to highlight, we want to promote the sanctity of human life. We believe that babies in the womb have rights, and we also want to highlight the protection of and support of women as well!”

But What Does That Mean?

In light of the recent temporary ban on refugees from President Trump, the Women’s March earlier last week, and varying responses from the Christian community to both… it has prompted people to ask, “What all do Christians really mean when they say they’re pro-life?” Some have accused Christians of being especially focused on pro-life just in relation to the unborn, but neglecting care for other vulnerable and marginalized groups.

While there are always examples of people who will validate any extreme assumption (against individuals both Christian and secular, liberal and conservative), Lothamer says this “pro-birth only” assumption is often not true when you get down to the ground-level of Christian pregnancy care centers, refugee organizations, and shelters around the United States.

“If you look at the number of pregnancy care centers in this country — upwards of 2,500 or more — [they] are very inclusive of women, whoever they are, whatever their situation, even if they’ve had an abortion, they can receive help from these centers. And they receive all kinds of help in reference to parenting, job skills, medical help, all kinds of things at these centers. That’s one example.

March for Life 2017 (Photo courtesy of Life Matters Worldwide via Facebook)

“When you look at the pro-life community, we’re about helping women, especially as it relates to abortion, but also we’re about helping those at the end of the life.”

And, says Lothamer, “We are supportive of refugees coming into this country and helping them. If you take, for example, Bethany Christian Services in Grand Rapids, Michigan — one of the largest ministries of its kind — they have a huge ministry to these people (refugees), finding them homes and helping them get jobs and settle in this country.”

One thing is for sure: a full range of pro-life issues are hot topics right now, and it’s encouraging that people are talking about them.

Lothamer explains that fostering such pro-life conversations and the positive actions that come from them is what Life Matters Worldwide is all about.

“We are trying to keep this at the forefront in the minds of our people. Our mission, for an example, is to assist the Body of Christ in understanding the biblical pro-life message not only in word, but in deed.”

Church, the Ball is in our Court

Now, Lothamer says it’s up to the Church to keep up the momentum about all pro-life dialogue, because people have questions and it’s going to take compassionate believers willing to engage in hard topics to point people to Christ.

“It’s really in the Church’s corner, in their court, to continue to promote this, support pregnancy ministries, continue to educate their people in how they can be more actively pro-life in deed in their communities and with their families. I think it’s the Church because if we want to talk about security, our security in reality, especially from a Christian perspective, it’s not what’s going on in Washington, not who is the president. Our security is Christ…. His call for us is to go out and be Christ-like and His change agents to a lost and dying community.”

(Photo courtesy of Frontiers USA)

As the Church, we should also ask ourselves hard questions and pray for wisdom on what a biblical definition of being fully pro-life means.

Lothamer offers these thoughts: “How do we care for our neighbors who live right across the street or right next to us? Are we helping them and encouraging them, showing kindness? A number of women and men can get involved in pregnancy care ministries, a number can get involved in rescue ministries in their local communities, they can help ministries for the chronically and terminally ill,…become educated, they can help connect with their legislators on these particular pro-life type of issues. And a major one, probably the main one, is for God’s people to pray for righteousness to prevail in our nation and for the Church to be revived.

“I really encourage not only myself, but my brothers and sisters out there, let’s stand up, let’s work at protecting life at all stages, in all circumstances such as sexual slavery, homelessness, abortion, end of life, and so forth.”

If you’d like to learn more about Life Matters Worldwide and their resources, click here.

The March for Life in 2015. (Photo courtesy of Elvert Barnes via Flickr under Creative Commons 2.0 Generic: https://goo.gl/Ie0iBo)

According to a new report released last Tuesday by the Guttmacher Institute, the annual number of abortions in the United States has fallen below the one million mark. The data comes from surveys of abortion clinics in 2014, and is the lowest that rate has been since 1974.

Pro-choice and pro-life camps alike are quick to claim responsibility for the drop in abortion numbers. Has increased use in contraceptives led to the decline? Or is it because of greater efforts to provide pregnancy care and alternative options to abortion?

Ed Rivet with Right to Life of Michigan says, “There’s a wide range of factors, and I won’t dismiss the fact that they have added the IUD, the intrauterine device, as a contraceptive in recent past and it does tend to be more effective. But that’s just one factor…. There are a variety of factors that are leading women to just be more pro-life.”

One factor Rivet suggests may be impacting the numbers is the ‘Ultrasound Generation’. “Teenagers today are more pro-life than ever and they’re rejecting abortion. While we’ve seen in the state of Michigan, for example, abortion stayed fairly stable over the last four or five years among 20-somethings and 30s, they continue to go down among minors. And so it’s a generation that’s rejecting abortion, it’s a generation that’s what I call the ‘Ultrasound Generation’…. The first picture of them was the ultrasound their mother got of them. So they have an identity of themselves before birth and they’re just not buying the abortion line like previous generations have.”

Furthermore, there have been additional measures implemented over the years to monitor abortion clinics. “As states have done more to regulate abortion and the clinics are licensed and they’re more carefully monitored and inspected, the clinics are more in compliance.”

Another factor that could be impacting the abortion rate is the number of pro-life legislative acts that have taken place, and the growth in information coming out about the pre-born with scientific advances.

“As we just saw in Ohio in December, they passed a bill called the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This is being passed in a number of states saying at five months, at twenty weeks, this baby is fully capable of feeling pain and yet abortion is still legal. And as we have those kind of ‘public policy’ debates about the legality of abortion, people are getting a greater awareness that the pro-choice position of Planned Parenthood and the ACLU is really a very extreme position and they’re not comfortable with it.”

Life Matters Worldwide’s Tom Lothamer also offers his perspective on advances in holistic care for women in the pro-life community. “We feel this [decrease in abortion numbers] is a result of many many more pregnancy care ministries throughout this country who are serving women with love and compassion and showing them options other than just abortion. But not only asking them to consider this, but they’re also providing care for them in many different areas of their life. And so we believe this is one area or one reason why these numbers are down.”

Statistics in recent years do show a decline in unplanned pregnancies. In a previous report, Guttmacher revealed that in 2008, 54 out of every 1,000 women aged 15-44 had an unplanned pregnancy. In 2011, that rate dropped to 45 unwanted pregnancies out of every 1,000 women. However, the rate of unplanned pregnancies that ended in abortion remained the same, around 42 percent.

Pro-choice advocates have pointed to the decrease in unwanted pregnancies to say, therefore, the increase in contraceptive availability must be having the greatest impact on abortion rates.

(Photo cred: Steve9091 via Flickr)

However, The Atlantic reports that a company keeping records on the pharmaceutical industry revealed that between 2009 and 2013, there was only a slight increase in contraceptive use by women. Prescriptions for the most popular contraceptive pill only went up from 93 million to 95 million over those five years.

Greater access to contraceptives in health care may contribute to the decline in birth and abortion rates, but it cannot account for it as largely as pro-choicers would like to make it seem. And it does not negate the positive impact that pro-life policies and increased understandings of life before birth are having on society.

When it comes to protecting the lives of unborn children, these lowering abortion statistics can be encouraging. But there is still a lot of work to be done. It can be tempting as Christians to start conversations about the pre-born with the Bible.

However, Lothamer suggests, “One of the things we have to remember in approaching this discussion is we can’t come out with our Bible quotes necessarily, because we may be speaking to someone who doesn’t agree with the Scriptures or doesn’t understand the Scriptures. So we have to try to deal with it as much as possible from a moralogical point.

“I have a friend, Scott Klusendorf, who has developed over the years what he calls the SLED Test, and in five minutes you can defend the pro-life position…. We have to ask the question: in the womb, is this an actual child, a human being? Or is it a blob of tissue? And that makes all the difference,” explains Lothamer.

“All these things you can actually discuss with people and become reasonable. If you can learn those types of appropriate arguments that are not heated, but merciful and compassionate, you can actually talk with these people and help them to actually see the logic.”

It’s one thing to understand and agree that, morally, abortion is wrong. It’s another thing to think it needs to be legislated and restricted at a legal level. So why do pro-life ministries and organizations think abortion should be reduced and eventually banned by the government?

Rivet says, “I revert to a couple of basic principles. Our pledge of allegiance says we want a society with liberty and justice for all. My first question then, if they bring in government and its role, I say, ‘Well, what is just about abortion? From the perspective of the unborn child — and you were once an unborn child — what is just about abortion?’ There’s no justice in it because it’s the big guy picking on the little guy; it’s the adult, grown-up people who are supposed to be rational and mature killing someone who did nothing, and there’s no justice in that. I say that this country was about rights for all and our founding fathers said there were these inalienable rights that start with life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and our country was founded on this idea that everyone should be treated equally and everyone’s right to life is equal. This is government’s primary job.”

Lothamer also adds they want to approach these conversations with a heart of compassion, not just for the unborn children, but also — and even especially — for the mothers and fathers who are hurting or scared or confused.

“From a Christian perspective, we understand that all humans are created in the image of God and that’s sacred to us, so we want to help women understand the options, because choosing abortion has tremendous implications emotionally, it has implications from a medical perspective (and there’s all kinds of research out on that) and the long-term effects of abortion. I believe we’re the compassionate ones in the sense of saying we want to help women fully understand what they’re about to do, if they’re considering abortion, and offer them alternatives…. Caring for that child, caring for the mother and the father, adoption, there’s all kinds of things.

“We are offering compassion and mercy and trying to help women make a choice that we believe long-term is going to be greatly healthy for them emotionally, physically, and otherwise.”

Both Right to Life of Michigan and Life Matters Worldwide network with pregnancy care centers. If you need to be connected to a pregnancy resource or center near you, Right to Life of Michigan has a toll free number they encourage you to call: 1-800-57-WOMAN.

Life Matters Worldwide also offers further educational resources, both for those interested in pro-life issues and for churches that want to better understand their role in pro-life ministry. Click here to visit Life Matters Worldwide’s website.

Ultimately, as the Church, we need to keep being the loving hands of Christ — for pregnant women needing help, for families struggling financially, for single mothers feeling alone, for couples in an adoption journey, and for women dealing with post-abortion trauma.

“This is an issue that is not going to go away through some type of compromise…. The pro-life people are going to continue to offer care and compassion and mercy to all people, regardless of who they are. And even if they’ve had an abortion, we’re still going to be there, unlike the abortionists, we’re still going to be there to offer care for healing and restoration of their lives. So we’re going to keep doing that in the power of the Spirit of God.”

Why is adoption the better option?
(Photo courtesy of Bethany Christian Services)

USA (MNN) — Can you imagine never being born? It’s impossible: we can’t imagine not existing because we must exist to imagine. It is wonderful and it is strange to realize that God chose to create you. Yet, every year there are thousands of created lives that never get to contemplate the wonder of their existence.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2010 there were 765,651 legal induced abortions in the United States. Those were the reported abortions only.

For Bethany Christian Services, the month of January is very significant to their ministry. They recognize it as National Sanctity of Human Life month. This day has been recognized off and on by various presidents since Ronald Reagan in 1984. The specific day falls on the third Sunday each January. This year it falls on the 19th.

Abortion has now been legal for nearly 41 years, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade falling on the 22nd this month.

We spoke with Bill Blacquiere of Bethany to get an insider’s view of why this Sunday is so important. He says, “It stands out because it gives the opportunity to tell the other side of the abortion story.”

He explains that as time goes on, people overlook some realities of abortion. His concern is that the public becomes increasingly removed from the moral significance and responsibility of abortion with each year that goes by: “After 41 years of legalized abortions, many citizens and younger people just see abortion as a legal service that’s available.”

Bethany works extra hard during this time to promote life and to educate the public that there are choices in difficult situations. “By having a sanctity of life month, it focuses on the protection and needs of unborn children, and allows organizations like Bethany and pregnancy centers to be able to state the services that they provide to expecting parents who are faced with an unplanned pregnancy.”

As easier and less involved ways to participate in abortion are made available, people who might not have favored abortion previously are opting for the “morning after pill” and similar post-encounter “birth control.”

This is dangerous. Minors find these practices much more accessible. And the issue doesn’t stop in the secular arena. Christians are threatened by the lies of abortion just like anyone else.

And what are some of these lies, or better put, overlooked aspects of abortion?

Blacquiere elaborates: “Just recently I was reading an article that studies done in other countries are warning people who do get an abortion that there are after effects and there [is] emotional trauma, and there are even mental health issues that can be associated with abortion and terminating pregnancy.”

Blacquiere says there is going to be a feeling of loss whether the expecting woman chooses abortion or adoption. “With terminating it by abortion,” he says, “you have no opportunity to really get over that loss. But when you see your child develop and have a relationship and can explain to the child that you made this decision out of love, it helps resolve the loss that you feel.”

Many mothers would agree that there is a bonding time between child and mother during the pregnancy, and that to purposefully end that life doesn’t make any sense.

Abortion, according to Blacquiere, goes against the foundation of the inner workings of a human. He says, “I also believe it’s in our–if you will–DNA and in our nature that we always want to protect life, so when we go against that, it does cause trauma for us.”

Christians cannot ignore the evidence that abortion is wrong.  The psalmist recognized this in the Bible: “For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well” (Psalm 139:13-14, ESV).

Blacquiere stands firm in his position, “God has stated from the very beginning that life is in the blood and that life is precious; even the early laws [talked] about if you take a life, a life must be forfeited. So God has always promoted life.”

Blacquiere also provides some reasons that everyone should consider adoption with Bethany: First, “I believe [the fact] that you would choose life would be very rewarding for you and obviously for the child whose life would not be terminated. Second, there are many adoptive families who are very interested in adopting your child and providing a loving home for the child. Third, we offer open adoption, and that means that the expectant parent can meet and pick or choose the adoptive couple–and in [the majority] of these cases, they have an ongoing relationship with that adoptive couple, and they can see their child grow and develop into a mature adult.”

Blacquiere reflects on a repeated success story that he has been fortunate to witness. “It’s just really interesting for me to hear from adoptive families who say, ‘You know, our son or daughter is graduating from high school this year, and their birth mother is going to be there and participate with them.'”

Though neither option is easy, Blacquiere maintains that the best option is to have an ongoing relationship with the child who has been adopted by a family better equipped to care for them.

He says that there have been many successful progress stories in past years regarding reduction of abortions. However, Blacquiere asks that you would join with your brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer for the total elimination of abortion. Ask for God to change the hearts of government officials, that federal judges would consider the rights of the unborn. Pray for parents who have unplanned pregnancies to make wise and loving choices.

If you would like a bulletin insert for your church about this event, click here. You can learn about adoption choices here, and support Bethany with this link.