Since the now infamous U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Roe vs. Wade in 1973, over 37 million legal abortions have been performed in the United States.

Fifty-two percent of women obtaining abortions in the U.S. are younger than 25: Women aged 20-24 obtain 32 percent of all abortions; teenagers obtain 20 percent.

These are only some of the statistics that reveal the extent to which abortion has become in many, if not most instances, an accepted form of birth control.

Actually, according to The Alan Guttmacher Institute and Planned Parenthood’s Family Planning Perspectives, 93 percent of all abortions occur for social reasons (i.e., the child is unwanted or inconvenient).

“These justices probably had no idea that they were unleashing a struggle for the soul of the nation.” These words by Robert George capture the magnitude of the moral, spiritual, and social blight of abortion on demand.

The following is a brief summary of various aspects of “a struggle for the soul” of our nation. This is presented not so much as a cohesive essay but a kind of anthology of statements from both pro-choice and pro-life advocates.

“The issue of abortion is not about whether life starts at conception. There are convincing arguments either way. The issue is which carries more weight: the life that may be in the embryo, or the life and needs of the woman in whose body that embryo was conceived?” (an ordained United Church of Christ pastor).

Never mind that the life in the womb is defenseless and has no choice. Where is the outcry against “shedding innocent blood”?

“Nobody has complete ownership of his or her body – or else they could make it a receptacle for heroin, ride motorcycles without helmets or sell their kidneys to the highest bidder.” (Jim Wooten, AJC).

A narcissistic culture trumpets alleged rights to do with one’s body as they please. Who bestowed this right upon them? Does not the fetus have some rights?

“The only distinction between the death of that unborn child and the death of a child after its birth is that the unborn child is not yet known by others to the extent the child born alive soon comes to be known. A miscarriage, like any other natural death, is a tragedy marked by loss and grief. An abortion, like any other taking of human life, is an act of moral treachery.” (Albert Mohler).

The pro-abortion community stands in embarrassing silence in the presence of this reality.

“Life begins with the mother’s decision.” (presidential candidate Wesley Clark, 2004).

This argument often used by those in the pro-choice movement betrays a horrifying world view, namely, that “the baby is not alive until the mother exerts an act of will.” By this standard infanticide is not far behind. Thankfully, the presidential candidate who said this did not gain political traction.

“In fact I challenge you to publish two photographs side by side: one of this ‘child’ outside the womb and another of a ‘fetus’ inside the womb both at 23 or 24 weeks, with a caption that says something like: ‘We at the Star Tribune regard the termination of the preemie as manslaughter and the termination of the fetus as the personal choice of the mother.’” Pastor John Piper wrote these words in an open letter to the Minneapolis Star Tribune which endorsed abortion in a lead editorial.

“No doubt abortions spring from mixed motives. But the will to abort invariably involves an attitude toward life. Abortions are accepted because life is cheap: if it is inconvenient to bear a child to full term, destroy it; if the child will not be what we would desire, kill it. Most abortions take place because humans do not choose to be inconvenienced. Or to be deprived. Or to permit a handicapped child to live. And this, so evangelicals affirm, is a dangerous attitude that society for its own protection does not dare permit a person to act upon. Society has the duty to protect itself against actions that would destroy it. Human life is sacred, since every man, woman, and child is made in God’s image.” (Editorial in Christianity Today, 1982)

“ ‘The first thing I’d do as President,’ Barack Obama told Planned Parenthood in 2007, ‘is sign the Freedom of Choice Act.’ The bill would remove almost all state and federal restrictions on abortion.” (Christianity Today, January 2009). This is a chilling prospect. Let us pray that the president elect will change his mind.

Where does all this bring us? We are being told that evangelicals under age 35 don’t have the same fire in their belly regarding the issue of legalized abortion that older evangelicals have. This may very well be true.

As Christians, whether young or old, we must recommit ourselves to the righteous cause of ending the evil of abortion on demand in our society. Here are a few things we can do now.

Pray that God will afflict the conscience of pro-abortionists in that they will uphold the value of human life in the womb. Pray that no bill will be signed by the new president that will remove state and federal restrictions on abortion. Encourage and support pregnancy care centers that are attempting to protect the lives of the unborn.

Bible-believing local churches must provide an environment of compassion for unwed mothers and serve as a social conscience for the protection of the unborn. Christians must refuse to cast their ballots on election-day for candidates who are not pro-life.

This is not all that can be done, but if churches would be true to God’s Word, boldly proclaim God’s eternal truth, and be known for their authentic Christianity, a culture of life would displace a culture of death.

Dr. Howard E. Dial, pastor

Berachah Bible Church

Fayette County, Ga.