I want to introduce you to Emily Letts, an abortion
counselor at Cherry Hill Women’s Center in New Jersey. Emily, 25, decided to
film her abortion procedure and share it with the world. Well, Emily’s video went viral this week. This
is why she was afforded the chance to explain her experience in the latest
issue of Cosmopolitan.
I am introducing you to Emily because I want you to see that this is the
world we live in. A world that not only accepts a woman’s “right” to choose,
but celebrates a woman that decides, before she is even pregnant, that she is
going to have an abortion. We must notice that this decision was not based on a
health issue, a rape, or incest. This decision wasn’t really even based on a
conversation between two partners. Instead, this decision was made before Emily
even decided to “lay down” with a partner.
This story makes my stomach turn. Where is the outrage? What
are we doing as a nation? Have we really reached a point where we are celebrating
someone’s decision to take a life? I realize that some would argue with my
assessment there. I realize that some are saying that it was a fetus not a life
or a baby that Emily aborted. If this is the case than why would Emily say
this, “It will always be a special memory for me. I still have my sonogram, and
if my apartment were to catch fire, it would be the first thing I’d grab.” Maybe
some of you are still having a difficult time connecting this fetus to a baby
or a life. Maybe Emily can assist again with this statement, “I don’t feel like
a bad person. I don’t feel sad. I feel in awe of the fact that I can make a
baby. I can make life.” Does that clear anything up for you? Emily believes
wholeheartedly that she made a baby and that she can make life. In two
sentences she refers to the “fetus” inside of her as a baby and as life. Using
her own words, Emily would agree with me that life begins at conception.
Now that you know her story, does this bring about any
emotions? Are you angry? Are you sad? Are you hurt? Are you happy? Are you
celebrating her “brave” decision? We must understand that the abortion narrative
has changed. We are no longer hearing defendants cite rape, incest, health of the
child, or health of the mother as the primary justifiable reason to have an
abortion. These are certainly included, but the argument has shifted to
complete convenience. Abortion supporters are now even openly claiming that it
is a life that they are aborting. Judith Arcana, an abortion activists/supporter,
had this to say concerning the “fetus”, “But we should never disregard the fact
that being pregnant means there is a baby growing inside of a woman, a baby
whose life is ended. We ought not to pretend this is not happening.” Did you
hear that? The narrative now, from the abortion activists, is clear. They agree that it is a baby/life they are aborting and they have no issue with that.
What does this mean for the pro-life movement? It means that
there needs to be a movement!! Being pro-life is more than a bumper sticker. It
is more than political fodder. It is easy to argue with folks and say the right
things or to sign petitions, but truly what are you doing to celebrate and
promote life? Have you visited any life celebrating facilities to volunteer or
to pray? These facilities are all over the country. We have two locally, Hope Resource Center in Knoxville or Choices Resource Center in Oak
Ridge. We can no longer sit on the sideline.
This, in my estimation, is the issue that will define our generation and our nation. I look back at the Civil Rights Movement and cannot help but wonder why more didn’t stand up for those that could not stand for themselves. Why were people willing to stay on the sidelines while brothers and sisters were being mistreated, tortured, and murdered? Many Christians stood on the sideline saying the right things, but when it came down to getting to work and standing up for others they were nowhere to be found. They might have said things like, “I am pro-African-American but I don’t want to get involved” or maybe they simply lowered the blinds in their windows while their brothers and sisters were being attacked by police dogs and sprayed with fire hoses in the street. Where were our parents and grandparents during this? How could the “greatest” country in the world allow and even promote this type of behavior?
This, in my estimation, is the issue that will define our generation and our nation. I look back at the Civil Rights Movement and cannot help but wonder why more didn’t stand up for those that could not stand for themselves. Why were people willing to stay on the sidelines while brothers and sisters were being mistreated, tortured, and murdered? Many Christians stood on the sideline saying the right things, but when it came down to getting to work and standing up for others they were nowhere to be found. They might have said things like, “I am pro-African-American but I don’t want to get involved” or maybe they simply lowered the blinds in their windows while their brothers and sisters were being attacked by police dogs and sprayed with fire hoses in the street. Where were our parents and grandparents during this? How could the “greatest” country in the world allow and even promote this type of behavior?
I pray that my children one day will not look back at this
time and this generation, my generation, and say where were you dad? “Where
were you when 3200 babies were being aborted every day? Did you say the right
things and sign the right petitions and sit on the sidelines? Did you simply
close your blinds dad?” The thought of this breaks my heart. Folks we must open the blinds. We must not
simply get off the sidelines we must run off the sidelines. We must get
involved!!
I realize that this topic is heavy and creates a great deal
of emotion when discussed. I realize that some use this as an opportunity to
fight and meet hate with hate. This is not the answer. The answer is the
gospel. The answer is Jesus. We celebrate a Savior that gives life. We
celebrate a Jesus that pours out his mercy and grace on His people. So…what does
this mean? This means that we pray for Emily and other women like her. We don’t
offer up hate to Emily. My heart breaks for Emily. I pray that God would save
her and that she would repent. I pray that God would pull her out of the
darkness and that she would be ambassador for the gospel! Let this be the start
of you getting off the sidelines. Pray for women today all over the world that
are contemplating abortion. This is the
start but there is so much more to be done. I would encourage you to contact
your local pregnancy center and get involved. We have been called to go to the
broken places. So raise the blinds…better yet, throw them away and get to work
as you seek to see the gospel move and the Kingdom expanded.
