I am against abortion. It is murder. Let's be clear on that. I am all for making a big stink about this terrible evil, this ignored holocaust. Christians, too, are having abortions, and that is nearly unthinkable. For unbelievers to kill their children and call it a good deal for both the mother and the child shouldn't be shocking but when Christian mothers are having abortions to cover up their sins, I think there is a much, much deeper problem. The problem isn't simply pointing out that abortion is murder. It has come to the point that we must remind Christians, let alone the world, why murder is a problem.
So what do I mean? Am I actually saying that Christians do not think murder to be sin? Not exactly. Most Christians see killing another human being as wrong. The problem, I believe, is the reasoning that many Christians have for why killing another human being is wrong. It would seem many Christians are a bit pragmatic. "It is wrong to kill because we are taking another person's life, and to do so would be to violate their rights," most reason. "We wouldn't want to be killed, so we shouldn't kill either."
So why do Christians and non-Christians alike seem to find abortion as the grand exception?
It is true that some do so because they convince themselves that the fetus is not a human life. It is my conviction that the majority know it is a human life yet choose to abort the baby nonetheless. They feel they cannot provide for the child, and to give it up for adoption would be too risky for the child as well. Of course, these are weak rationalizations by sinners to simply get rid of their guilt for murdering their own flesh and blood, but I think a murderer can have some sympathy for its victim and in part kill for that very reason. The point being, many women abort their children because they think it is best for the child. Sure, they don't want the responsibility, they don't think they can take it on, but at the same time, knowing this, they also feel like it is a mercy killing. Could this be true?
Ecclesiastes 4 says:
4 Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. 2 And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. 3 But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
It almost sounds as if, given a dire enough situation, it would indeed be best to never see the light of day and come into this cold, cruel world. It terrifies me to think that I will likely be a father, sooner rather than later, and that I am the one responsible for bringing my children into this dangerous, scary world, where it is a guarantee that my children will experience all kinds of suffering in this life, and eventually death, and could possibly even experience the eternal wrath of God. In light of this, why have kids at all? Is it not too risky? Is not abortion then a merciful thing? Perhaps God indeed saves all infants.
Even if God does save all infants, abortion can never be justified. But what we Christians need to wake up and realize is that this world is horrible, it is fallen, and when we bring new life into it, we better take darn good care of them. I don't mean merely physically or emotionally, but primarily spiritually. And this is where I am most frustrated. Some of those who most loudly decry abortion are the most lackadaisical when it comes to raising their children in the ways of the Lord. Scripture repeatedly tells parents to raise children in the knowledge of the Word of God, of His commandments and precepts, to teach them to them constantly. Let me go ahead and say it: Having daily devotions with the family around the dinner table for 30 minutes doesn't cut it. That's a start, at best. Even then, if it is just going through the motions and spouting off catechism questions or Bible verses like a mantra, it can become devoid of much value at all.
Parents must be teachers, teachers of the Word of God, to their children. They must be ministers, shepherds, to their little flock. They have a greater responsibility for the upbringing of their children in the ways of the Lord than their church pastor does. The pastor gets them for an hour or so once or twice a week. Parents, you have your kids all day, every day. Hours a day should be spent raising your children in the ways of the Lord, from the time they are able to understand English until they are learned and sanctified enough to make decisions on their own. But the vast majority of Christian parents, even reformed parents, may not be doing a good job of this. And I would suggest that is a greater, more silent killer than abortion. This one is eternally damning.
Next time I will explain what I think raising your children in the ways of the Lord looks like. But for now, let me close with this point: The next time you rant about abortion, think about your own children, or about other people who rant about abortion and their children. Is the Church at large REALLY getting the family right? Are we really raising them in the ways of the Lord? Are ministers really blameless and have children of good reputation? Scripture commands this, and the truth is, parents have a great, GREAT responsibility and culpability in the salvation of their children. Raise them in the ways of the Lord, and God says they will not depart from His ways. Fail to do this, and they may very well be cut off from God and the covenant because you, the parent, broke the covenant you made with God, to be fruitful and multiply, to raise your children in the ways of the Lord and teach them His statutes.
This world is scary, but hell is scarier. If you are going to support big families, Christians, then actually be a Christian family. Actually teach, admonish, and rebuke your children. Put more time and energy into them and your spouse than anyone or anything else, for this is your first and highest calling that God has called you to, and if you are failing at this, you are failing at everything.
Because if you fail to raise your children in the ways of the Lord, I do believe it would be better for them if they had never been born, if they had never seen the evil of this world, the evil of you, parent, for neglecting your children and not loving them enough to saturate them with sound doctrine and prayer and teaching of the Word. It would have been better if you had aborted your children than to let them live and then not constantly plant them in the Light.
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