January 22nd, 1973. I was twelve and took little notice of the Supreme Court’s monumental ruling announced that day. That was the day the Roe v. Wade decision created a constitutional right in the United States to abort a pregnancy up to viability. Nearly 50 years later, that ruling is overturned, returning the decision to the individual states of our union. In between, a fledgling movement began, went through many growing pains, saw setbacks, but never gave up.
There’s a lot that can be said about the past 50 years. The ruling had far-ranging impacts, too many to innumerate here. The movement began with religious underpinning and it is important to recognize the consistent message and practice of the Catholic church and many evangelicals. But over time, the pro-life movement grew beyond religion to include secular pro-lifers and even 11% of atheists (according to a Pew study).
In our Christian world view life matters. Each human being is created in the image of God and is due dignity. The psalmist said, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139:13–16, NLT) Each human life is precious to God and should be for us.
Darkly, however, we as Christ-followers haven’t always acted that way. Some turned to violence in Christ’s name claiming to save lives by taking lives. Some judged and rejected those who took the other side instead of maintaining the value of all life and Christ’s redemptive purpose. But untold and unsung individuals also shinned their light.
Over the past 5o years, many prayers have been laid at God’s throne. Repentant prayers, prayers for change, and prayers of forgiveness. Since 1973, ministries have sprung up to support women facing the toughest decision of their lives. Caring individuals made the way through millions of small donations to provide a way forward.
None of that changes with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The ruling doesn’t outlaw abortion but returns it to the states for regulation based on the will of the citizens. Unplanned pregnancies will still happen. Some women will still face difficult choices. Some states will lean towards life and others towards death. Prayers won’t stop, but they may change their focus.
I write the above simply to say this. Pray works – it may take a long time – but it does work. Keep praying, even more as circumstances grow darker and the resolution seems even more impossible. Life matters, all life – even those seemingly outside of God’s will or vehemently opposed to our viewpoint, our religion, or our God. God challenges each one of us, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” (Deuteronomy 30:19, NLT)
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