On January 22, 2013, my son asked me one of the most difficult questions I’ve ever had to answer. I remember the date because it was the 40th anniversary of Roe v Wade, and, although we had no way of watching cable news in our home, my then home-schooled second grader must have seen news coverage of this cultural milestone while we were out around town because he asked me a gut-wrenching question. “Mom,” he asked, “do people really kill babies that are inside their moms’ bellies? Does that really happen?” Wow! How do you answer that for an 8-year-old?! His question quite literally took my breath away, and tears immediately welled up in my eyes. Because the answer was yes. Yes, people really do that, and they are not ashamed. They don’t get arrested. They won’t go to jail. That is the world in which we live. It is wicked, and sin is pervasive.
Last week, on that same anniversary, many in our nation celebrated because that right to kill babies in the womb was extended up until birth in the state of New York. Christians everywhere were horrified as liberals celebrated what they saw as a victory for women’s rights. We were repulsed by pictures of high profile politicians smiling as they allowed for the murder of millions of our most innocent citizens. This issue forces we who are Christians to ask some difficult questions. How does a good God allow this kind of evil to persist? What can we do to help save innocent lives? How should we respond?
By no means are we the first generation of Christians faced with these questions. Where sin abounds, social injustice abounds even within “Godly” societies. David asked God, “How long, O Lord?” when it seemed as though idolatrous enemies would prevail (Psalm 13). The cry of so many of the Old Testament prophets in the face of much greater injustices than we suffer was “how long, O Lord?” In the New Testament, persecuted Christians asked “how long?” before the Lord would bring justice to the wicked Roman Empire (Rev. 6:10). Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:9 that God is not slow to act but rather is graciously giving mankind more time to repent. Isaiah assures us that God will “act for the one who waits for Him” (Isa. 64:4). We can trust that the Lord will make all things right in His time.
While we wait on the Lord, we can act. We can support unborn babies by providing a place for them in this world. Maybe this repulsive law will cause us to think about our own homes and whether we have the willingness and opportunity to adopt or foster an unwanted child. You may not be aware of this, but over-population of the foster system in the state of Georgia has created a unique opportunity for private, Christian agencies to place foster children for the government. My good friend, Kate Leverett, recently started a job at Raintree Village in Valdosta, GA, for this very reason.
She told me that families who foster through Raintree Village have the advantage of 7% more money per child; access to a food warehouse, household necessities, diapers,
Maybe your home is just not the right place for adoption or fostering. You can still do your part to support orphans. Sarah Dutton is another friend of mine who has made Casa Hogar, the children’s home located on the campus of the Latin American Mission’s school of preaching in Panama, her ministry. She cares for around 24 children from 9 months to 24 years old, and her work has made a great impression on the local government who call on her when they need to place children from difficult situations.
Last year Casa Hogar was $20,000 short of their budget. This is a shame! We are specifically called upon to take care of the vulnerable (James 1:27). If we want to stand against abortion, then we need to put our money where our mouths are and support institutions that provide mothers with alternatives. Consider “adopting” one of the children-home kids as a family. You can pray daily for the child, send money each month to help support him or her, take care of special needs as they arise, and send gifts for milestones like birthdays and graduations. If you would like to learn more about Sarah’s work or help support these children, you can email her at sarahcdutton@yahoo.com or contact the Latin American Missions office at (229) 242-1069. Whether you support Raintree, Casa Hogar, or some other Christian children’s home, don’t wonder what God would have you to do. Please, let your eyes see the need and act💖.
So, the most difficult question remains for each of us to answer: how will we respond? Our nation is wicked because it is plagued by the disease of sin. In truth, the sin of sexual immorality is the root of the abortion problem. It leads to more sins like selfishness, pride,