ABORTION AND THE RIGHT TO BE SEEN
Regardless of where I go, I continue to marvel at the polarized responses to the human embryo, and especially to the aborted human embryo. Many look at the mangled bodies of our fellow image-bearers with horror and heartbreak, whereas others either refuse to look or even become angry. Often, theirs is not a righteous anger aimed at abortion, but a selfish, visceral anger aimed at those who dare to expose this evil.
Earlier this month I travelled to Columbus State Community College to partner with my son and son-in-law and their ministry, Created Equal. Their public display consists of large photos of aborted children and a large TV which loops a short video showing the brutal after-effects of abortion on children in each trimester of development. These images generate a great deal of conversation as they powerfully expose the truth about abortion in a way words never could.
A faculty member stopped to talk. She said she was pro-life, but nonetheless stated that it was in “poor taste” to display images of abortion’s victims and argued that our efforts only served to turn people off from our message. One student, Micah, who identified as “pro-choice” angrily registered his complaint over the images. When I asked why he found them offensive, he reluctantly admitted that they were offensive only because they accurately depicted the offensive act of abortion. Despite this concession, he contended that we should make our case without showing the images. I pointed out that if it were not for the graphic images, he and I would not be having a conversation about abortion. At this point he grinned and sheepishly conceded my point. As our conversation continued, Micah warmed considerably to the plight of the unborn and their young mothers and even admitted that the photos had him rethinking his support for abortion.
Pro-life leader Gregg Cunningham points out, “When photos of abortion are shown, abortion protests itself.” He’s right. We cannot obey Ephesians 5:11 which commands us to “expose the fruitless deeds of darkness” by hiding abortion’s tiny victims. Author Jonathon Van Maren writes, “The history of social reform shows us that not a single injustice has ever been ended by covering up evidence of that injustice.” No one would dare argue that it is in “poor taste” to show graphic photos of emaciated Jewish men, women, and children who were murdered by the Nazis. Indeed, we could never grasp the horrors of the Holocaust if not for these powerful images. Some things are unpleasant to see but must be seen if we are to be moved from apathy to acts of love and compassion.
In Matthew 9 we read that Jesus went through the towns and villages proclaiming the good news and healing the sick. Verse 36 tells us, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” The order of that verse is instructive. First, Jesus saw the crowds. Next, He had compassion on them. To be clear, Jesus is omniscient and didn’t need to see the crowds to have compassion on them, but we are not omniscient. His example teaches us that being moved to acts of compassion for the “harassed and helpless” requires us to first see them. And no one is more harassed and helpless than the unborn threatened by abortion. Appallingly, even in many of our churches, these little ones are sheep without a shepherd.
Certainly, precious unborn children who have been denied their right to life should not also be denied their right to be seen. As one who changed my mind about abortion after seeing what abortion does to little girls & boys, I remain convinced that we will never see an end to legalized abortion if we do not let the world see what abortion does to our tiniest neighbors.