NOT BECAUSE YOU MUST, BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE WILLING

Pastors Have a Sobering, Yet Enviable Role in the Battle Against Abortion

Since the 2022 Supreme Court decision, Dobbs v. Jackson, and the subsequent fall of Roe v. Wade, the nature of the battle for life has changed dramatically. For instance, one significant change has been the largely successful efforts of the abortion lobby to enshrine a so-called “right to abortion” into state constitutions. A second notable change has been the FDA’s 2023 decision to permanently lift the in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone, making the abortion pill available to women on-line without seeing a doctor, leaving them vulnerable to serious life-threatening complications such as from undetected ectopic pregnancies. More examples could be given, but while the nature of this battle is changing, one thing remains the same; God wants shepherds to lead their flocks in the battle for life.

Sadly, however, in too many churches it is the sheep, not the shepherds, who lead this charge. When it comes to speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves, many pastors have chosen silence over faithfulness. Although they may claim to be pro-life, their involvement is only as spectators. They watch the battle over abortion from the safe seats high in the bleachers, free from the discomfort and inconvenience of actual engagement. By doing so they insulate themselves from many of the difficulties and challenges faithful pastors must endure. To make matters worse, many of them have essentially bolted the doors of their churches, locking the pro-life message out altogether. In John 10:13, Jesus describes the shepherd who abandons the flock when a wolf attacks as a “hireling who cares nothing for the sheep.” Strong words indeed, but this is how Jesus views pastors who refuse to fulfill their most solemn duty.

The apostle Peter admonished pastors to, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be, not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve…”[1] Thankfully, a growing number of pastors are willing and eager to defend the preborn from abortion. These men view the preborn as Christ does, as fellow image-bearers within the clear boundaries of moral responsibility. They understand that what they do for the least of these, they do for Christ. For them, protecting children from abortion is not a begrudging duty, but the grand privilege of their pastoral work.

The faithful pastor understands that abortion is the defining moral issue of our day and is not ashamed to thunder from his pulpit against this lethal threat. He is unaffected by the poisonous thinking that has paralyzed so much of the Church, which argues, “Christians should be known for what we’re for, not what we’re against!” He is embarrassed by harsh, legalistic churches and their long list of oppressive rules; however, he refuses to allow the pendulum to swing in the opposite direction, leaving his church fearful that standing boldly against abortion might give the wrong impression to the outside world. He knows there are times when it simply isn’t enough to be for something, when he must stand courageously against evil. He sees abortion as an evil so great, its force so powerful, and its destruction so severe, that it simply will not do to speak only in “positive” or flowery terms of the preciousness of life. Like the evils of slavery and sex trafficking, he recognizes that abortion must be called out for the evil that it is. When a wolf attacks his flock, he is not merely “pro-sheep”; he is decidedly “anti-wolf” and doesn’t worry himself that others might criticize him or be incapable of recognizing that his bold stand against the wolf means that he is passionately for the sheep. He is known for what he is for in great part because of what he is against.

Although most churches won’t even pray publicly for the preborn, the faithful pastor is happy to lead his flock in this way. He doesn’t discriminate; he knows the command to “always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people”[2] includes praying for the preborn and their parents. He leads his church in praying for them often, asking God to “turn the hearts of the parents to their children”[3] and to bring an end to the scourge of abortion in our land. By leading in this way, his burden for the preborn becomes his congregation’s burden too.

Furthermore, he sees no conflict between loving innocent children and guilty adults. By “speaking the truth in love”[4] he does both. He rejects the conventional wisdom that says speaking out against abortion will only inflict greater harm on those who’ve had them. He knows that nothing would cause more harm than his own silence. Convinced the sin of abortion is no match for the grace of God, he is not stingy with the gospel. He preaches hope and forgiveness through the spilled blood of Christ for those who’ve spilled the blood of the preborn. He delights in pointing those who have aborted their children to the One who promises, “When the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”[5] He cannot imagine hiding such hope from those burdened by the sin of abortion. His teaching and counseling ministry nurture a community where love and compassion are in full supply, where abortion becomes unthinkable, and where sinners find real forgiveness and freedom from the guilt and shame of abortion.

What an enviable position the faithful shepherd finds himself in, and what a blessing he is to the congregation he protects. As he presses on in his earthly ministry he can take comfort in Peter’s divinely inspired promise; “When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”[6]

[1] 1 Peter 5:2, NIV, 1984
[2] Ephesians 6:18
[3] Malachi 4:6
[4] Ephesians 4:15
[5] John 8:36
[6] 1 Peter 5:4