Articles
| An Article Written by Dr. Neil Chadwick
It would not be acceptable to go through this "Sanctity of Life” Sunday without recognition of the anniversary of the legalization of abortion in America. It causes us much sorrow, repentance, a vow to do all we can to reverse this practice, and reach out with compassion to those who have been affected. "Abortion is the act of destroying a fetus in the womb." (Oxford's Dictionary) 43% of American women will have an abortion by age 45 (Alan Guttmacher Institute). 61% of teens having abortions do so with their parents' knowledge (Guttmacher). 1 out of 6 abortion patients describe themselves as born again or evangelical Christians (National Abortion Federation). 72 percent of abortion patients held no religious convictions at the time of the abortion. However in retrospect, 96 percent believed the abortion was the taking of a life. Over 42 million abortions have taken place since 1973. Many women become sterile after an abortion. Tubular pregnancies are more common after an abortion. Many women who have abortions suffer medical complications such as colostomy or paralysis. A number of women die from abortions. The psychological and emotional effects are usually even more damaging than the physical. Symptoms of post-abortive women include: increased use of drugs and alcohol, promiscuity, eating disorders, "workaholism," child abuse, and uncontrollable anger. According to one study of 400 couples who went through the abortion experience, 70 percent of the couples who went through the abortion experience had a failed relationship within one month of the abortion. Marriage relationships fail because abortion leads to mistrust between the husband and wife. The LORD said to Rebekah, "Two nations are in your womb. . . ." (Gen. 25:23) David said, ". . . from my mother's womb you have been my God" and ". . . you knit me together in my mother's womb." (Ps. 22:10; 139:13) Solomon wrote: "As you do not know . . . how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things." (Ecc. 11:5) "This is what the LORD says-- your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb." (Is. 44:24) God said to Jeremiah, ". . . before you were born I set you apart. . . " Jeremiah later said, ". . . he did not kill me in the womb, with my mother as my grave. . . ." (Jer. 1:5; 20:17) "Rescue those being led away to death: hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, 'But we knew nothing about this' does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not He who guards your life know it? Will He not repay each person according to what he has done." (Prov. 24:11-13) "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live?" (Deut. 30:19) The preceding information was shared in the weekly Joyful Ministry Email Circular. Immediately, this letter was received from Deborah:
At that time, I had just become a born again Christian, and my daughter knew little of the Word of Christ. We have both suffered many of the psychological, emotional as well as physical (eating disorders) effects described in your newsletter. I have asked and prayed, as well as my daughter, for forgiveness of this act. At the time, I felt that it was the best thing to do for both my daughter and myself as I am a single parent with one other child, and my daughter was at that time emotionally unstable and not equipped to raise her child without assistance from me, and frankly, I just did not want to make that sacrifice, nor did I want the responsibility of raising another child without the benefit of a father for both emotional and financial support. I have seen the effects of not having input from both mother and father in the lives of my children, as well as in my life. I, too, am the product of a single parent household (father was absent), and was very promiscuous as a young adult. I attribute that to not knowing Christ, my Lord and Savior, and confusing sex for love, and yearning for that which I now know only my Father can give me. I feel so ashamed for allowing this pattern to continue into yet another generation. I continue to pray for my salvation, as well as my daughter's, and other young woman who are trapped into believing there is no other way to feel loved. I know that low self-esteem is a major issue with many women today who have been subjected to like circumstances, and I know that many of us who have traveled that path have done so because we did not know God and how much He loves us (no matter that our earthly mother or father did/does not). Since re-dedicating my life to Christ, I have continued to sin in other areas, but the more I stay in the Word, the more understanding is revealed to me, and the easier it becomes to break those strongholds that have plagued me for a great deal of my life. I no longer believe in abortion, and would give anything to change yesterday. I do have one question, however; since I was a born again Christian at the time of my daughter's abortion, will God forgive me and my daughter for this? My daughter has since given her life to Christ as well. We both love the Lord, and need so badly to know whether He will forgive us for this terrible act. Please advise. Praise the Lord and God Bless" Deborah P.S. Please pray for me and my daughter, Janelle.
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