In the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, what should a pro-life church look like? What are some of the priorities, attributes, and perspectives of a local church which seeks to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our nation today as it addresses life issues?
This question is a very important one. And a very important companion question is this: Am I really seeking to honor the Lord in doing what He would have me to do – as an individual disciple of Christ - to help stand for life?
Well, an individual church family and each individual within it should prayerfully consider and possibly seek to live out several important characteristics.
A pro-life church needs to be a praying church. It is a church that seeks God faithfully in prayer as a lifestyle. Through prayer, they help to usher in the presence of God. They share the heart and mind of God with the culture.
It can help a church family and an individual believer to both ask and receive the answer to another important question. The question the apostle Paul made immediately after he met Christ in Acts 9:6 is wise for all believers to pray: “Lord, what do you want me to do?”
The church should seek God’s heart by asking the same question.
It knows prayer is crucial. A church that is involved in this kind of prayer and spiritual warfare will be working with God's power to change women's minds even after they may have entered an abortion clinic. This leads to women deciding “I can’t do this” and leaving.
A pro-life church is wise to be a humble church. Yet the question needs to be asked, “ What is humility and what does it mean to be humble?" Real biblical humility is complete submission to the Word and will of God.
It’s a church that will pray and ask God about placing a local pregnancy center and/or other pro-life ministries into its monthly budget and into its mission budget. They will educate themselves on the issues related to life and minister to those affected by the realities surrounding life.
It’s a church that will prayerfully consider encouraging members to volunteer at local pregnancy centers.
It’s a church that would prayerfully consider supporting a baby clothes closet with diapers, clothes, wipes, and other needed items.
It’s a church that will prayerfully consider becoming a sanctuary church. They will help moms who find themselves expecting a baby at a difficult time. They will come alongside a mother who feels all alone and walk with her through her term of pregnancy and beyond. They will prayerfully become like family with the love and support a mother may not have in her own life.
It’s a church that will learn about important pro-life outreach ministries that are doing vital work to end legalized abortion in different ways. It will sacrificially and faithfully support such ministries with their prayers and their finances.
It’s a church that is wise and informed enough to know and understand it should in no way rest until abortion is once again illegal in every state in our nation.
Post Roe, as before and always, the church should seek to faithfully follow God and His ways.
Praise God for the reality that Roe v. Wade has been overturned. That was a great blessing from the hand of God. The reality is that Roe v. Wade should have never happened in the first place. It legalized the murder of babies in their mothers' wombs.
Now that it has been overturned, it’s important that we understand that our work is far from over. It is, in fact, just beginning. Let us, as the church of Jesus Christ, faithfully roll up our sleeves. Let us have a renewed commitment to help save the lives of women and babies. Let’s get to work.
(Editor's note: Pastor Joseph Parker is the author of the book A Pastor’s Notes: God Calls the Church to Stand Boldly for Life. It can be found at resources.afa.net HERE.)
