The Mixed Message of Pro-Life America

We live in an era of existentialism, which is a philosophy of life that says "if it feels good, do it and I determine what is right or wrong for me." Most existentialists believe there is no after- life only here and now. The General of the existential army is Self and the battle cry is freedom of choice! Freewill is the tool of Self to determine what is right or wrong and what is true or false. Self will interpret all things and determine their validity by exercising its freewill. Choice is sovereign in the kingdom of existentialism.

Consider how many choices are required in our culture. There are dozens of restaurants to choose from in my county, that is, if I decide to not eat at home. If I go into Memphis, there are hundreds of restaurants from which to choose.

"Smoking or non-smoking?" asked the hostess. "Non." What would you like to drink? asks the waitress. Tea. Sweet or unsweet? (The idea of unsweet tea is surely a Communist ploy to subvert our culture) Sweet, of course.

The menu contains literally dozens of options, then there is the deadly dessert that offers 6 or 8 items from which to select. This entire scenario requires dozens of decisions for each meal. Then there is the television (if you decide to own one). Modern technology will soon give us the opportunity to choose from hundreds of programs at any given time of day. Just reading the program guide could take longer than the program you want to watch.

Increasingly, the decisions we make each day are for the purpose of our own enjoyment or happiness. We choose between Burger King and McDonalds; Pepsi and Coke; NBC and ABC, etc. But there are more serious issues that are proposed to us as if it were a matter of choice. The most dangerous of these issues is abortion. Women are told that it is a matter of choice as to whether they should have an abortion or not. The pro-life community responds with the fact that it is a matter of life and death for the baby. Abortion is a serious holocaust that the Body of Christ must address. We must face the issue with the truth of God s Word. Abortion is a heart issue at the core. Only God the Holy Spirit can change a heart. Sidewalk counseling is great. Picketing a clinic is effective. C.P.C. s are doing a wonderful job. Care-homes are ministering to many girls, but if God does not send a measure of revival, abortions in America will continue to increase. Preaching the gospel does save babies.

Most pro-lifers are trying to inform women of the implications of the choice of abortion without addressing the crux of the issue: Is death a legitimate choice? The world has couched the issue in terms of choice and most pro-lifers only address the effects of the choice. Allow me to illustrate: because of the seriousness of the result of abortion, pro-life Christians are actively working to take away the woman's choice through judicial means by making abortion illegal. Ideally, this will be achieved on the Federal level but pragmatism insists that it be sent back to the States to choose if they will allow abortion. Pragmatism and Existentialism work well together.

I wonder how many see the inconsistency of the bulk of pro-life Christianity concerning abortion and freewill. On Friday, they tell legislators to take away from women the choice of abortion. On Saturday, they tell women in front of the clinic not to choose abortion. Then, on Sunday they plead with women to come forward and choose Jesus . How can a freewill pro- lifer look a woman in the eye and tell her that she does not have the right to refuse to carry her baby to term and then tell her that she does have the right and ability to refuse Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, the Alpha and Omega, the Lord of all life, indeed The Life? It seems that, on the one hand, she should not be allowed to choose concerning an earthly, physical matter (childbirth) while on the other hand she should, even must, have complete freedom of choice concerning a matter that has tremendous eternal significance (the salvation of her soul). Normally, when a person is denied choice in a matter it is the weightier, more iportant issue. When I go to Burger Palace, I have freedom of choice to order any item on the menu. I do not have freedom of choice about the amount I will pay; that has been determined for me and will not change. They do not care what item I order just so long as I pay for it. Price is the weightier issue. With a matter as important as eternal salvation it is critical that Someone else choose for you.

Freedom-of-Choice Theology inadvertently promotes abortion on demand through its logical inconsistencies. How did freewillism absorb this horrid inconsistency? By altering the Gospel just enough to make it palatable for the masses. They did this by giving man just enough power or ability to add his part to the salvation equation (God's offer + Man's choice = Eternal life). Freewill theology has opened the flood-gates for millions who will gladly accept a christ without taking up the cross; choose a savior without self-denial; and receive a lord without repentance. This pernicious doctrine has been propagated by the clergy and permitted by congregations in the name of Jesus but for the sake of church growth. They have changed the cause so as to produce the desired effect. Choosing Jesus is religious existentialism. At the freewill Burger Palace, they do not care how little I pay just as long as I choose the Jesus Burger .

In an age of existentialism, it makes sense that Freewill Theology thrives on the freedom of choice mentality that permeates our culture. Pro-life freewillism sends a mixed message to the world by telling women they have freedom to choose anything except abortion. The Bible teaches that death is never a legitimate choice. The desire to kill is already in the heart of the natural man.

God does not give man a choice between good and evil; natural man is already evil and the Scriptures even declare that the unbeliever is condemned already. We love to hate. We want to kill (born or unborn), but the Scriptures command us to repent, to believe, and to obey. Jesus came into the world to save sinners not choosers.

We sovereign grace Christians must keep in mind that we wield the greatest weapon in the war against abortion on demand: THE TRUTH. We must gird our waist with the truth and do all to stand. Our General is King Jesus and He has commanded us to make disciples and He has promised that the very gates of hell will not prevail against us. Jesus promised that the truth will set men and women free. That means freedom from the guilt and shame of abortion. Our battle cry should be: Jesus saves sinners! We who know the truth should not abandon the fight against abortion just because our camp has been over-run with well-intentioned Arminians. No amount of compassion can make up for the compromise of truth. Let us hold up the standard of Gods electing love. Let us send a clear message to America that Man is a depraved sinner in desperate need of a real Savior. A Savior that said I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.