INTRODUCTION

Fourteen years have passed since January 22, 1973 when the United States Supreme Court struck down all the anti-abortion laws in all the states, making abortion legal in this country. Immediately following this shocking event, pro-life groups sprang up all over the country to fight abortion and work for a Human Life Amendment to the United States Constitution which would guarantee the “right to life” for all human life from conception to the moment of natural death.

The focus of the debate at that time centered on the humanity of the fetus at every stage of development. For a number of years, many in the medical community loudly maintained that the tiny blob was nothing more than tissue. But modern technology has annihilated that argument. Ultra sound reveals with awesome clarity, the heart chambers and limbs of the tiniest human beings.

CHANGE OF FOCUS

As a result, the focus of the pro–life discussion has changed. The question in the 70’s was: Is this blob a human life? Technology has answered with a resounding “Yes!” So the question now becomes: What value must we place on this tiny life? Does it really have the same rights as a person already born? You notice that the question has changed from a scientific question to an ethical question. It is very important to understand this because when the discussion moves to ethics it is then in the area of values; and in order to determine values, it is essential to have a standard by which to assign values. For the evolutionist, the non-Christian, there is no higher standard than the human animal. Human life by such a standard is cheap and expendable. But, for the Christian, the Bible is the standard and according to it, all human life bears the image of God and as such is sacred and must be preserved. Because the Christians have the truth, many have emerged to take roles of leadership in the formation of pro–life groups, in the establishment of pregnancy centers, and in politics. They have taken a lot of abuse, but most have remained vigorous and determined.

SLIPPERY SLOPE

In 1973 the phrase “slippery slope” was introduced. Concerned pro-lifers voiced their concern that liberalized abortion laws would lead to infanticide and euthanasia. Scoffers called this the “slippery slope” mentality. But have we, in fact, slid down this “slippery slope?” Yes, we have.

Not only have 18,000,000 unborn babies met their deaths since 1973 (16,000,000 more than the combined death toll of all the wars in which the United States has been involved), but within the last year, legislation and court decision have sanctioned the practices of infanticide and euthanasia.

Last year, thirty–five states adopted Living Will legislation which creates a new standard of medical care by which doctors may starve or dehydrate their patients to death at the wishes of the patient , family members or their own discretion. Living Will legislation conditions people to think that everyone has a “right to die” when, where and however he/she pleases.

In June of this year (1986), the United States Supreme Court struck down “Baby Doe” rules which guarantee life-saving treatment for babies born with a handicap. The Supreme Court declared itself powerless (!!) to act on the handicapped child’s behalf if the parents decided against life-saving treatment for their handicapped child.

NEW MENTALITY

A new mentality has emerged which replaces the “sanctity of human life” ethic with the “quality of human life” ethic. Human life is no longer sacred simply because it is human, created after God’s image. As one speaker at a recent “Conference on Christian Faith, Health and Medical Practice” stated: “One must have a ‘minimum threshold of existence’ to qualify as an image bearer of God.” Who sets that “minimum threshold” and what criteria are used to determine that “minimum threshold” is up for grabs. If an unborn child is unwanted, he/she can be aborted. If a child will be handicapped or retarded, it may be aided in dying by deliberate withholding or withdrawal of food and water. Similarly, if an elderly person is no longer physically or mentally functional, he should be “helped” to “die with dignity” by deliberate starvation or dehydration. In the country of Holland, one out of every six elderly persons dies from self-administered lethal injection. The “quality of life” ethic is rapidly replacing the “sanctity of life” ethic which the Bible clearly teaches. The frightening thing is that some Christians are accepting and promoting it, and clothing it in pious language.

Along with the new “quality of life” ethic has come a parallel mentality which accepts the right of one individual or a group of individuals to decide whether another individual (unborn, handicapped or elderly) may live or must die.

SOLUTION

The snowball which was launched on January 22, 1973 has. gathered weight and momentum and will crush us with a vengeance if it is not stopped. Christians must become involved. They are the only citizens that have the standard of truth, the Word of God, which is needed to bring about the necessary changes. Most unbelievers no longer care because the issue has become an ethical one . . . and they are not equipped to handle it.

What can we do?

Prayer is number one. The Lord says in II Chronicles 7:14, “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.”

Purity must be stressed in our society. A large percentage of abortions are performed on unmarried teens. Free sex is the primary pastime of thousands of teenagers. Chastity and all that it means for their spiritual, physical, mental and emotional welfare needs to be proclaimed openly and repeatedly from pulpits in our land. Chastity programs must be initiated in the private and public high schools. Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion-provider, is currently launching an all-out offensive to establish “health clinics” in high schools everywhere. These clinics will dispense contraceptives and refer for abortion without parental knowledge or consent.

Preparedness is an important ingredient of the solution to our pressing problems. I urge all Christians to become informed. Too many people think they know all that is necessary to know. They are opposed to abortion, infanticide and euthanasia and they think that is enough. But it is not. The “pro-choice,” “quality of life,” “die with dignity” mentality is growing at a phenomenal pace and we need to be informed. Subscribe to monthly updates such as Action Line (Christian Action Council publication), or the National Right to Life News or any one of the many pro-life publications. These publications will provide abundant motivation and methods for becoming involved in the pro-life cause which needs you so desperately. Join a local group and share your time, money and effort for this cause.

Political involvement is crucial in winning the battle for life. The bottom line is the elected legislators who will make decisions for us on the legality of certain practices and the appropriation of funds for these practices. Know your candidates for judgeships and state and federal offices. Vote for pro-life candidates. Pro-life voters are often criticised for being single issue voters. But, is there any issue more basic than life itself?

Become aware of bills that are coming up for vote on state and federal levels. Write and/or call your senators and representatives and let them know your convictions regarding an upcoming issue. Abortion, infanticide and euthanasia-related legislation comes up often and your voice needs to be heard. Your local pro-life chapter and pro-life newspapers can furnish you with legislative alerts and names and numbers to call. The Bible encourages us to become politically involved. Psalm 119:46 and 47 says, “I will speak your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commandments because I love them.”

It is our duty as Christians to see to it that our government upholds God’s will. It is our duty as Christians to see to it that the lives of our nation’s most abused minorities—the unborn, the handicapped, the elderly—are protected by law.

Isaiah 46:3 and 4 put everything in proper perspective. It is not up to man to decide whether the unwanted or flawed unborn, the handicapped or the minimally functioning elderly should live or die. God alone may set the perimeter of our pilgrimage—and this He does with tender love:

“Listen to me, O house of Jacob

All you who remain of the house of Israel

You whom I have upheld since you were conceived

And have carried since your birth.

Even to your old age and gray hairs,

I am he, I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you.

I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

   

Laurie Vanden Heuvel is the past president of the Siouxland Christian Action Council, Orange City, Iowa. She currently serves as the president of the Michigan Right to Life Education Committee, Grand Rapids, Michigan.