You will not serve in the pro-life movement long before pro-aborts thrust an unreasonable objection to your stance against the murder of innocent, unborn, human beings. They often seek to divert the conversation by seeking to take an inventory on how well you are working to solve all the world’s problems.
“Oh, you oppose abortion? Then what are you doing to pay for the food, clothing, and housing for all the poor mothers on welfare?”
“Oh, so you’re pro-life? Will you adopt all these unwanted children?”
“You are pro-life, you say? Wouldn’t ending abortion prevent women from gender equality and prolong the patriarchy?”
You have heard pro-aborts opposition like this in the past, I am sure. So, what do you say in response?
THE VAN MAREN SHOW
I happily subscribe to The Van Maren Show podcast, hosted by pro-life stalwart, Jonathan Van Maren. It is a new production of LifeSiteNews.com. The topic of these typical objections from abortion supporters came up in discussion in two of Van Maren’s recent episodes. They were “Episode 10: Abortion and the black community with Ryan Bomberger,” and “Episode 11: Scott Klusendorf on the State of the Pro-Life Movement.”
Both guests brought up how absurd the objection remains from the abortion supporters. And yet, for some reason, so many pro-lifers feel pinned down by the argument from their abortion-supporting opponents.
As Bomberger and, especially, Klusendorf point out, pro-life organizations do not have the financial and human resources to solve all the world’s problems. They run on a shoe-string budget, with a lot of hope and prayer. They remain focused on doing their small part in ending the holocaust that abortion remains.
Yes, it is true that the vast majority of the pro-life movement consists of Bible-believing Christians. And yes, Christians have a moral directive from Christ Himself to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, and fulfill the corporal works of mercy. But that’s where pro-lifers can draw a distinction.
While every Christian would like to solve all the world’s problems, the tall task just is not feasible for a single individual, nor a small group of people. Every Christian should want to end poverty. Every Christian wishes every child was raised in a loving home with a mom and a dad. But none of us are called to serve in every ministry.
What God has asked us pro-lifers to do is to give a voice to the voiceless and to fight for the right to life for the unborn. We are seeking to end abortion. That alone remains a tall order, and pro-lifers would do well not to be duped into thinking they need to solve all the world’s problems in order to properly call themselves “pro-life.”
THINK ABOUT IT
Both Bomberger and Klusendorf point out the obvious: pro-lifers are the only ones burdened by society to resolve every injustice and inequality in the world. The examples abound.
A day care center is run by folks who presumably genuinely care about the well-being of children. Yet, no reasonable person sullies their good name by pointing out that they have yet to also end gang violence in their neighborhood.
The American Heart Association supposedly wants people to lead healthy lifestyles. Yet, they are not tasked with singlehandedly ending drug abuse.
No one petitions the Make-A-Wish Foundation expecting them to find homes for all the children in foster care. Their wonderful mission remains to bring happiness to children, yes, but they remain focused on those diagnosed with a terminal illness and their families. But just because they aim to help children doesn’t mean they are required to help every child in every situation.
You get the idea.
IN CLOSING
So the next time a pro-abort rambles on about how pro-lifers need to solve all the world’s problems, give them one of the above examples. Ask them how come anti-abortion “extremists” are the only ones tasked with ending poverty. Ask them what they are doing to end poverty. And no, paying your taxes, in order for welfare to be paid out to them, does not count. After all, we are all compelled to pay our taxes, or else we face the penalty of jail time!
We pro-life folks have to remain narrowly focused on trying to end the holocaust of the murder of an innocent sect of humankind. We don’t have to accept the responsibility to solve all the world’s problems. Besides, we can’t solve them all. That’s why we pray, to let God handle the bigger picture. We must remain focused on our small piece of the puzzle: ending the slaughter of the unborn.
YOUR TURN
Have any more advice for when a pro-abort challenges a pro-lifer to solve all the world’s problems?
Please leave a comment.
