New Stanek WND column: “Is God allowing abortion to save eternal lives?”
A volunteer driving me from the airport to a pregnancy resource center speaking engagement described a heart-wrenching incident.
She said during a recent luncheon with three friends, all four admitted to having abortions. One had never told anyone before that day….
I am increasingly aware of the eternal lives God is saving through abortion. I don’t understand. Can it be that God is allowing the catastrophe of abortion to save the eternal lives of the parents who kill their babies?….
But there are many who do not accept God’s forgiveness….
Frankly, those who lament that their sin of abortion is unforgivable need to get over themselves. In actuality, they have a pride issue. They think their sin is more special than anyone else’s who has ever lived.
What’s worse, people who don’t seek and accept God’s forgiveness about their abortions make matters worse. They don’t get in the game because they feel like hypocrites….
Continue reading my column today, “Is God allowing abortion to save eternal lives?,” on WND.com.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
You may or may not believe this, but I believe it to be true. Jesse Duplantis (who has a strong ministry) claims that he was taken up to Heaven for a little while before resuming his life back on earth.
While he was there, Jesse said he saw many millions and millions of butterfly-like creatures flying around the throne of God.
Jesse asked an angel about these creatures, and he was told that they are all aborted babies from this world.
Dear Jill, I read your column and was compelled to comment on a few points. I know that you are trying to present a postitive hope for those who aren’t sure/don’t know about our children being with the Lord, but Scripture surely is clear that the innocents are with Him (MAY be covered by the blood of Christ).
You make it sounds so easy to “get over themselves” but it’s not. My sin was not “more special,” it was unbearable. Knowing Jesus had already “bore” my sin was fine for salvation and eternal life, but for the here and now, at that time, the trauma, the horror, the realization of what my children suffered at my hand was more than I could bear. As we know now, post-traumatic stress disorder isn’t an excuse but an explanation to depression, self-destructive behavior, inability to form and maintain relationships or to bond with subsequent children and even suicide. Tell a Vietnam vet (or an Iraq vet) to “get over themselves” after they’ve seen their best friend blown to bits or seen the face of the person they just blew away. We may not have “seen” (although some have, as you) but the post-information left a vivid picture in our minds of the excruciating pain and suffering we caused our children. It has nothing to do with my sin being more special than anyone else’s whoever lived. It has to do with a deeply wounded heart that doesn’t know how to deal with the consequence of sin.
There are many post-abortion groups if you need extra help. Your only good point: seek help!! The Bible clearly states to seek wise counsel. God wouldn’t have included this if He didn’t think we needed extra help in difficult situations. Praise the Lord that Jesus didn’t say to the woman who washed His feet with her tears, “Get over yourself, do you think your sin is more ‘special’ than anyone else’s?” Instead he said, “Her many sins have been forgiven, for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little, loves little.” The only way I was able to “get over myself” and beyond the pain was through the grace and mercy of God through a compassionate group counselor who took extra time to pray as the Lord revealed my children to me, safe and whole in His arms and not the way I saw them in my nightmares.
I hear no love in the tone of this “editorial.” I hear a critical spirit, which leads me to wonder, what is your insecurity/sin that compels you to project blame one who may not yet have experienced God’s redeeming love?
Dear Jill,
First I commend you for your pro-life, Christian stand. That takes a courage that all too few of us have these days.
However, I must take issue with your misleading title, “Is God allowing abortion to save eternal lives?”
Implying that God would actually allow unborn babies to be murdered so they could go to heaven without threat of choosing to turn their backs on Him as they get older is wrong. The Word says: Lamentations 3:31-33 “For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.”
One of the worst travesties of the Body today is attributing the works of Satan to God. It is not a spiritual, but a RELIGIOUS, self-deprecating attitude entrenched in false doctrine which makes people believe that God causes evil things to happen to His people to teach them a lesson.
Job is no exception. It is one of the most misunderstood books in the bible. (For a more detailed analysis go to: http://www.urantiabook.org/newbook/papers/p148.htm. And no, this did not dictate my opinion, I had already studied the Word about Job because I found it to be contradictory to God being Love and this agrees.)
God had nothing to do with what happened to Job’s children and possessions and careful study of that book proves this. He had already “gone astray” and repented for his transgressions at the end.
Ask yourself this question: Do you believe the Word and what it reveals to us about God’s character? If so than how do you explain Jeremiah 29:11?
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
What, is God someone who does not intend to harm us but then changes His mind? If so then the Word lies when it says that in Him there is “no shadow of turning”.
These things happen because we live in a sinful fallen world, and God, in His sovereign will, granted man a free will. This allows us to chose Him, or not, and the “or not” opens wide the gates to destruction for all who enter. It is not that complicated.
Eph 1:9 “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:”
That was certainly a very thought provoking article! Peoples eyes are opened through tragedy/sorrow and abortion certainly is that. Our Lord works in mysterious way for sure!
Mark,
I appreciate your comments and adamantly agree with you. I appreciate that you took the time to clarify the critical point that God does not cause evil.
I did not say God CAUSES evil. I said God ALLOWS evil, and one of the reasons He allows evil is for good to come from it – for the purpose of saving lives, as Genesis 50:20 states.
I want to reiterate your point that God does not cause bad things to happen to people to punish them, such as causing a miscarriage after one has had an abortion. God is good all the time. All the time God is good.
God does allow people to endure the consequences of their sins, such as prison for theft.
Ok? Are we in sync?
Joan,
As for the “may” be with Him, that wasn’t my word. I was quoting someone. I agree with you that all innocent babies who have died are in heaven. I do not believe Scripture teaches that babies must be baptized to go to heaven.
I do stand by my “get over themselves” point for post-abortive mothers, fathers, and participants. I observe many people wallowing in their sin and not getting past it. This column was for them, a splash of water in the face, if you will.
I don’t think people should be coddled for their sins. I have mercy for those who have aborted their children and realize only afterward the profound consequence of their sin. But if people get stuck there, Jesus died for nothing. They are refusing to accept the tremendously sacrificial gift He gave them, and frankly that aggravates me. Self-pity is a sin.
Your article speaks to what I am witnessing in the work within our ministry for post-abortive women and men.
Our ministry is Rachel’s Vineyard. It is God’s response to Planned Parenthood. Rachel’s Vineyard is a network of nonprofit Christian ministries who reconnect the post-abortive man/woman/parent/friend/abortionist/nurse/or whoever has been traumatized by the harm of abortion to Jesus Christ!
It was hard for me at first to understand the nature of the psychology of the trauma of abortion on the country and then on the person.
But as I became educated in post-abortion trauma, I can now SEE it and the damage that has been done. But Christ, Our Savior, can reverse this course – and He is in ever increasing numbers.
As more and more women and men come out to testify about their experience, it opens the doors of compassion and understanding for others to walk through. So many bought into the think of the day, not knowing or wanting to accept the truth. They were scared, and Satan preys on those in fear. That is why Christ says, “Trust in Me” and “Be not afraid.” We are so fragile and He is so strong.
Thank you for claiming these men and women in your ministry through your columns. They need encouragement, and if there is only one thing that the Lord has placed on my heart in this battle for Life, it is this: He wants His victory through healing!
I pray that you will continue to be a catalyst for Christ.
Have actually heard this before…. Makes as much sense as saying Stalin and Hitler were evagelists as they killed millions and “sent them to heaven.” Twisted theology to say the least.
I loved your column. I know in my heart that the image of babies around the throne praising God is true. The image came to me a number of months ago when I realized that aborted babies saved me. I have not had an abortion, but the day I took a stand and refused to vote for any legislator who supported abortion, my walk with the Lord grew stronger every day. When I felt the sadness in babies being aborted, the Lord blessed me. He blesses me everytime I stand in righteousness to HIs law.
I wish more people could see how much their lives would be blessed if they just said no to abortion. It could be so easy, maybe a person could start to pray to understand, and then to stop voting for anyone who allows abortions. Then wait for the blessings from above.
Those babies around the throne are awesome! They left this world sinless, undefiled by its falleness.
Byron, I did not say that. I stand by Genesis 50:20. God allows evil for good to come of it
I really enjoy reading your columns. I thought today’s was excellent.
Please know that God forgets our sins and casts them into the sea of forgetfulness never to be brought up again. We are made as pure as snow by the blood of Jesus.
I don’t believe God ever tolerates sin but can turn any evil into good for those that love Him and are called according to His purposes.
However, the sin of the wicked (those that reject Christ and are therefore, unforgiven) will be used to destroy them. The Bible says that when sin abounds, grace abounds even more.
Of course the sin of abortion is forgivable as is every manner of sin. The only unforgivable sin is refusing God’s grace by rejecting Jesus Christ who is revealed to us through the Holy Spirit. If we blaspheme the Holy Spirit, i.e. reject God’s only means of reaching our hearts, what else can God do? We have become unforgivable because no other remedy is available.
If we don’t take the only spiritual medicine that can heal us because we think it is evil then we die, eternally. People need to hear this more often. It is not being preached much anymore because of the fear of offending.
God bless you Jill for your column today.
Let’s add to your message. In addition to those who have had surgical abortions, there are many more of us who have probably had or participated in chemical abortions, not only through the RU 486 method, but the use of birth control pills.
There are even more of us who have had sex with people we were not married to, thereby making prostitutes out of them and us.
Then there are most of us who have engaged in pornography or lusted after those who we were not married to.
So, in addition to the 40% mentioned in your column who are purported to have had abortions, almost all of the rest of us are black with sin sufficient to dam us for eternity.
We better get off of our high horses, humble ourselves, beg for forgiveness, go and sin no more, and pray for and witness to the rest of our people still stuck in their pride.
Nonsense. Jill, would God permit someone to murder you just to draw them closer to Him ? Are you as expendable as a fetus? Has He no other options? Ever hear of the Holy Spirit? Trust me, God has other ways.
God only perimts abortion because He has given man a free will to either accept His laws or man’s. The abortionists have accepted man’s. I agree, like all wrong things, God can turn it for good, but that good is a compromised good far below God’s ultimate plan for man.
Have you ever seen a criminal struck down by lightning or vapoized on the spot by the power of God ? The age of grace should not be confused with what God permits, which implies He has a compromised acceptance of something.
Mike, I did not say God has no other options by which to draw people closer to Him. I agree that allowing evil for good isn’t optimum; it wasn’t God’s will when He created us.
And to answer your question, God might indeed allow me to be murdered for good to come of it – to save lives. Genesis 50:20.
Great article, Jill. I have been making this point to my Christian friends for years, not as a proponent of abortion, but as a proponent of letting God alone be Judge. Keep up the good work, and I’ll look forward to reading your next article.
Jill, It seems like a rather harsh statement to say just get over it. Even though you have been impacted by abortion because of the work you did; you still don’t get it. You don’t really understand what it’s like to come to terms with the fact of taking the life of your unborn child. What an interesting choice of words where women think “their sin is more special”. I never thought of sin in terms of being special. Even after I was able to acknowledge the “sin” of abortion and accept the forgiveness of our LORD Jesus I will always be impacted by my missing child and the fact that she is missing because of a choice I made. There in lies the phrase “abortion hurts women, men and families”. It is not something you get over; it is something you learn to deal with. And I would encourage anyone who has had an abortion to join in a post abortion bible study, whether you think you “need extra help” or not. It is very healing and helpful.
I know you have done wonderful work in the past, but I have to wonder where’s your compassion and empathy for those of us who did, in fact, make the poor choice of abortion and who are now living with that each and every day of our lives.
I agree with and applaud everything Joan Phillips wrote there does seem to be somewhat of a critical spirit in the tone of your article.
Thought I would let you know what someone could easily read into your column regarding the killing of the unborn as a method of redemption for the mothers.
I know it was inadvertent, but you just gave baby killers righteous justification for the act.
If I had these choices:
1. Birthing my child, taking the chance on raising him the best I could, but knowing he might just reject Christ and go straight to hell (according to most Protestant beliefs)
Or ?
2. Killing the child before birth, knowing that he will be serving and praising God even while I am still on the earth
Which is the choice that denotes more concern for the eternal welfare of my child?
Dawn, I looked up the definition of “harsh” and agree that my column could be considered that. You and I may just disagree with which components:
1. Unpleasantly coarse and rough to the touch.
2. Disagreeable to the senses, especially to the sense of hearing.
3. Severe, cruel, or exacting: harsh punishment; a harsh overseer.
4. Unpleasant or uncomfortable: a harsh wilderness.
Dawn, you will never know the awful sins I have committed that I have had to “get over.” If we were to compare sins, mine would be the worst. I have to remind myself (still) that to not “get over” them is to disbelieve God, that to not “get over” them is to demonstrate an aspect of pride.
Some people need to hear that, Dawn. Some don’t, but some do. Some people luxuriate in their sins and don’t (not “can’t”) get past them to be productive in God’s kingdom, to fully welcome His love and grace. Am I “harsh” for pointing that out? No. You didn’t need to hear that message, but someone(s) did.
There is a problem here, and even though Jill’s article does point-to-it, she does not resolve this dilemma. The problem stems from knowing what God’s forgiveness means.
We think (falsely) that such means that now we are ‘clean’, but remain separate from God. It’s like saying – ‘He’s all-good! But beyond my reach (over there). AND I (lowly sinner) am here.’
There is absolutely nothing that separates us from the love of God, brought about by Christ Jesus (to paraphrase Paul). So what do we do that still provokes/promotes ‘separateness’? One of the main problems is that words themselves can evoke images in us as ‘these thoughts are all-mine’. The other ‘sin’ of our time is our reliance on formality.
Jesus asked us to call God ‘Abba’ which in English translates as ‘Dad (Daddy)’ and not the formal ‘Father’. Catholics (and I’m one) are very concerned with hierarchical structuring.
Am I gonna make-it? What happens to aborted babies? These and many other things are not my concern. This is my Abba’s concern. Does He wish to share His eternal Life in/with me? Definitively – this is what salvation means.
This all seems like nit-picking until you do tricks like – Mary is not so much ‘Mother’, as she is ‘Mom’ …. [please note that I use only the present tense, because love does not recognize the separation of time.] We also should take Jesus seriously when He says ‘whatever you do to the least of these, you do to Me’. I am one of those least – so aborted babies – I am; moms who have aborted babies – I am; folks who just do not care – I am; people with tears – I am; people who dance and sing and laugh – I am.
I am – is BORN ….please help me to LIVE … ‘unbind him, set him free!’ said Jesus when He brought forth Lazareth from the tomb. I too am Lazareth, and perhaps we need a hug to ‘unbind us’?
John is usually too deep for me. I’ll add something to what I think he was saying at the beginning of his post, which had to do with accepting God’s forgiveness so as to restore or establish for the first time a trusting relationship with Him. I got at that backwards in my column by saying one is prideful if one does not accept God’s forgiveness.
But John’s post reminded me of another of my favorite Bible verses, Matthew 9:24: “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'”
This is such a dear, honest, comforting verse: “I believe what you say, Jesus. Well, not really, but I really, really want to! Please help me!”
Randy,
If writers only wrote what they knew would never be misinterpreted, there would be no writing in the world. Jesus spoke, knowing He, too, would be misinterpreted. (Don’t misinterpret that to think I think I have a Jesus complex… :)
God forbid a wacko somewhere may conclude what you wrote. Mothers have killed born children with that thought in mind.
Jill,
If you truly believe this, then why do you fight abortions? Following your line of reasoning, we should rejoice in abortions, because then all the children will “go to heaven” before they can be held responsible for “choosing” to accept or reject God. We can know that they are all singing with Jesus, never have to endure the harshness of this life, and won’t end up in eternal damnation. And then there’s the added benefit of the possible salvation of the mom. Sounds like abortion is a good thing in your theology.
Vickie,
Where is my line of reasoning incorrect?
God’s will was/is no evil in the world and perfect harmony between He and us and us with each other.
Sin entered the world – with God’s permission. Why did God allow that? One reason was as He stated, to allow good to come from it to save lives (Genesis 50:20).
Paul answers your supposition in Romans 3:7-8: “It’s simply perverse to say, ‘If my lies serve to show off God’s truth all the more gloriously, why blame me? I’m doing God a favor.’ Some people are actually trying to put such words in our mouths, claiming that we go around saying, ‘The more evil we do, the more good God does, so let’s just do it!’ That’s pure slander, as I’m sure you’ll agree.”
In further answer to your supposition, Romans 8:5-7 states, “Those who live by the corrupt nature have the corrupt nature’s attitude. But those who live by the spiritual nature have the spiritual nature’s attitude. The corrupt nature’s attitude leads to death. But the spiritual nature’s attitude leads to life and peace. This is so because the corrupt nature has a hostile attitude toward God. It refuses to place itself under the authority of God’s standards because it can’t.”
So Vickie, believers who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior won’t want to kill their babies.
You said: ‘ Some people are actually trying to put such words in our mouths, claiming that we go around saying, ‘The more evil we do, the more good God does, so let’s just do it!’ That’s pure slander, as I’m sure you’ll agree.”
I do agree that that is heresy. But isn’t that basically what your article said? God is allowing abortion for the sake of the salvation of the moms? Therefore, the more abortions, the more salvations? Therefore abortion is a good thing? Logically, it seems to follow that abortion should be promoted. After all, the babies all go immediately to heaven, and then the mom might get saved, too. Sounds like a perfect plan to me. Why let the baby live when he/she might be raised by a non-christian mom, and then wind up in eternal damnation. This way, everyone wins. Not my words, but what yours seem to say. I believe this is a logical inconsistency with many believers today. Why would we fight abortion if we have this view? It wouldn’t make sense.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe abortion is murder and that Christians need to wake up and fight against it. But too many of us have a theological problem. What we know is wrong in our hearts doesn’t match the words we are speaking. We KNOW that abortion is wrong, but, then, on the other hand, if all the babies go to heaven anyway, then they won’t ever face the wrath of God, and the mom might repent and trust Christ, so, well, maybe it’s not so bad?? Do you see my point? I do not believe that God is “allowing” abortion. I believe abortion is God’s judgement upon a wicked and perverse nation.
Great Cindy, thanks very much for sharing!
This section (hopefully) won’t be too deep, lol! Part of the problem (that my former post is about) is that of separation. Over and over Jesus speaks of ‘oneness’. Meaning much the same thing, Paul writes constantly of ‘being IN Christ Jesus’.
To anyone indoctrinated as we are in the West, the concept of living (even finding LIFE) with-in another is lunacy. Besides peace, which is a ‘given’ for such a relationship, it also eliminates any separateness. Love breaks all boundaries of separateness … we are most often aware of separateness from our words. The separateness conjures up physical distance between God(pure) and me(sinful, forgiven but wanting). So, we arrive at a dilemma like Vickie points out above – a ‘human’ theology.
There is another way to see this … God is a flame (like on a lit birthday candle) and we are candles. The Light comes from the flame; however we ‘die’ to the flame. We also become the flame ‘in intimacy’. There is no ‘separateness’ because ‘my thoughts are not your thoughts’.
Too often we get lost in our own ‘theology’ and forget to ask God(the flame) what is going on. [Our theology is about Him. Wouldn’t it be prudent to ask for His take?]
I cannot outmaneuver God by killing children – my children, His children – our fellow brothers/sisters. Are we then to think of ourselves as mini-saviors who God will reward? Truly perverse …. but we forget that God dwells within … so murdering any other, pits God against Himself … remember Jesus’ words about a household against itself cannot stand?
PS. I’ll pray that this is not as ‘deep’ Jill, lol!
Vickie, I want to understand where you’re coming from. Please explain, “I do not believe that God is ‘allowing’ abortion. I believe abortion is God’s judgement upon a wicked and perverse nation.”
Let’s back up a little to John 3:16, which provides the basis for the why and how of salvation.
One aspect of Christianity (that helps authenticate it, btw) is that it is the only religion of all where its followers do not do good works to get to heaven, which is ultimately selfish; Christians do good works as thanks to Jesus for already having provided our way to heaven by dying as a sinless sacrifice on the cross.
The Bible teaches we are all born with corrupt natures – a propensity to do evil. It teaches when we accept God’s terms for salvation – John 3:16 – we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit living within us and a spiritual nature.
Those with a spiritual nature love what God loves and hates what God hates. In this world we will never attain a perfect spiritual nature, but we try. How do we try? By focusing on our relationship with God/Jesus – spending time with them – and reading the Bible.
We cannot make ourselves spiritual. Only Jesus can. He is the vine. We are the branches. The branches cannot produce fruit. Only the vine can cause the branches to produce fruit.
All of that is to say a Jesus follower will hate evil. A Jesus follower will not purposefully sin – particularly commit murder against the only created beings made in the image of God. A Jesus follower would not perversely see abortion as a way to help God.
Dear Jill,
Your point is well taken. I think perhaps your original article was unclear about a couple of those points, i.e. “may” being someone else’s quote and not yours. I have worked with post-abortive women for 20 years now. There have only been a few who refuse to step out in faith and accept the gracious gift God has given them – redemption, reconciliation, healing, and renewal because of the blood that was shed for them. It was those women that I had to leave to God. Only He can work in their hearts to “get over themselves.” Most women (and men) are eager for healing and reconciliation with God. They want to get on with their lives; they want to live in peace and harmony as His Word says. There is a small percentage who will continue to wallow in the victimhood of abortion and refuse to take their eyes off of themselves and fix them on Jesus. We can’t let semantics divide. Whether we “get over it” or “move beyond it,” the key is keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus (not on ourselves), Who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross . . . Have a blessed Christmas
Cindy,
Your words are touching and educational. I don’t think you and I disagree.
The Book of Acts teaches that people come to salvation by taking steps not necessarily in the same order.
Your experience is that women come to Christ most often after committing destructive behaviors following their abortions, and it is then that Christ reveals the horror of what they have done.
That sounds right. I expect some women are drawn to Christ for healing and cleansing by the growing knowledge of the horror of their abortion. But what came first, the chicken or the egg, is not something to debate.
I recognize that while sin is sin, some sins carry more consequences. You explained, “Why does abortion effect women so deeply? As I’ve reflected upon my own healing journey, I’ve come to understand that abortion is the only time that ‘murder’, killing, takes place in a woman…a mother’s body. That’s a hard thing to say but that is one of the reasons, I believe, it is so hard to ‘get over it’.”
That is enlightening and profound and also sounds right.
Here’s where I disagree. I don’t think women are told to “get over it.” Who tells them that? How many priests and pastors have I heard say they don’t want to talk about abortion in church because they fear it will freak out (my words) post-abortive women.
Post-abortive women are treated so gingerly that the entire topic has become leprous. I think we’re in a viscious cycle where not talking about it makes the sin seem even worse and perpetuates a woman’s downward spiral.
I fear I’m digging a hole. I don’t mean to sound merciless. I have tremendous empathy for post-abortive women. I, too, speak with many. Some remind me of zombies. Their insides are gone. All that is left is a shell. I appreciate the significance of the sin of abortion.
That said, there are some who have grown to enjoy the coddling, either from those around them or within themselves. And there are some who have developed such low self-esteem they can’t accept God’s forgiveness. There are some who are in denial and push the thought of their abortions away whenever it comes to the fore.
All of these women (and men) hurt not only themselves but the movement.
I wrote my column to take abortion off the pedestal some post-abortive people have perversely put it on.
Now, for the others, I don’t think it hurts to say they also need to find a way to “get over it.” What is the alternative? I don’t think it hurts to point out that refusing forgiveness is a sin and low self-esteem is actually a pride issue.
I appreciate what you took the time to write, Cindy.
wow, you guys are whacked. Is god “allowing” abortion or is god imposing abortion? (for example: “I believe abortion is God’s judgement upon a wicked and perverse nation.”) You struggle to both believe in god and understand why this country is the way it is. Most people favor legal abortion. Why doesn’t god DO something you ask? You come up with so many explainations except, maybe, just maybe, there is no god. Everything makes sense if you can just “get over” your “god”
Without God as healer (because there is no God), how would YOU talk to people traumatized by abortion, Doug?
John, that’s a good question. Neither I nor my wife were “traumatized” by our abortion. I actually don’t know anyone who was. However, I’ll accept your premise, however. It would be important for people to stop criticising women who get abortions, I would think that probably causes a bit of trauma now and then, telling women they’ve “killed their baby.”
Having a good, caring, responsible doctor (don’t drive the good doctors out of that part of practicing medicine) perform the abortion and fully explain what is, and what is not, involved.
I suppose for any women (or men) who are still traumatized, perhaps they shouldn’t have had an abortion in the first place. Is it what they really wanted, or did someone talk them into it? I think traditional counseling would work well for someone struggling with these issues, as I doubt it was the abortion alone, which caused such “trauma.” I would think that a well adjusted person would come through it ok, but someone with a variety of other issues might focus all their mental attention on the abortion and not see what else is effecting them. (relationship issues, family issues, depression, etc.) A good mental health professional should be able to help.
I don’t imagine you would think it would do much good to sit a young woman down for a long talk about Zeus and Neptune to help her over some tough times, why then would bringing “jesus” into the conversation help?
Hi Doug,
I very much appreciate your consideration. The inclusion of Jesus is very helpful because he is recognized as being the living God by many even those unchurched. As such He can create a new life … even out of devastation and ashes. For the atheist …. especially a vindictive (as opposed to an apathetic one) …. we simply allow Jesus to operate in His time.
As far as the trauma goes … (to me) it stems directly from mood swings operant in most pregnancies. Despondency/depression was noted decades ago by an obstetrician. He found two distinct periods during pregnancy and another immediately following (the famous postpartum one).
It is intriguing that we treat depression via abortion.
Unknown to Dunn (the ob), these correlate almost exactly with an increased need for zinc in a developing human. [There is a 4th period of increased zinc needs – puberty. So a pregnant teen is a shoe-in for these ‘pregnancy-related’ depressions.]
This scenario does not end with abortion because it is doubtful zinc is ever taken post-abortion. Surgical abortions can aggravate the situation even more-so, because healing (from surgery) demands zinc. This deficit can continue for decades and helps explain much of the ‘strange’ behaviors of some women post-abortion.
The abortion debate is way too polarized now … too much coercion on both sides. Perhaps a mending can happen if both sides want women to be free to really live … this does not include freedom from assuming responsibility.
Just because one does not believe in God does not mean God does not exist (Ps 14:1). And since God is the Creator of human life, knitting life together in the mother’s womb (Ps 139), it is God that creates the instinct in mothers to protect their unborn. Perhaps the “criticizing of women who get abortions, and then, telling women they’ve “killed their baby” is not the determining factor for post-abortion syndrome but it is the lie that abortion is acceptable and even good, setting women up to do what goes against her basic instinct. Then depression sets in immediately for an unexplained reason to the mother who believed the lie. Pschotherapists Vincent and Susan LaRue, who did not begin their practices with the post-abortive woman in mind, found abortion to be a common denominator in a large majority of the women who sought help for a myriad of other interpersonal problems. For those who “never experienced trauma” from their abortion experience, may the God of Redemption Who became Man to die on a cross and shed His blood for that sin open your eyes to His truth and have mercy on you.
What a powerful column. I was a little guarded about it in the introduction but have since been mentioning it to several people outside my email list.
We NEED post abortive women to get right with God, get healing help and GET VOCAL!
Again Kudos for your brilliant insight and I hope women and others cowered by their involvement with abortion take your advice.
Joan, just because one does beleive in god does not mean that god exists.
and, even if god exists, he or she or it might not necessarily be the God of the bible. God might be something quite different.
why would god want his son to die for our sins. Why couldn’t he just have lunch for our sins. sounds a lot easier. He’s god, for god’s sake, he could wipe away our sins anyway he wished. or not at all. The god of the bible could also stop abortion today if he wanted to, which is interesting to ponder, isn’t it?