The largest unreached people group: Where are the missionaries?
We don’t tend to think of the pre-born as an “unreached people group.” One reason is that definitions of “unreached peoples” were formulated at a time when many evangelicals were divided over when life begins and still held to what Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, admits were “embarrassingly liberal positions on the abortion issue.”
Though consensus on when life begins has since changed thanks to better science and Bible study, missional models have not. We still don’t think of the pre-born as a class of people to target with the love of Jesus Christ. We don’t consider it within the scope of Christian missions to seek to save the lives of the pre-born so they can eventually hear the Gospel. We don’t see abortion-mindedness as a mission field or abolishing infanticide a goal of contemporary church outreach (though the historical record indicates it was a high moral priority for the early church).
Over the years we’ve successfully devised ways to reach people behind the iron curtain and the bamboo curtain, but when it comes to the cultural curtain, which says a woman can kill her unborn child if she chooses, we do next to nothing. We recruit, fund, train, and mobilize teams to carry the gospel to those separated from God by natural barriers such as language and geography, but for those separated from Him by moral vacuity, flawed logic, and unjust laws we make no comparable effort.
~ Rolley Haggard, Breakpoint, February 6
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.
I think this is an interesting quote and conversation piece.
First off, missionaries are concerned with people’s eternal salvation, and meeting the needs of those they are reaching. Missionaries don’t go to Africa or Asia or anywhere else simply to promote laws – they see needs, they meet needs, and they witness along the way.
I think some people will read this quote and think “yes, more Christians should get involved in trying to pass more restrictive laws”. And sure, that’s a component of it. But we also need to remember this:
http://www.lifenews.com/2013/10/10/why-do-women-have-abortions-new-study-provides-some-answers/
Outside every preborn is a woman who for some reason thinks that the best thing to do is have an abortion. Many times it is because of financial insecurity. Many times it is because of the support structure in their life. I don’t think many women put in their goals for the year to get pregnant and have an abortion. It’s a tool of desperation, not of freedom or empowerment.
I know many, many people in the pro-life community work hard to meet the needs of women. I know many churches do great outreach – but so many could do so much more. I also contend, and will continue to contend that part of the pro-life outreach should be to look at the laws in this country that cause those to feel like they can’t do it.
We have terrible maternity coverage compared to the rest of the world. We took a big step forward with healthcare, but it’s still too expensive and it still doesn’t cover enough people. Child care costs are out of control.
I’ve had pro-lifers say that we shouldn’t raise the child tax exemption (Rick Santorum’s idea) because why should a person to ‘forced’ to pay for somebody else wanting to have a kid? I’ve had pro-lifers say that maternity coverage shouldn’t be in all plans because why should somebody be ‘forced’ to bring down the price of maternity services.
I suppose those are legit opinions – but again – if a missionaries goal is to meet the needs of people, both tangible and spiritual – I don’t think a missionary could in good-faith say “we need to simply pass more laws – now I’m going to move on with my life”.
Smart laws protecting babies. Smart laws promoting life. Churches spending less on buildings and more on community.
And meeting the spiritual and tangible needs of parents will also help protect these babies that deserve to be born.
One will never be able to put the temptation to “abortion-mindedness” to rest in any culture without reversing the deconstruction and disintegration of marriage and sex and reproduction.
One huge block to reconstruction of the traditional family (and the commitments necessary for the reintegration of sex and reproduction) is the cultural addiction to intentional sterility.
As long as a people have their hearts set on controlling reproduction via suppression of a functional reproductive system…in order to allow sexual freedom…the temptation to abortion will remain in that culture.
As long as there seems to be a necessity to have abortion available as a back up… A genuine “culture of life” will never be fully realized.
Missionaries lead by the example of their own lives. Are you ready for that?
Sidewalk counseling gives missionaries the opportunity to save the physical life of the babies and the spiritual life of the mother and her companions. Sharing the gospel often starts with the love God has for each person, the plan He has for each life, the separation each person experiences due to sin, the hope and redemption for each life in Christ.
Those approaching an abortion clinic are already in a crisis and their sins are fresh in their thoughts. Offering them a way out is often welcome and presents an opportunity for the whole family to be saved. Both from the immediate death of abortion and from the second death.