This picture caused quite a dialogue with a (former) supporter who believes that because abortion takes the life of an innocent life, women who have an abortion SHOULD be called murderers. We disagree - not that abortion isn't taking a life - but we don't believe that labels are helpful at all in reaching a woman with the message of hope - help and healing. In working with thousands of women over the past 32 years, we know that most women don't choose abortion because they want to - they see it as their only option. They're often pressured and manipulated by the only people who are their support system. Mothers - fathers - boyfriends - husbands - even sisters and grandmothers - have all been instrumental in over-riding our clients' desire to have their babies. The pressure in many cases was unrelenting - and frightening - and having the abortion felt like the only way out. AND - the women who come to our Post Abortion groups already feel like they were a scarlet "A" - and that label taints everything they feel about themselves and pushes them into some pretty destructive behavior.
We're reminded of the women who was caught "in the very act of adultery" - there was no doubt about what this woman had been up to. The Law was clear - she was to be stoned (so was he, by the way - but he wasn't dropped at the feet of Jesus for judgement). Did Jesus pick up a stone? Did He tell her she was an adulteress whore? No - He was silent - and began writing something on the ground that made all the men drop their stones and walk away. Then He lifted her up - told her that her "sins were forgiven, and to go and sin no more." Did she beg and plead for His mercy? That's not recorded in the Word. Did Jesus (God) know her heart - know that she wanted His forgiveness? Like the woman who has had an abortion, this woman didn't need to be told that she was a sinner - she knew - and she responded to the love and compassion of Jesus. We want to be His hands - His feet - His heart - to these women! That's why we'll never use the word "murderer" to describe one of them.
We're reminded of the women who was caught "in the very act of adultery" - there was no doubt about what this woman had been up to. The Law was clear - she was to be stoned (so was he, by the way - but he wasn't dropped at the feet of Jesus for judgement). Did Jesus pick up a stone? Did He tell her she was an adulteress whore? No - He was silent - and began writing something on the ground that made all the men drop their stones and walk away. Then He lifted her up - told her that her "sins were forgiven, and to go and sin no more." Did she beg and plead for His mercy? That's not recorded in the Word. Did Jesus (God) know her heart - know that she wanted His forgiveness? Like the woman who has had an abortion, this woman didn't need to be told that she was a sinner - she knew - and she responded to the love and compassion of Jesus. We want to be His hands - His feet - His heart - to these women! That's why we'll never use the word "murderer" to describe one of them.
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