The realization that an abortion destroys the life of an innocent, unborn child is a painful one, and sometimes women try to block the pain of their abortions with excuses fed to them by the abortion industry.
Lately, abortion proponents have been trying to use religion to add legitimacy to abortion. A new article at the liberal site Bustle suggested that there is support for abortions among Judaeo-Christian leaders.
It highlighted the story of a 20-year-old pastor’s daughter from Dallas, Texas, who claimed she received a “sign” from God to abort her unborn child.
“Cowanda,” not her real name, said she grew up being taught that sex is reserved for marriage, and abortion is wrong. When she became pregnant at 17, she said she was afraid to tell her parents.
“My mom told me when I was 16 that if I ever got pregnant, I would have to carry to term,” Cowanda said.
Here’s more from the report:
She was living independently from her parents at the time, but because she was a minor, Cowanda still needed parental permission to have an abortion. … “I started praying to God every day, and I asked Him to show me a sign that could tell me what I needed to do,” Cowanda remembers.
The sign came a couple days later from a friend, who told her about Jane’s Due Process, an organization that helps pregnant Texan minors get legal representation. The non-profit secured Cowanda a judicial bypass, meaning a judge could grant permission instead of her parents. She was able to have an abortion almost a week after finding out she was pregnant.
Eventually, Cowanda told her father about her abortion, and he surprised her with his reaction.
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“I received love and care when I thought I wouldn’t,” she remembered. “… after hearing my story, he started relating some of my experiences to scriptures, fueling me with empowerment and supporting me with the word of God. I believe God illuminated my father’s eyes, ears, and understanding to embrace me as he should have, speaking to his daughter like I needed him to.”
She said her father told her that he would have encouraged her to choose life for her child, but he also believes God created people to have a free will to make choices about their life.
It is good that her Christian community showed her compassion and love, and Christianity does teach that God gave humans free will. But free will does not mean that human beings have free reign to harm others without consequences.
The Bible clearly condemns the life-destroying practice of abortion. Even in ancient times, babies in the womb were viewed as valuable, as is evident in Luke 1:41. Jesus placed great value on children when others in society did not in Matthew 19:14, and Proverbs 6:16-17 states that one of the things God hates most is the shedding of innocent blood. One of the ten commandments prohibits murder.
Cowanda did not receive a sign from God. She heard the lies of the abortion industry and believed them, rather than the painful truth. Fortunately, there is forgiveness, hope and healing for mothers like her who have had abortions. Christian ministries, pregnancy centers and others provide caring, non-judgmental post-abortion counseling, retreats, Bible studies and other services. These ministries recognize that abortion is wrong, but love and forgiveness are freely available to anyone who seeks them.
