Pastors are in a unique position to be very influential in the area of pro-life. In fact, it could be safely said that the fate of the prolife cause is in the hands of the local pastor. The magnitude of this is sobering when it is realized that the pro-life cause is not just about defending a set of philosophical ideas; rather, the pro-life cause is literally the defense of lives, the lives of the unborn, who, as a group, are totally dependent on others for their defense.

How could a nation with the Christian/Judeo roots of the United States allow abortion to become legal?

The reason abortion became legal is not profoundly complex. The central issue was, and is, personhood. When does the unborn human become a person sharing in the same protection under the laws of the United States just like any other citizen of this country was a major question before the Supreme Court in the Roe v. Wade case that allowed abortion to become legal in 1973.

Abortion remains legal in the United States for two primary reasons. The first is that the unborn are not regarded by many as having the same worth as those who have been born. The second is that pro-life is not a number one priority for most voters. Neither of these are valid Christian responses.

In a pole conducted in 2010 by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC 61 per cent of voters said abortion was at least somewhat important as an issue in terms of how they would vote. A third said it was very important, and 37 per cent said it was not very or not at all important. 

Overall, according to the survey, abortion ranks below 10 other issues - including the economy, government ethics and immigration - in terms of voter interest.

Of course this survey was a random sample of voters across the United States and not necessarily just Christian voters but this survey shows that how abortion effects the unborn is of little concern to many voters and, at least to a certain extent, how far we have fallen from our Christian/Judeo ethics as a nation.

In the United States  every 2 or 4 or 6 years, depending on the office, we are able to vote for those who represent our values. We settle our disputes at the voting booth rather than with riots in the streets as many other countries do.

So how do Christians do in this area? In an written article by David Barton from Wall Builders entitled "Congress, the Culture, and Christian Voting" which looks at Christian voter turnout from 1992-2006 he states, "...Evangelical voting turnout reaches only 50% when at its highest..." He goes on to say, "Clearly, there is a direct correlation between Christian voter turnout and the percentage of elected leaders who embrace and reflect basic Biblical values."

Christians can be, and are, swayed by public opinion and by what news source they watch and listen to; however, our main concern as Christians should be, "What does God say to us through the Bible about life issues such as when personhood begins? What does God say about abortion?"

This is where the role of the local pastor becomes important. He above anyone else is the authority and teacher of the community concerning matters of God's will and morality from God's perspective. What he says, or does not say, will have a direct impact on the behavior of those in attendance which in turn has an impact on the community, and, as communities are impacted, the nation will be impacted.

Matthew 28:19-20a NIV "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." From these familiar verses the purpose of the church is clearly defined. Its goal should be to reach others with the gospel of Christ and train them to serve Him. Could, and should, respect for human life be an important part of that teaching? Absolutely yes!

Crusade for Life in no way wants to redirect any church's focus away from evangelism. However, they do believe that part of the church's outreach of teaching should include concentrated and systematic teaching about the sanctity of life from God's perspective. We have prepared Bible based materials designed to assist local pastors and their assemblies in this task.

Abortion will stop as hearts are changed.

Proverbs 31: 8-9 NKJV
8 Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

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