Ask Elizabeth, Local Ministries, Motherhood
Why I am Pro-Life
Ask Elizabeth: Why are you pro-life?
This may very well be the heaviest Ask Elizabeth I have ever done here on Oak + Oats but I couldn’t let this question go unanswered, so here goes!
The truth is I wasn’t always pro-life. I felt like abortion was wrong and I said I would never get one, but I was swept up in the “my body, my choice” rhetoric and felt like pro-choice was the most appeasing group to fall into. But God started changing my heart toward the unborn and my eyes were open to just how deceptive, deceiving, and dark the abortion industry is. I worked for five years at a local pregnancy center and saw first hand the hope & care our pregnancy center provided for our clients that was a stark contrast to what our clients were experiencing when they walked into abortion clinics. The party that claimed to be pro-choice was offering no information, education, or recourses for parenting, counseling, or adoption. It was more about pushing abortions (read: making money) than helping a woman who was hurting.
As a Christian, I do believe that lives are valuable. That we are given worth by our creator and made in His image. But I don’t believe that being pro-life only has a faith basis. I believe science is on our side and you don’t have to be religious to be pro-life.
Back when Roe v. Wade was established, we didn’t have the technology we have today. A “clump of cells” sounded right but now we have ultrasounds that show us how quickly babies develop (see week by week here). And the youngest premature baby to survive was born at 21 weeks gestation showing that even such premature babies are viable for life even outside of the womb. Science is clear that this is a life. And like we acknowledge and proclaim in our Declaration of Independence “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” These babies deserve a chance at life too.
So if the these unexpected and unwanted pregnancies are in fact lives, the termination of them is murder. You wouldn’t say that it is okay to kill an unwanted child or an unwanted teenager, it would be called murder. It is the same situation. And while I wouldn’t personally murder, I still think there should be laws against it to protect people. This is where my previous stance fell apart. I couldn’t just personally be against it because allowing others to legally take away these lives was not okay. Just as I wouldn’t want to let people murder their family members legally.
I believe the abortion industry is very manipulative and is intentionally targeting women in crisis. They claim to be pro-women but they really are just pro-abortion. I believe by letting all this be legal and government funded, we are approving this infanticide. Doctors and legislators are aware of what they are doing (see how abortions are performed in 1st Trimester + this, 2nd Trimester, and 3rd Trimester) and they are trying to convince women in crisis that this is their only option for a fulfilling life.
Many are hurting, in our world, in our country, and here in our city. I don’t pretend that giving birth or raising babies is easy. However, is it more empowering to tell a young woman she can still go to college AND be a mom? Or do we tell her she can’t chase any of her dreams with a child on her hip? Instead of donating and advocating for abortions, I think we should be pouring resources into programs that will help these moms, kids, and families be able to choose life either through parenting or adoption. Before I end my answer, I want to respond to several rebuttals I often hear:
What about my body, my choice?
I believe the science is clear, it is not your body. It is a separate life with a heartbeat, a unique DNA, and even blood type!
Pro-Life is really pro-birth, they don’t actually care about anyone.
This is so far from the truth. In 2024, 2,775 pregnancy centers nationwide provided over $452 million in total medical care, support, education services, and material goods. Tangible, material support has skyrocketed—over $116 million in value, a 48% increase from 2022—showing that pregnancy centers are meeting real needs of families. These services are often free if not very low cost and covered by personal donations, not government funding. Additionally, a 98% client satisfaction rate, reflects that clients are feeling supported and helped. Read more stats here.
But what about Rape and Incest?
If murder is wrong, it is always wrong. We don’t add qualifications around murder to make it right or wrong in certain circumstances. Additionally, punishing the child for sins of the father is unjust.
What if the Mother’s life is at stake?
Doctors can and should try to save both the lives of mother and baby. A c-section can be completed in about 10 minutes or even faster during an emergency. Depending on the health of mom and baby, there may be complications that result in death, but there is no reason to kill the baby first.
What if they cannot afford more children?
We help them! We provide resources, educate, mentor, and encourage. We are called to care for the widow and the orphan and this is one way to practically do this.
Well no one really wants an abortion.
An argument I often hear from the pro-abortion crowd is “no one wants to have an abortion.” The response to this is “Yes, great point, they don’t!” So instead of pressuring her to do just that, let’s figure out how to come alongside of her and help her by providing education, mentoring, diapers, supplies, parenting classes, and what she needs to move forward.
What if the baby has abnormalities or disabilities?
Still murder. Choosing to kill someone based on their disability (at any stage of their life) is simply wrong. All life is valuable.
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” – Psalm 139:13-16
That is the long and short of it! If you would like to chat more, I am happy to do so. It is also the perfect time to share about Life Network and the Walk for Life with you!
Bruce and I first fundraised for the Walk for Life fourteen years ago. We were newly engaged and I had just started a deeply meaningful & life changing job at Life Network. I learned about the Walk for Life just two weeks before and quickly threw together a fundraising page, emailing all my friends and family, and asking them to partner with me for life. That year I raised over $1000 becoming what they call a “Lifesaver” and every year since then we walk and we reach that Lifesaver level because we are so passionate about it. I haven’t worked at Life Network since 2016 but that has not stopped us from working with and supporting this ministry! They are bringing the Kingdom of God to earth and changing our city one family at a time!
Abortion is a hot button topic these days. It ignites flames of passion in hearts on both sides of the aisle, bubbling over into explosive words, attitudes, and actions. The simple fact is that there are many real women who are looking for direction and help in a hard and confusing time. At Life Network they educate on the reality of abortion as well as adoption and parenting – injecting hope into what feels like a hopeless situation for so many of these mothers (and fathers). They provide free pregnancy ultrasounds which dramatically impact a mother’s choice to choose life as well as free pregnancy testing, STD testing & treatment, community and medical referrals, Abortion Pill Reversal treatment, emergency material needs, parenting education & classes, a fatherhood program, mentoring, clinical counseling, and so much more.
Life Network remains a faithful stronghold in our city – year after year, no matter what legislation may pass in Colorado or in our country. If you don’t personally know the work that is going on at Life Network, I encourage you to read their website, look at all of the FREE services they offer, see how much they care, talk with staff and volunteers, and pray for the work they are doing. It is Kingdom work, and it’s so much more than “just saving babies” – although that is still a wonderful outcome worthy to be celebrated!
We are fundraising as a family again this year so we just have one fundraising page. Last year the girls fundraised separately to get their own t-shirts, however this year they have a family package with t-shirts for all!! YAY! Our God-sized goal this year is $2500 – would you join us in raising money for Life Network so that they can continue providing FREE and life-changing services to our community?
CLICK HERE to give: https://page.fundeasy.com/7780747
I’d forever be grateful for your partnership in this worthwhile & eternal cause!
Related Posts:
You must Love Your Neighbor As Yourself (2023)