by Caryn Anderson

Created on: March 06, 2009

This is one of the most difficult, controversial, and important discussions that we can have right now. Can you be a Christian and still support Roe vs. Wade? No. Jeremiah 1:5 states, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..." For those who believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ, who was an advocate for LIFE, how could it be possible to support a legal decision which takes life away from an innocent baby? It's not just a blob of tissue or a "potential" life-from the moment of conception, that is a baby-make no mistake about that.

Now, that's not to say that it's our place to bomb clinics or demean women who have undergone the "procedure". Not so long ago, a young woman who was very close to me, had just gotten to college and found herself pregnant. It broke my heart in a million pieces when she decided to have an abortion. To this day, I love her dearly and pray for her. She was raised in a Christian home, but felt no qualms about her decision. THIS is where we are going wrong. We need to educate ourselves and teach our children to value each and every precious life. We must love one another enough to make the tough choices and to have the difficult conversations. Where will the culture of death lead us? The sick, the dying, the elderly, the disabled-are any of them not "viable"? Eventually the question will be raised-where do we draw the line?

As a nation and as a society, we must value life. It was given to us as a precious gift from our Father in heaven, who are WE to decide to end it? In 1995, Pope John Paul II wrote, "I declare that direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, always constitutes a grave moral disorder, since it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being. This doctrine is based upon the natural law and upon the written word of God, is transmitted by the Church's tradition and taught by the ordinary and universal magisterium. No circumstance, no purpose, no law whatsoever can ever make licit an act which is intrinsically illicit, since it is contrary to the law of God which is written in every human heart, knowable by reason itself, and proclaimed by the Church" (Evangelium Vitae 62).

The essential question here is can you pick and choose the teachings that you want to adhere to? Has modern Christianity been transformed into a smorgasbord for our perusal? No! Jesus tells us that the path to heaven is narrow and He has shown us the way. Are we listening to His message? Our children and our very souls are at stake-it's time to wake up and grab hold of our values to stand up for what's right. To stand up for life.

Learn more about this author, Caryn Anderson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.