Don Wildmon

AFA/AFR founder

July 1994 – Abortion.

It is a subject that has been described as controversial. And I guess it is. But it is more than controversial.

I can recall where I was and what I was doing when some of the major events of history happened in my life. I was a seminary student at Emory University in Atlanta when John Kennedy was killed. I remember hearing the news on the radio as we were on the way to school.

I remember many events surrounding the civil rights movement of the sixties. I remember how, gradually, looking at the the situation from the perspective of the Christian faith, my views changed.

I can remember much of the music that was popular when I was growing up. I associate songs with different events and places.

Abortion. 1973. I can’t remember where I was or what I was doing when the decision by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade legalized abortion. That means it was not a big issue in my mind. I did not realize the importance of the decision or the effect it would have on our nation when it was made. In fact, it was the late seventies before I came to realize what abortion really was and what the issue was all about.

The abortion issue is simply a reflection of the moral decline in our nation. And while I feel we must do all we can to address the issue in the courts, the final solution must come from a moral persuasion. That, like the court battle, is going to be difficult. The secular, liberal political agenda which has been promoted in the institutions of influence for the past 30 to 40 years has become well established. With the help of some top key leadership from “mainline” denominations, and with the apathy and blind trust by the grassroots membership, this “make it up as you go” morality has captured our society.

I’m not saying that the intention of those who have led us down this primrose path was bad. It was not. The intent was, I think, good. But, as the old saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Those of us who believe in the preciousness of human life have our work cut out for us. Before we can overcome the secular, liberal powergrip on our society, we must convince the grassroots that the taking of unborn life is morally wrong and that they must be involved. That is our task. And it is a big one.

In the ey years of Christianity, unwanted babies in Rome were left for the animals to devour or were raised as slaves. But then members of the new religion, Christians they were called, began to take those outcast newborns in and care for them. They remembered what Christ had said: “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not....” Before long the babies were being left on the doorsteps of these Christians. Instinctively, the mother knew that giving the child to the Christians was better than abandoning it to the elements.

What if our local churches paid for the mother’s expenses, took the responsibility for the newborn, and found homes where they would be wanted and loved? That would do more damage to the pro-choice, pro-abortion advocates than all the laws ever passed.

“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” That is the responsibility of Christians. Always has been. Always will be.