By Dr. Ray Pritchard*
November 2014 – I think it goes without saying that abortion is a difficult issue to talk about. It is difficult because it is almost impossible to find someone who is neutral on the subject. It is one of the most emotional issues in America today. The pollsters tell us that Americans are deeply divided on the morality of abortion.
Add to that the fact that abortion is an unpopular subject generally. There are some people who would simply rather not hear about, think about it or talk about it. And there are some who would certainly rather not hear about abortion on Sunday morning.
And yet, as pastors, we must say something.
We don’t have any choice in the matter if we are going to be faithful to our calling as ministers of the Word of God. Since God has spoken clearly about the value of unborn human life, we must say to our people what God says. Perhaps our best chance comes in January on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, observed annually on the Sunday closest to the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that opened the door for legalized abortion in America.
But what shall we say, and how should we say it? Once we have decided to devote a sermon to this topic, we still have to decide what approach to take. I have found it helpful, especially when speaking on this topic for the first time to say something like this:
This morning there are at least four distinct groups in the audience. There are those here who profoundly believe that abortion is morally wrong. I hope my words will be an encouragement and challenge to you. Then there are others who are basically undecided about abortion. I hope I can help you make up your mind. There are still others who are pro-choice on the abortion issue. We welcome you to our service. I hope you will simply hear what I have to say. If you still don’t agree with me when I am finished, I won’t be angry at you. Finally, there are some women here who have had an abortion. I am most concerned about this last group. Let me say frankly that my words are not primarily addressed to you. You already know the truth about abortion. Nothing I say can add to what you have been through. But I want you to know that we love you, that we are glad you are here, that we will never do anything to hurt you or embarrass you. Our deepest prayer for you is that you will experience God’s grace and forgiveness. We will not condemn you this morning. I promise you that.
It won’t do any good to add to the guilt of those women who have had an abortion. You probably have more women like that in your congregation than you realize. Many women carry a burden of guilt that could be relieved if they brought that burden to the Cross of Christ. As we prepare to preach on abortion, we should pray for wisdom that we might speak the truth in love.
It seems to me that there are at least four approaches we could take:
1. Make the case against abortion. In a sermon like this you will probably talk about Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:41, 44; and other passages that establish that the unborn are unique individuals made in the image of God. You will probably also mention the abortion statistics since 1973 in order to help people think about how big the issue really is. If you’ve never preached on pro-life issues, this is where you must begin. Don’t assume that your congregation knows what the Bible says. Start by defining the issues, go to the key OT and NT passages, and then show why abortion can never be compatible with the Christian faith. In a sermon like this, it’s important to end on a note of hope. Show your listeners that even though abortion is wrong, the lights are still on in the Father’s house.
2. Help people see how God views children. Don’t take for granted that your people have a biblical view of children. They need to see that children are a heritage and a blessing, not a burden to be endured. You could easily combine Psalm 127 and 128 into one message that shows the high value God puts on children. Or you could talk about how Jesus loved children from Matthew 18 and 19. We can partner with the Lord Jesus Christ in the building of our homes. When we do, our families will be blessed, our children will prosper, our marriages will flourish, and Jesus Christ will be praised. And when our work on earth is done, we may look back with joy and say, “God blessed us with a happy Christian family.” There is no greater reward, no better testimony, no higher goal for Christian parents. If we can say that when the day is done, we may go out of this world singing, knowing that we prevailed in the one area of life that matters most.
3. Challenge people in the area of sexual purity. Lurking behind the abortion debate is the “free sex” philosophy that became so popular in the 1960s and still holds sway in our culture. If we had less promiscuity, we would certainly have fewer abortions. If you preach a message like this, be sure and point people to resources that will help them walk in a lifestyle of purity. You could easily build a sermon around Psalm 51:10 or 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. But remember that many people who hear you preach deal with memories of repeated failure in this area. You want to challenge people to holiness by showing the greatness of God’s grace. Perhaps you could end with Isaiah 1:18 and its promise that we can be “white as snow.”
4. Encourage Christians to get involved in social issues. Since some church members view abortion as a purely political issue, they believe that Christians shouldn’t be involved. Perhaps you could preach on being the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16) and show them in concrete terms why they need to be involved. This would be a good time to register voters and to offer a table with helpful information. Tell your people about the local pro-life pregnancy resource center and encourage them to get involved. Point out the ministries doing good work with foster children and those fighting child trafficking. Remind them there are many ways to roll up your sleeves, get involved and show love in the name of Christ.
When I preach on this, I like to share the quote made famous by the Quakers 200 years ago: “I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
We don’t have to do everything; in fact, no one can do everything. But we all can and should do something. As you preach, give people practical ways they can be involved in the battle for life.
Finally, be sure to preach the lifesaving gospel of Jesus. Remember that Mary was pregnant under circumstances that today would routinely end in abortion. But through His death and resurrection, He has become the Savior of the world. Let’s be sure our people hear that note of Good News as we preach on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. 
* Dr. Ray Pritchard is founder and president of Keep Believing Ministries. He pastored churches in California, Texas and Illinois for 26 years. He is the author of 27 books, including An Anchor for the Soul and Why Did This Happen to Me? He has been married to Marlene for 40 years.
He has preached a number of sermons that touch on abortion. Twenty such sermons are collected at here. Permission is granted to use the material in any way to aid preparation for preaching or teaching concerning the issue.
