In
loving memory of William Wilberforce, who died on this
date, July 29, 1833. I will post this Pro-Life article to remember him.
 |
|
William Wilberforce’s
famous quote
[PHOTO SOURCE: http://izquotes.com/quote/278082]
|
Wilberforce didn’t give
up, and neither should we
Abortion
is a reality that must not remain in a stagnant state of concern. We must
remain in forward motion. To live in comfort while acknowledging yet neglecting
the genocide around us is the utmost in selfishness.
1. “You may choose to
look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.”
Concern, void of action, will
eventually lead to apathy, and where apathy becomes comfortable, the issues are
inevitably forgotten. And that is a tragically hopeless state to be in.
I had a friend challenge me once to
consider every way I treated people that day. Then he said to imagine everyone
I saw the next day wearing a shirt labeled “image-bearer of God.” God did
not see a baby being formed and then decide to assume responsibility for it. He
loved that child long before a cell held any form of their identity. When we
look away, we look away from an image-bearer of their Creator – OUR
Creator.
This isn’t a guilt trip– it’s a
reality check.
2.
“We are too young to realize that certain things are impossible…so we will do
them anyway.”
Wilberforce spent 28 years combatting
the slave trade. He knew the mirage of the impossible. He saw it, heard it, and
feared it. But his persistence proved the impossible to be nothing but a lure
towards his victory.
Wilberforce faced two forms of
opposition from his fellow legislators: political and personal. Members of
parliament supported the slave trade because their constituents demanded it.
But members of parliament also had slaves of their own. Giving up slavery would
mean sacrificing the desires of their constituents and thus likely their
career, but it also meant surrendering their own personal conveniences.
Politicians support abortion
because their constituents demand it…but politicians aren’t regularly
having abortions. It’s political, not as much personal. That’s a barrier we do
not have to cross that Wilberforce did. Also, not all of us are carrying a
terminal ailment that Wilberforce carried with him throughout his journey.
3.
“God Almighty has set before me two Great Objects: the suppression of the Slave
Trade and the Reformation of Manners.”
Wilberforce ran on a platform of
justice. But his ferocity was not his own, nor did he take the credit. Instead,
he credited God with this assignment and it was his reverence towards God that
prompted his obedience to follow. He elaborates on reformation of manners
to mean the moral compass of society. He admitted that a victory of abolition
wouldn’t be possible by votes alone but that his pursuit must be supplemented
by changing the hearts of his fellow men. This is important. Many pro-choice,
and even some quasi pro-life advocates, will condemn pro-life legislation
and instead push for creating a culture where abortion, though legal,
wouldn’t be an issue because people would be responsible.
While this is part of Wilberforce’s
conviction, he didn’t push for moral reform at the sacrifice of legislative
efforts. His strategy consisted of a hybrid approach of change and law.
The idea of no women wanting an
abortion is rather dystopian and ultimately unrealistic. To be fair, I don’t
think anyone is suggesting otherwise. However, even if we get to a point in
society where we reduce abortions by 90% due to a change of heart, that 10%
of babies still matter and there must be legislative security for their right
to life. It will take a long time to change the hearts of such a stubborn
culture that we live in. No baby should have to die at the expense of society’s
inability to learn quickly the value of life and the horror in killing the
innocent.
This generation can see the demise of
abortion. WE can do this.
