June 6, 1944. D-Day. 156-thousand troops stormed German occupied France and after 24 hours of intense battle with more than 10-thousand Allies killed, injured or missing, the beaches were secure. What happened next? Did the victors celebrate in the sand? No, it was a nine-month march through hell to finally topple Hitler.
As I prepared to release a pro-life teaching project, Students in Action: Building Pro-Life Leaders, Fellowship Principal T.M. Moore helped me sharpen an upcoming presentation by suggesting I use this 81 year old event to draw a parallel to the overturning of Roe. As T.M. put it, June 24, 2022 was D Day for the pro-life moment. Unfortunately, far, far too many applauded and sat down in the sand. Most are still sitting. Those in states with severe abortion restrictions have their heads planted there as well. “We won,” they cheered. No, pro-life is a political loser. The church needs to put all that energy used to change laws to change hearts. A much, much tougher task. I have discovered it’s hardly a priority.
For the third year in a row, 2025 will see more than one-million abortions reported in America, a sharp increase since before Roe was overturned. Of course, that number is very conservative; most abortions are not happening in medical facilities but via a two pill regimen, often at home and therefore not reported. Since the Obama and Biden administrations stripped away almost all medical precautions for the pills, and the Trump led Republicans stripped away all but the most perfunctory pro-life language from its official position, abortions will continue to increase. After all, according to Gallup 80% of Americans have consistently believed abortion is OK in some if not all circumstances.
After creating and teaching the pilot pro-life program, it was released nationally in June. The goal is to help high school and college age students understand and defend the pro-life position through the Christian worldview. Since speaking to pro-life and evangelical groups, pastors and Christian thought-leaders, I’ve been unpleasantly surprised to discover how little real interest there is in this issue. While few will argue that there is anything more important to God than life, it seems as if far too many in the church are satisfied to neither learn more nor make this issue a focus point in their lives. As I interact with these faith leaders, there is an assumption that the issue is somehow settled.
I really shouldn’t be surprised. In my pro-life presentations I use data to illustrate the faithful’s perspective. Here’s just one example: According to an Arizona Christian University American Worldview Inventory study several years ago, fewer than half of born again Christians believe “life is sacred”. If those who profess their faith in Christ don’t understand the importance of life, what hope is there?
Oh, most evangelical congregations will check the “pro-life” box and hear an annual sermon about life. Perhaps even help raise money for a local pregnancy center. When it comes to preparing the next generation to do a better job of fulfilling God’s view of life, however, it’s clear that far too many are happy to sit in the sand.
Stuart Kellogg is a member of the Fellowship and his current Personal Mission Field project is a pro-life teaching project Students in Action: Building Pro-Life Leaders. www.prolifeleaders.net