Is Jesus really their Lord if expectant mothers are at an abortion center? MOST of the women who come to the abortion centers in Charlotte claim to love Jesus. Oftentimes, when I ask them if Jesus is their Lord, they declare indignantly, “Of course!” Could this be true? Is Jesus, the author of life who says He desires that NONE should perish, REALLY their Lord if they are about to kill their own unborn child?
NO. I am growing increasingly certain that this the only conclusion I can make. Yes, fear and obstacles make us do stupid things. But anyone justifying and rationalizing an abortion when directly confronted with biblical truth is NOT following Jesus as their Lord. THEY are the lord of their life when they continue in willful defiance of God’s clear commands.
Questions to help discern salvation experience
I have found the most effective way to deal with this claim is through a series of questions:
- When did they come to Jesus?
- What was that time in their life like?
- Did their actions change as a result?
- What would God have them do regarding the unborn life in light of their alleged salvation?
My goal with the questions is two-fold: 1) The answers help me to understand what they believe regarding their salvation and 2) the answers hopefully help them to cut through the self-deception and lack of understanding what it means if Jesus is Lord of their lives.
Is it reasonable to expect fruit of a life committed to Jesus?
YES, it is reasonable and actually biblical to expect fruit of a life truly committed to Jesus. James is very clear about this truth. We can confidently question their assertion of salvation and Jesus as Lord of their lives if they are there to kill their baby and are living in sexual sin.
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:14-20 NKJV
How do we confront and challenge a perception that someone is a believer?
Ray Comfort’s approach of using the law to convict a heart of their absolute sinful depravity is an effective tactic. It is also biblical. We must present the Gospel it its entirety. No one understands their need for a Savior until they know they are doomed without one. We must expose the truth of their sin and help them to see their self-deception if they are walking in sin and still claiming Jesus is their Lord.
With the last woman I counseled, I actually came right out and said, “Forgive me, but I speak in love. If you are justifying killing your child in an abortion and sleeping with a man you are not married to, you are deceived to think you are good or that you deserve Heaven. Your actions speak louder than your words. If Jesus is Lord, you will listen to what He says. What the Bible says is you are dead in your sin and you deserve hell.”
Now it was NOT the first thing I said. We had talked quite a while before I directly confronted her; however, I do believe direct confrontation on this soul-important error is critical. In the case of this woman, as I described her lifestyle, what she had told me herself, and asked again, “Does this sound like someone who is following Jesus as Lord?”, there was silence, and then a quiet admission: “No.”
Is it loving to challenge someone who claims to love Jesus but is there aborting their child?
It is loving to point someone to truth and real faith and salvation. The eternity of this person depends on an honest commitment to Jesus as Lord. The modern church sometimes does not mention sin or God’s wrath or His justice AT ALL. The love of God is all that is presented, and, as a result, women are flocking to abort their children thinking God loves them so much that it doesn’t matter if they are in direct and willful rebellion against Him.
When is it appropriate to extend an invitation to submit a life to the Lord?
I believe the Gospel must be fully presented. People must be convicted of specific sin. Conviction of GENERAL sin is not enough. Most people I counsel agree that “All have sinned.” They are almost universally slow to agree that they have lied, stolen, lusted, blasphemed, murdered … and fully deserve hell because their heart is wicked.
Truly presenting the WHOLE Gospel takes time. Just asking if they want to go to heaven and believe Jesus paid the penalty for their sin is NOT enough. I DO extend an invitation to profess faith after I have spent a LONG time in the Law, helping them understand and admit conviction of how they have transgressed before their Creator, helping them express repentance, and explaining God’s justice and mercy kissing at the Cross.
What about ‘repeat after me’ salvation prayers?
I recommend NEVER do a “repeat after me” prayer. NEVER. If someone is unwilling or unable to speak out loud to God with holy sorrow and repentance, and then ask Jesus to be their Lord and Savior, I would question whether they understand or truly desire salvation through faith in what Jesus did for them.
I always tell them what Romans 10:9 says about a profession of true faith, and then urge them to speak out loud to God in their own words. What they say, and how they say it is very telling in terms of the truth of a life submitted to the Lord.
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