Who are you and who do you WANT to be?
These are very important and good questions for each of us to ask ourselves. As I was pondering these questions, it struck me again that these are very good questions to ask the women streaming in to kill their babies in an abortion.
I realized I DO ask this question when I call out to the moms, but I had never really examined how and why I do so. It is helpful for us to think about how to use these fundamental questions strategically in our mission of saving babies from abortion and reconciling those mothers to Christ.
First Examine ‘Who Am I?’: Roles
Each of us are many things with many roles. Sometimes, we equate our roles with our core being. I believe both are valuable to think about not only for ourselves, but also for the women we seek to help. For example, my roles include wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, worker at Love Life, bicyclist, kayaker, walker with very injured knees currently, breast cancer survivor, melanoma survivor, etc.
One of the critical roles that it is important to remind abortion-minded women of is that they are a MOTHER. If they carry a baby in their womb, they are already a mother. They carry their son or daughter in their womb, a member of their family. God would have parents protect their children, not murder them.
I often use this vital role and the statements about that role mentioned above when I call out to the women. They are likely NOT considering this or consciously avoiding thinking about this truth. God has clearly called them to be a mother or He would not have given the baby the spark of life. He didn’t have to … but He did; therefore, He has a divine purpose in mind for the mom and that child.
Next Examine ‘Who Am I?’: Core Being
This is the more basic and critical question than what is our role. Some people never verbalize the answer or think about the question; however, it is a life-altering question to answer properly.
First, we are HUMAN, created in the image of God, valued and loved by Him from the moment of conception.
Secondly, we are created to bring glory to God. Is the choice we are about to make one that honors God and our purpose or honors the enemy of our soul? Which one do we desire to follow, to honor?
Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, if we have submitted our lives to Jesus, we are Christ followers, filled with the Holy Spirit, prepared and equipped to advance the Kingdom of God.
We should be asking the women these questions and helping them come to right and godly conclusions.
Vital Outcome of our Answers to the Above Questions
If we are human beings created by God with a divine purpose to glorify God, and we desire to advance His kingdom, how will that affect our actions? Would we be at an abortion center, ready to kill the baby created and given to us to be a blessing? Would we have our choices be ones that harm an innocent, vulnerable, helpless baby that God placed in the womb to be loved and protected? Will we give money to an industry that helps people attempt to alter the image God created (transgender hormones and therapies,) or kill the image bearers of God (abortion)?
The Bible is filled with verses reminding us that our actions reflect our faith. They also reflect who we are and who we WANT to be.
Final Critical Question: ‘Who Do You WANT To Be?’
Many people who honestly answer this question come to the conclusion that they fall far short of who they want to be. Sometimes, they excuse this reality by saying I am only human, or everyone messes up, or no one is perfect.
The Bible says that we are to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. That word teleios, which is the Greek word used in this passage from Matthew 5:18, actually means to “be all we can be, mature, lacking nothing necessary to completeness.” If we are in Christ, we lack nothing necessary to completeness. All that is necessary for that process we have with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. There will obviously not be perfection (reaching completeness) this side of heaven, but we can be transforming to be who God designed us to be.
So can the abortion-determined women.
We can encourage them to truthfully answer who they WANT to be. We can help them to honestly examine if the choices they are making conflict with that desire. We can help them to discern what choices would help them to more closely be who God designed them to be.
Hopeful Result
Change is never easy. Building the habits of good and righteous choices may not be instantaneous. We are to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” There is a process of sanctification, growing more like Jesus. However, that should never be an excuse for continuing in sinful choices, rationalizing the truth because change is hard.
We have the power of Christ in us to be transformed and renewed day by day. We empower the Holy Spirit living in us by humbly relying on Him to guide and lead us. We can encourage the women we work with to do the same.
God never despises a humble and contrite heart. He will help us bear our burdens, and He never ignores our cries for help in doing what He desires us to do.
I believe these questions and thoughts can encourage and enable a choice for life.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NKJV).
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