DAY 6: Compassion or Condemnation?

I’ll be honest with you.  When I think about abortion I get mad.  When I think about people like Dr. Ulrich Klopfer who performed over 50,000 abortions during his career and kept the remains of 2246 aborted babies in his garage, I get mad.  When I think about parents not protecting the lives of their own children but choosing instead to get rid of them, I get mad.

In the Bible, there is such a thing as righteous anger (Ps 7:11; Eph 4:26-27), and that anger can motivate us to make necessary changes – like Jesus driving the money-changers out of the temple (Mt 21:12-13).  

But I also know that Jesus was able to control his temper a lot better than me!  And if I’m not careful it doesn’t take long for my anger to turn into sin (Jas 1:19-20; Mt 5:22; Rom 12:17-21).

So what should we do with all these feelings of anger?

When people gather in front of an abortion facility to pray or protest, inevitably there are some who resort to fleshly tactics to keep women from getting an abortion.  They may yell and use harsh, unkind words to “guilt” the woman into changing her mind.  

But this is an example of sinful anger, not righteous anger.

I think the big underlying question for us is this: “Deep down, how do I really feel about people who support abortion?  Do I really love them?  Or do I judge them and hold them in derision?  Is there a trace of hatred in my heart that secretly rejoices in their condemnation?”

One passage that helps me check my attitude is Matthew 7:3 – “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”

When I realize how many planks have been sticking out of my eye over the years, I am less likely to condemn others.  I am more patient, more compassionate, more thankful for God’s grace in my life, and more willing to extend love to others.

Many people who get an abortion already feel convicted, ashamed, and condemned.  And they already think we hate them.  So let’s not reinforce their stereotype.  They need to know we love them!

1 Corinthians 13:4 – “Love is kind…”

John 13:35 – “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Ephesians 4:15 – “… speaking the truth in love…”

By all means, let’s speak the truth.  We must speak up!  But when you talk to someone about the subject of abortion, would they describe your attitude as compassionate or condemning?

Suggested things to pray for:

• Pray for God to grant you love and compassion for sinful people (like ourselves) who do sinful things and hurt other people.