Indulge me a little and use your imagination as this story is based on a very familiar biblical narrative.
One day, Jesus appears in the parking lot of a megachurch and begins to teach. A huge crowd is gathered around to hear him. Suddenly a group of people rush toward Jesus dragging a young girl caught in the act of an abortion. They make her stand before Jesus and the group around him. They say to Jesus, "Teacher, this girl was caught in the act of having an abortion. The law of Moses says, you shall not kill. What do you say?"
Of course those who dragged in the young girl was using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. It was a political ploy, but Jesus bent down and started to write on the asphalt with his finger. They peered over him to see what he wrote.
Do you care about the man shot in the back, those choked with a knee on their neck, or the many incarcerated unfairly; killed by a system of injustice and racism? Jesus continued to write. Have you shown empathy or tried to help the immigrant children held in cages and separated inhumanly from their parents? Many in the crowd began to mutter.
More people rushed over to see Jesus as he crouched down and watched as his finger moved across the pavement. Did you train this child, share Psalm 139 with her, or teach her about the sanctity of life and how precious she is to Me? His fingers continued to move smoothly as he wrote. Have you responded to the Great Commission and shared the Gospel with those who are broken and lost?
Many in the crowd, listening as others recited what he wrote, kept on questioning him. Jesus suddenly straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." There were numerous large rocks to be found as the parking lot was under construction. Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. Is the blood of My sacrifice on the Cross sufficient to cover this young woman's sins?
At this, those who heard began to go away. First, the Republicans tiptoed out of the parking lot. Next, the Democrats backed away from the area. Finally, the religious leaders, the Pharisees, fled from the glare of the sun. One at a time, the older ones first until only Jesus was left, with the young woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Young lady, where are they? Has no one condemned you?
"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared as He embraced her with His grace and covered her with His tender mercies. His very Word seeped into her soul as He held her gently.
"Go now and leave your life of sin."
I am pro-life. Abortion is only the symptom of a bigger problem. We must address it at the root and not simply at the door of the abortion clinic. Forty-seven years of voting for various political parties has also proven to be ineffective because it is not a governmental problem. It's an issue that starts first in our families and homes as we train up our children - both boys and girls - to know their identity in Christ. Without a doubt, we suffer consequences as a result of our sins. God is most certainly grieved by the babies dying, but just as grieved by our negligence in responding to this in a godly, caring, and compassionate manner. We must do better as disciples of Jesus Christ.
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