The Politics of Abortion

Josh Buice

grayscale photo of woman hugging baby

Recently, a bombshell leak hit the news that signaled a big decision was coming down from the Supreme Court that would overturn Roe v. Wade. The leak of the initial draft proved to be true and now we’re awaiting the final decision.

In 1973, a historic decision was reached in the case Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion on a national level across the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled (7–2) that unduly restrictive state regulation of abortion is unconstitutional. In 1970 Norma McCorvey, known to us as “Jane Roe”—a fictional name used to protect her identity, instituted federal action against Henry Wade, the district attorney of Dallas county, Texas, where McCorvey resided. The ruling was issued on January 23, 1973.

Since that historic day in American history (1/23/73), an estimated 63 million babies have died in abortion across our country.

Since that historic day in American history (1/23/73), an estimated 63 million babies have died in abortion across our country. If we expand our eyes beyond the border of America, according to the World Health Organization, every year in the world there are an estimated 40-50 million abortions. This corresponds to approximately 125,000 abortions per day.

Needless to say, abortion is a very hot topic in our world of politics. Therefore, when a report hits the news that the Roe v. Wade decision could be overturned, it has resulted in a fury of activity in the news and the streets through protests. As we continue to evaluate how this decision will unfold, there are some political angles that you need to watch in order to be prepared for how this will impact you.

Abolition or Incrementalism?

Although the church of Jesus Christ is opposed to abortion, not everyone in the church is in agreement regarding the opposition tactics. Some favor more incremental steps in the right direction and they labor for those positive movements through the year and celebrate the victories along the way. However, another group exists that refuses to support any incremental step in the right direction and insists upon total abolition.

It has been predicted for years that abortion is here to stay, if for no other reason than the amount of money that it generates. The decision is not based on science, for the science is clearly visible in 2D and 5D imaging. The decision is driven by money.

While there are various degrees of intensity on this subject, what can be established in this debate is that there is an abortion industry that is extremely lucrative. Not only are businesses linked to this industry, but so are political groups and organizations. It has been predicted for years that abortion is here to stay, if for no other reason than the amount of money that it generates. The decision is not based on science, for the science is clearly visible in 2D and 5D imaging. The decision is driven by money. For instance, within hours of the leaked report of the decision from the Supreme Court, Democrats raised more than $7 million dollars for their campaign. Now, with the politics of abortion at a fever pitch, what can we expect in the next big election cycle?

The Liberals and the Single Issue Voter

Over the last two or three decades, the single-issue vote has been something that has plagued the liberals in the voting booth. Conservatives have been successful at capturing a large number of voters by emphasizing the abortion issue as the most important topic and by pointing out the power of the presidential appointment to the US Supreme Court. Now that this historic abortion decision will be likely be overturned and given back to individual states (which is the prediction at this point), it could result in a new campaign strategy for the Democrats. While liberals complain about the success of the single-issue vote on the topic of abortion (because it has been so successful), they still use this tactic themselves. They used the single-issue of removing Donald Trump from office in 2020, but they have failed to create a perennial issue that continues to provide fruit from cycle to cycle. Could abortion be there new rallying point?

For instance, they could harness this as a single-issue vote of passion to lure voters to the polls under the banner of “reproductive rights” or “reproductive justice.” This will be true at both a state and national level. Needless to say, the politics of this pending decision by the Supreme Court will continue to send ripple effects throughout our culture for years to come.

The Big Eva Leaders’ Deafening Silence

The politics of abortion have had an impact on the church. Various different denominations have debated the issue through the years with the more conservative denominations giving the issue far more attention. For instance, at the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention, the messengers passed a resolution on abolishing abortion that had the following language:

RESOLVED, that we will not embrace an incremental approach alone to ending abortion because it challenges God’s Lordship over the heart and the conscience, and rejects His call to repent of sin completely and immediately (Gen 3:1; John 8:44; Rom 2:14-15; 2 Corinthians 11:3).

However, the evangelical church has shifted greatly since the days of the Religious Right. For instance, statistics reveal that the evangelical church is more accepting of abortion now than it was a number of years ago. With all of the talk of reproductive justice and the connection of this hotly debated issue to the social justice movement, it has been eye opening to watch the silence of major Christian organizations and leaders within evangelical circles on this issue.

This is especially concerning since many evangelical leaders have been committed to the social justice debate while advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion of minorities. We must remember, abortion kills more black babies than any other ethnicity every single year in America. Abortion is a historic form of racism against the Black population dating back to Margaret Sanger and Planned Parenthood that persists to this very day. Justice Alito connected the dots in the draft opinion that some supporters of abortion “have been motivated by a desire to suppress the size of the African American population.” He went on to write, “It is beyond dispute that Roe has had that demographic effect. A highly disproportionate percentage of aborted fetuses are Black.”

It is beyond dispute that Roe has had that demographic effect. A highly disproportionate percentage of aborted fetuses are Black.

—Justice Alito

Russell Moore has not exactly been silent on abortion through the years as the former president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC, but since the news of this potential overturn of Roe, there has not been the first tweet or article appear on his website. The same pattern is true for Tim Keller, Beth Moore, and many others who are very vocal about social issues. The leak occurred nine days ago and the silence has caused many to ask honest questions about where these individuals stand on the issue. Evangelicals have been praying, protesting, working, preaching, and advocating for the overturn of Roe for decades. Therefore, when ground shaking news is released on the subject indicating that Roe might fall, it would only make sense that evangelical leaders would be talking, praying, and giving biblical commentary on the subject. In many cases, it has been silence.

Regardless of how the Supreme Court lands on this issue, the fact is, this decision by the Supreme Court will not result in the ultimate victory for the Church in our nation on abortion. If anything, it will precipitate a more complex and intense fight from state to state. If the decision is handed over to the states, it could result in sanctuary states that welcome people from around the nation to travel in for abortions. This is not the hour for silence. This is the hour for boldness and clarity on this subject from evangelical organizations and leaders in order that we can advocate for the lives of the preborn as we long for the day when abortion is abolished completely across our nation.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Author grayscale photo of woman hugging baby

Josh Buice

Pastor Pray's Mill Baptist Church

Josh Buice is the founder and president of G3 Ministries and serves as the pastor of Pray's Mill Baptist Church on the westside of Atlanta. He is married to Kari and they have four children, Karis, John Mark, Kalli, and Judson. Additionally, he serves as Assistant Professor of Preaching at Grace Bible Theological Seminary. He enjoys theology, preaching, church history, and has a firm commitment to the local church. He also enjoys many sports and the outdoors, including long distance running and high country hunting. He has been writing on Delivered by Grace since he was in seminary and it has expanded with a large readership through the years.