Information for Pastors

Three clear messages, given regularly, can together greatly reduce the likelihood of a member of the congregation choosing abortion. 

1. We will not judge or condemn an unmarried pregnant woman. 
“Judge not, that you be not judged. “ 
   (Matt 7: 1)

We are all sinners. Only God knows the complete circumstances of how she got pregnant.  If there was sinful behavior. we have no right to assume that she has not repented or that her sin continues. Individual counseling is done privately.  

We do not condone sexual sin, but we will accept her, give her our love and support, and help her to resist whatever pressure or temptation she has to abort her child. We will celebrate the life God has created within her.

We will do what we can to make her path easier and help her provide her child with a good home, whether through parenting or adoption. 

We want everyone to know about OptionLine,org (available 24/7, English or Spanish) and the local pregnancy help center. They are equipped to give each woman the information, support and spiritual encouragement to choose life. 

2.  Abortion is wrong. 
The world is proclaiming in a loud voice that abortion is a woman’s right.  The church must teach that it is wrong.  It is also harmful to women – physically, emotionally and spiritually.  It is a woman’s right to give birth to her child, to follow her God-given maternal instinct to nurture her child. Others are often pressuring her to abort; she needs encouragement to find an alternative solution. 

 “I can’t help but think that if I heard in church that abortion was wrong…I might have chosen to keep my baby instead of killing my baby.”   From a letter to Priests for Life. 

 [note: While Priests for Life is led by a Catholic priest, resources can be helpful for any Christian pastor.] 

3. We will also not judge or condemn women suffering from past abortions. 
We acknowledge that temptation and pressure to abort can be very strong.  None of us can say what we would do in her shoes if we have not been there. In fact, the majority of abortions are unwanted or coerced. (See “Forced Abortion in America.,”(3)

When the adulterous woman was about to be stoned, Jesus did not condemn her but simply said “Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” (John 8:11) 

“…while it takes the blood of Jesus to deliver us from guilt, it takes the acceptance of others to deliver us from shame.”
       – Kathy, a post-abortive woman.