Was the Reversal of Roe V. Wade Really a “Victory” For The Church?

Jesus is Lord!

On Friday, June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson. The entire 213 page ruling can be found here. The ruling officially reversed Roe v. Wade, declaring that the constitutional right to abortion upheld for nearly a half century, no longer exists. Many have celebrated this ruling, and many have complained about the decision. There is a subgroup that has said “this is the will of God”, while others have made threats against local churches because of the ruling.

It is to the latter two groups that I want to write. Before concluding, I will also address everyone.

Please know that Jesus is Lord. Despite the persuasive attempts by some to exert the will to power and try to convince others that God is, for some reason, concerned, motivated, or even interested in the American government; He is not waiting with bated breath on the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of the government to issue public policy, propose bills that may become law, or deem our actions as constitutional.

All the laws God gave to Old Testament Israel were to help His people live a counter-cultural life as lights to the idol worshipping people around whom they lived. In Exodus 19:6 God declares that His people were commanded to be “…kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” In 1 Peter 2:9 God has Peter tell the same thing to the saints who were living among people that did not want to follow Jesus. In no instance did He say His people were to lobby for the laws to change, they were, instead, to be attractive and help show the benefits of following The Lord. Yes, we should be involved in the democratic process, but the laws of God are never subservient to the laws of the land.

In Genesis 1:26-28, God determined to create humanity in His image and after His likeness. God then declared He would   make humanity in His image and after His likeness. God then made humanity in His image and after His likeness. God then breathed His breath into humanity. With that people, beginning with Adam, became living souls. Dr. Rochelle Schuermann, quotes Benjamin Conner in writing, “we have no capacity to image God on our own apart from Christ.” “The image of God does not indicate an inherent capacity or train possessed by the creature. Instead the image of God is something that occurs dynamically as the result of the relationship between creature and creator; the creature does something: it images God”. Every person is the imago Dei (image bearers of God). Not because of anything we have or have not done; simply because He is the Creator and we are His creation. The creation of human life begins at conception. From the womb to the tomb, God does not want anyone to kill those who bear His image. This is not political, it is Biblical; so please do not think that the ruling was a victory for God, just as Roe V. Wade, in 1973, was not a defeat of God.

In Philippians 2:8-11, God has Paul explain that Jesus is Lord of all, even if not everyone submits to His Lordship. While officials may pass laws, and courts may reverse decisions, please know that no law can outlaw God’s righteousness, nor can any law legalize what God says is wrong. Conversely, no law can legalize God’s righteousness, nor can any law outlaw what God says is wrong. The issue at hand is NOT, what ruling did the United States Supreme Court decide. The issue at hand is: Are we living as the imago Dei God created us to be? This is not political, it is Biblical.

I would be remised to not address the logical question, in light of all that has transpired: What do I believe the response of Jesus would be to Dobbs v. Jackson if He were asked and cared to answer? While Jesus did not speak specifically about abortion, that does not mean He was silent about “legal” and “cultural” matters. In John 8:1-11, the enemies of Jesus bring a woman to Him who has been “caught having sexual relations with a man who is not her husband.” John 8:5-6 read, “…The law of Moses commands that we stone to death every woman who does this. What do you say we should do?” ⁶ They were asking this to trick Jesus so that they could have some charge against him…” The religious people did not care about the life of this woman, nor did they care about the law. They only brought this woman, embarrassed this woman, and threatened to kill this woman because they wanted to find some way to accuse and discredit Jesus. If Jesus would have said, “Yes, uphold the law and stone her to death.”, they would have told the Roman governor that Jesus had condemned someone to death, in hopes that Rome would have arrested and executed Him, and/or accuse Jesus to His followers as being inconsistent. He ate with those who sinned, but now condemns one to death. If Jesus would have said, “No, do not stone her death, but extend mercy.”, they would have had grounds to accuse Him of being an enemy of Moses and the law. Jesus, however, rose above the legal and cultural rhetoric and said in John 8:7, “…Anyone here who has never sinned can throw the first stone at her.” Later, after all her accusers left, Jesus told the woman in John 8:11, “…I also don’t judge you guilty. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.”

I feel confident in stating that Jesus would not have celebrated the United States Supreme Court decision as a “victory” for Himself, or even for the lives of the unborn. If women are determined in their heart to have an abortion, they will find a way to do so. Sometimes at great peril to themselves. And all who dare judge and condemn women who decide to have an abortion by throwing the first stone, should reread the words of Jesus in John 8:7 “…Anyone here who has never sinned can throw the first stone at her.” I also feel confident in stating that Jesus would encourage everyone to follow Him in love. Love does not involve the removal of options in an effort to force someone to “do the right thing”. God, out of love, put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the middle of the Garden of Eden. He told Adam (who represents humanity) to not eat from that tree, or there would be severe consequences, including spiritual and ultimately physical death. Spoiler alert for all who do not know what happened, Adam ate from the tree which resulted in sin and death as our reality. Why would God, Who is love, place such a tree into the Garden of Eden? Because love and obedience, without the option to not love and not be obedient, is called abuse. God is love and has never abused anyone. He never will.

I appeal to all who may be upset with the church because of the high court’s decision to remember that Jesus is Lord, and He loves YOU! His love is not predicated on the decisions any of us make and I am sorry if the church led you to believe otherwise. We, at World Deliverance Christian Center, are here to pray with you. We are here to support you. We are here to walk with you through what can be a challenging decision. We are not here to judge you, and we never will.

Your Turn:

I know that on a macro level, this decision was about privacy. I did not address that as my focus was exclusively on why the church should not lower God into governmental matters. You can share your thoughts below: