The Sin of Presumption and Abortion

I am a sidewalk counselor trying to help women in crisis pregnancies to keep their babies. I was at the usual abortuary, the usual time and day of the week and I saw Barbara (not real name) approaching the front door of the abortuary and I said, "I care about you, can we talk about what you are going through".

Barbara was not like 99% of all other women coming to the abortuary for their pre-abortion visits, she looked at me and came over to talk, which indicates she was not completely sure that abortion was the right thing to do. We established rapport and I learned that Barbara had been married and divorced, had two children, was unemployed, and living with her mother. She thought that these circumstances were too dire to bring another person into the world.

We talked about how her circumstances were dire, yes, but can and will change with God's help, and that to deny this innocent child the right to life might not be the best decision she could make for herself or the baby. She was obviously torn and could see the truth of what was being said to her. She then said the words that I have heard before from other pre and post abortive women:

"I believe that God will forgive me if I do this (kill my baby), and that my baby would be better off in heaven with God".

I was silent for a moment because this never fails to completely stun me and I was silent. I wanted to say,"why do you think God will forgive you for killing your baby and that this child would be better off in Heaven with God when God is obviously calling this child into existence through you to have life here on earth".

Somewhere this type of thinking, presuming God's grace will be with you, and forgive a pre-mediated act (murder) that you are going to commit, has crept into our culture and women use it to ease their conscience before they go through with this great sin against another human being. I would like to hear a sermon or homily addressing this incorrect thinking.

Yes, God's grace can forgive any sin, evidenced by Jesus coming to this earth, proclaiming the Kingdom of God and giving His life for our sins so we can live in heaven with God. But, this grace should never be presumed.

Barbara ended up not having her abortion, she ultimately said, "I cannot do this"! Thanks be to God that she answered the call of her conscience not to kill another human being. She will be greatly blessed by God for her decision and have her beautiful new baby. This baby will bring much love into her life and she will some day wonder how she could have ever thought of ending it's life.

Maybe next time I meet another Barbara I will be able to answer this type of thinking with the truth, spoken in love.