A Christian Response to California’s “Infanticide Bill”

This morning I reentered the real world.  After church this past Sunday, my beautiful wife Kerrie and I headed out of town for three days of celebration and rest – we had our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary on Tuesday!  And like all sane people who want to celebrate and rest, we did not watch the news.

This morning was my first day back in my office, and as we were driving down the 101, our classic rock station played Pat Benatar’s somber classic, “Hell is for Children.”  A song about child abuse.  Too dark.  I changed the channel.  Sitting down at my desk with a freshly brewed cup of Folgers, I fired up my computer and discovered that California Bill AB 2223 had passed in the California legislature by a vote of 44 – 20.  The aptly named “Infanticide Bill” was now ready for the Governor’s signature.  Too dark.  But this channel can’t be changed.

For those of you who do not stay current with the laws of my state, AB 2223 removes all penalties for unlicensed abortions up to the very moment of birth.  It can also be used to prevent county coroners from using evidence of infanticide (the killing of a born baby) to hold either the mother or the accomplice responsible for the baby’s death. We are talking about a bill that offers absolutely no protection for the life of a 100% viable human being.

What should we do in the face of such horrible laws?

We can protest.  The California Family Council is scheduling a March for Life event.

But whether or not we march, there is something else that we should do.  All across America, since the beginning of the abortion era, there have been organizations that have existed for the sole purpose of giving new moms of unborn children every support they need – financial, educational, medical…. You name it, and there are men and women working at these small and unheralded organizations in every state and city of America.  They get no publicity.  The media shows them no love.  They are out of step with the culture of postmodern secularism.  But they serve, they love, and they bless – patiently and sacrificially.  They receive no federal funding.  They do not make so much money that they can donate millions to political candidates.  They are often staffed by people who have had abortions themselves and desperately wish that they could rewind that chapter of their life.  They are men and women of grace, dignity, and deep compassion.  And you and I can help them.

Every church I have pastored has supported the local organization that meets the needs and protects the lives of both Mom and Baby.  Currently, we support Ohana Health – a truly remarkable organization.  Find the ministry near you.  Volunteer your time.  Make charitable donations.  Pray for the staff workers.

As those who know and serve God, we are called upon to “hate what is evil.”  (Psalm 97:10).  If the dismemberment of a child the day before its birth is not evil, nothing is.  But we are also called to do good.  Find a way to save a life – and sacrificially support those who are on the front lines, both in legislating righteous laws and, more importantly, those who are blessing the young parents whose lives are so desperately complicated that they are contemplating the unthinkable.

And above all, let’s speak grace to those who have been deeply marked by abortion.  As a pastor I can tell you that it does leave a mark.  But the love of Christ and the cleansing grace of forgiveness offers peace to all who draw near to him – even to you dear reader.

Your Pastor,

Bob Bjerkaas

N.B. The image above is Baby [verso], drawn in the late 1650s by Baldassare Franceschini (Florence, 1611-1689). The image is in the public domain and is made available by the National Art Gallery, accession number 1980.4.1.1.b.