Pro-Life Movement Unifies, Strives to Change the Culture
Forty years of Roe v. Wade have left the blood of 55 million babies on our hands. But a prophetic generation is rising up with prayer-inspired strategies that may lead us to a divine deadline for legalized abortion.
Although pro-life messaging tactics have varied over the past 40 years—from gruesome signs to massive marches to legal battles to mouths covered with red tape that simply say “LIFE”—the core of the pro-life movement is finally moving in the same direction. Though there are still a variety of tactics and approaches to turning the nation on this issue, the strategy now isn’t merely to change minds or change laws; it’s to change the culture of a nation.
“The gay rights movement has been incredibly successful raising awareness, raising opposition over the policy and ultimately changing the culture,” says Keith Mason, president of Personhood USA, a group that aims to drive personhood rights for all humans—even the preborn. “Our strategy is to achieve a change of the heart of the nation toward the preborn.”
Legal Landscape Changing
Although the first attempt to win personhood rights for the preborn failed miserably in Colorado during the 2008 elections, the movement is gaining traction in the legislature. More state Congresses are introducing personhood bills, and in March the North Dakota House of Representatives passed the first personhood amendment in the United States. The amendment will now go to the people of North Dakota for a vote.
Beyond personhood amendments, the legal landscape has taken a rapid turn toward restricting abortions. Wisconsin’s Republican-led state Assembly in June passed a measure to make it more difficult to get an abortion by first requiring women to undergo an ultrasound.
Meanwhile, four Maryland abortion clinics were shut down in June after a fatality, and Mississippi may soon become the first state in the land to completely ban abortions as its last abortion mill fights to remain open.
And it doesn’t end there. The Ohio budget bill introduced in June seeks to slash funding for Planned Parenthood, the group that provides more abortions than any other. That same month, Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed into law a bill to grant infants who survive abortion procedures the same rights as infants born naturally.
In March, Arkansas passed a law that would ban most abortions after 12 weeks. And in April, Alabama signed a law tightening abortion clinic rules.
The biggest breakthrough, though, may be that the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill in June that would ban abortions at 20 weeks.
Despite these breakthroughs, Mason sees clear challenges. Bills such as those that have passed always meet with opposition from the likes of Planned Parenthood or the American Civil Liberties Union. That’s why laws alone are not enough to bring abortion to a divine deadline. Ending abortion requires a heart change—and that demands faith.
“The biggest obstacle is the faith that we can actually see an end to abortion,” Mason says. “The faith is greater among the younger generation. The current is shifting.”
Truth on Our Side
One leader within that younger generation is Jeanne Monahan, who took the reins of March for Life Education and Defense Fund after its founder, Nellie Gray, passed away in August 2012. Monahan’s mandate is to restore a culture of life in the United States, most notably through the annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., held on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
But Monahan isn’t stopping with the march. She’s refocusing the nonprofit on education that, again, hopes to change the culture of a nation.
“My approach to pro-life work is very simple. I want to bring into the light that abortion is not good for women. The procedures aren’t very often talked about because no one likes to hear about them,” she says. “Most women suffer real consequences and regret their abortion. We have truth, science, technology, experience and God on our side. We don’t have to manipulate anyone. We just have to show the truth. Truth changes the heart.”
Indeed, truth is changing hearts of the next generation even as revelations of baby killers such as Philadelphia late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who was sentenced to life in prison for his crimes, make mainstream media headlines. According to a survey conducted by the College Republican National Committee, a majority of young adults oppose abortion. What’s more, they believe that in all or most cases, abortion should be illegal. Specifically, 37 percent feel abortion should be illegal with exceptions, and 14 percent think abortion should always be illegal. That’s a combined 51 percent who lean toward prohibiting abortion.
The Divine Deadline
Is a divine deadline for abortion looming? Matt Lockett, director of Bound4LIFE, a grass-roots prayer mobilization movement focused on the ending of abortion, the increase of adoptions, and the reformation of government and society through spiritual awakening, believes so. Bound4LIFE holds “silent sieges,” in which intercessors stand in front of government buildings or abortion clinics wearing red tape over their mouths that says “LIFE” and usually donning red wristbands with the same word.
On the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade this past January, following a 21-day fast and persistent prayer, Lockett felt the Lord declaring He has a timetable for Roe v. Wade. Lockett says the Holy Spirit showed him how “dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord” (Prov. 11:1) and that the United States has been using deceptive and dishonest weights in its scales so that it cannot accurately weigh the value of human life.
Lockett’s conclusion: There is a divine deadline for abortion upon us.
“Political and ideological allegiances surface in moments like this, kicking truth, law, health and integrity into the ditch,” Lockett says. “Will we look away? Will we consciously ignore it? Will the church ignore it?
“I think God is looking for a definitive response right now,” he adds. “Can I even say that He is demanding a response? What we do next is of huge importance, and I believe heaven is watching closely.”
