In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States sided with Dobbs and overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade (1973) case. While the Dobbs decision doesn’t make abortion illegal nationwide, it removes the constitutional right created by the Court in 1973 and gives the states the right to restrict access to abortions. Though a legal decision won’t change hearts and there is still much work to do, we should give thanks when justice triumphs.
Here are four reasons why we can begin to give thanks for this decision.
1. Give thanks that the unborn will be protected.
Since 1973, over 60 million children have been wrongfully, yet legally, aborted. As Christians, this should be devastating as we recognize the unique dignity and value of each human life. God created each and every person in his image (Genesis 1:27). He has intricately designed and formed each person purposefully (Psalm 139:13–14).
We ought to give thanks to God recognizing that this decision will protect unborn children for years to come. The Bible is clear that ending the life of a child in the womb is murder (Exodus 21:22–23). When states pass laws to restrict abortion, we should rejoice. At the same time, we recognize the one that allowed this decision to come down. We give thanks to God, acknowledging that he is sovereign over all things.
2. Give thanks that fewer women will experience the trauma that comes with abortion.
The news of increased restrictions on abortion access should lead Christians to pray for women who have experienced trauma from their abortion. We give thanks that many women will now never have to experience the stress and pain of abortion. Studies show that women who undergo abortions suffer higher levels of mental illnesses. Many women experience what is known as post-abortion stress syndrome or PASS.
Living Well Medical Clinic describes PASS by saying, “During the pregnancy process, your body is flooded with hormones that alter your brain chemistry. After receiving an abortion, your brain halts the production of these chemicals, causing a whiplash-like situation that leaves your brain in a state of confusion. The decision to have an abortion is a tremendous decision often surrounded by intense emotions, and these emotions are often handled by everyone differently.”
When we understand how post-abortion stress syndrome works, we are able to comprehend the trauma that women can experience after abortion. PASS can even cause women to suppress their traumatic experiences which can lead to substance abuse, sexual escape, self-harm, and eating disorders. These detrimental coping mechanisms are a result of abortion. As Christians, we can rejoice that the Dobbs decision will help women avoid future trauma. We can rejoice in a Savior who graciously forgives, heals, and cares for each woman.
3. Give thanks because children with disabilities are a gift from God.
The tendency to “choose” a child based on his or her diagnosis or potential “quality of life” is a heartbreaking reality of abortion. Julian Quinones and Arijeta Lajka’s 2017 article revealed that around 67% percent of children with Down syndrome in the United States are aborted. Tragically, some European countries, such as Iceland, have rates above 90%. In Iceland, only one or two children are born each year with Down syndrome due to widespread abortion.
Scripture reveals that a person’s abilities, cognitive function, and physical characteristics do not reduce their value or worth. The Bible goes so far as to tell us that disabilities are no accident. God has a design and purpose for people with disabilities. He loves them and cares for them. He intricately formed them in their mother’s wombs. Their disability is not a result of their sin or their parent’s sin.
In John 9, Jesus’ disciples see a blind man and ask Jesus, “Rabbi who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus responds to this by saying, “It was not that this man sinned or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3).
Shockingly, these children’s lives are taken before they come into the world. We ought to give thanks to God for the ways this decision will protect the lives of children with disabilities.
4. Give thanks because there are churches and ministries that have prepared for this day.
We have a responsibility to humbly and faithfully serve the mothers and children that will be affected by this decision. Today, we give thanks for the churches and ministries that have prepared for this moment. For forty years, Lifeline Children’s Services, the largest Evangelical Christian adoption agency, has been serving women with unplanned pregnancies. Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas, launched an Urgent Care Clinic that is visited by five women with unplanned pregnancies each week. For decades, Joni and Friends, founded by Joni Erickson Tada, has equipped churches to evangelize, disciple, and serve people living with disability. Conferences like Stand for Life unify organizations, leaders, influencers and the public to affirm and protect the dignity of all human life.
We rejoice knowing that these organizations are prepared for the task of caring for women in their communities. The work does not stop with overturning Roe v. Wade. Rather, Christians and pro-life groups who have longed for this day must prepare for this new responsibility. May the gospel shine through us as we sacrificially care for these families and their children.
Cole Shiflet is the content manager at Radical. He and his wife Courtney are members of Redeemer Community Church and he is an M.Div. student at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama.
Courtney Shiflet is an MS Speech-Language Pathology student at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. She is a member of Redeemer Community Church and has extensive experience working with children with disabilities.
