The Reversal of Roe v. Wade and What It Means for American Evangelicals

I grew up in the aftermath of Roe v. Wade. For my entire life, abortion was legalized, accepted and hailed as the right of all women. And I was part of a sub-culture that fought, hoped, and prayed to end it. 49 years after the landmark decision, those hopes and prayers were answered on Friday, November 24th. But when I heard of the Supreme Court’s official ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, I didn’t feel relief and joy but a distinct sense of dread.
Let me make one thing clear, I believe that a human fetus is a human life and that it must be protected. So while I see the importance of having laws in place to protect these unborn lives, I also recognize that there is more at stake here. Consider another recent ruling.
When evangelicals lost the “culture war” on gay marriage in 2015, several things happened. Same-sex marriages (at least legal ones) became a lot more common. Legislation began to be passed that guaranteed additional rights and protections for LGBTQ+ Americans. These were controversial but certainly not all bad. In addition, there were many on the side of defending traditional marriage who eventually changed their views to align with the prevailing culture.1
But those who remained did not simply tuck their tails and turn away. In fact, non-affirming evangelicals in some ways were strengthened by the new “underdog” status. There was less pretense about what we stood for, and no one sided with us for popularity’s sake. There was an opportunity to be bolder about our beliefs and stop hiding behind arguments2 about the effect on families or society and focus on displaying our unique calling as Christians to live lives that are set apart. At the same time, there was a sense of humility in recognizing ourselves as the odd ones out.
Evangelicals no longer have underdog status when it comes to abortion. And with the right to an abortion no longer a guarantee, and states quickly adopting legislation to restrict such abortions, we are about to see what the opposing side will do to hold onto that right. There’s a fight coming.
This brings me to the dread I felt when the Supreme Court handed down its decision. I fear for how the church will respond to the rage of millions in the pro-choice camp. I fear for what we will do with our newfound victory. Will we show love to those have had abortions, are considering one, or would have one, given the right circumstances? Will we actively work to ensure that every child that is born into this world has a safe and nurturing home in which to grow? Or will we just walk away with smug grins, proud to finally have our opinion legitimized. If we truly care about the lives of every child, we have a lot more work to do, and I will be the first to own up to my hypocrisy in failing to fight for those lives in jeopardy.
Please hear me when I say, I am grateful for what this decision could mean. And I hope that many lives will be saved because of regulations resulting from it. But I also hope that the church will continue to listen to those who do not yet see it that way and refrain from anger or judgment. Because our hope for society is not in defending an ideology but in Christ claiming his rightful place. I hope we will remember, until he does so, to let truth and love be our guides as we live our lives as ambassadors for Christ in a secular world.
1. I remember at one time “liking” a Facebook page dedicated to defending marriage as “one man, one woman,” only to later happening to visit the page and discovering, to my chagrin, that the owner had edited the description to reflect his intent to support “marriage equality.” Sadly, many evangelical thinkers and influencers have had similar changes of heart. See two articles from 2015 documenting the shift: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/10/the-man-who-dismantled-the-ex-gay-ministry/408970/
2. Recently, I have seen similar arguments, on social media and otherwise, presented in response to the push for trans rights. For example, the effect on women’s sports, opportunities for sexual predators in opposite-gender restrooms and changing rooms, etc. While I agree with some of these points, the primary reasons I do not support expanded rights for the trans community are religious rather than political in nature.