You’ve seen the photos on social media. Sometimes it’s women’s groups holding signs about their reproductive rights; sometimes it’s pro-life extremists showing graphic pictures of aborted babies.
Other signs offer a non-judgmental message of hope pointing people to alternatives besides abortion.
Those of us in pro-life ministry are well aware we’re in a battle zone. For the pro-abortion side, it’s about women’s rights. For us, it’s about the lives of preborn people for whom we advocate.
As we daily open our doors and answer our phones to help distressed women facing unplanned pregnancies, we must proceed with wisdom.
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Using an analogy common to His time, Jesus said it isn’t wise for a king to go to war without first assessing whether or not he has the means to win (Luke 14:31-32).
Teasing out that metaphor a bit further, we can argue that you can’t win a war unless you know something about your enemy—beginning with who that enemy is.
So, who is the enemy of the pro-life movement?
On the surface, we could guess our enemy is the people who fight to keep abortion legal. Or we might guess it’s Planned Parenthood and/or other abortion providers—or even the people who actually perform abortions.
Or is it the boyfriends and parents who pressure girls and women into having abortions?
Wait, let’s take a big step back. Maybe our enemy is those pro-abortion politicians who shouldn’t vote the way they do!
Is our enemy all of the above? Some of them? None?
Take a look at the words of the Apostle Paul:
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." –Ephesians 6:12
Ultimately, our enemy is none of the people mentioned above. It’s not abortion advocates. It’s not abortion providers or performers. It’s not those who pressure women into abortions.
It’s not even pro-abortion politicians.
As we fight to rescue the lives of preborn people, we must constantly keep in mind that no person, regardless of their take on the issue of life, is our enemy.
We fight for people—we don’t fight against them.
Our enemy is not physical, but spiritual.
We understand that a dark and evil spirit whispers in people’s ears, convincing them to devalue human life in the womb. The devil loves to use fear to destroy lives, which is part of his job description.
Jesus said:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” –John 10:10
We have the privilege of holding out hope to people in distress, helping them to take hold of that “life to the full” which Jesus offers.
We are here to help save lives. We are here to help prevent the plundering abortion causes in the lives of women and men upset by an unexpected pregnancy.
The devil not only provokes parents to kill their own children; he also robs them of hope and joy and peace in the process.
So how do we fight our unseen enemy? How do we approach the battle which we face?
Paul informs us further:
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” –Ephesians 6:13-17
We put on the whole armor of God and stand firm. We rely on truth, righteousness, faith and salvation—all given by God—to protect us.
We walk in the gospel of peace. We wield the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, as our weapon.
This weapon will not harm people—but it can surely set them free.
As you quietly and lovingly do battle for the sake of life, remember who your enemy is.
Put your spiritual armor on—and keep loving people.
