By YWA Ambassador Sarah Prentice, State University of New York Brockport
In American politics today, one of the most hot-button and contentious issues is abortion. Whether one is pro-choice or pro-life, a discussion about this topic is sure to ruffle everyone’s feathers. It can even be divisive among the Christian community.
According to Pew Research Center, approximately three-quarters (74%) of white evangelical Protestants think abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. However, 60% of white non-evangelical Protestants believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, as do 56% of Catholics, and 66% of black Protestants.
As an unapologetically pro-life and Bible-believing Christian in America today, I believe that 100% of Christians, regardless of race, gender, or church denomination, should not support abortion in any way.
However, in a world of cancel culture and ever-growing political polarization, being boldly pro-life can bring severe opposition. As a college student on an extremely secular campus, I have experienced the social backlash that comes with being pro-life. I have lost friends, potential relationships, and have been name-called, ridiculed, and excluded.
I’ve seen Planned Parenthood table at the school “health” fair. I’ve had people comment on my Instagram stories and tell me I’m “evil” for being pro-life. Once, I had a conversation with a pro-choice student where I shared the Gospel and the pro-life stance. It was one of the most spiritually draining conversations I’ve ever had with someone. She ended up getting visibly angry with me and said, “I know it’s killing a life, and I just don’t care!” I immediately wanted to burst into tears because my heart was in agony over the girl’s lost condition and for all the sweet, innocent lives that are taken every day because of a mentality like hers.
Perhaps the most difficult experience I’ve encountered because of my pro-life views was losing one of my closest friends. This friend would come with me to church every Sunday, and we attended Bible study together. I attended the service where she prayed with the pastor to accept Christ. However, she continued to cling dearly to her worldly lifestyle.
One day we were having lunch together, and the topic of abortion emerged. My friend mentioned she was pro-choice. I shared with her that as Christians, we should stand for the dignity and value of the unborn, as God knit each of us together in our mother’s womb. I lovingly and kindly shared the truth about abortion using Bible verses and the tragedies of the abortion industry. Without any change in emotion or demeanor, she bluntly said, “Well, it still deserves to be the woman’s choice.”
My heart sank. How could someone who had supposedly placed their faith in Christ not change their mind after learning what God’s Word had to say about abortion? I started praying daily that she would come to the Lord in fullness and in truth.
However, a few weeks later, she posted her pro-choice opinions on Instagram. Our pastor’s wife lovingly approached her about the Biblical view on abortion, but my friend still disagreed. She was offended that I didn’t take her side, and since then, our friendship grew more tense until it ended.
I have yet to discover someone at my college with whom I can develop a deep and faith-centered relationship. I have like-minded friends and acquaintances through my chapter of Turning Point USA, but I’m currently the only girl, and it can get lonely at times. My heart longs for the fellowship of like-minded girls my age with whom I can grow in Christ and boldly stand up for life. I am grateful for the community of like-minded girls around the country that I’ve met through YWA.
I know confidently that God will use this experience for His glory and for my sanctification. It has forced me to cling closer and tighter to Christ, as I know that I can find friendship and acceptance in Him when I cannot find it in the world.
Jesus once comforted his disciples by saying, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). Jesus can provide comfort to any Christian with these words today, too.
I find comfort in the Word of God, knowing that I have been adopted into the family of God through my faith in Christ (Galatians 4:5, Ephesians 1:5). Even when the world and my own heart fail me, I can take my burdens to Jesus, confident He will provide me with strength to endure times of hardship (Psalm 73:26, Philippians 4:13). Even when I cannot have fellowship with others the way I desire, I know that I have eternal fellowship with my Lord Christ Jesus, and that is far better.
Our secular society may ridicule me for being unapologetically pro-life, but my relationship with Jesus is worth infinitely more to me than what society says about me. For this, I will continue to trust God and follow His will as I am “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
Jesus will come back again, and when He does, the world will be rid of all evil, and those who have placed their faith in Christ will have physical fellowship with God for all of eternity. When all else fails, this is the hope that never ceases to motivate me to continue standing up for my Christian values on my college campus.