For the next few days and posts, I am going to put out here some thoughts on life after the Dobbs Supreme Court decision. Not political thoughts, but what this means for us as the church.
First, Dobbs is a step, not a victory. There is still much work to be done. The Law constrains behaviour but it cannot change hearts. We need to continue to proclaim the Gospel that each and every life is a life for whom Jesus died and who God loves dearly, whether that life is in the womb or in a nursing home, whether than life is a man or a woman, whether than life came about in loving ways or not.
Dobbs returned the abortion debate to the states, which means that Christians in each state now need to step up their games on a state level. For the past 50 years the March for Life in Washington was a big deal every year. Now, a March for Life in each state will be more important. These are harder to get folks to come out for, but we need to put in the effort. The national political parties know that a local ground game is important in elections; we need to know that, too.
Here in Northern Virginia, our local Lutherans for Life chapter is small. Good folks, but we've had trouble getting traction with many people and churches. We need to keep pushing on and proclaiming the Gospel of life. Many people think abortion and other life issues are political issues and so don't want to go near them. They are political. No denying that. But they are also theological. And we need to proclaim the truth of God's Word no matter what. No obnoxiously, but with clarity and charity, consistently and courageously. And trust the Word to do its work.
