Dear friend,
Talking to our children about heavy topics can be difficult.
When it comes to topics like abortion, it can feel overwhelming. As parents, we see the web of issues surrounding abortion — sexuality, life and death, faith, freedom, law, legislation, politics — and wonder, how on earth can I help my children understand what abortion is, and why we fight against it, in an age-appropriate way?
As Christian parents, it’s our job to teach our children HOW to think about important things, not just what to think. They need to know why they believe the things they do, and God has given us the beautiful opportunity as parents to help them shape their worldviews according to what the Word of God says.
So how can we do that?
Instead of approaching the issue of abortion as one big, heavy, sit-down conversation, this topic (and others like it) should be things we talk about little by little from a biblical perspective, starting when they’re young.
It’s important that our children understand that life is a gift from God, and all people are made in His image.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:27
While our small children may not need all the gruesome details of how babies are ripped apart and slaughtered in the womb, it’s important that we’re open with our children about what God says about human life.
From the very first page of Scripture, we know that God created humans in His image. When we help our children to understand this, we’re giving them a foundational understanding of why defending people’s lives, inside or outside of the womb, is so important to God. All lives are precious to God because He created us, on purpose, to reflect Him.
Not only are we made in God’s image, but He knits us together in our mother’s womb.
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” – Psalm 139:13-14
Just as it’s important that we teach our children in a broad sense that all people are made in the image of God, it’s equally important that we break that down for them. This is a wonderful opportunity to show them the stages of growth and development in the womb, and how incredible it is that God intricately weaves together human life.
By both telling AND showing our children how life grows and forms even when we can’t see it with our eyes, we’re cementing for them that no matter how small babies are, no matter if they’re inside the womb or outside, they are fearfully and wonderfully made by God.
But in our world, people are by nature selfish and sinful, and are going to do things that go against what God says is right.
“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” – Romans 1:21
While abortion is a black-and-white issue — murder is wrong and we can never make excuses for it — it’s important to help our children understand that people commit evil acts because their hearts have been darkened by sin.
We all need Jesus to save and change us, because without Him, we are lost and will continue to do wrong. With that understanding, children can grasp that sometimes people are selfish and don’t want to have a baby that God is creating inside of them. We should help them to understand that without God, people do things that are very wrong because of sin, and sometimes people even take the lives of their own babies.
But the conversation shouldn’t end there.
It’s our responsibility to stand up for the lives of people God has made.
“Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” – Psalm 82:4
Injustice exists in the world. Evil exists. Oppression exists. But Scripture calls us to defend the lives of those who cannot defend themselves and to deliver the innocent from evil hands.
While legislation doesn’t have the power to change hearts — only God can do that — it absolutely has the power to save lives. We need to show our children why it’s important that we take action to defend the lives of preborn babies.
By giving our children a biblical perspective of what human life is and why it’s important to God, we’re setting them up to understand that life is GOOD because God has made it, and therefore, we have the opportunity and the privilege to fight against this tragedy by fighting for the rights of babies to live.
To see me answer the question, “If you were talking to your 10-year-old child how would you instruct them in regards to outlawing abortion?” – click here.
I hope that you are a model for your children in how they can get involved.
You know already that everything we do at Abolish Abortion Texas is made possible because people like you are fighting alongside us. And right now, you have the unique ability to show your children what taking action looks like.
First, you can show them that their voice matters by asking friends to sign this petition to outlaw abortion in the state of Texas. Obviously, if you have not yet signed it, please do so!
Secondly, you can involve your children in asking others to join the fight. I can’t tell you how much my children love helping to save babies. Getting them active here enables them to see firsthand the impact that even small statements make — and understand that we can ALL fight for life.
Finally, if you want to take it a step further, prayerfully consider donating to Abolish Abortion Texas as you are led, and you can show your children that giving really does make a difference in saving lives.
As parents, God has given us the wonderful responsibility of guiding our children to understand the world from a biblical perspective. As we lay the groundwork for these important conversations, we’re giving them the tools to fight for life in their own generation. What a privilege.
For life,
Bradley Pierce
Executive Director
Abolish Abortion Texas
P.S. Talking about abortion with our children doesn’t have to be intimidating. By helping them to understand that life is a gift from God and He knits us together in our mother’s womb, we’re able to show them why it’s important that we fight for life. And by teaching them that people are by nature sinful and commit evil acts apart from God, we can help them realize that it’s our responsibility as people who understand the truth to defend the lives of those who cannot defend themselves as we preach salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Not only that, but we can also show our children how to get involved by asking friends to sign this petition and, as the Lord leads, givingtogether toward Abolish Abortion Texas’ efforts to save innocent lives.