This week will be a little bit of a break from Greater Purpose. We had an individual give his testimony last week (shout out to Chad Hayes, because I don't think I could've made it through the message I had planned with my allergies as bad as they were). That being said, this week's article will be about a hot button topic in the headlines, especially with recent bills being submitted in the Alabama House of Representatives. That topic is abortion.

The recent debate brought to mind a controversial movie I recently saw in theaters, called Unplanned. The movie is about a woman, Abby Johnson (pictured in the article's title picture), who worked at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas, and after witnessing an abortion (which those over a clinic rarely do), she becomes distraught and joins the Pro-Life movement.

The movie shows the abortion happen, with the baby being suctioned from the womb. The movie also depicts a young woman, who is the daughter of a friend of Abby, experiencing blood loss from abortion when her uterus is perforated as a result of the procedure.

The movie is based on a true story, the true account of Abby Johnson, and is also a novel. One reason why many people have been extremely critical is not because of how it depicts abortion, but whether the story is actually true, or more of a case of a disgruntled worker firing back against an organization. Many people who are Pro-Life and have seen the movie believe those thinking the story is fake are those in favor of abortion and don't want the truth of what happens behind the closed doors of Planned Parenthood clinics to come out.

Here's what I believe. I believe this is a true account because I feel that one wouldn't go through the process of bringing up memories of a gruesome event if it didn't happen. Here's why I believe this: the youth leader I intern under when I'm home, Shane Williams, is also a homicide detective in Jefferson County. It's his job to recount gruesome details of investigations he has conducted to a court. While one may not necessarily want to recount or remember every gruesome detail, especially in car accidents, murder scenes, or other traumatic situations, my belief is that sometimes, in situations like Abby's, these memories haunt them.

While working at the clinic, Abby was supportive of abortions, not because she thought it was murder or any other reason, but because some of the patients she saw were young, and they felt they could not support the child. As her story progresses, however, we see her encourage a young lady not to go through with an abortion because of the side issues that could occur as a result of the abortion, which she saw first hand during the abortion she took part in, as well as her friend's daughter's situation, as I mentioned earlier.

In my Apologetics Study Bible, there is an insert titled "What Does the Bible Say about Abortion?" In this article, written by Nigel Cameron, it says that in a concordance, one may not find abortion, and may come to the conclusion that Scripture is silent about the subject; people may come to the conclusion that we are free to do as we please because of this. He says that the biblical foundations of a comprehensive prohibition on abortion lie in the doctrines of creation and incarnation. The entire read is informative and goes in-depth about these doctrines. I would encourage readers to see if they can find the insert online or research what other Christian apologists or scholars have to say about the issue of abortion.

Here is my stance on abortion. When conception occurs, human life is made. Psalm 139:15 says, "My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret when I was formed in the depths of the earth (CSB)." What this means is, from the moment a child is conceived in secret, that child is a living being. That same Psalm says in verse 13, "For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb (CSB)." When we are conceived, we are being molded into the person God has made us to be. He is forming us and molding us for the purpose He has for us.

My belief is that when an abortion occurs, that child cannot fulfill the purpose God called for it to fulfill. I firmly believe that there would be people I brought to Christ that might still be lost had I been aborted. That's not saying yay me; that's saying that God has a purpose for each of us, regardless of who we are and what we've done.

That's not saying that those who have abortions are eternally condemned either. In Abby's story, the guilt of having and overseeing abortions weighed on her, and as a result, she felt the need to repent. Like every other sin, abortion can be forgiven through the repentance and the forgiveness Jesus displayed for us on the cross. I believe there is only one unforgivable sin, and that is flat out denying God exists.

I want to make one thing clear, as I close. I do not write this article to condemn or throw stones at those who have had an abortion. I don't write this to throw stones at those considering one. I write this article to share my beliefs that, through Christ, God calls us to Him, regardless of what we have done. I personally do not believe in abortion, except for in the case of rape, incest, or potential health effects to the baby or mother, but it's not my say in what happens. It's not my place to condemn, judge, or throw stones. It is, however, my place to share God's love with all people I come in contact with.

We are called to love as Jesus loves, without looking at anyone's faults or decisions or mistakes. We may not agree with everyone's beliefs or share common ideologies, but the world would be a significantly better place if we chose to love all people, regardless of what they have done.