The Deplorable & The Gospel

Seattle-based radio talk show host, Jason Rantz sat down with Terry O’Neill, President of the National Organization for Women (NOW), on August 1^st and was stunned by what he heard. Rantz asked O’Neill if she would still support abortion if science proved that life began at conception.

A Deplorable Admission

Her response:

I don’t care. Of course, I would support abortion. I fell in love with my four-cell stage (child) and that wasn’t even pregnancy. That was before pregnancy began. And that was potential life … I understand the concept of potential life. I’m in favor of it. What I’m not in favor of is women dying because adequate reproductive healthcare is withheld from them on religious grounds. That is not pro-life.

Rantz seemed perplexed and asked for clarification:

Clear something up for me, because if I hear your answer correctly, it seems very extreme. Take religion out of it, and we have shown through science that life begins the moment that a fetus is created. This is not the potential for life — that is life. You are saying that you do support abortion. Isn’t that the textbook definition of murder in that case?

O’Neill responded, “Take religion out of it and we are not even having this conversation…”

This exchange is haunting. Even for most who hold pro-choice convictions, O’Neill’s assertions are deplorable, unacceptable and obnoxious. Not to mention, evil. Terry O’Neill, for clarification sake, supports the murder of human beings as long as they are in the womb. She doesn’t even feel the need to quibble, as many do, with the questions of when life begins—with when a fetus becomes a baby. No, for her, if the human being is in a womb, it can be murdered. Wow!

A Biblical Answer

From a biblical worldview, it is simple to argue why O’Neill’s assessment is incorrect. After all, the vast majority of non-Christians, with a non-biblical worldview, would argue unwaveringly against her wicked stance. This exchange does, however, illustrate the truth that the Apostle Paul taught in Romans 1:19-20.

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

This is the very reason why Rantz was so astonished by her answer. This is why Rantz had to ask a clarifying question. This is why Rantz said, “Isn’t that the textbook definition of murder in that case?” God has clearly shown Himself to all creation. All, whether Christian or not, have perceived the invisible attributes of God. All have been made in His image (Genesis 1:26-27) and therefore were born with a sense of moral understanding and a desire for justice. This is what makes her stance so scandalous. No matter race, gender, religion or political leaning, her words are disgusting to nearly everyone.

The only explanation for her words is Paul’s next statement:

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. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things (Romans 1:21-22).

A Gospel Reminder

It’s not hard to see Terry O’Neill in these verses. Her stance is so outrageous that vilifying her is easy. But Let’s be careful. Don’t misunderstand, there is absolutely nothing wrong with calling her wicked views, wicked, but let’s be very careful that we don’t sprint past the mirror so fast that we don’t catch a glimpse of ourselves.

Paul made avoiding the mirror impossible. Later in his argument he says:

None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one (Romans 3:9b-11).

We are a part of the “no one.” From a righteousness perspective, we are no different than O’Neill. Not one of us does good, or understands, or seeks God. We all deserve the wrath of God as much as those who kill and approve of the killing of children. The difference for the child of God is that they have been given Jesus’ righteous. He has exchanged our sin for His perfection. Now when the Father sees us, He sees His Son’s righteousness. If it weren’t for the cross of Jesus we would be seen for what we truly are—wicked.

So, we thank Jesus for the cross. We pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to draw those who suppress the truth to Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins as we have been drawn to Him for ours. We keep fighting for the unborn. And we remember the gospel always.