Is abortion just another western issue? Truth be said, abortion numbers in India far surpass any other country in the world. Is there a pro-life movement that works to save lives while providing genuine support to women and families? And as the Church, do we have a God-given responsibility?
This is a guest article by Rachel Gaikwad
There’s something profoundly moving in seeing God’s people unite to celebrate the beauty and gift of human life, and stand against the dehumanizing act of abortion1, which not only kills preborn lives but also deeply hurts women and destroys families. I think it is because this is an issue that deeply grieves God’s own heart2, having created man in His image and when His body, the church unites, it is His Spirit powerfully at work in us and through us.
On 10th August, 1971, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) legalised abortion, allowing the killing of innocent lives in our country. Since then, countless children have been brutally murdered3, and families grievously affected. Sadly, we lack good estimates of abortions performed since its legalization in India. Abortion statistics compiled by the government are known to be greatly underestimated. However, according to a recent study in 20154, an estimated 15.6 million abortions took place annually. To make these numbers comprehensible to our human minds, every 2.5 seconds, a baby in the womb is being denied the right to live. By the time you finish reading this article, around 120 children would have received the death sentence. I hope this helps convey the magnitude of this issue!
Although abortion has been legal in India for over fifty years, the Indian pro-life movement is still in its early stages - compared to countries like the United States where well-established pro-life groups are engaged in various areas of pro-life work – ranging from supporting women in crisis pregnancies to working in research, law and public policy. However, a shift is underway in India. God is doing great things for us. He is exposing the truth of abortion – the lives being killed; women and men being deeply hurt5 and families being broken. The pro-life community is growing in India, with Christians from across denominations uniting to be a voice for the voiceless.
What’s brewing on the Pro-life front in India?
Pro-life organisations and ministries have been on the rise in India over the past decade. Trusting God for His providence, Christians across the country are stepping forward to voice this issue and help women. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing this growing community, especially at two national events where the pro-life movement came together.
1. March for Life
In 2022, on the same day abortion was legalised years ago, a group of catholic pro-lifers took a stand against this tragedy by organizing a vocal and visual protest – as they marched for life at Jantar Mantar in the Nation’s capital. Since then, every year this event has continued to grow, with more individuals and organisations gathering to remember the millions of lives violently killed, and to be a voice for them. This year, the March for Life drew an astounding 14,000 passionate pro-lifers, who took to the bustling streets of Thrissur, Kerala, calling the attention of bystanders and exposing the horrors of abortion. This sight of people spreading the message of life is exactly what our country desperately needs more than ever.
2. The National Pro-Life Summit
Over the years, and as this movement has grown in India, there was a growing need to unite and work together, to equip the young pro-life movement in India to prepare and continue the battle. Responding to this, the first National Pro-life Summit met in 2014 to bring together Christians active on this front from across the country. In October of this year, the 9th National Pro-life Summit was hosted in Mumbai, a three-day event organized to encourage and equip, pray and fellowship, and strategize to be a formidable force against abortion in our land. Key topics addressing the sanctity of human life, including IVF and embryo adoption, exploring foster care in India, conducting pro-life seminars, counseling those in a crisis pregnancy, etc. were addressed.
Why is this important?
Some may wonder what impact a march like this, or an annual pro-life summit, can truly have. Such events serve two crucial purposes: (i) they create an opportunity for dialogue on abortion, a topic often overlooked, despite how prevalent it is and the devastation it causes, and (ii) they showcase the incredible potential of the pro-life movement when Christ followers unite and stand against the "Molech" of our times.
But I also believe it serves another important purpose. Working in the pro-life movement can feel isolating, and the journey is often tough. It can feel like being a lone soldier on the field. In 1 Kings 19, even after witnessing God’s amazing power on Mount Carmel, Elijah, in fear, fled into the wilderness and wandered there, thinking his ministry was a failure, and believing he was the only righteous one in all of Israel. But God graciously revealed that he was not alone - 7000 others remained faithful and had not bowed to Baal.
Gatherings like these also serve as a reminder that we are not alone on the battlefield, but are part of a larger community. God has preserved His remnant, like the 7000 during Elijah’s time, who have refused to bow to the culture of death or remain silent on this issue. In fact, He not only preserves but recruits many more into His battalion.
God hates child sacrifice, and that is why He hates abortion
The Christian’s call
Francis Schaeffer said, “Merely to say you must not have an abortion without being ready to involve yourself in the problem is another way of being inhuman.” Pretty strong words! But they echo with what God’s word commands us as well (Proverbs 24:11-12, Jeremiah 22:3). God not only commands us to defend life, but also warns us of His judgment against apathy and complacency in the face of injustice.
God hates child sacrifice (Leviticus 18:21), and that is why He hates abortion6. None of our hearts can ache as deeply as His over the extent of loss of innocent unborn lives. While the evil of abortion is deep rooted and huge, isn’t the God we serve far greater? Our numbers may be small, and our resources limited, but if we believe in the God of the Bible, we should know that battles were never won by kings or rulers or earthly powers. Victory belongs to the Lord. It was always God’s power on display. We are but His sheep. He calls us to faithful obedience. He calls us to be the salt and light in this world. He commands us, not to be conformed to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed into the image of Christ and fulfill His Great Commission. Those of us on the battlefield are indeed on the mission field—the Gospel is the answer to the tragedy of abortion.
Knowing God’s heart on this issue, can we as His children stay silent? Let’s pay heed to God’s call, lest we be judged for being mere onlookers of this massive massacre.
“The Church of Jesus Christ should lead the way in proclaiming this vital truth about the inherent value of all human beings. As the Church, we cannot outsource this responsibility. For, we have the life-changing message that God the Son became an embryo in a virgin’s womb and grew into a man who lived a righteous life, died on the cross, and rose again to save His people. We have the mission given by Jesus to make disciples of all people groups, baptizing and teaching them what Jesus has taught, which includes the message that every human being, regardless of age, has a life worth living. And we have the community—we actually are the community—of the redeemed, who love, serve, and welcome all made in God’s image.” - Pastor Tom Strode
Join the movement for Life in India! Come and be a part of the National Pro-life Summit and the March for Life.
Endnotes
- What is Abortion? (n.d.). Abortion Procedures. https://www.abortionprocedures.com/
- Jones, M. (2024, November 22). God was placed in a womb. Desiring God. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/god-was-placed-in-a-womb
- PassionLife. (2024, April 3). Does God see abortion as murder? | The PassionLife Podcast | Mark Nicholson [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ydE0LxmM7Y
- Singh, S. et. al (2018). The incidence of abortion and unintended pregnancy in India, 2015. The Lancet Global Health, 6(1), e111–e120. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2214-109x(17)30453-9
- Creekmore, H. (2024, May 31). NBC Show Says Abortion is a Profoundly Personal Decision. Is it? Care Net. https://care-net.org/abundant-life-blog/nbc-show-claims-abortion-is-a-profoundly-personal-decision-is-it/
- PassionLife. (2024b, May 8). Is abortion child sacrifice? | The PassionLife Podcast | Mark Nicholson [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwOZqwGcJzU
Rachel Gaikwad resides in Pune and fellowships at Disciples Community Church. She works at Life for All, a pro-life organization in India, and is passionate about serving women facing crisis pregnancies and guiding young women on matters of sexual integrity.
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