Charles McCarry wrote several books, served as assistant to the Secretary of Labor in the Eisenhower cabinet, and did two stints in the CIA. What makes him remarkable? He almost wasn’t born.
McCarry said, “My mother became pregnant with me at the age of 39. She had nearly died while giving birth to my only sibling. Her doctor, who believed the second pregnancy was a serious threat to her life, advised an abortion. The advice made sense, but my mother refused to accept it. Just before she died at age 97, I asked her why. She replied, “I wanted to see who you were going to turn out to be.” (Source: Reader’s Digest, February 1990)
Why is our nation so often swift to suggest or even defend taking the life of an unborn defenseless child in the mother’s womb? Did you know…
About 1.14 million abortions occurred in the USA in 2024. This is the highest total in recent years. In fact, monthly averages climbed to 95,000 abortions per month! (Source: Society of Family Planning: #WeCount report, April 2022 to December 2024)
Data from the Society of Family Planning’s #WeCount project found 591,770 abortions in the first half of 2025 were performed. This overall trend suggests the annual total may be similar to or slightly above 2024. (Source: Abortion Trends Before and After Dobbs | KFF)
To help us understand the immensity of “legal baby killings,” consider these comparisons:
1. Roughly 20 to 25,000 people died via homicide in the USA in 2023
2. 620,000 people died from cancer in the USA in 2024
3. 80,391 drug overdose deaths occurred in the USA in 2024
4. 407,316 soldiers died during WWII
5. 1.14 million babies died via abortion in 2024…and this is a statistic for just ONE YEAR!
(Sources: NCHS Provisional Report on U.S. Mortality for 2024 | Blogs | CDC; U.S. Overdose Deaths Decrease Almost 27% in 2024 | NCHS Pressroom | CDC; NCHS Provisional Report on U.S. Mortality for 2024 | Blogs | CDC; August 2025: The End of World War II)
Why is abortion so heavily pursued by so many? What are the 7 top reasons given for an abortion? These statistics are per: Abortion in the United States and the World | PRB; Reasons U.S. Women Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives | Guttmacher Institute;
1. 25% say they are not ready for a baby, or it is bad timing
2. 23% say they cannot afford a baby
3. 19% say they already have children and cannot take on more
4. 8% say they have partner related issues (lack of support, single mom)
5. 7% say they are emotionally unprepared/not mature enough
6. 6% say they have health concerns (for the mother and/or the baby)
7. Less than 1% point to rape as the reason for an abortion
I want to say this kindly, but firmly. Protecting life in the womb, loving the disabled, honoring and protecting the elderly were all Biblical issues well before they ever became political ones! Sadly, these issues have become hot topics in the modern-day church, and too many preachers refuse to preach on these Bible passages and make these applications — for fear of losing church members. Pastors will preach on lying, stealing, bitterness, and forgiveness when people in the congregation have no doubt lied, stolen, embraced bitterness, and refused forgiveness. Since when do we avoid scripture to keep church members attending… when those same church members claim to believe the Bible?
The believer must honor and protect all human life!
What is God’s view of His creation – even the “unwanted” lives – according to Psalm 139?
GOD KNOWS HIS CREATION INTIMATELY
Psalm 139:13
God knows us all fully, even before our birth!
I remember when my wife and I were expecting our children. Each doctor’s appointment was full of excitement and anticipation. The “What to Expect When You Are Expecting” book guided us through the development of our little baby. We started thinking about names for both genders and prayed for this sweet baby in the womb. We were excited, scared, and hopeful all at the same time! We loved our sweet little baby before it was even born!
Even more than the parent, God loves each new life. Every life is precious to Him. It is known and cared for by God.
GOD FORMED HIS CREATION PURPOSELY
Psalm 139:14-15
God designs every person intentionally. Each fingerprint, personality trait, and gift is by His hand.
Consider an artist creating a masterpiece. Every stroke of the brush matters, and so it is with God. Every stroke of His brush across our life is done with great care to craft His creation!
No life is accidental or unimportant! Every person has a divine imprint and is created in the image of God. All of humanity has worth in God’s eyes!
GOD HAS A PLAN FOR HIS CREATION
Psalm 139:16
God’s plan for our lives begins even before birth! God spoke of His plan to the parents of Samson (Jdg. 13:3-5), John the Baptist (Lk. 1:13-17), and Jesus (Lk. 1:30-33) before they were born…and He has a plan for each of us as well!
Did you know that Tim Tebow’s missionary parents were advised by doctors to have an abortion?! The doctors believed their baby boy had serious health problems and complications. They even went as far as to say the fetus wasn’t viable and they referred to the fetus as a “tumor!” Of course, we know Tim Tebow grew to be a man much stronger, more athletic, and more gifted than the average human being! He even won the Heisman Trophy in college and went on to play for a short time in the NFL. The Lord now uses him and his wife to run the Tim Tebow Foundation, a nonprofit organization that is deeply interested in helping vulnerable children, people with special needs, and victims of human trafficking and exploitation. (Source: Tim Tebow would rather be known for saving 'a lot of babies' than 'winning the Super Bowl' | FOX 7 Austin)
Abortion (killing unborn children) (side note: there are too many pro-choice advocates have never seen an abortion video and are shocked when they do), neglect of human life (young or old), or even devaluing life boldly contradicts God’s intention and design for His creation.
GOD CALLS US TO HONOR AND PROTECT LIFE
8 Ways to Honor and Protect Life
1. Uphold life from conception (Ps. 139:13-16). Support mothers in crisis pregnancies, mentor young families, pray for the unborn.
2. Care for children and teens (Matthew 19:14). Volunteer with children’s ministries, mentor teenagers, advocate for the safety of children.
3. Care for the sick, disabled, and vulnerable (James 1:27). Visit the sick. Help the disabled. Be a part of welcoming the sick, disabled, and vulnerable into the church and into your friend group.
4. Speak up and stand for life (Proverbs 31:8-9). Vote for prolife candidates, support prolife legislation, volunteer at the First Choice Pregnancy Center here in Marshfield, and kindly teach others the truth about children in the womb.
5. Prayerfully consider foster care and adoption (Romans 12:13). Become a foster parent or adopt a child. Choose to mentor foster kids. Donate to adoption ministries or to friends trying to adopt.
6. Care for the Older Generation (Leviticus 19:32). Visit nursing homes and shut-ins among the church family. Assist older neighbors and speak up if elder neglect is witnessed.
7. Embrace the family unit. Protect it.
8. Pray for protection of children.
Every life you encounter reflects the hand of God. Will you honor that?