by Matthew C. Harrison
The word “conscience” appears hundreds of times in our Lutheran Confessions. The central issue for the Reformation was the assurance of the forgiveness of sins for those dealing with guilt. The word “conscience” appears 27 times in the New Testament. It hardly appears in the Old Testament at all. In Scripture, internal belief and external actions are understood as either in concert with the Word of God or not. Genesis 42 notes that Jacob’s sons were ashamed of what they had done to their brother Joseph. Their bad conscience was simply the result of thoughts and acts that violated God’s will.
Paul used the term “conscience” when teaching the Romans about the natural knowledge of God: “They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them” (Rom. 2:15). Those who don’t know Christ still have a moral compass of sorts, a conscience. In fact, it’s implanted in every human by God. You don’t need to be a Christian to know that murder is wrong — but it definitely helps, and certainly does in the case of abortion.
I’m told that one in four women in America have had an abortion. Beyond the decision of a single woman, there is plenty of guilt to go around. The state that allows it is guilty. The men who’ve acted to bring it about are guilty. Parents who pressured for it are guilty. In many cases, loved ones, relatives, churches, communities have failed to invite life as a better outcome. But the weight of all this guilt and shame almost always lands most heavily upon the expectant mother.
At the time Roe v. Wade was decided (1973), many states that now radically advocate for abortion (like Illinois) passed legislation that would revert the state back to pro-life positions should Roe be reversed. That has now happened — but such legislation was itself summarily aborted. In the over 50 years of legalized abortion in this nation, tens of millions of consciences have been damaged severely. Women (and men, to be sure) bear lifelong burdens of guilt. But the burden to a mother’s conscience for ending her child’s life is unparalleled. It’s the most unnatural act imaginable. Most suffer in silence. Many try to shout down what they know in their hearts to be absolutely the truth.
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you” (Isaiah 49:15).
Many women who were forced or led into taking the life of their child (and those who participated in this act) are in the church. This is as it should be. “Christ dwells only in sinners,” Luther told his despairing buddy George Spenlein. He also told George Spalatin that Christ is not a “painted Savior” on a watercolor cross who shed fake blood for “painted sinners.” No, He’s a real Savior for real hard-boiled sinners who have really failed.
When our conscience accuses us, we naturally ignore it or try to shout it down. The louder the voices for abortion get and the more I hear the misleading and false arguments,[1] the more I look with compassion upon those screaming “my body, my choice,” and say with Jesus, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). I see people hurting, with damaged consciences, desperately seeking justification of their actions. I know my sins. I often respond the same way — with self-justification and a demand that the world see things my way.
Christ invites us on the path to a clear conscience. A clear conscience is not a sinless conscience. A clear conscience recognizes the truth of God’s Word. The Word of God became flesh, sanctifying and redeeming every stage of life from conception to death. He was a child recognized by His mother Mary, her cousin Elizabeth and the unborn John the Baptizer, all while He (Jesus) was still in the womb.
I tell you, in the strong name of Jesus, your sins are forgiven. Don’t shout down your conscience or the Word of God. Christ is for you! Christ is always for sinners. Christ has paid your price. “The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). The blood of Jesus is infinitely more powerful than your sins and the sins of the whole world. You are baptized. And I tell you the truth: “Baptism … now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience” (1 Peter 3:21). Repentance and forgiveness equal a good conscience. And more than that, God promises to work all things for good, even the most horrible human mistakes, sins and sorrows. That includes the life lost. My sainted seminary professor and president, Robert D. Preus, believed that aborted babies are in heaven. He said, “While God binds us to the Means of Grace, He doesn’t necessarily bind Himself to the Means of Grace.”
Surely He has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed Him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced for our transgressions;
He was crushed for our iniquities;
Upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with His wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned — every one — to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him
the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4–6)
Be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven. And that’s worth shouting about.
–President Matthew C. Harrison
[1] Including the claim levied at Christians: “You only care about children in the womb, not after they’re born.” Fact: The LCMS has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in human aid, and continues to provide millions in matching grants for crisis pregnancy centers, care for mothers and children, adoption services and much more.
Photo: LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford
