The people have given a clear mandate to government to proceed with the legislation to introduce termination of pregnancy to Ireland. So away with the badges and down with the posters! We are now entering a new landscape where the majority of people believe that a woman has a right to an abortion on demand.
This right is part of the new moral authority. I was reminded this week that it includes Gay rights. We added Same Sex Marriage and now Abortion. For some these have been introduced at a snail’s pace; for others the pace has been breath-taking. Have we reached the end of the line? Not at all! This century has seen the removal of so many ethical boundaries that there must be a temptation to remove the lot!
Perhaps on this day of jubilation for women, who see their quest granted for control of the unborn in the womb, we might spare a thought for the child. The weakest in society always have difficulty being heard but were given a voice in this campaign. Unfortunately, it was not amplified by the media although there was some attempt at even-handedness.
The government have said that they want to see abortion become “rare”. This laudable desire has not yet happened in the Western world but they are to be commended on their wish. They must have faith in women not having so many crisis pregnancies in the future.
This is a possibility as we now have a pill for everything except salvation!
Some have recognised that the inclination of every sinful human heart is to find its security and salvation in something apart from Christ. If only pills, therapy, or a surgical procedure could fix our problems then we would not have to deal with the reality of our sins. Our tendency is to try everything else rather that trusting Christ. He said “I am the way, the truth, and the life no man comes to the Father but by me” (St John Chapter 14 verse 6).
He accomplished on the cross the salvation so many are looking for today. It offers that peace of mind which comes from the forgiveness of sins and the promise of his presence in the life surrendered to him. As the Rev. Jonathan Edwards reminded us that, “You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.”
This is not a call to be more moral. I am not saying that by the right behaviour you can be saved. Salvation is the gift of a gracious God to the repentant person (Ephesians Chapter 2 verses 8/10). Behavioural changes flow to those who receive the gift.
In the light of this enormous truth, whether or not the result of the Referendum makes you happy or sad pales into insignificance.