Alyssa Milano
has made headlines often in recent years for her advocacy of abortion,
the #MeToo movement, and various political candidates. Now she has
revealed on her podcast that she had two abortions in 1993.
She
says she was in a serious relationship and was using birth control both
times she became pregnant. She looks back on her decisions without
regret: “I would not have my children . . . I would not have my career. I
would not have the ability or platform I use to fight against
oppression with all my heart. I would never have met my amazing
husband.”
In short, Milano knew “she was not ready to be a parent” as she pursued her career. Of course, the Bible says that she became a parent the moment she became pregnant (cf. Psalm 139:13). And that her career came at the cost of her first two children.
Why is George Clooney selling coffee makers?
Our culture has forced me to write often on abortion over the years. (For my in-depth article on the subject, see my “ Abortion and the mercy of God.”) Today’s news, however, leads me to make two points I’ve not discussed with you in the past.
First, pro-life supporters must beware the rising tide of celebrity abortion endorsements.
It
is obvious in our culture that celebrity sells. Michael Jordan sold
basketball shoes and underwear; George Clooney is making TV ads for a
coffee maker. There was a day when voice-overs on TV ads were anonymous;
today, you can identify nearly every movie star voicing every
commercial.
This
strategy is called “celebrity branding” and has roots going back to
royal endorsements for pottery and chinaware in the 1760s. Advertisers
hope the popularity wielded by celebrities will transfer to their
product or idea.
Selena Gomez, a former Disney Channel actress and singer, recently donned a “1973” necklace to commemorate Roe v. Wade. Ariana Grande very publicly donated the proceeds from her June 8 concert in Atlanta to Planned Parenthood.
Did you know Jack Nicholson is opposed to abortion?
To show how one-sided media coverage on this subject is, consider the following counterexamples.
Jack
Nicholson is against abortion. He explains that when his mother was
pregnant with him, she was encouraged to get an abortion but refused.
Celine
Dion is pro-life as well for the same reason. She was her mother’s
fourteenth child. Her mother considered aborting her, but her priest
encouraged her to bring her baby into the world.
Martin
Sheen is pro-life due in part to the fact that his wife was conceived
when her mother was raped. Her mother considered aborting her but chose
to give her life.
Have you seen any of their stories in the news?
What percent of women who choose abortion are unmarried?
My
second point this morning relates to Alyssa Milano’s announcement about
her 1993 abortions. In both cases, she says she was in a committed
relationship and was using birth control. But she was not married and
thus did not believe she was ready for motherhood.
Her
statement highlights a fact evangelicals need to remember and
emphasize: all sexual relations outside heterosexual marriage are
unbiblical.
Gone
are the days when sex before marriage was seen as scandalous. It’s
assumed in movies and TV shows that couples on their first date will
sleep together. Unmarried couples live together with less stigma than
ever before.
But
when an unmarried woman learns she is pregnant, the pressure to abort
is enormously greater than if she is married. In fact, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 85.7 percent of women who
obtain an abortion are unmarried. This percentage accounts for more than
fifty-two million babies aborted in the US since Roe v. Wade.
How do we change the cultural narrative?
Defending life today requires two commitments from God’s people.
One: We must be bold, courageous, loving, and undeterred in our public stance.
The
other side will use the power of the mainstream media and celebrity
branding however it can. God’s word to Israel is his encouragement to
us: “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for
it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Two: We must teach and model biblical morality in all its forms.
If
we tell the culture that same-gender sexual relations are unbiblical,
we must also tell the culture that opposite-gender sexual relations are
unbiblical outside of marriage. We forfeit credibility on the issue of
homosexual marriage if we do not require heterosexual purity of
ourselves, our children, and our churches. “Flee from sexual immorality”
is God’s command to all of us (1 Corinthians 6:18).
On
this issue, as with so many other cultural challenges, our privilege
and calling is to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).
Will you do both today?
NOTE: I’m often asked, “What does a culture-changing Christian look like?”
We
use that phrase often at the Denison Forum, and with good cause. We’re
called to inspire our audience to change the culture around them, for
God’s glory.
But I’ve never gone so in-depth on defining “culture-changing Christian” until I wrote my latest book, Blessed: Eight Ways Christians Change Culture.
Through
the framework of the Beatitudes, I explore Jesus’ timeless principles
for living a life that can’t help but change the culture.
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