I'm Pro-Life: And Pro-Choice

At first glance, the title might seem contradictory, even confusing. How can one be both pro-life and pro-choice? But I assure you, I’m not confused. I’m writing from a place of understanding, knowing the issue intimately from both sides of the coin. This piece is intended for two audiences: those evangelicals who firmly oppose abortion and those, regardless of faith—whether Christian, Buddhist, or atheist—who staunchly defend a woman's right to choose.

For many, this topic is a gray area, but for me, it's clear as day. I believe the scriptures support my position unequivocally. I gave my life to Christ in the summer of '82, at just 15 years old. Back then, I was eager to absorb anything biblical, devouring the works and sermons of Christian leaders. This was when I first encountered Jerry Falwell and the term "Pro-Life." I embraced it wholeheartedly, believing our mission was to create a moral majority that could wield political power to enforce Christian principles. I was committed, body and soul.

But then life happened. I made mistakes. At 18, I found myself expecting a child, and her parents advocated for abortion, saying it was the simplest and best decision. Despite my youth, I found the courage to say, "one wrong shouldn't be covered by another." Today, that child is 39 and one of the most incredible people I know.

As I matured, planted churches, and counseled people, I realized that my beliefs didn't always align with others'. They had the right to choose, and it was okay. Trying to strip away that choice was against the teachings of the God I served, the God who called me to preach.

Let's rewind to the beginning. The first couple in scripture, Adam and Eve, were given a choice that could easily contradict God’s will. Love that doesn't allow choices isn't real love. It's a dictatorship. This story taught me that God grants us choices—between life and death, right and wrong though sometimes those making the choices will choose differently than we would. Even in the Garden of Eden, God didn’t intervene to stop Eve from eating the fruit or prevent Adam from following suit. He allowed them to choose freely.

He let Cain choose.  
He let Pharaoh choose.  
He let the Virgin Mary choose whether to accept the divine role of bearing Christ.  
He let the rich young ruler choose.  
He even let Christ choose in the Garden of Gethsemane.

As we approach another political season and prepare to elect a new President, I believe Christians must reconsider our approach. Do we truly wish to strip away people’s rights to choose? Do we want to enact laws that limit freedoms, or do we recognize this as a battleground where we've been fighting each other, imposing our beliefs on non-Christians and weakening the power of the gospel by pushing and focusing on litigation instead of the inspired word of God that touches lives and leads them to decisions influenced by love? Politicians and pastors seek power, eager to dictate our thoughts and influence the issues we prioritize. But we shouldn’t let them. Our world needs more love, not more rules. We must embrace a BOTH/AND mindset instead of EITHER/OR.

I am pro-life. I am also pro-choice.

God would never take away a person’s right to choose. It's sacred.

To clarify, I hope every child is brought into this world. Beyond birth, I hope they receive healthcare and grow up in loving homes. But I also recognize that reality doesn't always reflect this ideal. People face hard decisions, and their choices may not align with our preferences. In those moments, I will continue to care for their souls, wrap my arms around them, and remind them that while hard choices are inevitably tough, God's grace is abundant and available, even when their decisions don't align with His heart.

I’m glad you’re pro-life. I am, too—from the womb to the tomb. But I'm also pro-choice. The power to choose is sacred, even when we don't like the choices others make.

Frank Henderson 
Lead Pastor  
EPIC Fellowship Church  
www.epicfc.org
pastor@epicfc.org