I recently watched part of a film called Freakonomics; one of the statistics/ beliefs they challenged was the crime rate drop in the 90’s. The film claimed the statistics typically credited for the drop could, if combined, make up for 50% of the drop; the remaining 50% perhaps could be contributed to the legalization of abortion (Roe vs Wade 1973). Freakonoics begins its premise with statistics showing ‘unwanted’ children are raised in homes in which they receive less care and are more likely to become criminals. When abortion was legalized suddenly these ‘unwanted’ children disappeared from the population. Fast forward 15-20 years and you find crime rates mysteriously dropping. The theory is that 50% of the drop in crime was due to a missing segment of the population; that those who would have committed the criminal acts no longer existed.
At first glance this may seem to add strength to the pro-choice voice. By allowing women the right to choose they can now decide when they want children and thus the family units are strengthened because the children born are ‘wanted.’ No longer must children be born into homes where they are unwanted and cast aside until the day they can strike out against humanity in a vain attempt to express the rage and hate which has been previously directed towards them.
By allowing the freedom of choice we may indeed see the numbers of those abused, neglected and struggling in poverty diminish. Yet – are the injustices the previous generations struggled against lessened or are there simply fewer voices of frustration? I would argue that the injustices continue to exist and even increase because the voice of the future has been effectively silenced. Those who would revolt against the injustice no longer exist to cry out for justice. By removing these voices the injustice is allowed to continue and society continues in ignorance and delusion that we have bettered the situation of our fellow man when all we have really done is executed those who could uncloak our blind self preservation.
I am convinced the only answer to injustice is revival and repentance. Men can change circumstances and laws but only God can change the heart. Should abortion be outlawed the battle is only begun. There will still be unwanted children to whom all the systems of the earth have no answer. Our human efforts apart from God cannot move men’s hearts to love, apart from a move of God there will be no true justice.
