Following are two columns written by the Rev. Greg Dykstra on the abortion issue: Publication date: 01/22/94 COMPASSION NEEDED IN DEBATE By the Rev. Greg Dykstra This weekend marks the anniversary of one of the most noted Supreme Court cases in the history of our nation. It's been 21 years since Roe vs. Wade was "settled" and the controversy over this "so-called" settlement rages on as people continue to argue over the "right" of a woman to dispose of the baby she has conceived before this child is born and thus obtains the "legal" right to life. Without question or qualification, I am "pro-life" and I hold that position as a conviction based on facts from medical science and the Bible, not as a concern based on feelings. My feelings can be influenced by circumstances and I feel bad for women who are facing an unwanted pregnancy or for children who are neglected and abused. Abortion is an answer to this problem, but based on the facts of medical science and the Bible, abortion is always the wrong answer. My pro-life convictions were formulated in the early 1970s, but something happened on Jan. 22, 1988, that strengthened my convictions and stretched my concern into compassion. Early that morning my wife, Donna, and I were blessed with the birth of our third child, Kristin. However, Kristin was born drastically early and her lungs were not developed well enough to allow her to breathe without a great deal of assistance. On a couple occasions, nurses and doctors mentioned in our presence that babies with a greater potential to live ouside the womb than Kristin are aborted before they are given that opportunity. This helped to etch in my mind the reality of what abortion is. I had believed all along that abortion was wrong, but now the medical facts had touched me. Six years later, Kristin is in kindergarten and no one could tell by simply observing her that she was born under such difficult circumstances. Yet, I am still reminded of the babies who were never given that opportunity to live and the parents who were provided with the wrong answer to their unwanted pregnancies. These are the victims of this tragic "settlement" by the Supreme Court. In the midst of the debate, we cannot allow the victims to get lost in the shuffle. As a pro-lifer, I have convictions opposed to the idea of abortion. As a pastor, I have compassion for those who have been victimized. We need to keep our focus in both areas to make sure we don't go too far to any extremes. Abortion is a moral issue and too many people see it as a political debate. Our president, along with Congress, has tried fruitlessly to solve the debate. Lawyers, judges and the courts have tried unsucessfully to settle the issue. They all will continue to try, but in the meantime, the Church needs to stand in the gap with both conviction and compassion. On one hand, we need to present the facts from both a biblical and a medical perspective. If we speak the truth in love, we will help to stop the tragic results and provide answers to those who need them, before they are victimized. On the other hand, we need to present the Christian message of forgiveness and love with compassion. There are many who have already been victimized and they continue to struggle with the question of how they can find relief from the tremendous guilt they feel because of their mistakes. Our opportunities are numerous and with God's help we can make a difference in the abortion debate long before anything is settled in Washington. It's a matter of moral conviction based on good Christian values and Christian compassion based on good moral values. Copyright 1994 Peoria Journal Star Posted with permission of the Peoria Journal Star and the Rev. Greg Dykstra, pastor of Oak Grove Bible Church, 3221 Springfield Road, East Peoria, Ill. 61611. Date published: 01/21/95 CHURCH NEEDS TO DEFINE ROLE IN ABORTION DEBATE 'Strategy' should be biblically based By the Rev. Greg Dykstra During the past several years, Jan. 22, the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision, has become one of the most recognized "non-holiday" dates on the calendar. News features and headlines will center attention on the abortion debate as advocates on every side of this question rally to remind people about how this decision has influenced our nation. Pro-life groups and organizations target this January date as an opportunity to educate people about the results of abortion and to gain support for the goal of making abortion illegal. On the opposite side of the issue, pro- choice abortion advocates have begun to stage numerous activities to present their viewpoints and opinions about why abortion should remain legal and available. I am not certain exactly when this date began to stand out on the calendar in our household, but it was before our youngest child, Kristin, was born 11 weeks early on Jan. 22, 1988. That experience strengthened our pro- life views, having watched our little miracle baby "beat the odds" through the grace and goodness of God. The reality of abortion hit us in a new way because we could visualize other babies who became victims of "choice" when they were aborted. With the rising prominence of this date, the abortion issue has become increasingly controversial. At times the on- going activities of certain individuals involved in both sides of this controversy have reached the level of insanity and irresponsible behavior. It especially makes me shudder when I read or hear media reports describing Paul Hill or John Salvi in terms that possibly could describe me. Therefore, writing as a pastor, I believe the time has come for the church to define more clearly what role she should play in the pro-life movement. We must come to grips with the possibility that celebrating "Sanctity of Human Life Sunday" each January is not enough to make a genuine impact in this controversy. We also must understand that the ministry and witness of the church could be either hindered or halted by doing too much; there should be little doubt that God's name has been dishonored by those who in the name of Jesus have taken the law into their own hands. In defining our role, we need to look at the "structure" of the pro-life movement and recognize that those who are involved are not exclusively Christians. With this understanding we have to ask ourselves whether our involvement forces us to compromise any of our doctrinal or biblical convictions. This should not necessarily prohibit our support or involvement, but we should be careful not to violate the guidelines of God's word by developing a partnership with someone who might discredit the ministry God has called us to fulfill. In addition to this, we should also observe the "strategy" of the pro-life movement and compare it to the plan of action God has given the church in the Bible. Our primary line of action must include prayer; this idea is repeated many times in the Scriptures, and one of the primary passages is 1 Timothy 2:1-2, where it says, "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity." When we, as members of the Church, lose sight of the power of prayer, we are ignoring our most important tool. Prayer is essential if we expect to make any difference in the world at all. Our primary line of action also must include presenting the message of salvation through faith in the gracious sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This message emphasizes love and forgiveness and it is the only message that we can give that genuinely results in changed lives. When we, as members of the Church, lose sight of the power of the Christian message, we are ignoring our most influential tool. Presenting God's grace is essential if we expect to make any difference in the world at all. Finally, if we are going to define our role, we must recognize the "strength" of the pro-life movement. Depending on the political system or on our government is not going to deliver us from the real problem of abortion. Our strength is God and He is greater than all the challenges we face! . . . "'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts." In this debate, the victory belongs to God. Copyright 1995 Peoria Journal Star Posted with permission of Peoria Journal Star and the Rev. Greg Dykstra, pastor of Oak Grove Bible Church, 3221 Springfield Road, East Peoria, Ill. 61611.