Abolishing Abortion's Strongholds

Abolishing Abortion Strongholds

by | Mar 7, 2016

“I’ve had too many abortions, Sydna,” the caller outlined. “God simply cannot forgive me.”

My response is always the same – There is no sin that God cannot forgive – even abortion. The problem may be you don’t forgive yourself and may need some help.

The myth that God cannot forgive is an example of an abortion stronghold. A stronghold is defined as any type of thinking that is in contrary to the word of God.

In II Corinthians 10:5, Paul outlines the overall mission of abortion recovery in shattering abortion strongholds – We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

There are many other false abortion strongholds in unhealed hearts. These include:

If I cry over my abortion, I’ll become suicidal!

Post-abortive individuals often rely on anger to avoid an emotional release. Few understand that preventing tears from being shed can be more harmful to their hearts than crying.

Biochemist and tear expert, Dr. William Frey, discovered that emotional tears release a stress hormones. Others studies also suggest that crying stimulates the production of endorphins, our body’s natural pain killer and “feel-good” hormones.1

In addition to science, God included the book of Lamentations in the Bible. Lamentations outlines the importance not only of mourning but of asking God for forgiveness after sin. Giving wounded hearts permission to cry and repent their choice can easily defeat this stronghold.

Abortion is a safe and legal choice!

Embracing this abortion marketing message seems ludicrous as afterwards, one is dead and the other can be incredibly wounded.

While I attended church before my abortion, I rarely heard anyone speak against this choice. I reasoned that because it was legal, it was an appropriate choice in my unplanned pregnancy situation. The “safe” part threw me under the bus as I experienced a horrifying surgical procedure without benefit of anesthesia.

By encouraging discussion of the overall impact of their abortion, individuals can begin to understand that this clearly was not a safe choice to their hearts, even if it was legal.

My abortion was the best thing that ever happened to me!

Last year, Planned Parenthood hosted a Twitter campaign using #shoutyourabortion to encourage post-abortive people to record their happiness in choosing abortion. While the campaign did not produce the desired results, it resulted in reinforcing a damaging abortion stronghold.

The first emotion after abortion is often relief. The stress of making the decision is over. The abortion can then be viewed as a stress reliever and then chosen again and again.

Encountering this stronghold verbally can overwhelm friends and family, who often then categorize the individual as harsh and cruel.  Often times, the individual struggles to believe this truth themselves.

Positive abortion announcements are often made by those who have yet to live out life and understand the consequences of this choice over time. In addressing those who believe their abortion was a good choice, ask them to identify the specific ways it improved their lives. This is a hard list to develop but can be quite revealing and convicting.

God will never allow me to become pregnant again!

Mixed up with emotional pain is the conclusion that in rejecting God’s gift of life, He will never allow the person to become pregnant again. When I experienced infertility with my husband after abortion, I felt punished by God. My self-loathing over my abortion decision led me to believe the worst possible outcome.  It took all my emotional strength to finally admit to my OB/GYN that I was post-abortive.

My doctor gently outlined that the uterine lining was very delicate and is often rendered useless by surgical abortion. This truth verified my infertility was a consequence of my abortion choice and NOT God’s punishment.

Due to these and other stronghold beliefs, abortion recovery efforts must begin with an introduction to the character and a nature of God. Scripture is a balm to the soul that outlines God’s true and loving nature. The path to peace is clearly outlined in 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

A strong discussion of God’s character of love, along with reading Biblical points on sin, is a remedy that ends false mindsets and shatters strongholds. The hope of healing then can be outlined and a journey to wholeness in Christ begun.

Galatians 5:1 then outlines how victorious we can life in His grace – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

If you or someone you know is struggling with these or other abortion strongholds, obtain a copy of A Journey in Ramah. This daily devotional is designed to begin God’s restoration process after abortion.

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