Unplanned: A Review

As previously stated in this blog, I don’t go to many movies. Still, I want to be supportive of quality faith-based films being shown nationally. Pure Flix previously released a number of successful motion pictures including the “God’s Not Dead” series. Their latest production “Unplanned” came out last weekend and finished fourth at the box office. It grossed $6.1 million from only 1,059 theaters. I went to see it two days ago.

“Unplanned” is based on the memoir of Abby Johnson, a young Texas woman who worked at Planned Parenthood for eight years. During her tenure there, Abby went through a divorce and two abortions. Later after remarrying, Abby surprisingly found herself pregnant despite using birth control. Although her supervisor suggested otherwise, Abby went through with the pregnancy and gave birth to a daughter.

Often when Abby arrived at work, anti-abortion demonstrators had gathered outside her clinic's fence. A few of them made harassing remarks while holding “Abortion is Murder” signs. However, one woman reached out to Abby in friendship. Marilisa soon married a man named Shawn who became the leader of a ministry now known as 40 Days for Life. 

Through the persistent prayers of her parents and many of the demonstrators, Abby began to have second thoughts about her work. One day she found the file of one of her unborn children that was aborted at the clinic. The turning point came after watching a client’s abortion on ultrasound. Abby soon resigned from Planned Parenthood and has since helped others leave the abortion industry.

“Unplanned” is rated R for “disturbing bloody images” (reminiscent of what happened to “The Passion of the Christ” fifteen years ago). That shouldn’t stop anyone from seeing this movie. Looking at blood isn’t a pleasant sight but it shows the reality that abortion is the taking of innocent human life. Instead of calling abortion providers and their clients “baby killers” as one man did in the movie, pro-lifers wanting to make a difference need to reach out to them in love.

I know a few people who consider themselves “pro-choice.” Hopefully, they will take time to see “Unplanned” and be inspired to choose life. After all, their mothers did.

“If you are willing to advocate for abortion, but unwilling to actually see what you support, then you and your tiny bun really have no relevancy in this conversation.” 

-  Abby Johnson

Women's Rights?

44 years ago today, the U. S. Supreme Court issued the infamous Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion in this country. Since then, over 55 million unborn Americans have been killed. Fortunately, we have a new president who is pro-life and plans to appoint conservative judges. Other politicians have campaigned to defund Planned Parenthood, an organization that uses taxpayer funds to terminate pregnancies.

Nevertheless, abortion advocates continue raising their voices. Yesterday in our nation’s capital, the Women’s March took place. Thousands of women protested in Washington and other cities for their “right to choose.” Prior to this march, a group called New Wave Feminists was removed as an official sponsor because of their pro-life stance. 

Much misinformation is spread by women’s rights groups. Many of them claim “the pro-life movement is anti-women.” A 2010 Rasmussen poll revealed that 58 percent of women believe abortion is morally wrong in most cases while 49 percent of men agree with the same statement. In other words, women are less supportive of abortion than men.

If you’re one who considers yourself “pro-choice”, then I recommend making better choices than fighting for the right to kill babies. First, I urge you to invite Jesus Christ to become your Lord and Savior. That will hopefully result in you receiving the revelation that all children (born and unborn) are precious to God. Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” It wasn’t until after becoming a Christian that I recognized abortions as morally wrong.

Secondly, choose not to have sex outside of marriage as the Bible clearly forbids fornication. I rarely hear of married women having abortions. Still, if you find yourself facing an unplanned pregnancy, prayerfully consider contacting an adoption agency. Many childless couples have been on waiting lists hoping to adopt one. You could be a great blessing to prospective parents…and your child.

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” - Deuteronomy 30:19

Who’s Your Daddy?

One day at the Mall of America in suburban Minneapolis, I had a witnessing opportunity with three kiosk employees who were all Jewish. When I mentioned Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of the Messiah coming from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10), one of the women objected because He wasn't born of a human father. A friend of mine later reminded me of Isaiah 7:14, which says that the Messiah must be born of a virgin woman. The Holy Spirit probably didn't bring that Scripture to my remembrance because this Jewish woman was quite contentious and said she had to “get back to work.”

The fact that Jesus had one earthly parent and one divine parent is proof He fulfilled Isaiah 7:14. He had to be born of a virgin woman (not man) so his father had to be God and not a man. This fact speaks for Him and not against Him. Who else could fulfill it?

My friend also pointed out to me that according to Orthodox Judaism the Jewish lineage is inherited through the mother. If the father is an Eskimo (or more rare, if there’s no earthly father) he is still a Jew and from the tribe of the mother, as long as the mother is Jewish.

There’s also the principle of inheritance from the father through adoption. Jesus may not have biologically come from the tribe of Judah, but legally he still is. This would also make Him a true son of David and have a right to inherit the throne of the kingdom according to the prophecy.

Regardless of how your earthly father raised you, you can have a relationship with the perfect daddy in Heaven if you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The Son of God said in John 14:9, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” Jesus said in John 12:44-45, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.”

Sadly, many people have distorted ideas about Father God. During a recent road trip through Wisconsin, I felt led to witness to a truck stop employee by asking him, “Did you know God loves you and has an awesome plan for your life?” This man wasn’t open to the gospel because he thought God “took his son.” I pointed out Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy but Jesus came to give us life and more abundantly (John 10:10)

Whether or not a person believes in God, he or she has a spiritual father. Jesus told the Pharisees in John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

Who’s your daddy?

“Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding.” - Proverbs 4:1