Roe v. Wade is Over

The Supreme Court strikes down abortion. What's next?

Much of the news and current events we report on here at Tipping Point falls under the category of “bad news.” Jesus described the events of the last days as “the beginning of sorrows,” which makes it clear that—in the short term—things will get worse and worse in human society before they get better with the return of Christ.

But not entirely.

Today we received news that the Supreme Court had overturned Roe v. Wade, which eliminated the right to an abortion nationwide. Going forward, this allows states to determine abortion rights on their own. Twenty-two states already had “trigger laws” in place that would immediately ban abortion following any overturning of Roe. This includes Texas, where I live, where abortion will now become illegal in 30 days.

This news immediately changes the face of what abortion looks like in the United States. It will absolutely result in fewer abortions—according to some estimates, a 12 to 15 percent reduction in abortions.

First and foremost, this is incredibly good news for those of us who are pro-life. Many of us have been fighting for the unborn for the past 50 years. This is an answer to prayer and we should definitely be celebrating. I am surprised and grateful, and I expect you will feel the same. This is a huge win for life.

I say this literally: Thank God for this decision.

But I also want to be a realist about what comes next. The consequences of this decision will be enormous.

Most Americans will be angry.

In a May poll after the earlier leak of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion, only 17 percent of Americans said they would be happy to see Roe v. Wade overturned. Two-thirds of Americans did not want the Supreme Court to completely overturn the law.

Nearly 50 percent of adults younger than 35 said they’d be angry with that decision. A majority of women, 54 percent, said they expected life to be worse for American women if Roe was overturned. That’s why government officials all over the United States are preparing right now for riots and protests. In fact, they’ve been preparing for weeks.

Expect the rage of pro-abortion citizens to bubble over this weekend and in the days to come.

Our nation will be further divided.

Some states will immediately ban abortion in the wake of this decision. Others are prepared to ban abortion after six weeks, which is earlier than most women know they are pregnant. Effectively, abortions will end in those states as well.

But many Americans living in those states don’t know that this is the case. In one poll, only 45 percent realized they lived in a state that would ban abortion statewide if Roe was overturned. So a lot of people in these states are going to be surprised in the coming weeks. How will they react?

The divide between “red” and “blue” states in America is already stark, but it is going to get worse. People will begin traveling to certain abortion-friendly states so they can terminate a pregnancy. Companies will start departing pro-life states, putting pressure on pro-business politicians who welcome the economic boost these companies provide. All of these realities will lead to uncertainty and chaos in our culture.

Politics will get uglier.

Experts are already predicting that the Court’s decision could have an unexpected impact on the November elections because the end of Roe will be a huge motivation to the pro-choice crowd. If young people and women describe themselves as “angry” in the wake of the decision, expect them to begin voting for Democrats—possibly for the first time.

Multiple surveys have shown that Democratic voters are more likely than Republican voters to “see abortion as a highly relevant issue” in the voting booth:

A May poll from Monmouth University found that 48% of Democrats considered a candidate’s alignment with their views on abortion to be extremely important to their vote, up from 31% in 2018; among Republicans, the number was 29%, down from 36% four years ago.

Already Nancy Pelosi said today that “the rights of women…are on the ballot this November.” If Democrats become more energized and Republicans are less energized, that will make a difference. Most experts had given Republicans an advantage in the mid-term elections. It’s possible that could change.

Other dominoes may still fall.

In a concurring opinion that accompanied the Supreme Court decision, Justice Clarence Thomas said other rights beyond abortion may be on the docket and had the potential of being knocked down based on this precedent:

“In future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, & Obergefell.”

These are also major cases. Griswold v. Connecticut established that married couples could buy and use contraceptives without government restriction. (In their dissent, Justices Kagan, Breyer and Sotomayor wrote that “the right to terminate a pregnancy arose straight out of the right to purchase and use contraception,” warning that this federal right may soon be in question.)

Lawrence v. Texas said that criminal punishment for sodomy are unconstitutional, which meant it was no longer illegal to be gay. Obergefell v. Hodges, of course, ruled that same-sex couples had the right to marry.

If the court reconsiders these issues next, our nation will face even more chaos. Imagine the riots and violence if contraception is outlawed or if LGBTQ rights are overturned. This will lead to further division until Jesus returns.

The Church will face enormous pressure.

As I wrote earlier when the leaked draft indicated Roe v. Wade might be struck down, this win for the sanctity of life will shine a bright light on the work of the Church and all those who have been advocating for the rights of the unborn. Here’s what I wrote then:

We hope fewer young lives will end because of abortion. But if Roe is outlawed, it potentially means more children growing up in poverty, more children born to single mothers, or more children living in harmful circumstances. A pro-life mentality requires a willingness not just to say “no” to abortion, but to say “yes” to unwanted or unplanned children who will now, finally, have the chance at life. This is the moment for the Church to act according to the values of God’s Kingdom. Whether that means adoption, crisis pregnancy volunteering, improving healthcare access or providing resources and support for young mothers, the Church will have many opportunities to show the love of Jesus.

Millions more children will be born who would otherwise have been aborted. They will be born to parents who are in poverty or are struggling. These parents will need help. They will be paying attention. Your unchurched or secular friends will be paying attention. Your pro-choice colleagues will be paying attention.

Are you ready to stand in the gap for women in poverty who face unplanned pregnancies? Are you open to adopting or fostering children? Are you prepared to volunteer at your community’s crisis pregnancy centers? Because we, as the American Church, now have an incredible opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ for a hurting world.

This is our moment and the whole world will be watching.

Still, this is a huge win.

Despite those realities and challenges above, I don’t want to end this on a negative note. This is a day to celebrate life. This is a day to praise God. This is a day of gratitude for His answer to half a century of prayers on behalf of the unborn.

As we continue looking forward to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy and the return of Jesus, I hope you will rejoice with me and take today’s good news to heart. These may seem like dark days, but today the light of hope has broken through the darkness.

Blessed be the Lord,
Because He has heard the voice of my supplications!
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I will praise Him.
—Psalm 28:6-7