Question Submitted: After hearing about the inhumane treatment of the precious souls lost during abortions, I was comforted to think that these souls are in the arms of our Savior. But could you point me to Scripture that backs this belief up? I have always been told by fellow Christians that these souls are in heaven even though they never left the womb, but I realize more and more how important it is to back up these beliefs with Scripture. I am trying to spend more time in reading God’s Word, but I don’t know how to begin researching this.

The whole situation surrounding Planned Parenthood’s abortion industry is sickening, and one of the most difficult, awful realities of their reckless abuse and murder of the unborn is that we do not have a clear promise in Scripture that these children go to heaven.

I heard of a recent discourse on Facebook between a couple of pastors that went something like this:

Pastor 1: Not all of these aborted children are going to heaven.
Pastor 2: Which ones are going to hell, then?
Pastor 1: Whichever ones don’t believe in Jesus.

And there is the truth. God gives faith to His people – faith which trusts that Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins – and only those who believe that Christ’s death was for their salvation enter into heaven.

Pastor Mark Surburg has written some of the best and truest words I have ever read on the subject of a child’s death in the womb, and while here he is writing specifically about the miscarriage of children from Christian parents (which is a different subject than the abortion of pagan children), I think you might find his pastoral response helpful.

Here, also, is Pastor Mark Chepulis’ theological response to the death of his own daughter in the womb.

However silent God may be on the subject on the eternal state of aborted children, He is not silent in His Word on the state of His abundant mercy. Here are some clear promises from God that comfort me in the face of Planned Parenthood’s monstrosity:

• God desires that all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).
• God does not desire the death of anyone but, instead, desires that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
• God’s steadfast love endures forever (1 Chronicles 16:34).
• The children of mankind take refuge in God’s wings; God hears and answers the prayers of the righteous; God is forgiving; His mercy is great (Psalms 36:7; 34:15; 86:7; 119:156).

And so, in faith, we turn and pray to the LORD of great mercy: “Lord, have mercy! Christ, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!” and we commend these children into the hands of a loving God. After that, all we in good conscience can do is trust in His clear promises as found in Scripture and work to serve and protect those vulnerable children who are yet unborn. (This can be done by speaking out on their behalf; working to bring about laws which would protect and preserve their right to life and shield them from further abuse; support their parents’ physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, etc.).

I know that this may seem like such an unsatisfying answer, but a pastor-friend of mine, the Rev. Tony Oliphant, wisely reminded me just this morning, “In a sense, [this is] not a very satisfying answer. If anything, it compounds the horror of abortion. But then again, in another sense, is there anything more satisfying than leaning so deeply into the mercy of the One who gives life and love so recklessly to His undeserving and helpless children?”

Now, please go talk to your pastor about all of this. Test my words against his, for he is the one who has been called to preach God’s Word to you in truth and to serve you in such a time as this. He wants you to talk to him about this.