The movie “Unplanned,” which tells the true story of Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood employee turned pro-life activist, is a film that warrants attention. This film has stirred significant discussion, and for good reason.
Initially, I wrote about the film’s surprising box office success, noting some unusual occurrences surrounding its marketing. There were reports of tens of thousands of followers disappearing from social media accounts promoting the film, and my own article vanished from my Facebook feed shortly after posting, requiring multiple attempts to repost.
My wife and I decided to see the movie for ourselves. We arrived at the theater to find the 4:10 p.m. showing was supposedly “sold out,” yet the theater was only half full. This added to the sense that something was amiss.
As the movie unfolded, it became clear that the strong pro-choice lobby might be actively working to undermine the film’s reach, potentially influencing social media platforms to deploy their biases. This is, of course, my opinion, but the evidence seems to support it.
I was deeply moved by the film and recommend it to all adult viewers, regardless of their stance on pro-choice or pro-life issues. It has the potential to profoundly impact one’s worldview. The storyline also incorporates themes of God’s grace and mercy, which are relevant to anyone who has been involved in the abortion process.
Watching “Unplanned” also brought to mind my upcoming book, Jurisdiction, co-authored with my brother, Jon, who has served as a pastor for 44 years. The following excerpt is from the final chapter, which discusses heaven:
I (Jon) have experienced the unimaginable pain of holding our three-year-old son, Charlie, in my arms moments after doctors pronounced him dead. He had fallen into our pool the day before, and despite the heroic efforts of medical professionals, he could not be saved. After determining that “all his numbers were in the wrong place,” they placed him in a 72-hour coma, hoping to reduce the swelling in his brain. We were advised to go home and rest, preparing for a long vigil. A call came early the next morning, and we rushed back to the hospital, only to learn that Charlie had passed away a minute before we arrived. We were led to his room as they removed the wires and tubes connected to his body. I picked up his lifeless little body and held him as I walked to the window. I gazed “out there” into the sky as the first wave of grief washed over me. It was a surreal moment. As I held the physical remains of my son, the realization that the “real” Charlie was not in his body but “out there” in heaven somewhere was overwhelming.
That’s because Jesus is the “first fruits” of all who die in Him. The Bible assures us that this applies to all children who die. King Jeroboam sinned greatly against God, but his infant son received the promise of heaven because “there is found something good toward the Lord God” [1] in him. Likewise, God said, “You slaughtered My children” [2] when addressing the horrible practice of child sacrifice practiced by pagan nations surrounding Israel. [3] Even though they had pagan parents, God regarded them as His. When the whole generation of adults died in the wilderness and were denied entrance into the Promised Land because of their sin, God brought their children into the land because they “have no knowledge of good and evil.” [4] In like manner He ushers children and those who don’t have the mental capacity to discern good and evil into heaven because of His gracious provision. Like David when he lost his infant son I too can say, “I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” [5]
If you want to dig deeper into this subject, I highly commend the little book Safe In the Arms of God by John MacArthur. [6] It is the only book that I’ve ever run across that is totally devoted to the subject of the death of a child and is thoroughly biblical and very helpful. I wish I had found it sooner.
In the interest of full disclosure, the movie, “Unplanned” was especially poignant for me as my family experienced an unplanned teenage pregnancy. I invite you to experience the story: OUR FAMILY WAS PREGNANT
After five years in the making, Jurisdiction: A cop and pastor talk about life is due to be released next month. Stay tuned for details. In the meantime, I highly recommend the movie, “Unplanned.”
Sources:
[1] 1 Kings 4:13 [2] Ezekiel 16:21 [3] Ibid [4] Deuteronomy 1:39 [5] 2 Samuel 12:2 [6] John MacArthur, Safe in the Arms of God: Truth From Heaven About the Death of a Child (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, 2003).