Over the last few weeks, I’ve come across a number of people imploring me to vote for Donald Trump because, “He will save babies.”

I find this assertion dubious.

Republicans have flown the pro-life banner my entire adult life. Every election season, office-seekers tout their pro-life credentials, Christian voter guides highlight the pro-lifers and political action committees spend millions of dollars promoting political candidates who articulate the proper right-to-life rhetoric.

Then all of these people disappear until the next election cycle.

For all of this political effort, I can’t lay a finger on anything any of these politicians have actually done to end abortion. If I were a cynical person, I would say politicians simply use the issue as a way to lock in a voting block and raise campaign cash, and don’t really have any intention of taking any practical to save unborn lives.

This leads me to two even more fundamental questions. Why do so many Christians think politics provides the path to ending abortion? Why has the Church abrogated its responsibility to the state? Politics is nothing more than an institutional application of force and coercion. It seems there might be a better way for followers of the Prince of Peace to advance the cause of life.

The truth is we will never end abortion with a law.

If you truly care about unborn life, stop wasting time on politics and do something. Volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center, and donate resources to its work. Mentor young men and women, and teach them to value life. Share the love of Jesus with your neighbor.

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” He commands us – each of us – to act. He didn’t say, “Vote for a Republican so the government can act for you.”

Donald Trump photo by Gage Skidmore via Flicker.