On Super Bowl Sunday, a rare religious ad appeared on screens across the country. From the group “He Gets Us,” the ad featured a variety of people, from opposing sides of various issues or of different backgrounds, washing each other’s feet. The ad quickly gained both praise and backlash, with numerous opinions being offered online afterwards. Despite the generated controversy, one thing is important to note: the pro-life movement washes feet every day and has done so for decades. And now that Roe v. Wade is gone, this work will not only continue, but will increase to meet the need.
One of the scenarios in the ad was of a young woman sitting on a bench in front of a building labeled “family planning clinic,” while another woman washes her feet. In the background, a group of what appears to be pro-lifers stand holding signs. The pro-lifers do not appear hostile or angry, and their signs are not threatening.
This foot-washing idea is a reference to the gospel; the book of John reads:
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
The notion of the ad, then, is apparently the idea of showing love and humility by serving others.
Abortion activists frequently denigrate the pro-life movement by accusing them of being hate-filled misogynists who want to control women and force them to breed. But in reality, the abortion industry itself has consistently failed women, and the pro-life movement serves women daily with love and humility.
For pregnant mothers, resources from pro-life groups abound, from maternity homes that give women a safe shelter to on-campus resources that help pregnant and parenting college students get their education without sacrificing their motherhood.
Pro-life sidewalk counselors stand bravely outside abortion businesses, waiting to offer hope and life-affirming alternatives to women who may be feeling like abortion is their only choice.
Thousands of pregnancy resource centers (PRCs), though varied in services offered, work tirelessly to help women and their families. Not only do these largely donor-funded community centers save lives and serve millions of people each year, they provide much-needed resources to help pregnant and parenting women, usually at no charge. These resources and services given to families include things like pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, parenting education, child care, baby needs such as diapers, clothing, cribs, and strollers, and much more.
And far from shunning women who have already undergone abortions, the pro-life movement seeks to give them the opportunity to heal, with pregnancy centers and other pro-life organizations offering bible studies and healing programs to walk them through the trauma caused by abortion.
Though controversial, the “He Gets Us” ad can serve as a reminder of the need to serve others with a humble and loving heart. Thankfully, those who work in the pro-life movement have long shown that they are more than willing to step in to give women a better opportunity than the trauma and death offered by the abortion industry through exactly this kind of loving service.
