S. Dakotans continue to favor abortion on demand - what's it mean to the church?

Even with exceptions for rape, incest and threat to the mother's health, Measure 11 is failing by about 55% - 45%. This is pretty much the same margin of defeat suffered by a total abortion ban (Referred Law 6) in 2006.

Christians continue to view abortion as the taking of a life. People with other world views (and some nominal Christians) have other priorities, mainly tied to forms of self-satisfaction.

So, you won't likely see legal change - but the distinction between a Christian understanding of human dignity and the understandings held by others comes into sharper relief. South Dakotans are, after all, Americans, and the prevailing national view is, "Let me do what I want. I am responsible to no one but everyone is responsible to provide me with cushions against the consequences of my actions." This is beyond labels like "liberal and conservative" - it is the national feeling of entitlement.

The beauty for the church (and here I mean the universal fellowship of those who believe in Christ) is that the New Testament itself was written for those outside of the self-satisfied mainstream. As we heard from Jesus on All Saints' Sunday, the values of God's kingdom are opposite of, upside down from, and just not at all like the values of the world. The church grows in faith and vitality when it is "outside looking in."

I continue to find help in what God said to Ezekiel:

“Stand up, son of man,” said the voice. “I want to speak with you.” The Spirit came into me as he spoke, and he set me on my feet. I listened carefully to his words. “Son of man,” he said, “I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day. They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for remember, they are rebels—at least they will know they have had a prophet among them.
“Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels. You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious! Son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not join them in their rebellion. Open your mouth, and eat what I give you.”
Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me. It held a scroll, which he unrolled. And I saw that both sides were covered with funeral songs, words of sorrow, and pronouncements of doom.
Ezekiel 2