Let's see who can yell the loudest
In a bid to close the last abortion clinic in Mississippi, abortion advocates and opponents have called in the troops, reserves and standbys. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-07-16-abortion-protest_x.htm
One side has 200 supporters, the other 300 supporters and both are promising more for a yelling match that may simply just scare away the women seeking the services of this particular abortion clinic.
While I must say I find the practice of abortion repugnant, there is a larger and deeper issue here that we Christians forget I think. Now I know this is going to burn some Christians out there because of their strong moral core, but it really has to be said ... again.
Please explain to me what good protesting at the doors of abortion clinics serve? Please explain to me why women who feel driven by the desperation of their situations to have their children aborted must receive additional abuse as they show up to likely take one of the most difficult steps of their lives? Why is it that these women feel they must even take the steps toward abortion clinics? Could it be a colossal failing of the church that they feel as if an abortion is an option? Why, I wonder, are we blaming these women - many of whom may not even be Christians and therefore do not have the spirit of God to impel them away from such a decision or impel men and women to not have sex without a marriage commitment - when it is the church's fault (our fault) that many of them believe it is their only option?
I know of a woman who made a mistake (as we all are prone to do), had sex, got pregnant and had no means to bring up a child. The woman went to the people of her church to confess, and she was turned out. Rejected. She believed she had no other choice. She had an abortion. She, in turn, rejected the fellowship of Christian believers because of their treatment of her. I wonder what would have happened if the church would have come behind her, supported a decision of life for her child while not condoning her actions to have sex but understanding that, yes, we all do make mistakes. But each of us try to go and sin no more.
I often wonder what Christ would say passing by a woman on her way for an abortion, feeling the desperation and hopelessness of her situation burying her beneath a pile of emotion, sorrow and regret. While I despise the whole flippant "What would Jesus Do" marketing drivel that sells plenty of doo-dads, I think of the woman at the well and Christ's reaction to her or the adulterous woman (though I know there is manuscript evidence to suggest this story is not original to the Bible). But the same point applies, I think.
Instead of stones, I see at least some religious people outside abortion clinics as the pious holding the stones ready to stone the adulterous woman standing before Jesus. But instead of stones, they're holding placards and pictures and hurling words of condemnation instead of words of charity that admit, "I'm a sinner too, but there's got to be a better way."
In my estimation, Christians should not even grace the sidwalks of abortion clinics in protest. Instead, we should work behind the scenes with women who feel like they have no other options, embracing them with love and understanding as sinners ourselves without words of condemnation. In this way, we show the love of Christ using less words and more action.
One side has 200 supporters, the other 300 supporters and both are promising more for a yelling match that may simply just scare away the women seeking the services of this particular abortion clinic.
While I must say I find the practice of abortion repugnant, there is a larger and deeper issue here that we Christians forget I think. Now I know this is going to burn some Christians out there because of their strong moral core, but it really has to be said ... again.
Please explain to me what good protesting at the doors of abortion clinics serve? Please explain to me why women who feel driven by the desperation of their situations to have their children aborted must receive additional abuse as they show up to likely take one of the most difficult steps of their lives? Why is it that these women feel they must even take the steps toward abortion clinics? Could it be a colossal failing of the church that they feel as if an abortion is an option? Why, I wonder, are we blaming these women - many of whom may not even be Christians and therefore do not have the spirit of God to impel them away from such a decision or impel men and women to not have sex without a marriage commitment - when it is the church's fault (our fault) that many of them believe it is their only option?
I know of a woman who made a mistake (as we all are prone to do), had sex, got pregnant and had no means to bring up a child. The woman went to the people of her church to confess, and she was turned out. Rejected. She believed she had no other choice. She had an abortion. She, in turn, rejected the fellowship of Christian believers because of their treatment of her. I wonder what would have happened if the church would have come behind her, supported a decision of life for her child while not condoning her actions to have sex but understanding that, yes, we all do make mistakes. But each of us try to go and sin no more.
I often wonder what Christ would say passing by a woman on her way for an abortion, feeling the desperation and hopelessness of her situation burying her beneath a pile of emotion, sorrow and regret. While I despise the whole flippant "What would Jesus Do" marketing drivel that sells plenty of doo-dads, I think of the woman at the well and Christ's reaction to her or the adulterous woman (though I know there is manuscript evidence to suggest this story is not original to the Bible). But the same point applies, I think.
Instead of stones, I see at least some religious people outside abortion clinics as the pious holding the stones ready to stone the adulterous woman standing before Jesus. But instead of stones, they're holding placards and pictures and hurling words of condemnation instead of words of charity that admit, "I'm a sinner too, but there's got to be a better way."
In my estimation, Christians should not even grace the sidwalks of abortion clinics in protest. Instead, we should work behind the scenes with women who feel like they have no other options, embracing them with love and understanding as sinners ourselves without words of condemnation. In this way, we show the love of Christ using less words and more action.
posted by Jeno at
4:26 PM
2 Comments:
I sit here holding my newborn daughter and just cringe at the thought of not having her in this world. Abortion is more than an easy way out, it is an easy way in to a pain like no other. Abortion is an evil that no only kills an innocent child but forever leaves a whole in the hearts of the women who choose to have one. There is, and never will be, a situation that constitutes abortion. A child is no less precious and miraculous having come from a rape than a loving home. It is God's way of turning an ugly situation into something good. All too often women forget about adoption as an option. With all that being said, it is my hope that abortions will become banned. However, protesting is not the way to do it. Protesting is a selfish act that produces more harm than good, especially when it is done by those claiming Christianity. Real change, and positive change, comes from educating and helping, not condemning. Offering assistance to mothers who have no resources, teaching sex prevention to teenagers, teaching about abortion and what it actually does to the unborn child, listening to the women, and encouraging them through these difficult moments in their lives are starting points for change. Many women have abortions without ever hearing the baby's heartbeat or even considering adoption. And for the women who have already had the abortion, how about providing them with counseling and resources to prevent the next unplanned pregnancy. Some states allow women to have multiple abortions (5-6) before they aren't allowed to have any more. Furthermore, the fault lies not only with the women having the abortions, but also with the men who got them pregnant and neglect their responsibilities, and with the society we live in for not providing the help/support/resources that are needed offer alternatives.
By
Anonymous, at 1:59 PM
I sit here holding my newborn daughter and just cringe at the thought of not having her in this world. Abortion is more than an easy way out, it is an easy way in to a pain like no other. Abortion is an evil that no only kills an innocent child but forever leaves a whole in the hearts of the women who choose to have one. There is, and never will be, a situation that constitutes abortion. A child is no less precious and miraculous having come from a rape than a loving home. It is God's way of turning an ugly situation into something good. All too often women forget about adoption as an option. With all that being said, it is my hope that abortions will become banned. However, protesting is not the way to do it. Protesting is a selfish act that produces more harm than good, especially when it is done by those claiming Christianity. Real change, and positive change, comes from educating and helping, not condemning. Offering assistance to mothers who have no resources, teaching about abortion and what it actually does to the unborn child, listening to the women, and encouraging them through these difficult moments in their lives are starting points for change. Many women have abortions without ever hearing the baby's heartbeat or even considering adoption. And for the women who have already had the abortion, how about providing them with counseling and resources to prevent the next unplanned pregnancy. Some states allow women to have multiple abortions (5-6) before they aren't allowed to have any more. Furthermore, the fault lies not only with the women having the abortions, but also with the men who got them pregnant and neglect their responsibilities, and with the society we live in for not providing the help/support/resources that are needed offer alternatives.
By
Anonymous, at 1:59 PM
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