Question: So About Abortion — I Am Pro-People
Anonymous asked:May I ask your views on abortion?
I can safely tell you one thing: no one in the history of anywhere ever has thought, When I grow up, I would really really like to have an abortion.
This isn’t some childhood dream, and no matter where we stand on this issue, no one celebrates abortion or has abortion parties or gives abortion-bouquets. It’s a painful decision that many real living breathing human beings run up against or have endured.
I don’t mean to be glib here, but we’ve turned a very sensitive personal issue into a splashy sensational front-page political position, and you know: it’s not our freaking job to convince anyone of anything, ever. I seriously mean never. We can only present ourselves in a manner worthy of being heard and hope for the best. Forcing by coercion dehumanizes.
If my female friend were considering an abortion, I would do everything in my power to suggest a reconsideration of that option: but if she ultimately decides to get one, I’m not going to lose respect for her. I will not love her less, I will not shame her, I will not treat her differently. I will be there for her.
If my friend does heroin, eats glass, injects alcohol, kicks animals, and plays with grenades, I will do everything in my power to suggest something else (or possibly call the police): but I’m not going to pick up a sign, stand outside a rehab clinic, and picket a bunch of people who are already suffering through situations that I can barely understand. That’s called “subtle as a sledgehammer.” It’s to diminish and minimize our humanity.
What our world has done is what it always does: take a human issue, force two sides against each other, come up with all kinds of wonderfully articulate arguments, and ratchet up the volume.
No one will say it, but all this screaming from pro-whoever and “two-sides partisan” stuff is just selfish people with bullhorns expressing their political ideology for spoiled entitled rights, and underneath that is mere self-promotion and vanity. Satan is laughing his butt off.
Forget ALL the arguments for a second, whether you think it’s murder or the fetus is a parasite or the it’s-my-body-thing. I mean is this really the only damn way to approach something? Does anyone see how crazy this is? Most people can only see this way because it’s all they know, but many stay in angry ignorance. All the yelling ignores that teenager who has to make this life-shaping decision. None of us are coming together for her.
We also set up a microscope over a tiny slice of the problem. Abortion is like a tiny link in the chain. How about pro-infancy? How about pro-children? How about making adoption a viable option? How about education on pregnancy and relationships and better parenting? And if a woman were to choose abortion, how about not shaming them? How about giving them choices for counseling and offering grace through Christ? And preachers: how about not condemning them as if they are in a different category of sinner than you are? How about the church unite to help the healing process?
Just think: I wonder where Jesus would be while hate-mongering criminals are blowing up abortion clinics and killing abortion doctors. Jesus would be in the clinic, with the women, with the doctors. He’d show them their options but love them the same. He would not be outside in the ridiculous noise of nearsighted morons who enjoy the sound of their own voices.
I want to be where Jesus is. I want to be the church that opens doors, not waves signs.
I am absolutely not condoning abortion, but if you step back and look at what we’ve done with the issue, it is downright upside-down insane. Every woman who is considering abortion or has had one also has a story, has hopes and dreams and a purpose like every other God-created human being. Let’s love her. Let’s help her to consider other options. But let’s love her regardless of what she chooses.
