Abortion: An Appeal
- Martin Luther King Jr.
While Dr. King spoke these words to dissuade the increasing leanings of some of his followers towards violence, its wisdom speaks volume to the Church today as we seek to represent Christ and His Kingdom purposes. So often, in the zeal of our own certainty and moral authority, we respond with a deep disregard for the violence of our words and attitudes. Whether it is attacking an opposing theological belief or church practice, or denouncing cultural immorality, too often we undermine the authority as ambassadors of a loving God with our language, our tone, our unwillingness to even listen to others.
Perhaps one of the most promising trends in the emerging church is a change in this impulse, a willingness to ask the questions that otherwise would not be asked- not as a reflection of moral compromise, but rather as a genuine gesture of humility and honour to all involved. My recent series of posts on homosexuality would not likely have been so well received by people on either side of the issue in years past. As I said, it is a promising indicator of may yet be to come.
There is one topic that truly challenges not only the practice of this new approach, but questions its very appropriateness: abortion. My own emotions rage when I consider the millions of lives lost daily to this practice. I am unequivocal in my belief that abortion is wrong, representing one of the most distressing drifts of humanity away from God’s intentions for Creation. Let that be clear from the very beginning.
However, I believe that Dr. King’s wisdom still needs to be heeded- perhaps more so, given the gravity of what is at stake where abortion is concerned. Too often the intensity of our emotions and the certainty of our convictions can blind us to the impact our response can have in effecting real change. While most of us understand the wrongness of extremists who use violence to stop abortion, too few of us recognize the very real violence of our language and attitude.
When we fail to acknowledge that we approach the issue with fundamentally different presuppositions, we fail to recognize that both sides perceive the other as something they are not- religious nuts on one side, blood thirsty murders on the other. As long we continue in these terms, the issue will continue to fester, ripe for the exploitation of cunning politicians and manipulative fundamentalist (noting that neither politicians nor fundamentalist are always so inclined).
Consider, for example, how the issue is framed by those who support abortion: Pro-choice. Rooting it at the heart women’s rights, abortion is no longer simply about the sanctity of life for them. It is about taking back some of the power stolen from them throughout history by (often) abusively patriarchal cultures. Sadly, the Church has far too often been complicit in this treatment of women. Herein lies the problem: in our fierce refusal to hear the pro-choice argument, we simultaneously dismiss the issue of women’s rights. No matter how disconnected our stance on the one is from the other, we cannot ignore that connection for them.
Additionally, regardless of how technically true it might be, throwing around words like “murder” and “genocide” is hardly likely to appeal to a persons willingness to consider. Jesus had many opportunities to state absolute facts about the true nature of the sinners around Him, but He knew to whom He had been called. He knew who needed Him the most. He saved His clearest critiques for those who should have known better- the established religious community.
My appeal, then, is to consider how we might reframe our approach to bringing change on this significant issue (and so many others). I am not suggesting that this task will not be difficult, never wanting to compromise. However, let us rather demonstrate the power of Christ being working transformation into the hearts and lives of the nations through love, grace and service. We have spent too long promoting and protecting a faith whose central tenant was being right. Now is the time to manifest the “embracing grace” that extended to us while we were yet sinners. The stakes are too high not to.
