I read an article this morning about being pro-life, anti-abortion, and the false assumption that caring for orphans is a sufficient contribution toward (replacement for) combatting the issue of abortion. The article is well-written and thought provoking.
Abortion and adoption are not opposite sides of the same coin. I am not familiar with Carr (who is referenced in the article), but I thought the author's counter to Carr's point was presented fairly, in kindness, and without detracting from all things right about what Carr promotes. Babies threatened by abortion have only a month, or two, or *cringe* nine to be rescued. Orphaned children, while also prone to suffering, have "time." I don't know if I ever really thought about th
We live in a lost world, no question. But, maybe it isn't just about giving money, rallying for votes against pro-abortion candidates or legislation, or even about the focus on saving lives of unborn babies at the doorstep of abortion clinics. Shouldn't we be working toward the salvation of souls of the parents before they reach that point? (No, we don't save them, but we are the ones to tell them. "How then will they call on him home they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to here without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, quotation mark how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" Romans 10:14, 15 ESV.)
Ultimately, abortion is an act of selfishness driven by fear and it knows no social, ethnic, economic, or even religious boundaries. The number of mothers (who choose to abort) who claim to be Christians is staggering. Many do it out of fear of reprisal, shame, and ridicule because of the very visible proof of their sin; essentially, a lack of grace shown on the part of the believers (us) in their circles.
Until Christians stop treating church attendance like a social club or obligation and start realizing the church building is merely a hospital for the sin-sick where each of us is afflicted; where Jesus has given the antidote for a condition of which we are all still carriers, there will be no reduction in the number of lives destroyed by abortion. Our "own" women are killing their babies, meanwhile wounding their very own souls in ways they can never imagine but will realize after it is too late. They cannot know the damage they are doing. After all, how does one continue to live comfortably with the knowledge that they have taken a life? Worse than the pain of their own guilt is the pain WE inflict as we ridicule them, condemn them, and even ignore them; sometimes without even knowing. There are broken people all around you; in your neighborhoods, your workplaces, your church pews, and even. your. own. families. We let people filter in and out of our churches without a word, assuming that the pastor (it's his job, right?) will share Christ with them, the Sunday school teacher will show them Jesus. What about you? Maybe the woman in your pew needs to see Jesus from you... From someone who knows what it is like to be in her shoes. Instead, we speak openly, condemning, criticizing, rejecting people who don't look, think, or act like we do without ever considering that those we condemn may actually be standing in our midst; without ever considering that it may be the one opportunity a person around us has to see who Jesus really is.
Come on, church! What did Jesus save you from? What is your contribution to His death? Quit wasting your energy trying to hide your own sin and use your experiences to reach those who are hurting. If they only knew what you have been through they might just believe there is a place at the foot of the cross for them, too.
There is no cure, but Jesus, for the epidemic of abortion, or for any other "cause" we support- all of which are a result of living in this fallen world. Self-proclaimed believers (we) need to assess their (our) lives, as the author of the article recommended, and own up to being carriers with the CURE on board, instead of continuing to live as if they (we) are still dying from the disease. We have become too comfortable in this home-away-from-home and have forgotten we are only travelers here. Isn't it time we focus a little less on what we can get here and more on who we might bring with us as we travel?
Lord, take my selfish focus off of my own comfort and direct it to the needs of the people in this lost and dying world. Center my focus on the cause of Christ. Help me to shake off my desire to arrange a life where my own edification takes center stage. Give me a mind for sensibility, a knack for efficiency, and a heart for generosity. Remind me daily that I am a carrier of this sin-sickness and that because I am it makes me the perfect candidate to bring others to the Physician; then, Lord, help me to work to that end.
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