This is a very painful issue for me. It hurts me to paint some of my Christian brothers and sisters in this way, but there is more truth to it than unfair criticism.
I am a Christian, and I am not an anti-abortionist. I am not a "pro-life" advocate, as the anti-abortionist camp prefers to be called. Don't get me wrong—I believe abortion is a sin. But it's not the only one; here are a few more: keeping the poor in their place, imposing political will on others, failing to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, snd many other hypocrisies that we see everywhere around us.
The truth is that abortion is not the only thing in the world that matters. The Apostle Paul told us to lift others up, to do everything that we can to help them, and to be good Christians by example. The Lord Himself has demanded that we treat the poor and the outsiders well. In fact, twice He brought ancient Israelite civilization down in direct response to their disdain for their own poor.
Many Christians here in North America focus on abortion first and foremost, turning a blind eye to most everything else. Pastor David Barnhart puts it well: focusing on abortion above all else is misguided. We Christians should carefully consider his words, rather than ignoring him, or dismissing him as some kind of traitor.
We should also recognize that he isn't alone - Evangelical Minister Rob Schenck shares his perspective, and a quick Google search will reveal many other Christian leaders who feel the same way.
Stopping Abortion
We Christians shout that abortion violates the sixth commandment - that it's murder. We are determined to stop it at any cost, regardless of who is affected or what the consequences may be. And when we succeed, we will consider the job done. We seem to think that by just ending legalized abortion, the problem is solved, we can forget about it, and get on with our lives. That's probably not the way...
Who are these people getting abortions?
The truth is those who go to the abortion clinics are for the most part, very desperate people. The majority of them are poor. Single mothers fearing that they'll be unable to make ends meet with another child, or won't be able to support their family without working; frightened teenage girls unable to tell their parents; poor or financially strained married women with families. But it’s not just the poor—women with money and careers might also be in a state of desperation when faced with an unplanned pregnancy. These are the people who go to the abortion clinics; many of them reluctantly, and almost all of them desperate to the point of panic.
What do we think about these people?
How do we Christians respond to these desperate people? At best, we ignore their plight; at worst we vilify them and despise them. How is this Christ-like behavior? Remember this: Jesus' second commandment tells us that we are to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. There are no caveats for this commandment—it doesn't say "unless your neighbor is poor," or "unless your neighbor has different politics," or even "unless your neighbor is planning to have an abortion." It doesn’t even say, “unless your neighbor is a criminal or a murderer.” We are to love others as we love ourselves. Period. No exceptions.
And let’s be clear: obeying the Savior’s first commandment isn’t enough. We need to love The Father with all our hearts, and love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. Both. Not just the first one, for it is written that whoever loves God must also love his brother.
If we ignore our neighbor's desperation, how can we claim that we love them as we love ourselves? If we're being honest, we can't say that we do. We can put on our blinders and insist that our behavior is justified because we're trying to prevent murder. Does that make ignoring our neighbor’s plight okay? Does it make failing to love them acceptable? Does it make it okay to disregard Jesus' second commandment? These are tough questions. We don't actually have the authority to add caveats to Jesus' second commandment, do we?
So how should we respond to abortion?
How about meeting our neighbor's desperation by acting like responsible members of a free society, and engage in dialog to find solutions that seek compromise? If not that, how about acting in a Christ-like manner with compassion, character, and concern?
Wouldn’t that be better than ignoring our neighbor's desperation, and worse, forcing our ideas of morality on others? If we're so dead against abortion, why can't we try doing something positive? We should do more than just talk the talk; we should be real Christians, and walk the walk. If we are truly passionate about this issue, maybe we should put some skin in the game.
Walk the walk
What if we were to give our energy and give our money to the abortion clinics? For our time and money, we could afford an office at the front, ensuring that everybody who comes in gets an interview with a caring and understanding Christian. In that interview we wouldn’t criticize, scold, or speak in an accusatory manner. We would not even mention “murder.” Instead, we’d be there to help.
We can tell the woman that she doesn't have to go through with an abortion. We could give her options. What about adoption? We could help with that. Too poor to have the child and be off work? We'd provide financial aid. Too afraid to discuss with your family? We'd help you with that, or even find you a safe place to stay. Can't afford to support the unborn child? We'd give you financial aid to raise, feed and educate your child. And if that doesn't change her mind, that's okay—we did our best.
Now what?
So now, how willing are we to walk the walk? We have shown that we can be judgmental and angry, and indifferent to our neighbor's desperation. Can we do a complete 180, and show compassion? Can we demonstrate understanding? Can we say that we are willing to help another in need?
Well, I hope so. Because if we can't, then we are sorry Christians indeed, and we don't measure up very well.
