An excerpt:
It appears that millions of evangelicals, especially younger ones, are experiencing fetus fatigue. They are tired of the abortion issue taking center stage; it is time to move on to newer, hipper things--the sort of issues that excite Bono: aid to Africa, the environment, and cool tattoos. Abortion has been legal since they were born; it is the old guard that gets exercised about millions of abortions over the years. So, let's not worry that Barak Obama and Hillary are pro-choice. That is a secondary issue. After all, neither could do that much damage regarding this issue.
Evangelicals (if that word has any meaning), for God's sake, please wake up and remember the acres of tiny corpses you cannot see. Yes, the Christian social vision is holistic. We should endeavor to restore shalom to this beleaguered planet. That includes helping Africa, preserving the environment, and much more. However, the leading domestic moral issue remains the value of helpless human life. Since Roe v. Wade, approximately 50 million unborn humans have been killed through abortion. Stalin said, "One death is a tragedy. A million dead is a statistic." Too many are now Stalinists on abortion. The numbers mean nothing, apparently. The vast majority of these abortions were not done to save the life of the mother, a provision I take to be justified. Things have reached the point where bumper stickers say, "Don't like abortion, don't have one." It is simply a matter of private, subjective taste. But how about this: "Don't like slavery, don't own slaves"? Two human beings are involved in this matter, inescapably.
(HT: Vitamin Z)
6 comments:
Exactly. Thanks for posting this...and great title!
I agree. Abortion has become a non-sexy issue.
However, our faith has been placed in politicians to end abortion and they have used us as a voting bloc instead of doing something about the problem of abortion. Bush has chosen two conservative SC judges, so we'll see if anything happens legally toward ending it. Abortion has become the Republicans Social Security (i.e. Democrats use SS as a voting issue every year - but even when they are in power, nothing gets done about it so it can remain a issue to run on).
Color my cynical when it comes to politicians fixing this problem, I guess.
Call me naive...but I seem to think that there is some connection between the legalization of abortion and the apparently rampant and blatant disregard of all human life in this country...we have people killing others for no reason (then killing themselves), parents killing their children (then themselves...like that makes it any better), and a general disregard for basic human respect.
Am I reaching, or preaching or perhaps both?
Color my cynical when it comes to politicians fixing this problem, I guess
Daniel, me too. As I become more and more enamored with the countercultural gospel of Jesus and his kingdom, I become less and less enamored with politics and politicization.
I don't place my faith in politicians to rid the nation of abortion any more than I think any legislation can eradicate any sin. I think hearts and minds must be changed through the power of the Spirit as the Church lives out its calling almost entirely apart from political campaigning.
Still.
I like what Bill said in the comments at the Thinklings:
I think asking if it's "winnable" is the wrong question. We should ask is it right, or is it wrong. I believe it will only be won in the hearts and minds of people, not necessarily through political action. But that doesn't mean we should just punt on the issue at the national level.
If we're going to vote, if we're going to be engaged politically at all, surely legalized infanticide is something that should factor into our political motivation.
If we framed this like slavery, the Church was winning hearts and minds, but surely none of us today would say politics shouldn't have been "used" to address the issue of the sale and ownership of human beings.
I think the difference is, as you pointed out, where one puts one's faith.
Diane, I think you're on to something. Not sure which way the cause and effect works on that, but I do think our culture regards human life cheaply.
I agree completely. I have never been able to bring myself to vote for a pro-choice candidate for the simple reason that I believe it is murder of a baby. That's why, even though a candidate may be right on so many things (Guliani, Ah-Nold, etc.), the simple fact that they think it is OK to kill a baby would keep me from voting for them.
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