The Abortion Debate: Setting the Tone
May 12, 2008 by Dean
Certain errors are easy to make for those of us passionately committed to the pro-life cause. Those of us who know what abortion really is, who feel the weight of living in a culture that has murdered 50 million of its own children, can begin to let the horror cloud the precision of our thinking.
One easy mistake is to impute the basest possible motives to anyone who holds a position different from ours. When we hear someone define themselves as “pro-choice” it’s easy to view them as lusting after the blood of babies, as delighting in the agony of the weak and defenseless, while they may indeed have some real concern about “a woman’s right to choose.”
For those who know that children are being murdered with impunity every day in this country, admitting such fine distinctions can seem like a waste of time. The problem is that only by admitting them can we see and express truth. And as Christians, we want, above all, to be people of truth. So, we need to make sure we’re holding ourselves to that standard even when the issue is an emotional one.
In the past, I’ve fallen into this error. Late last year I wrote a post about why I thought Buffy, who identified herself as someone who doesn’t believe abortion should be illegal, was really pro-abortion. As I read the post now, I see some of the arguments are still solid. But, they are presented in a more venomous tone than was warranted.
I felt justified in writing that way because I saw Buffy as collaborating with the Culture of Death. At the time, I was unwilling to accept that someone could hold her position and not eagerly wish to see babies murdered. I should have taken more time to seek to understand her position from her point of view. I apologize to Buffy and ask her forgiveness.
After a recent conversation with a friend and some further reflection on my part, I now see that people who say they don’t want to see abortion made illegal or who express concern about women’s freedom might not be motivated by outright love of death. I still believe their arguments are flawed and their goals immoral, but I see how they might be moved by less insidious motives. They could simply be confused, mistaken, or ill-informed. I suppose I always knew that intellectually, but now I see why I need to respond to them with more moderate levels of outrage, reserving the greatest levels of indignation for those who’ve demonstrated a hard-core commitment to bloodletting.
I remain as committed to the pro-life movement as ever. This insight and pledge to change doesn’t indicate a softening of my position. Instead, it only represents, maybe, a softening of my heart in that it is now more willing to speak to people in ways appropriate to who they are and what they really stand for. Maybe, it is now willing to hear more of the truth, and whenever one of us is willing to listen to Truth, our side can only get stronger.
“Less demonic”..?
You lost me with that statement. I’m glad that you have come to the understanding that we should hate the sin not the sinner. That “buffy”, just like me and you, makes bad decisions every minute of every day. And that only through the forgiveness and acceptance of Jesus we can cleanse ourselves. Only to turn around and start the cycle again.
All fall short of perfection. All of us.
There is no reason that we should cast our judgment on others. That is not our right, nor what we are called to do on this planet.
Be clear. If your request from “Buffy” is because you have cast judgment, in error, and want to apologize for this act, then say it straight.
However, if you are somehow inferring that abortion is more complex than you realized, that there may be reasons that people commit this sin that somehow partially absolve them from it? Then, I am in disagreement.
There is nothing more that the Devil would love, than to see us provide excuses, or downgrading the severity of a sin, or even “ranking” sins on different levels. ALL sins are equal. From what we perceive as the worst murder, to the confused actions of a scared pregnant teenager. How we handle ourselves is neither Less, nor More, demonic. If it is not with Him, then it is against Him.
Remember, that if you have made a commitment to be part of the “pro-life” movement, you are walking a thin line. There is only one constant, consistent agent of change on this planet, and that is the Word of Christ. You, personally, can never change a person. You do not have the power to change their mind about their actions. It is not your role. Your role is simple and concise. Plant the seed of Christ, using the Word, and move on. Peacefully, with Mercy.
The entire pro-abortion, pro-choice, movement is nothing more than a symptom of a greater problem. This nation needs to be reminded, at it’s core level about the real Truth. The correct Truth.
Cushy,
I changed the sentence you referenced to make it clearer.
I think I was pretty clear about what I am apologizing for. I wrote that I should have taken more time to try to understand why she holds the position she does, and I should have responded less sarcastically. That’s what I am apologizing for.
Nothing I have said has anything to do with excusing abortion in any way. It all has to do with what is proper behavior on my part, what I ought to expect from myself.
Thank you for apologising.
I am gobsmacked that you ever thought that because someone wasn’t convinced that making all abortion illegal was the best answer to making abortion a thing of the past that therefore they “eagerly want to see babies murdered”. I might as well say that because you want to make it impossible for a woman to have a legal abortion you “eagerly want to see women dying from botched abortions”. Obviously both statements are ridiculous.
Like you, I want to see an end to the aborting of healthy embryos, I just don’t think changing the law will bring about the desired result. I want abortions to end because women no longer make that choice, hence I want to see some serious changes within society about how we view sex and about raising children. I think there is more to be gained from discussing how we can make these changes (as I did on my blog) than in arguing about the rights and wrongs of making abortion illegal.
You can of course argue that I am wrong and that making abortion illegal is the way to bring about this change. But that doesn’t make me pro abortion, it just means we have the same goal but differ in how we believe society can best reach that goal. I am not pro abortion. Do you now understand this and will you please remove the post claiming that I am?
Buffy,
I have removed the post from both sites.
Thank you, I appreciate that. I think it’s good that you willing to listen to people who have a different point of view to you and be prepared to consider their concerns even though it doesn’t change what you sincerely believe.
Thanks, Buffy.