Midweek: What Do You Say?

DEBATE: to deliberate; consider; to discuss or examine by argument. To strive to maintain by reasoning

I recently posted something opposing abortion. I understand how moral and political differences are things about which we can be passionate, and I do believe there are those who use differences of opinion to divide (and subsequently conquer). I believe intelligent debate is necessary; I urge everyone to listen, respect, but first and foremost, pray. Pray for the other person and their opinion; pray for wisdom and temperance; pray for God to receive glory in the debate. As such, today I am posting my response to those who opposed my point of view. I pray these responses may help others when debating the issue of abortion. I believe the discussion that took place online was not disrespectful or hateful though opinions were very different. I greatly appreciate the grace shown to me by those who engaged.

    The first comment was from someone who assumed I was advocating our country is or should be a theocracy. My post had not mentioned God, but I could understand this person defaulting toward "Evangelical Trumpers." My response was thus:

I'm not an "Evangelical," just someone who can't see how justice is killing another human being for my own bad judgment or outright recklessness; just someone who understands biology and reproduction; just someone who believes when we deny human rights to some humans, we deny human rights to all humans. Neither one of those things -- Evangelical or "Trumpers" --is necessarily a Christ-like point of view.

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    Another said, "Life isn't always so black and white;" a person’s decisions about their body (& their pregnancy) "is for THEM just as yours are for YOU. ...Why is it so difficult to accept how others live & exist? The sooner we learn to accept this, the bigger our capacity is to understand & be content with the world outside of our own." I responded this way:

I don't see how a human being's existence is my choice. I don't see how humanity exterminating itself is a good idea. I don't understand how an innocent person should pay for my bad decisions. I don't agree with denying human rights to any group simply because they are weaker or less verbal or whatever. I'm not advocating prosecuting doctors or couples who must make a life-for-life decision (Mom will die if this pregnancy goes to term) -- that's a "belief" thing to me; but those cases are certainly the exception to the rule in the way abortions are being performed today. You ask, "Why is it so difficult to accept how others live or exist?" I am encouraging just that -- life, existence. "Pro-choice" and "pro-abortion" advocates should ask themselves that question: "Why is it so difficult for me to accept this child was put here to live & exist?"

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    To someone who cites the humanity of abortion in cases of rape or incest, and says those "looking in from the outside" make things appear so black & white. They cite a lack of resources needed to have and raise a child. "If you don't want an abortion then don't have one. Just don't then try to make that choice for me." My response was as follows:

It comes down to determining if we are a society that protects the weakest of its members and does not seek to exterminate itself. Secondly, w/r/t rape or incest, I experienced a level of both. Had a baby been conceived, murdering that child would not have removed the pain and trauma; to believe so is foolish --that is established by the years of pain experienced by many of those who did not conceive a child. Likewise, the "children of rape or incest" should never be burdened with such a label even from conception; they are children (period) and should never be aborted simply because of a terrible biological parent. Lastly, as for my "looking from the outside," I and several of my friends have adopted or are adopting. I and several of my friends have had abortions and greatly regret not only our decisions but the ease with which they were readily available. I and several of my friends live well below the poverty line. To turn the issue over to each state INDIVIDUALLY, making abortion an issue reflective of the LOCAL population's views, does not make it illegal across the board? If the state DOES make it illegal, doesn't that simply mean it's what the majority of its citizens want? Welcome to majority-based legislation.

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    A friend graciously shared her story and her reasons for abortion, admitting she still grieves that decision. She asks if a ten-year old (implied: "rape victim") should have to go through birth and states that some do not have the necessary resources to have or raise a child. She instructs, "not everyone who is Christian is conservative": 

I think, perhaps, we see things differently not because I am "conservative" or "liberal" or whatever, but because I have seen what God can do, and when I can't see it, I am prepared to believe He will do it anyway -- better than I imagine. In Scripture, Christ followers are not only NOT separated into categories but are given a new single identity and are now one family. Christ followers believe everything God says or we don't. When I hear things like "not everyone has..." I wonder just how important are those things. They are as important as we make them. If "not everyone has..." makes abortion permissible, few of us would have been born. Do I really think a ten-year-old should have to go through birth? Of course not, just as a ten-year-old "should not have to" go through cancer or any sort of abuse. Do I think a three-week old baby should be ripped limb from limb? Of course not. Abortion makes it okay to do so to a child in the womb, resting in what is designed to be the safest of all places. Will that help the ten-year old deal with her trauma, or will it simply cause a grief that both you and I have experienced as adults? (Thank you so much for your transparency, by the way. That must have been such a difficult time for you.) As for me "not getting" the health reasons for which people may want to legalize abortion, I'm not saying there is a good solution to rape or birth defects or a mother's health; I'm saying abortion isn't it. And, as has been noted, those cases are certainly in the minority of abortions. I'm sure you know someone who had a stillborn child or lost a child at some point. What a sad, sad thing. And I can't imagine the fear in a mother's heart when a doctor tells her that her child won't live past a certain age or might have a severe disability. But what if the mother of that stillborn had been warned in a dream, or the mother of the child killed in a car accident had some sort of premonition? Grief is a terrible part of this world. We will never eliminate it; abortion multiplies it. God, however, uses even that for His glory. And while I realize not everyone sees this as I do, what sort of light would I be if I didn't warn people that murder solves nothing or encourage people that God can do far more than we expect?

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I hope some portion of this discussion will help you as you navigate debates you may encounter. Do not shy away, but holding fast to the truth of God's law and by the power of the Holy Spirit, engage and proclaim Jesus Christ. Be blessed today!