Pro-life. Pro-life? Really? Like "for life"? Like for real?
I'm not sure we're really pro-life. It seems we're typically anti-abortion... not pro-life. We have to just be honest about this. We should even go as far as to say we're pro-American-life. Do we even blink when children in other nations are killed by war? 15,000 kids will starve to death today around the world. Where's the outrage in our churches? Where's the religious right? We don't say we're anti-abortion because it just doesn't sound good. In fact, even the pro-choice side would say they're anti-abortion. But it's much easier to be polarizing.
Are we really pro-life? Could we channel the protests outside the abortion clinics to outside the White House? Are the same people holding signs outside the abortion clinics the same ones wanting us to put people to death in prison? How can we say, "Don't kill the baby," but then be for war? I believe we can be more than just anti-abortion--we can really be pro-life. And not just brain wave/heart beat life. Like real... quality... life.
What if we were really serious about the life of the unborn child? What if instead of just talking about not having an abortion, we addressed the systemic problems around abortion? What if we began to address poverty and education? What if we had signs outside the abortion clinics saying that we would take the woman and child in and help raise them? What if we covered all their medical expenses and made sure they grew up in a safe environment? That would be doing more than simply saying "don't." We would give them options and give legitimacy to being "pro-life."
I think the critique of the pro-lifers is true. We care about the unborn child, but typically we really don't care what happens once the child is born. Once the baby is breathing, we move on to the next unborn child. We fail to address the quality of life for these children. This has to change.
If we're really going to be pro-life, we have to ask why our churches aren't full of foster parents. We have to ask why we have bedrooms that sit empty in our houses. We have to begin to explain why we care more about the deaths of our countrymen, than the children of other nations. We have to confess that we really value people who look and talk like us over others. It's at this place that we can begin to be honest and attempt to make changes. It is only then that we can acknowledge that we value human life and we value the image of God in others.
This is a call for consistency. The world knows what we're against. I'm just wondering if we can really be for life no matter where that life is, what color the skin, or what language she speaks. My prayer is that we would really be pro-life.
freethinker777 
Comments (38)
If the people who said they were pro-life were actually pro-life, I'm pretty sure the stance on the death penalty would be pretty different. I think that if people were pro-life they wouldn't just fight abortion, but the death penalty, poverty, genocide, world illiteracy. Things would be different if we were consistent huh?
::ovation::
Can I kiss you? Oh, and I agree about this as #10. I change my vote. And I think I'm gonna link the world to this post (er...well... at least everyone I can in my own little world, and maybe they'll do the same with those in their world.)
The Quiverfull movement should be great candidates for eager adoption parents.
Good post.
Along with addressing poverty and education, how about mandatory sterilization for every man or woman who has ever had parental rights terminated... and don't take 2-3+ years to terminate rights when a drug-addicted parent is repeatedly abusing his or her children... Some people shouldn't be parents.
Poverty solutions need to be renewable and long-lasting, though - if you just feed a generation of people, and they grow up in an environment that can't support the population, typically you end up with wars over the inadequate resources.
We must be reading two different Bibles. I encourage you to read the one that these verses are found in:
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. [Since you liked my brackets, here's some more. This verse is simple - If we love Jesus, we will keep His commandments. By the way, the Holy Spirit wrote the entire Bible, so what Paul says are the words of God, too.]
Don't be a hypocrite. You say you believe in Jesus, then believe what He says.
Also,I think you have your Bible stories mixed up. There were no accusers at the well, just Jesus and the woman, and he definitely called out her sin - "thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband". (John 4:5-29). The woman caught in adultery had accusers (John 8:3-11).
Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 ((((Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you)))): and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. [Telling it straight to others about what the Bible clearly teaches about important things such as sin is part of the Great Commission.]
Matthew 7:26-27 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. [One who does not do the sayings of Jesus after hearing them is foolish.]
The same Jesus that said "Love thy neighbor as thyself" said, (Matthew 5:27-30) "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."
The Jesus in my Bible considers sin something that would cause someone to go to hell. This is one of the sayings that we are supposed to teach.
And, it is hate not to warn others:
Leviticus 19:17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him.
1 Timothy 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. (in your Bible, this might read "thou shalt not love thy brother. . . thou shalt not rebuke thy neighbor" and "them that sin say nothing at all to")
I wonder, why have you not directly addressed any of the verses I've quoted? and why haven't you quoted any verses yourself? Surely if your argument had any merit it could be backed up with Bible verses.
Well said. :) I agree wholeheartedly.
Peace,
Jamie
RYC:" Thanks for stopping by and sharing your ideas. I would LOVE to use something like that for the study. Unfortunately, every site I've been to so far with access to it says you either have to pay up or be a member at their particular college with a login name and password. BUMMER.
Any other suggestions?? :)
Peace,
Jamie