We
have just finished a month in which the pro-life movement focuses on
the issue of life. I personally support the issue, yet have found myself
at odds with many of those who agree with me on the issue.
It’s not because I disagree with them; it’s because they are so disagreeable.
For
example, when someone who is pro-life goes around calling pro-choice
people “murderers” because they disagree, it’s not helping show how much
prolife people care about children. Likewise, words like “liberals,”
“socialists,” “devils,” “killers,” and words I cannot write here show
instead how we often do not really love our neighbor as ourselves.
I for one am completely convinced a person can be both pro-life and pro-love.
Why?
Because Jesus was. Okay, so technically he never spoke directly about
abortion, but he highly valued the lives of children, women, and all
people, including those considered sinners and outcasts by others. In
fact, we are told he gave his life for us all (which would also include
those in the womb).
Further, Jesus taught his disciples that the
world would know we are his followers by the love we have for one
another. John elsewhere even says if we cannot love those we can see,
how can we love a God we cannot see?
The overwhelming emphasis of
the New Testament is that Jesus taught life was sacred and worth dying
for. He also taught that all people are worth dignity and respect
regardless of their beliefs.
So I’m pro-life and pro-love. Hoping
to start a club or at least a Facebook page of others who are like
minded. If you want to help lead this thing, message me on Facebook and you’re in charge.
Let’s love God, love pro-choice people, love pro-life people, and love the unborn–just like Jesus does.
[This originally posted Friday but is here for those who missed it.]
+++
DILLON
BURROUGHS is an author, activist, and co-founder of Activist Faith.
Dillon served in Haiti following the epic 2010 earthquake and has
investigated modern slavery in the US and internationally. His books
include Undefending Christianity, Not in My Town (with Charles J.
Powell), and Thirst No More (October). Discover more at DillonBurroughs.org.
posted February 21, 2011 at 3:50 pm
Quite reasonable. Thank you.
posted February 21, 2011 at 6:27 pm
In case you missed it, here was my response.
I like the friendly tenor, though I have some disagreements:
Okay, so technically he never spoke directly about abortion, but he highly valued the lives of children, women, and all people, including those considered sinners and outcasts by others.
Yes, but those were people. Not blastocysts, not zygotes, not embryos, not fetuses. If he’d wanted to protect those he (according to the story) could have said something. And he didn’t.
In fact, we are told he gave his life for us all (which would also include those in the womb)
In fact we are told over and over that we have to acceptJesus, and no bzef can do that. Heck, no baby can do that. Are you saying all this religion stuff isn’t necessary?
He also taught that all people are worth dignity and respect regardless of their beliefs.
Very important point. Often overlooked.
posted February 21, 2011 at 6:33 pm
I just pasted that and of course it didn’t work. I’ll put it right.
I like the friendly tenor, though I have some disagreements:
Yes, but those were people. Not blastocysts, not zygotes, not embryos, not fetuses. If he’d wanted to protect bzefs he (according to the story) could have said something. And he didn’t.
In fact we are told over and over that we have to accept Jesus, and no bzef can do that. Heck, no baby can do that. Are you saying all this religion stuff isn’t necessary?
Very important point. Often overlooked.
posted February 22, 2011 at 7:59 pm
Well, I agree with you nnmns, but I still think Dillon was being quite reasonable. For those who are Christian and think that abortion is “murder,” even though Dillon does not like using that term, they should do the Christian thing and love the person, but disagree with their beliefs. We don’t have to have the same beliefs to love one another.
I take a similar approach as Dillon with people who are pro-life. I disagree with the pro-life stance, but accept and love the people who embrace it.
posted February 23, 2011 at 11:48 am
Thanks for the comments. Good to see people can politely disagree on this issue (at least here!).
The Bible, in other places, talks about God knowing us before we were formed and “knitting us together” in the womb. While it is important to be careful not to make the text say something it does not, the tone of Scripture is one that values life at all stages of development.
Early Christians (second century) were very pro-life and explicitly taught to stand for the unborn (Tertullian and others). This view has a long history in the church based on the Judeo-Christian view of life as being made in the image of God.