http://gregscouch.homestead.com/Abortion.html
This is the end of the article:
"I was not raised a Christian. But I find in Jesus of Nazareth a countercultural ethic, a message that is more liberal than liberalism and more radical that anything I hear elsewhere. I see in Jesus a God who dies for his enemies. I don't see that anywhere else. I see a God who saves the world through the loss of power. As Tim Keller says, I see that the way up is down, that the way to power is through weakness. I see that as I believe this Jesus more and more, that he gives me an identity, value, and significance rooted in his grace. Therefore, I don't need power, wealth or a high standard of living to have a fulfilling life. Losing these things does not diminish me. I don't need to be right or have 'my people' in office."
"But I do feel compelled to love the weak. The more I understand the gospel and build my identity of the finished work of Christ on my behalf, the more free I am to speak up for the poor, the lonely, the mistreated, and the unborn. The more I look to Jesus, the more I find myself becoming a pro-life liberal in a culture that pits liberalism and the sanctity of life against one another."
The first part of this article makes a powerful argument to make abortions illegal. I agree with most of the reasons why abortions are wrong. I don't know anybody who thinks abortions are good.
A rebuttal I would make if this blog allowed rebuttals:
Jesus didn't condemn even murderers. He will judge us all in the end but He does everything possible to lead us to the right path in the mean time. I can't see him lobbying legislators to demand that the world follow His laws. He waits patiently and teaches us gently. He wants us to come willingly. I can't picture Him throwing 17 year-old girls into jail for any type of sin. I still remember the story of the woman caught in the very act of adultery. It isn't like Him to cast stones. He was showing us how to live. The harsh rhetoric from the right often makes me ashamed. We are not called to judge. We are called to lead the unrighteous to repentance. We are called to care for and to help others.
In short, we are called to help potential mothers at least as much as we are called to help their unborn children. If we do this well, we will be helping them both. Love for both is the answer--a universal reaching out for the purpose of healing and forgiveness. The alternative is killing or jailing the mothers to set an example for other women to persuade them not to have abortions.
I believe that some day the sheep will be separated from the goats. I'm just glad that I don't have to decide that. In the mean time, mere human beings will make tough decisions.
At this point in the soliloquy, I need to admit that I'm entirely inadequate to figure out what to do. Judges, lawyers, lawmakers, presidents, etc. need to make decisions on my behalf. They are supposed to represent the rest of us. They are supposed to protect us from harm while preserving our freedom. I don't know what to tell them. If they pray for guidance, what does God tell them?
Loving is why we're here. Condemnation is not our job. The one who has this job is not sitting where I want to sit.
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