We had a wonderful time dealing with some very tough questions last night at Sanctuary. I would like to thank all who participated. Unfortunately, we did not get to all of them, and I know some of you were unable to make it due to some religious fascination with football ;-].
Here are some very challenging ones I'd like us to explore:
Question: How as "christians" can we preach against abortion but not do
anything to stop it. In Shane Claiborne's book "Irresitable Revolution"
he states that "if he (we) are going to be pro-life/ anti-abortion than
we better be willing to adopt some babies."
Is the grace that God gives big enough for anything?
If I had an abortion would I be considered a murderer? Even though I
DONT believe life begins at conception. However other people I have
talked to said i was no better than one?
Answer: There are really three questions here. To the first, I would agree we are not doing all we could to deal with the problem of abortion. The debate got so loud and angry over the past three decades, I think many of us just wanted to plug our ears and pretend it would go away. It hasn't. I would agree with the foundation of Shane's reflection. The Church should be willing to "adopt some babies," but people who put their children up for adoption have already made a choice not to abort, so we still haven't gotten to the heart of the issue. CrossRoads financially supports New Life Family Services (and I know some of our members work there), but it still seems like such a drop in the bucket when considering the overwhelming problem. Furthermore, I don't believe the Church has done a very good job of being a place that ministers to women who have suffered the trauma of abortion. I know there are many in our congregation who live with the pain of their choice to have had an abortion, and yet do not feel they can open up about the trauma within the church and receive healing and acceptance.
I am at a loss. What do you think? What can Christians do today to help protect the unborn and minister to those who have had abortions?
In answer to the second part of the question, I would say the grace of God is big enough to cover all sins. The apostle Paul was complicit in the murder of the disciple Stephen, yet he became the most prolific writer in the New Testament. King David, was a man "after God's own heart," but he was also an adulterer and a murderer (see 2 Samuel 11-12). Moses murdered an Egyptian, etc. The Bible is filled with notorious but forgiven sinners. Of course, the Bible does speak of the unforgiveable sin (blasphemy against the Spirit, see Matt. 12:31, but that sin is usually characterized by the simple rejection of grace offered through Christ.) For a clear understanding of forgiveness, look at Romans 5-8. Romans 8:1-2 states: "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death."
In answer to the third question, I would reframe the discussion just a bit. First of all we're all murderers in some sense (see Matthew 5:21-22), and we are all guilty of breaking the whole law of God (see James 2:10-11). The real thing you're asking is are you guilty of the sin of murder even though you don't believe life begins at conception. I would say your "belief" is not the issue here. The real question is not about when you "believe" life begins, but when God says life begins. If sin is operating outside of God's will, our "beliefs" are not the authority. God's will is the standard. Example: I had a friend in Phoenix who believed God was calling him to kill his father. Was his belief wrong? Of course. Our beliefs do not set the standard, only God sets the standard. Are the Scriptures clear on when life begins? There is a lot of disagreement. I look to Psalm 139:
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
All that said, we are all sinners. We have all fallen short of God's glorious standard, but hear the good news of Jesus Christ! "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong" (1 John 1.9).