Abortion and the Gospel The Church needs to speak boldly against abortion, but more boldly still about the love of Christ for sinners considering and perhaps even participating in abortion” Abortion and the Meaning of Parenthood Does the availability abortion, and of various pre-natal methods of diagnosis, make a parent responsible if a child is born “defective” in some way? If the essence of our humanity consists in our freedom, in taking control, we will have to think of parenthood in a corresponding way. But that may mean the loss of much humane wisdom—the wisdom that sees a parent as one who stands before the child as God’s representative but certainly not as God, the wisdom which knows that to accept full responsibility for what our children are and become is to cut the root that will nourish them as children, the root that is the unconditional love of a parent. …And So the Toll Begins Death will soon be referred to as Choice, and politicians will solemnly dedicate themselves to making it “safe, legal, and rare.” Children of Light The darkness of Roe v. Wade gives children of light opportunities to share with those who feel trapped in the darkness Jesus’ powerful words of hope: “I have come into the world as a light so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” (John 12:46). The Economics of Abortion: Dannemeyer and Hyde Since abortion was legalized in 1973 over 40 million abortions have taken place. This means that the U.S. population is over 40 million smaller than it would be without those abortions. Thus, the American labor force is now missing 9 years of people over the age of 17, or 13½ million. No wonder there is a labor shortage. This shortage has impacted immigration, taxes, social security, future homebuyers, and the availability of people for every occupation. Faith-based Abortion? Planned Parenthood is trying to bring sex-education programs and abortion counseling into churches. Fearfully and Wonderfully Made While the abortion debate remains largely theoretical for many people, it is much more than a political issue for me—it is deeply personal. I was faced with the abortion decision 23 weeks into my second pregnancy. An ultrasound revealed that little Madeleine and Margaret were joined at the chest, attached from below the breastbone to above where their belly buttons would have been. My obstetrician urged me to “terminate the pregnancy.” I told him I would not kill my daughters; I wanted to give them the best chance at life that I could. Hippocrates or Hypocrite Most doctors have taken an oath not to commit abortion or euthanasia. A History Summary of Abortion from Antiquity Through Legalization (1973) This except of A Christian View of Abortion, by Dr. John W. Klotz is excellent summary of the history of abortion practice and abortion law from antiquity through the period of the legalization of abortion in 1973. The reader should keep in mind that this was written in 1973 and the perspective and the statistics are generally from that time period. Human Ethics and Animal Rights It seems incongruous that even as we freely kill unborn humans made in the image of God in demonstration of “a woman’s right to choose,” we find ourselves defending the helpless non-human creature whom we apparently value more than an unborn human child. In Loco Parentis Artificial wombs might end abortion, but the price would be the end of the family. Intensive Snare The ACLU tries to force pro-life hospitals to perform abortions. Katie’s Story Each woman’s reason for choosing an abortion is unique. Yet, there is one thread that runs through many women’s stories—the thread of insecurity. And often that thread is tangled with the threads of alcohol or drug abuse. Katie’s story is shot through with all those threads. Years later, while pregnant, she had to confront what she had done. It was through a Christian woman friend, ironically one who couldn’t have her own children, that Katie finally listened to the message she’d heard so often: that God forgives. “I do know one thing for certain,” she says triumphantly. “And that is that I am most definitely forgiven.” Lawmakers Lawbreakers Even though churches have lost significant influence over society, they do at least retain authority over their own members. A look at churches that are considering the exercise of discipline over pro-abortion politicians. A Letter to My Birthmother “I am writing this letter to thank and encourage all the birthmothers who may read it… You made the right choice, and I thank God every day for that.” The Many Victims of Abortion Unborn babies aren’t the only losers through abortion. Their mothers, fathers, siblings and society at large are hurt as well. Population Implosion Many nations are aborting their future generations creating a worldwide under population crisis. Relics of the Saints, Abortion, and Gay “Marriage” An obscure religious practice, the termination of human life in the womb and the increasingly strident push for recognition of same sex unions seem to have little in common. But actually there is a common though contradictory thread: the attitude toward the physical. To honor the remains of a saint was to honor the work of God, for those bones were God’s creation and had been his dwelling place. This attitude to the physical, to the body, could not be more different when it comes to today’s world, and many church bodies, when it comes to abortion or gay “marriage”. Here the body is deemed of very little or no value at all. The church must be sure not to grow deaf to the eloquence and significance with which God has endued the human body. The Secret Pain There is hope for women and men who are suffering from the secret pain of participating in an abortion. It is Jesus! In Jesus, all who confess their sin are cleansed and forgiven (1 Tim. 1:15). In Jesus, the captive is set free (Gal. 5:1)! Jesus fills the empty and expectant rooms of hearts — and heals the secret pain. Some Theological and Practical Implications of Churches and Pastors Advocacy of Abortion in the Case of a Pregnancy Resulting from an Alleged Rape There are clergy and laity within the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod who believe that an abortion in the case of rape is justifiable. They ignore what the Scriptures have to say and use other grounds to limit or justify cases for which an abortion may be performed. As a result great inconsistencies occur and many loopholes are formed to allow abortion on demand. By the ignoring the truth (God’s Word) many problems result. This paper looks at some of the problems and how they came or may come to be. Theory, not Practice Even in liberal pop culture and high culture, abortion is problematic. The Vigil An afternoon in front of an abortion clinic can be an enlightening experience. While picketing an abortion clinic is a matter of personal judgment, the morality of abortion, according to God’s clear Word, is not. What Women Don’t Know Does Hurt Them We in the church ought not do anything—whether through silence, a lack of support, or not sharing God’s Word—anything that would cause a girl or woman to miss out on something that God desires to accomplish in her life and in the life of the child He has entrusted to her care. Will Power Logical conclusions: According to Wesley Clark’s existentialist metaphysics, most of us are not alive.
May 24, 2010