Redefining Pro-Life
Written by Brian Jennings, Posted in Your World
When I write or speak, I often think, “I hope that they will hear me out.” Because of the passion surrounding this issue, I’ll humbly ask you to do that. I know that you can’t hear my tone, but know this – I’m not yelling (notice that I’m not using ALL-CAPS). If I can encourage your heart or stretch your mind, I’ll be perfectly happy.
I’m pro-life, but my definition of that may extend beyond the bounds of your presumptions. Often times it’s just a bumper sticker or political slogan. At other times it’s communicated in ways that lack compassion or intellectual clarity. For some on both sides of this issue, perhaps some redefining is in order.
Micah 6:8 is one of the great verses in Scripture, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
I want to be pro-life in a way that honors this Scripture and the rest of the Bible, so my definition of pro-life does the following:
- It prioritizes the rights of people. I believe that all life is created by God, regardless of ethnicity, health, age or gender. That conviction drives me to labor for a diverse, reconciling church, give countless hours to helping trafficked boys, and pray for loving adoptions to be seen as the best option when someone isn’t ready to be a mom. I believe that one person’s right to live trumps someone else’s right to choose.[i] You may not agree with that position, but I believe it deserves respect.
- It extends kindness to those who disagree with me. I will pursue gentleness and mercy. I will listen. I won’t get into a shouting match. I will assume that we have different backgrounds, and that we can learn from each other. I will be respectful, which flows from humility. I will research in order to find truth, not to bolster my arguments. Some people are anti-abortion, but they are not pro-life.[ii] They have treated others poorly. I will not be one of them, but I also won’t change my position because of them. I may disagree with you, and I may try to persuade you, but I won’t verbally attack you. I will love you.
- It is loving to women. Love is doing what is in someone else’s best interest. I know how abortions often sabotage a woman’s health – physically, emotionally and spiritually. I’ve listened to their stories. I’ve witnessed their health ripped away. I’ve seen their tears. I’ve read the letters that they wrote to their deceased child on his/her abortion day. I only see regret. It’s not a simple procedure. I know that healing can come (I’ve seen that too), but it’s a deep wound. I also recognize, that women are much more apt to be aborted. Of the 1 billion plus abortions that have occurred in the past thirty years, The Wall Street Journal estimated, 163 million have been performed simply because the unborn was a female. It’s an unimaginable tragedy.
- It is healthy for our society. I have deep concerns about what abortions do to the hearts and souls of medical communities and whole societies. Hillary Clinton described the recent Planned Parenthood videos as “troubling.” We’re shocked when we witness a coldness towards human life, but perhaps we should examine how someone gets to such a place. I believe that there’s a connection between China’s astronomical abortion rate and their numerous human rights violations. Did you know that the lack of available women, for marriage, in China is now so severe that it is fueling a slave-trade industry? We ought be asking, “What are the societal implications of abortions?”
- It cares for the child and mother both before and after the birth.I know firsthand how beautiful adoption can be. I also know that often times, the mom and child need support after she decides to keep the baby. I’m encouraged to see the church leading the way in many related efforts, but we still have a long ways to go.
- It perseveres. The pro-life position is often mocked by the mainstream. Even though the country is split nearly 50/50 on this issue, it feels like the pro-lifers are a freak, fringe group. I will press on. I will choose love, mercy and justice, because of my devotion to Christ, and I will do so, even if I’m the only one in the land left with this conviction.
- It finds hope. Human efforts are not enough to tackle the complexities, divisions and hurts caused by this issue. I will support policies that can make the situation more hopeful, but I will admit that none of them provide the ultimate solution. True hope is found in the redemptive, transformative, and healing work of the Giver of Abundant Life (Genesis 1, John 10:10). God’s grace in my own, flawed life propels me towards a life of hope.
Abortion is a crucial issue, and that’s why we can’t keep bashing each other over the head. Doing so won’t lead us anywhere good. We need to give permission for people to dialogue about it in a healthy way. We need to listen. We need to speak wisely.
I sincerely would love to hear from you. I know that I have much to learn. It took three months of sporadic tinkering to edit this to where I was comfortable with it. And it’s taken me years to arrive here. My guess is that I’ll want to edit it again soon. But I pray that it helps you see a position that is driven by sincere compassion and respect for all involved.
[i] The more science and medicine advance, the less we hear, “It’s not really a human.” Even the courts have recognized that it is a double-murder if someone kills a woman and her unborn child. So at its very core, this whole issue comes down to whether the unborn’s right to live trumps another’s right to end the life of the unborn.
Also, I recognize that there are extremely difficult circumstances surrounding some abortions. It is not my intention to cover all of those here, but I would point out that these are not the norm – not even remotely. My belief is that we should not let the “extenuating circumstances” hijack the broader discussion. For now, we’d be wise to stick with the broader discussion.
[ii] The media has tried to define the terms – “anti-abortion vs pro-choice.” Interesting that they don’t define them as “pro-life vs. anti-life.” The media also knows that the best stories are from the extreme groups. This destroys any type of real discussion and thought-changing. It only drives people further into their corners. I’m sad that I have never heard an intellectual and calm discussion about this issue on TV. Not once.
