Peter Zylstra-Moore
As a former youth pastor of an Evangelical church, I felt and continue to feel that there is a lot within evangelicalism that the world needs to hear. However, I have grown increasingly concerned over how evangelicals have been manipulated by empty rhetoric of especially the Republican Party. Evangelicals, more than any other group in American society, suggest they vote the way they vote for moral or ethical reasons. These issues often concentrate around the issue of abortion. However, are the outcomes of Republicanism consistent with their claims, and are they consistent with Evangelicalism?
Many Republicans claim moral high ground when it comes to the rights of unborn children. The American abortion rate is 20 abortions per year for every 1,000 women of child bearing age. The rate is actually the highest of any of the G8 countries. Western Europe’s rate stands at 12 and Canada’s at 14.1. The global average is 29, with the most abortions occurring where it is illegal, where there is poor or no healthcare, and/or in countries with poor access to contraception. Thus abortion rates go down where there is strong promotion of women’s rights, including reproductive rights.
Conservatives have traditionally sought to avoid abortions through policies of abstinence-very often fighting against sex education, or at least certain topics within sex education. I don’t disagree that saving yourself for marriage is incredibly rewarding, that it can be a source of trust, selflessness, safety and joy. Subsequently, it should be a part of sex education. However we must also recognize a world around us where pre-marital sex is a reality both inside and outside of churches, and thus hold to an ideal while working within a muddy world. Thus we must cry out against the Bush administration that is cutting aid for condoms in AIDS-ravaged Africa.
Biblically, many passages used to support full human life within the womb relate God’s intimate knowledge and knitting together of life within the womb. However biblical poetry has been used to argue that the earth is flat, that contraception is wrong, or that the earth is center of the universe, etc and so how clearly these verses apply is debatable. Verses pertaining to intimate knowledge of the hairs of our head or birds of the air aren’t then used to suggest cutting our hair or eating meat is subsequently murder. Similarly poetic verses like Genesis 2:7 can argue the other way-that humans become a living soul upon receiving the breath of life-thus life begins at first breath.
Scientifically, accidental miscarriages are normal. “50% of pregnancies miscarry before implantation in the womb occurs. Early after implantation, pregnancy loss rate is about 30%. After a pregnancy may be clinically recognised (between days 35-50), about 25% will end in miscarriage.” (http://www.womens-health.co.uk/miscarr.asp).
So then what is our spiritual reaction to abortion? Do we honestly feel the same way about mass murderers and abortion doctors? Do we feel the same way about women who have an abortion as murderers? Our grieving process is also different for fetuses, though not absent (especially for the couple involved both psychologically and biologically for the women). However, the death is often without funeral. Again, suggesting whatever our professed beliefs, our internal beliefs are very different.
In summary, abortions are the poorest available option but it remains an issue among issues. Practically, abortions are least common where women’s reproductive rights are respected, where protection is available, and where social services help mothers receive the medical help and the financial security in their need. If Republicans were concerned with the life of children they would be advocating for and not against single payer healthcare. Evangelicals should advocate against the death penalty. Evangelicals should argue for more diplomacy and not less, to save lives of Americans and other persons rather than play fast and loose with them. How the issue affects our voting should be based on the real world, and not political rhetoric, and in the real world the democratic strategies favored in Europe and Canada have something to teach conservative America about protecting our unborn children.
As Evangelicals, we have an important voice in helping an increasingly individual and confused generation recognize the fingerprints of God in all creation, and the image of God in all people. Evangelicalism desire to place high value on life, even that of the unborn, is an important message in a world where many people are unsure of even who they are and their inherent worth as bearers of the image of God. However, if we want to reduce abortions, it is not through making it illegal, but through a mixed approach. We can maintain that sex is best confined to marriage, while allowing for sex education, accessibility to protection, and providing single mothers, the poor and middle class with affordable access to health care and social services.
As a former youth pastor of an Evangelical church, I felt and continue to feel that there is a lot within evangelicalism that the world needs to hear. However, I have grown increasingly concerned over how evangelicals have been manipulated by empty rhetoric of especially the Republican Party. Evangelicals, more than any other group in American society, suggest they vote the way they vote for moral or ethical reasons. These issues often concentrate around the issue of abortion. However, are the outcomes of Republicanism consistent with their claims, and are they consistent with Evangelicalism?
Many Republicans claim moral high ground when it comes to the rights of unborn children. The American abortion rate is 20 abortions per year for every 1,000 women of child bearing age. The rate is actually the highest of any of the G8 countries. Western Europe’s rate stands at 12 and Canada’s at 14.1. The global average is 29, with the most abortions occurring where it is illegal, where there is poor or no healthcare, and/or in countries with poor access to contraception. Thus abortion rates go down where there is strong promotion of women’s rights, including reproductive rights.
Conservatives have traditionally sought to avoid abortions through policies of abstinence-very often fighting against sex education, or at least certain topics within sex education. I don’t disagree that saving yourself for marriage is incredibly rewarding, that it can be a source of trust, selflessness, safety and joy. Subsequently, it should be a part of sex education. However we must also recognize a world around us where pre-marital sex is a reality both inside and outside of churches, and thus hold to an ideal while working within a muddy world. Thus we must cry out against the Bush administration that is cutting aid for condoms in AIDS-ravaged Africa.
Biblically, many passages used to support full human life within the womb relate God’s intimate knowledge and knitting together of life within the womb. However biblical poetry has been used to argue that the earth is flat, that contraception is wrong, or that the earth is center of the universe, etc and so how clearly these verses apply is debatable. Verses pertaining to intimate knowledge of the hairs of our head or birds of the air aren’t then used to suggest cutting our hair or eating meat is subsequently murder. Similarly poetic verses like Genesis 2:7 can argue the other way-that humans become a living soul upon receiving the breath of life-thus life begins at first breath.
Scientifically, accidental miscarriages are normal. “50% of pregnancies miscarry before implantation in the womb occurs. Early after implantation, pregnancy loss rate is about 30%. After a pregnancy may be clinically recognised (between days 35-50), about 25% will end in miscarriage.” (http://www.womens-health.co.uk/miscarr.asp).
So then what is our spiritual reaction to abortion? Do we honestly feel the same way about mass murderers and abortion doctors? Do we feel the same way about women who have an abortion as murderers? Our grieving process is also different for fetuses, though not absent (especially for the couple involved both psychologically and biologically for the women). However, the death is often without funeral. Again, suggesting whatever our professed beliefs, our internal beliefs are very different.
In summary, abortions are the poorest available option but it remains an issue among issues. Practically, abortions are least common where women’s reproductive rights are respected, where protection is available, and where social services help mothers receive the medical help and the financial security in their need. If Republicans were concerned with the life of children they would be advocating for and not against single payer healthcare. Evangelicals should advocate against the death penalty. Evangelicals should argue for more diplomacy and not less, to save lives of Americans and other persons rather than play fast and loose with them. How the issue affects our voting should be based on the real world, and not political rhetoric, and in the real world the democratic strategies favored in Europe and Canada have something to teach conservative America about protecting our unborn children.
As Evangelicals, we have an important voice in helping an increasingly individual and confused generation recognize the fingerprints of God in all creation, and the image of God in all people. Evangelicalism desire to place high value on life, even that of the unborn, is an important message in a world where many people are unsure of even who they are and their inherent worth as bearers of the image of God. However, if we want to reduce abortions, it is not through making it illegal, but through a mixed approach. We can maintain that sex is best confined to marriage, while allowing for sex education, accessibility to protection, and providing single mothers, the poor and middle class with affordable access to health care and social services.
No comments:
Post a Comment