Redefining Pro-Life? The Abortion Reduction Debate

I have often spoken out on this blog about the need to forge common ground on abortion reduction. At the same time, I have been more than frustrated at the total absence of any tangible reduction policies being put forth by this administration. As I recently commented in a Washington Post article, many evangelicals have stuck our necks out to forge common ground in this effort and the administration will have done us a great disservice if they do not put their political money where their political mouths are. Filling the air in place of an actual political agenda, pundits and commentators are offering their advice.

A Newsweek piece commented, "The election of a pro-choice administration and a Democratic Congress has divided the pro-life movement, between those who are preparing for the fight of their lives and those who see the opportunity to redefine what it means to be pro-life." I disagree with Newsweek, a periodical which demonstrates again and again that they wouldn't recognize evangelicals if we all scrunched together for a cover story photo. The pro-life movement is not divided. We are as unified as ever to protecting the lives of the unborn. However, many people--including myself--have been accepting a broader definition of what it means to be pro-life.

For many evangelicals, the term pro-life extends beyond anti-abortionism, though it certainly includes it. It means we must fight against the global death occurring in massive numbers all across the globe. It is the ultimate hypocrisy to advocate for the protection of unborn babies, but turn a blind eye to the millions who die from water-related diseases, malaria, hunger and other preventable maladies.

Where Newsweek gets it right is that "to legions of pro-life activists, even the use of the word 'reduction' instead of elimination borders on heresy." That is perhaps the greatest potential division in the entire pro-life movement. This mindset is typified in the words of Russell Moore of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary who, in this month's Christianity Today, said that joining with pro-choice groups on abortion reduction is "akin to civil rights activists joining hands with pro-lynching vigilantes in ... early 20th century America to 'reduce the number of lynchings' through better funding of segregated African-American school systems."

On one hand, Moore makes a solid point. On the other, I am not sure that inflammatory rhetoric goes a long way toward solving a very real policy problem. There is no significant division within the pro-life movement, yet many of us have decided to speak and advocate in what may be more constructive ways. I have worked with others to promote common ground policies that can reduce abortions in America and will continue to do so.

We are making progress. As Christianity Today notes, "More states are passing legislation that works to reduce abortion. Fewer Americans now support abortion on demand. America's youth are increasingly pro-life. Crisis pregnancy centers are full of volunteers. Planned Parenthood is under more scrutiny thea it has been in decades. And the abortion rate is really decreasing. It's now the lowest level since 1974." Now we simply need the Obama administration to begin making good on their promise to enact federal legislation to support this trend.

If you read this blog regularly, you know that I have been speaking about the shifting abortion debate for some time. I will continue to bring you developments on this important trend as they happen.

Your thoughts?

Darfur: Not On Our Watch

While Americans fund our Starbucks addictions during economic recession with the change from beneath our couch cushions, an estimated 10,000 people die each month in the Darfur region of Sudan. The UN News Service estimates that around 400,000 lives have been lost and an additional two million refugees have been created in more than a decade of violent genocide. I have often wondered why there is not an international outcry, particularly among Christians in America who claim to be protectors of human life. 

If you are interested in this, I would suggest that you pick up a copy of the Not On Our Watch Christian Companion. It is available for a mere $7.50 and paints a colorful picture of what is happening in Darfur and how Christians must respond. I received a copy of this book a few weeks ago, and I was pleasantly surprised by how helpful and powerful it was. The book was put out by Darfur Christian Action, a human rights campaign supported by the Enough project.

I have spoken to many people in the last few months who say that they are interested in what is going on in Darfur and want to know how to get involved, but they don't know where to start. If you are one of those people, here is your starting point. Grab a copy and get involved. 

I offered my endorsement of the book here. 

Are you convicted about the situation in Darfur?

Do you think Christians are doing a good enough job addressing the situation?

New Atheism and Visible Faith

From Crackle: A Gift of a Bible

For some time, writers and culture watchers everywhere have been pointing out that there is a new brand of atheism that is emerging in the 21st Century. "New atheism" as it has been dubbed does not simply hold the belief that God does not exist; it also vigorously sets out to discredit and destroy the belief in God itself. Their target is religion and their weapons are reason and science. 

Books that typify the new atheism trend include Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion and Christopher Hitchens' God is Not Great. Books that combat this emerging perspective include Albert Mohler's Atheism Remix and The End of Reason by Ravi Zacharias and Lee Strobel.  The former sell exponentially more copies, though I would argue that the Christian writers are equally capable thinkers and writers. 

As much as atheism has changed, one thing remains the same. The chink in the armor of those who disavow God is that they cannot find a counter-argument for a transformed life. Great atheists like Dawkins and Hitchens can muster up scientific evidence and well-reasoned arguments that leave many Christians scrambling, but they still have not found a weapon that can slay the power of compassion, generosity, peacemaking, and love that flow from a life transformed by Jesus Christ.

I can think of two great illustrations. First is an article written December 27, 2008 in the UK Guardian by a british journalist and atheist Mathew Parris. His article was entitled, "As an athiest, I truly believe Africa truly needs God." After a recent visit to poverty-stricken Africa where Christians are both preaching and living out their faith in radical ways, he was compelled to write this article that asserts,

"Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGO's, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good."

The other is a video blog from Penn of Penn and Teller. He is a new atheist in every sense of the phrase, and he often makes fun of Christians on his blog in a way that even stings my tough skin. Yet, here he wrestles with the actions of one man who watched his show and brought him a Bible. It gets really interesting and raw about halfway through. His words are powerful at the end are moving. Though he is speaking about a man who is "proselytizing" him, what made moved Penn to step away from his sarcasm and consider Christianity was not the man's words, but that he was "not defensive," "truly complimentary," "polite," "kind," and a "very good man."

Reflecting on these things makes me more convinced that effective 21st Century evangelism is shifting from "tell me" to "show me." While we must never stop proclaiming the propositional truths of scripture, in today's world that is no longer enough. Today, proclamations of truth must be accompanied by visible expressions of that truth's transformative power. While we must not abandon reasoning, we cannot forget experience. A life that expresses the transformative power of faith in Jesus Christ is far more convincing to a post-modern culture than a hundred well-reasoned arguments.

Thoughts?

Southeastern and Baptist Press

Following Southeastern Seminary's 20/20 Conference, which featured Mark Driscoll among others, Baptist Press (BP) released a one-sided article resurrecting old controversies and blindsiding interviewees who didn't know they were going to be quoted in this piece. Southeastern responded to the BP article with a statement on their blog:

"One of the speakers, Mark Driscoll, has received significant criticism from some Southern Baptists in recent days. At first the criticism was limited to ill-informed bloggers, but yesterday Baptist Press entered the fray...We were very disappointed in the BP piece, which we believe was inaccurate in content and harsh in tone."

Ed Stetzer, Director of LifeWay Research, also responded on his blog by saying he was disappointed in BP and noting that one of the interviewees were unaware that they were being interviewed for this story.

Finally, I wrote a response to the article in an op-ed entitled, Unfair, Unbalanced, and Unacceptable, with the Biblical Recorder, the Baptist newpaper for North Carolina. This article outlines how the BP article is simply part of a larger trend toward biased journalism that is discrediting Baptist Press among many.

If you are plugged into the crazy Baptist world, leave your thoughts. For everyone else, we will return to regularly scheduled programming shortly.

Jesus and Jehovah's Witnesses

A friend recently directed me to a cartoon that turned out to be the best three minutes of my week. (Maybe not, but close.) It is a piece of propoganda which appears to be produced by the Jehovah's Witnesses a long time ago. It depicts Jesus as a cross between Superman and He-man. Among other things, it shows Jesus killing a child in church as part of His judgment and accomplishing his ultimate goal of saving a bunch of old, white people. I give this cartoon two thumbs up for being ridiculous. I laughed. I cried.

Check it out and post your reaction.

Washington Post on Obama and Abortion

Over the past few weeks, I have written a few posts about the new twist in the abortion debate. I am starting to feel like all the political peeps that I can't stand because they only talk about abortion and gay marriage and ignore everything else. Yet, I am still typing, so let's give it a run. 

As the pro-choice President takes the reigns of our fragile country, Barack Obama has attempted to navigate the shark-infested waters of the abortion issue with surgical precision. Obama is speaking about abortion in a way that is meaningful to pro-lifers and sensitive to the realities of the issue. 

Though he unashamedly supports the "right of women to choose" whether or not they will undergo and abortion, he claims to believe strongly that we should work to reduce the need for and occurrences of abortions in the United States. Furthermore, he openly supports sexual education with an abstinence emphasis. On this, we can agree. 

Obama's actions, however, don't seem so promising. First, there is his Pre-Presidential record on abortion, which is abysmal at best. Then, there is his transition-time appointments:

-Dawn Johnsen: Former Legal Director for NARAL will serve as Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel

-Tom Daschle: Recently withdrawn nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services who led the fight against the partial-birth abortion ban in the Senate. 

-Melody Barnes: Former board member at Planned Parenthood who worked for the Center for American Progress will serve as White House Domestic Policy Director.

-Ellen Moran: Worked for Emily's List, a pro-choice political action group, will head up the White House communications team.

-Jackie Norris: Former board member at Planned Parenthood will serve as Chieft of Staff to the First Lady.

Finally, there is Obama's one actual move on the issue: a repeal of the Mexico City Policy, which will open up federal funding for international organizations who provide abortions and family planning. According to a recent Gallup Poll, the repeal ranks as the most unpopular of his actions as President, by far.

Today, the Washington Post ran a story entitled, "Obama tries to appease both sides of the abortion debate," which outlined the tensions involved here. I am one of those evangelicals who really believes in the sincerity and heart of this administration, but I remain skeptical about Obama's ability to build and cross the bridge. If he fails to do so, it may mean a break down of trust for those evangelicals who are trying their best to find common ground on which to join him.

"Many of us feel like we've stuck our necks out with our constituencies," I told the Washington Post. "He will have done us a great disservice if he does not come through."

Thoughts?

Don't-Miss Shows of 2009

Relevant Magazine has released their top nine shows to watch in 2009, and it is just about the best list top-to-bottom that I've seen. Make sure you read the paragraph about Flight of the Conchords. It was written by yours truly.

Any that we missed or messed up?