I Am Angry

I am angry.  Fuming.  Irate.  

I am incensed at the videos released by the Center for Medical Progress, showcasing the dissection of children like frogs in biology class.  I am infuriated that evil profits off the death of babies. 

I am outraged that this is happening – all over the country, right under our noses.  I am angry that my tax dollars pay for it.  I am angry that we who are invested in this battle have known this, and now so many workers are coming late to the vineyard bandwagon. 

I am angry that politicians from every party are more concerned about their own careers and invitations to fancy parties than they are about the slaughter of innocents and the disgusting treatment of their remains. 

I am livid – LIVID – at so-called Christians, especially “pastors” who will argue til the cows come home or Christ returns that this is just fine and dandy. 

I am illogically angry that these women consented to chopping up their babies instead of bringing them to me to hold and love and care for. 

I am furious that this is being done in the name of “women’s rights” and “protecting women”.  I am a woman, and I never asked for this, and I don’t want it.  It makes me nauseated that this is being advocated for in my name. 

I am angry at myself for not being bolder and braver in addressing this with my congregation.  I am angry at those who trained me for not teaching me how to deal with difficult topics. 

I am angry at “doctors” who deal in death, who condemn women with low pain tolerances as “uncooperative”.  I am angry at everyone connected to abortion facilities – from the guy who paints the stripes in the parking lot to the trash service that picks up the garbage each day to the receptionist to the janitor to the volunteer who makes coffee in the waiting room.  I want to grab each of them by the shoulders and scream, “WHY AREN’T YOU STOPPING THIS???????”

I am angry at myself for not bridling my tongue, and being too harsh with those who lack the benefit of an formed moral conscience.  I am angry at myself for not knowing how to balance gentle instruction with a refusal to tolerate evil. 

I am angry that that in this most advanced civilization the world has known, we have reverted to the pagan worship practices of our earliest ancestors. 

I am angry at every single person who hears a child scream as its head is being severed, and TELLS NO ONE.  I am angry that teachers and counselors and pastors and a zillion other people must report the slightest hint of possible child abuse to the same authorities who would willingly inject saline into the hearts of these children.

I am angry that there are no repercussions for those who are neck deep in the worst sort of evil imaginable.  I am angry at myself for wishing harm to come to them.  I am angry that I am the worst of sinners.  I am angry that I have a job where no one ever tells me I am forgiven.  Ever.  For any sin. 

I am angry that the Word of God continually tells me not to be angry, and yet, here I am.  Sinfully, wretchedly angry. 

This whole entire thing makes me sad.  But mostly it makes me angry.  I don’t know what to do with that.  I don’t know how to handle it.  And I am angry that so many are offended by my anger more than they are offended by the first degree murder of infants. 

Psalm 10

Why, Lord, do you stand far off?
    Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
    who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
    he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.
In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
    in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
His ways are always prosperous;
    your laws are rejected by him;
    he sneers at all his enemies.
He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.”
    He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.”

His mouth is full of lies and threats;
    trouble and evil are under his tongue.
He lies in wait near the villages;
    from ambush he murders the innocent.
His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
    like a lion in cover he lies in wait.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless;
    he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
His victims are crushed, they collapse;
    they fall under his strength.
He says to himself, “God will never notice;
    he covers his face and never sees.”

Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.
    Do not forget the helpless.
Why does the wicked man revile God?
    Why does he say to himself,
    “He won’t call me to account”?
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
    you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you;
    you are the helper of the fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked man;
    call the evildoer to account for his wickedness
    that would not otherwise be found out.

The Lord is King for ever and ever;
    the nations will perish from his land.
You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;
    you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
    so that mere earthly mortals
    will never again strike terror.

 

Deal Me Another Hand, Skippy

So, here we go again.  I don't want to harp on this, but - oh, who am I kidding?  I do want to harp on this.  We - the ELCA - all three "expressions" are complicit in the murder of children and the emotional slaughter of women.  I do not understand how anyone thinks support for and/or encouragment of and/or acceptance of abortion is in any way witnessing to the hope and new life found in Christ. 

It is particularly frustrating because we are so consistently anti-war and anti-death penalty.  As we (basically) should be.  No one likes war, and although I don't believe pacifism to be a viable national security strategy, I do think that a very thorough moral analysis regarding use of force in international relations is called for.  Neither do I believe that the death penalty is inherently immoral and that it should be automatically classified as "cruel and unusual punishment."  However, I personally have come to oppose the death penalty, as a Christian, because I believe it denies that Christ has the ability to redeem anything and anyone. 

(Those of you who wish to yell at me about mixing the "two kingdoms" can keep it to yourself right now.)

Given all that (and that our "expressions," particularly the national one, pride themselves on being antiwar and anti-death penalty), I don't see what's so hard about abortion.  Is the thing here that we have simply abdicated all substantive teaching authority?  Or that we don't believe in authority at all?  I heard an ELCA pastor say today that, "We as a church have decided that how you feel about abortion doesn't matter." 

Well damn it, it should matter. 

Heartlander points out in this post that

William Wilberforce was only able to get the slave trade abolished in England when he started showing people the insides of the actual slave ships.

An excellent point. Desperate times call for desperate measures. So I give you the picture that she posted, one that is not overly graphic, but is in fact accurate. This is what abortion is:

Ok, yes, this is what a 2nd or 3rd trimester abortion looks like.  A first trimester abortion is much different. 



It looks like this:
 



But if those are a little difficult to process, perhaps the tried and true "saline method" is more palatable to the faint of heart:
  

In a saline abortion procedure, the abortionist injects a long needle through the wall of the uterus and removes the amniotic fluid which provides a safe and nutritious environment for the developing child. It is replaced with a hypertonic saline (salt) solution which is toxic to the unborn child. The baby swallows the salt and is poisoned. Within one to one-and-one-half hours, the baby’s heart stops beating. The corrosive effect of the salt solution often burns and strips away the outer layer of the baby’s skin. The mother soon delivers a burned, shriveled and dead baby.



I feel like I'm starting to turn into one of those "crunchy cons" who makes lots of arguments about certain things being "natural," but here's the deal:  None of these procedures are in any "natural."  When a woman becomes pregnant, her body goes into full-on Mommy Mode, and does everything it can to protect and nourish the baby.  In addition to the creation of amniotic fluid (see above), the cervix positively hangs up a "do not enter" sign:

According to Dr. Nardone, the cervix is the structure that is intended to protect the fetus during its development. It is designed to remain firmly closed and provide resistance to pressure from the growing structures above it (e.g., the fetus and uterus).

The first two procedures detailed above literally involve taking big long sticks and inserting them into the cervix to force it open in order to force baby out.  I can barely handle going to the doctor's office once a year - letting someone forcibly rip my cervix open does not sound safe, healthy, or pleasant.  Abortion is supposed to be pro-woman?  Are you kidding me? 

I still cannot believe that this is even a serious question among supposedly serious Christians.  For all of you pro-choice pastors who have been charged with the shepherding of your flock: can you look at any of those pictures above and honestly tell me that recommending - or even remaining "respectfully neutral" towards - any of them actually fulfills that charge?

What I Am Not Saying: I am not attempting, in any way, to argue that anyone who has had an abortion is disqualified from being a Christian.  I not attempting, in any way, to question the faith or salvation of Christians who are pro-abortion. I am not attempting, in any way, to suggest that unplanned or otherwise difficult pregnancies are not really tough cases that require a ridiculous amount of pastoral care, support, and sensitivity. 

What I Am Saying: As Christian leaders, teachers, pastors, and lay people, we have to be better than this.  We need to so unequivocally love Jesus, moms, dads, and babies, that we can't but help witness to the fact that each and every human being is created in the image and likeness of God, and is loved and valued by Him, and by us.  Period.

Cards On The Table

Ok, I'm just going to come right out and say it: It's unclear to me how anyone "honored by the name of Christian" can be "pro-choice" in any scenario other than the most extreme situations.  (e.g., ectopic pregnancies, other circumstances where the mother's actual, physical life would be at stake if the child were carried to viability, etc...)

When I look at the appalling failure of mainstream Protestantism to speak clearly and decisively on the issue of abortion, it makes me physically ill.  As Christians, we should be the first ones to the table, the loudest ones, the ones with the most endurance, the most strength, the most love. 

"I come that they may have life, and have it abundantly."  ~John 10:10

Everyone, even the most ardent pro-aborts out there, in their most honest moments, knows that terminating a pregnancy is terminating a life.  Scientifically, there really is no question about this.  Individuals can debate the ethics all over the place of when it is or is not morally permissable to terminate a life in the womb - never, only before a heartbeat develops, only before brainwaves develop, only before pain is felt, only before quickening, only before viability, only before ability to reason develops - but the point is, terminating a pregnancy is terminating a life.

As Christians, as followers of, disciples of, witnesses to the One who comes so that they - we - all of us - may have life and have it abundantly, we must be extraordinarily careful, and extraordinarily justified, in situations that require the termination of life.  This is the premise behind the development of Augustine's Just War Theory, it is the premise behind Christian opposition to the death penalty, and it ought to be the premise behind all Christian opposition to abortion. 

But opposition to abortion isn't just about preserving the physical life of a baby.  Look at the second half of the verse from John: I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.  This is the part for moms.  It is the part for husbands and boyfriends and grandparents and friends and teachers and employers and, sad to say, clergy.  It is what Christians need to claim, promote, tell, remind, point out over and over and over again: whatever your problems are right now, whatever they might be in the future, whatever relationships will be strained or plans will have to be put on hold or inconveniences will have to be suffered because of this pregnancy, killing a child does not, in fact, improve the situation.  It may appear to right now, but at best, it is a Pyrrhic victory, because active participation in murder, or being complicit therein, will not lead to abundant life. 

As Christians, we need to say to moms, dads, and anyone else involved: "God desires life - abundant life - for your baby, and for you.  In Christ, and with the help of His followers, there is no problem that cannot be overcome, no relationship that cannot be repaired, no situation that cannot be redeemed.  Life may look bleak now, but it is often precisely in the darkest places that God shows up at His biggest and best."

And the reason we have to say this, loudly and clearly, over and over and over again, and honestly and sincerely mean it, every single time, is because it is true, and because for far too long, we haven't.  For far too long pro-abortion Christians have said (in effect), "Well, if you think there's no hope, then just do what you think is best.  We're behind you all the way."  And for far too long, pro-life Christians have said (in effect), "Whatever you do, don't kill that baby.  As for everything else, well, God be with you.  It'll all work out in the end!"  Neither is acceptable.

I firmly believe that the vast majority of women who have abortions do not, in their hearts of hearts, wish to do so.  I volunteered as a counselor for several years at a crisis pregnancy center and talked to plenty of women who were considering abortion.  Not one of them ever said to me, "I want to kill this child."  I heard plenty of, "I just want the whole thing to go away," "I don't know how I'm going to tell my parents," "My boyfriend is going to freak out," "I'll never be able to finish school," and so on.  It is my contention that most women who have abortions do so because they do not see any other solution to the specific problems that face them today.  I believe that most women considering abortion, if they were aware of and trusted financial, emotional, and other resources, would choose to carry the pregnancy to term and either parent or place for adoption.

As Christians, knowing that God desires abundant life for baby and mom, we have to be the first ones to back up those claims with concrete action.  That means that we have to visibly care for and love moms like crazy, starting at the most basic level and working our way up.  That means that if we have to sit with a newly-pregnant, scared-to-death mom, and hold her hand or give her a hug while she cries for a minute, or an hour, or a day then we do that.  And then we ask: Who do you need to tell?  Parents?  Boyfriend?  Husband?  What is going to happen when you tell them?  Will you be safe?  Do you need someone to come with you?  Do you have a safe place to live while you are pregnant?  After the baby is born?  How will you get to school?  Do you need a job?  Do you have a doctor?  Do you have health insurance?  Do you need: maternity clothes?  baby clothes?  other assorted baby "stuff"?  parenting classes?  a safe and supportive church environment? And on and on and on.

This is the latter part of the Good Samaritan story.  As Christians, we are not allowed to walk by on the other side of the road.  Nor are we allowed to look at the broken and bleeding man and announce that, "Man, crime has gotten really bad around here lately.  Where's the Roman Senate when you need them?  They oughta take action!" 

No.  No.  Jesus came that we may have life, and have it abundantly.  It is our job, as Christians, to live as though that is actually true - in what we say, in the causes we support, in how we ourselves live, and in how we treat others.  It is time for us to get it together.

Movie Review: Juno

This column over at First Thoughts, the apparent First Things staff blog, got my dander up last week, and it's not even about the main point of the column.  I pretty much think the author is right, in general, about the point he's making, but that's not what I'm talking about.  I found it interesting that "those people who think children are a choice" are the same people who "thought Juno was a pro-life film."

So...

I'm one of those apparently crazy people who did in fact think Juno was a pro-life film. I worked at a crisis pregnancy center for a few years in college (before the movie came out), and aside from the weird emotional-adultery thing with the adoptive father, the movie is one I think I would generally recommend to many of the girls who came into our office.

The main plot of the story is that Juno is a high school girl who has a one-night-stand with her best guy friend, and thereby becomes pregnant.  After telling one of her girlfriends, and contemplating an abortion (she changes her mind when the one lone protester outside the abortion clinic, a classmate of Juno's, informs Juno that the baby already has fingernails), she decides to continue the pregnancy and give the baby up for adoption.  Throughout the movie, we see Juno gain self-confidence in her role as mother (even just for the time while she is pregnant).  We see her family being shocked, and then generally supportive, and even a little challenging and confrontational when is appropriate.  We see her friends try to be supportive, but we also see the situation at school change a lot, and Juno not quite knowing where her place is anymore.  We see Paulie (the dad) trying to be helpful and supportive, but not quite knowing how.  And for Juno's part, she seems to not really be able to communicate what kind of help and support she wants or needs from him.  And we see the Juno-Paulie relationship grow and evolve. 

The reason I liked the movie so much is that I found it to be pretty realistic. Life is hard, especially when you make bad decisions, and the movie has no qualms about making that clear. But what was most needed by a lot of the girls I saw at the pregnancy center was hope, the idea of a "future story." Many of them couldn't see beyond the next 5 minutes, let alone imagine a scenario 9-12 months down the road where things would be "not perfect, but ok." That's what I liked about the film - for girls who are already pregnant, I think it sends the message, "You can do this. It's going to be hard, and it's not going to be perfect, but you can do this."

Granted, not every pregnant teenager has a great family or supportive friends or a boyfriend who tries to be helpful.  Some are all-but-forced into abortions, or carry the pregnancy to term and then are given little to no support from a family who either disowns them, or considers the situation to be so common that no one bats an eye.  Life is messy.  But Juno shows one plausible scenario of a way that this situation can work out to being "okay."  Because the reality is that having an abortion is no less emotionally messy than keeping a baby or placing it for adoption.  And by highlighting to its viewers the reality of the baby (it has fingernails) and then setting up a reasonable way life can play out over the next several months, this movie gives hope to teenagers who might not be able to imagine it otherwise. 

That's why it's a pro-life movie.