“The unborn” are a convenient group of people to advocate for. They never make demands of you; they are morally uncomplicated, unlike the incarcerated, addicted, or the chronically poor; they don’t resent your condescension or complain that you are not politically correct; unlike widows, they don’t ask you to question patriarchy; unlike orphans, they don’t need money, education, or childcare; unlike aliens, they don’t bring all that racial, cultural, and religious baggage that you dislike; they allow you to feel good about yourself without any work at creating or maintaining relationships; and when they are born, you can forget about them, because they cease to be unborn. It’s almost as if, by being born, they have died to you. You can love the unborn and advocate for them without substantially challenging your own wealth, power, or privilege, without re-imagining social structures, apologizing, or making reparations to anyone. They are, in short, the perfect people to love if you want to claim you love Jesus but actually dislike people who breathe. Prisoners? Immigrants? The sick? The poor? Widows? Orphans? All the groups that are specifically mentioned in the Bible? They all get thrown under the bus for the unborn.
This was posted by Methodist Pastor Dave Barnhart from Alabama on his Facebook page.
Source: (Facebook June 25, 2018) It is reposted here as the raging controversy of the legal right to an abortion is once again back on the daily headlines. This message has been reposted on numerous social media sites, mainly by individuals seeking to disparage and mock Christians who advocate for the rights of the unborn but ignore the social consequences and cost of caring for these children after they are born. Christians should advocate for the rights of the unborn AND the born. Every group is important; none should be thrown under the bus. The Apostle James pointed out that our faith must be accompanied with actions.
What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
James 2:14-17 (NLT)
The hard truth is everyone, not only Christians, are selfish. We do not love perfectly. We need a supernatural intervention to change our nature. This can only come by confessing and repenting of our sins and allowing the Holy Spirit to change and conform us to the image of Jesus Christ.
Words are powerful and they cannot be spoken for expedient purposes. When this happens, cynics, even from those within the Church, should be heard. St. Augustine elegantly summarized where our priorities should be. ”In essentials, unity. In nonessentials, liberty. In all things, charity.”
Amen.
Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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