Anyone who knows me knows that I can talk. There are things that I love to talk about. I love to talk about Jesus. I love to talk about my family. I love to talk about the Seattle Mariners. I have very strong opinions about In-N-Out Burgers (overrated) and that U2 album everyone got for free on their iPhones that made people mad (it’s one of their best records).
But if you’ve listened to me preach at any point in the last 20 years, you’ll know that abortion isn’t something I talk about a lot. Its not that I don’t have opinions, far from it. The reason that I rarely talk about abortion in my sermons has been simple: I don’t think its the best place for that discussion. There’s SO MUCH broadcasting from both the pro-life and the pro-choice camps and very little conversation. I’d rather have a conversation.
Last year I was driving home and there was a lady on OPB who was a abortion rights activist. She talked about the flack she had gotten from other pro-choice people becasue she had been having dialogue with people in the pro-life camp. She had a crazy idea: maybe there were things both sides agreed on that they could work together on? Maybe there were agreements that both sides could come to on something, anything? Maybe the people on the opposite side weren’t bad people, just people with a different point of view? So with those thoughts in mind, she committed the cardinal sin of American polarization… she had a conversation and listened.
Here’s the reality: People who have been paying attention weren’t surprised that the Court will likely overturn Roe v. Wade this year. In fact, several podcasts in my feed, from both conservative and liberal points of view, have been talking about this likelihood for months. The surprise came from the way the news was leaked to the media, which almost never happens. But no matter what the Court does eventually decide, the reality is that few minds will be changed. Do a quick google search “American views on abortion” and you’ll see that our opinions have been largely the same for the last 30+ years despite endless debate and demographic shifts. Additionally, at least here on the West Coast, nothing will change. The Planned Parenthood down the road will still be open for business and if it were put to a vote, the majority of Oregonians would likely vote to affirm the legality of abortion. So where does that leave us and why didn’t I want to write this blog?
I didn’t want to write this blog becasue I’d rather talk about Jesus, my family or baseball. But I also recognize that we don’t always get that luxury and the issues of the day are often dictated for us. If you are angry and frustrated, I would be happy to listen. If you have question about why I am pro-life, I would be happy to answer as best as I am able. If you are pro-life and don’t understand why I haven’t been more outspoken, the same offer of listening and answering is extended to you as well.
Here’s a few thoughts to give some insight into how I’m seeing things regarding these issues:
-Only 13% of Americans think abortion should be totally illegal. Only 25% of Americans believe that Abortion should be totally legal. So anyone who holds either of these positions is out of touch with the majority of Americans. Yet these are often the only two views represented in public discourse.
-America's views on Abortion have been largely unchanged for the last 30 years: people want abortion to be safe, legal, and rare. Yet no one seems to do much about the rare part. The majority of people in America, including those who are pro-life acknowledge that abortion should be available in specific situations.
-At the point life begins the rights of an unborn child and their body should be considered along with the rights of a mother.
-1/4 women have had an abortion. One of the greatest ways in which the church has failed is that abortion has been talked about endlessly but almost never has that been coupled with grace towards the many women sitting in the congregation who have had abortions. If that’s been your experience, I am truly sorry.
-The most pro-life people I know are women.
That’s what I’ve had to say, how can I listen to you?
-Pastor Adam