I have been thinking for the past several months about this whole Pro-Choice movement. It's all over the place in Canada right now. I checked out the Great Canadian Wish List a while ago, and the top two wishes are:
1. End Abortion
2. Pro Choice
I was initially pissed at the second group. I wondered how anyone could join something so evil. It got me thinking. What I am about to say is super controversial...so bare with me...
I am Pro Choice. When you think about it, God is pro choice. Free Will is a gift...and I sure don't want to be the one to take that gift away. Even when it comes to other areas (ie. Gay Marriage)...I have no right to stand against another persons choice (a choice that doesn't effect me in the slightest) and demand that everyone make the same decision I would make. I say that I am pro choice, but I would never choose abortion...in my eyes, it's murder...no matter how a person got knocked up. Same with gay marriage. My heart hurts for people who commit themselves to something so spiritually damaging...but isn't it WAY more spiritually damaging to have a bunch of rioting Christians tell you that you are going to hell. There is no evidence of a loving Father in that.
There are people who are very close to me who have made choices that I don't agree with...but they are no less human...no less deserving of respect...than myself. More importantly, I love those people. Ignoring them, debating with them, preaching at them...it's not helpful.
I understand that a lot of Christians have problems with all this stuff I am saying. I could care less...you are the Christians that have put us on the top 5 most hated groups in North America. Nothing in this world breaks my heart more than watching you twist the character of my Father into something that people hate and/or fear...or pay money to in exchange for healing/salvation. My prayer is that the brick wall you built in your spirit would crumble...and the compassion of our Savior would soften you perspective.
And so, I have decided to follow the example of my Jesus. I will love unconditionally through my words and actions. I will pray for mercy on my nation...especially for those who make decisions that may (unknowingly) hurt them. That's my choice.
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4 comments:
Wow, Bethany, controversial post!
That is such a neat way to look at it... we as christians always go around saying that God let's us decide our own path, bla bla bla, and then we try and impose our ideas for what is right and wrong on others. It is scary to let go and let people potentially screw themselves and others, but it does come down to the fact that GOD LETS US CHOOSE. Fighting against that choice He gives us even in things like abortion or gay marriage says the wrong thing about Him.
I'm scared to be agreeing with you, Bethany, because this IS controversial and I know many people personally who would be terribly scandalized by this... but I really do believe that fighting free choice is a huge waste of time and paints a very specific picture to some people of who God is.
Abortion IS horrible... but it's not my place to tell people what choices they are "supposed to make". Even GOD doesn't do that.
i think i understand what you are saying, bethany - it's hard to verbalise it all on blogging - we leave out the facial expressions and gestures and so many of us christians think we know it all and try to force ourselves on others, force people to choose and the image of christians shouting "you're gonna go to hell" doesn't do much for Daddy's image - you are right about that.
but i have a few thoughts to throw out...by the way, i hate debate, so don't worry i'm not scandoulized(?) or shocked at your blog or offended...i was just interested in your apology and it led me to look for what you apologised about (and please ignore, my horrible grammer and spelling - i tend to just not care this late at night!)
So, some thoughts of mine- you are right, debating with them, preaching at them or ignoring them won't work but i think our responsibility is more than just praying or even loving people in the midst of making bad decisions. (Although, I'm sure you are the type to speak out truth to every situation...you don't seem like the type to just stand by.)
Something that is rolling through my head, Jesus didn't stand idly by when he was man on earth - he gave stories, principles to live by, he mentored and discipled and loved people, saying turn from your sin. Just like you, He was harder on the pharisees than the sinners (think of the temple story - He called them vipers - He was extremely angry - yet He didn't scream at the prostitute!
God also left us a gigantic book of words telling us how to live our life - a Godly Father who is engaged is one that stands by his daughter or son and gives advice , says no let's think twice on that decision. "you have free will but i love you enough to discipline or bring correction or say that won't go in this home."
His word (which He holds even higher than Himself)talks about free will but also talks about loving people to life, discipling them and showing them the way to truth. I heard someone say recently that it is unjust to let a blind person walk into something or fall when i can see perfectly and have the ability to say "no, don't go that way, there's a chair in the way" and it's the same thing, those of us who have experienced love and see truth have to step up and say go this way, don't fall.
It's hard to know when to say the hard thing but when this life is so short, I think the harder thing now is to realise we missed the mark.
Tonight, this new young christian guy was telling me about his new girldfriend and I expected him to say she wasn't christian because 2 months ago he told me he was taking a non-saved girl out on a date. I hardly know this guy but I jumped out on the limb and went after how damaging it is to date non-christians (unequally yoked, blah blah blah) and afterwards I worried that I pushed. Tonight when I looked shocked at his "saved girlfriend". He said "Tonya, I really took in what you said, you were right, so I waited" It blew me away. So many people won't say the hard thing but I don't want to be one of those people who is afraid to infringe on others boundaries because of a sense of political correctness yet, I know without love saying the hard thing is only the hard thing it won't have impact of Jesus with it.
Sometimes, the harder thing is to say the things that seem to take away what people think is choice but it could save their lives from emotional death, physical death or spiritual death...it's a very interesting topic you've brought up - it's got me thinking!
I hope you are doing well, Bethany, you seem like a beautiful, intelligent young woman and your mom and dad talked so much about you when we saw them in Myrtle Beach...blessings!
thanks man:)
i have had so many lenthy talks about this post since i wrote it. it has been hard having some of your closest friends tell you that you are now mis representing god. i don't know why it's so complicated in the church to have an opinion...or think freely. it's so messed up.
'the book of rules' i don't know if i see it that way. i think it is a love story with options of how we can live to best please our father. i decided a long time ago that i would never do anything for God out of performance or because it's what i 'ought' to do. I do things for God because my heart drives me to it. I love him, and because I love him...I will do this...or not do this...
I am obviously a girl who has struggles with religion and the church. but i am honestly trying to find the love that jesus has for her. my heart breaks for people...especially 'christians' who don't know a thing about God...and they think they are doing everything right. If they knew the man I know...their whole world would change.
Does this all make sense. I feel like I am trying to capture a million thoughts and turn them into one.
It's freakin' hard to put your thoughts on paper (or laptop in my case...) especially when there are so many. I like that language...love story with the options on how we can live best. I like seeing it in different ways. I think as you work out all these types of things and what you believe, you will find what you stand on changes with the season, or matures with healing (does that sound condescending, I don't mean it to be) I know when I was your age, I had no clue to the things you are thinking about, I was ignorant and prob didn't care but now I do but I find I am still "working it out".
The one thing I notice about myself is that them more free I am getting from performance and religion, the more healed up and wholeness I am walking in, some language used to bother me but doesn't anymore. For awhile, I hated the word "law" but now I realise actually the bible says Jesus came so that we could obey the law (rules) and without Him we would ultimately fail at trying to obey the law...stuff like that, some people may not like that language but it doesn't bug me anymore.
Now, attitudes of pride, better than thou and I've got a better way - weigh on my heart in heavy way...which is easy to put on those that don't know Jesus but also easy to put on the church...(I am not saying you are - that's just my little tangent because Daddy is doing something in my heart for the church) I have a grace for the body of Christ that I have never had before. Ask your mom and dad a little about our situation - I can't state it in a public blog - but it is definitely a journey learning how to fight religion!
I hope I didn't offend you with my blog and I hope we can all state our "working it out" without being hard on each other or offended. It's tricky via words on a screen but I believe for me sometimes I discover more of what's brewing in my heart than I realised...I had a couple of friends just come back from the call and we are starting that tape on the mouth thing. I am excited, it feels like a peaceful way to speak to my government about what I feel. Although, I may start picking up the phone and doing it too! But, I promise, no guns, no screaming and no body slamming for me!
Keep working it out, I hear your heart, you love people, love Jesus and you were not made for religion, you were made for relationship. Bethany, I know Jesus wants you to be a mouthpiece, don't be weighed down by all the debates and arguments, as Jesus purifies you, Daddy will speak to you and the Holy Spirit will move you!
Peace...
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