So it's time for another post about Abolish Human Abortion. My reason for this post is two-fold. First, there's a rumor floating around about them that I want to clear up. I am interested in truth, and in the interest of truth any unfounded rumors need to be quashed. Now it needs to be said that they really make it difficult to want to help them, because even in the course of damage control, they still couldn't resist the opportunity to take pot-shots at pro-life people like me, who believe that incrementalism is the most tactical way that abortion will be stopped, and they insist on this artificial distinction between "pro-life" and "abortion abolitionist."
So anyway, there's a rumor going around that AHA is planning to kidnap women by posing as shuttle volunteers, witnessing to them and driving them around aimlessly in order to make them miss their appointment, most likely depositing them off at a church. Not only would this be completely immoral, but it would be a horrible witness for Christ. Because the media decided to run with it and not actually fact check it, a lot of people were believing that AHA was actually planning this. Thankfully, the rumor is completely false. It was posted to their Facebook page, not actually by anyone affiliated with AHA. So let's please lay this rumor to rest.
My second reason for writing this article is because of an argument that I keep seeing from them. Another excellent article has been written over the theological problems with AHA, and I've written regarding their problematic philosophy, but another argument that I keep hearing is that the church needs to "wake up," get off their collective laurels and start dedicating their lives to ending abortion. That Christians aren't doing their job if they're not out there fighting to end abortion.
Granted, abortion is the human rights issue of the day in the United States (though other countries have similar or different human rights abuses going on). The problem is, it's incredibly short-sighted. The Apostle Paul tells us why in Ephesians 4: 1-16 (NASB):
"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, 'When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men'...And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."
We are all different parts of the body. If each part of the body all tried to perform the same function, nothing would ever get done. The body would stagnate and die. We are all supposed to stand up for the oppressed, to speak up for those who have no voice. But while abortion is a major issue, it's not the only one. Don't forget that the Great Commission is to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Soul-winning is the most important aspect of the church. If everyone was involving themselves in the pro-life mission, there would be no one out there saving the lost. We'd have no overseas missionaries. Philosophers like William Lane Craig and Alvin Plantinga are fulfilling an important role with their academic studies by engaging academic skeptics and people of other faiths, showing that there is rational basis for belief in Christ. Without the efforts of Christian philosophers and theologians, Christians would be ignorant in their faith. Christianity is not a blind faith. We place faith in God because we have good reason to. This doesn't mean that they never address the topic of abortion, and I'm sure they still support pro-life legislation.
In fact, I only ever see members of AHA grieving over unborn children, and decry apathy of the church for not standing against abortion, but I never see them grieving over the lost, or decrying the apathy of Christians for not dedicating their lives in service of evangelism. Opposing abortion is fundamentally important, and it's what I've been called to do, but I accept that not everyone has this calling. It's a stark reality, but nothing is served for condemning the church for something you have no right to condemn them of. Christians not involved in this ministry can (and do!) still serve us in the ministry by praying for us, financially supporting us, and addressing the issue in their personal lives when it comes up. But not everyone is called to be a full-time pro-life advocate.
So if I have just one thing to say to the members of AHA from this blog post, it would be simply to lighten up on the church. I agree that the church needs to awaken, but not necessarily for the cause of abortion. Organizations like Life Training Institute and Justice for All exist to train people to make the pro-life case effectively and persuasively. There are many evils of our day that the church, in general, needs to awaken to. Abortion simply isn't the highest priority. The highest priority of the church is to save souls. To argue that people involved in missions are doing wrong by not actively opposing abortion is to miss the point entirely.
Thanks for writing the second half of this post. I've been dealing with a lot of frustration based by on the mindsets of AHA and other groups that try to guilt trip me into making abortion the highest priority of my life. While I try to stay on top of what's going on and support those speaking out against abortion, its not the calling of my life. Thanks so much for writing this!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. I have many issues with AHA, but they consider themselves the police officers of Christianity, when they don't even have a very clear understanding of Scripture.
DeleteI never see them grieving over the lost, or decrying the apathy of Christians for not dedicating their lives in service of evangelism
ReplyDeleteThen you're not paying attention.
Rhology, I pay careful attention to them. I never (or perhaps, very rarely) ever see any of them grieving over the lost, it's always unborn children. Of course, we should grieve over the loss of life, but saving souls is what the church, as a whole, is all about. Remember, there are many human rights abuses in the world, not just abortion (slavery, human trafficking, etc.). It's very short-sighted of them to assume that abortion should be the church's only focus.
DeleteNevertheless, this was a minor point. Even if untrue, the rest of the article stands.
the rest of the article stands
ReplyDeleteThe rest of the article misunderstood us as badly as the first thing with which I took issue.
I know you think you're doing a worthy thing here, but we over at AHA actually kind of think it's pitiful and a little sad to watch. Kind of like the entire PLM, really.
Rhology, all you've done is emote so far. All of my arguments are based on reason and evidence. Would you mind point out specifically which parts are misunderstood? And keep in mind that I do talk to AHA people, so I get their views from their own members. If you dislike the PLM, that's your business. But AHA flat-out lies about them, bearing false witness (which is as much a breach of a commandment as "you shall not murder").
Deleteall you've done is emote so far.
DeleteNah, that's false. I'm summarising.
All of my arguments are based on reason and evidence.
Since you've misrepresented AHA, that's false too.
Would you mind point out specifically which parts are misunderstood?
Sure, and I already did.
If you dislike the PLM, that's your business
The fact that you think that the issue here is that AHA "dislikes" the PLM shows that you are quite ignorant of the actual issues here, which bolsters my recommendation you ought to read a lot more and speak less.
But AHA flat-out lies about them
Nah, that's false too.
Yikes, you did badly here. You should repent of this, Clinton.
Rhology, it's become quite evidence that your purpose is to emote, not to engage in conversation. I asked you to give me examples from the body of my article as to where I have misrepresented them, and you could not give me one (save the minor point that I talked about, which I don't think I'm misrepresenting them, but even if I am, it's irrelevant to the rest of the article). If you can't have a reasonable conversation, then I won't be replying to you again.
DeleteAHA has flat-out lied about the Pro-Life Movement. One of their most glaring lies is that the pro-life movement is content to allow babies to die while passing legislation that "doesn't save lives." The reality is that incremental legislation does save lives (some 13 Texas Planned Parenthoods have closed their doors because of recent incremental legislation in Texas), and all-or-nothing legislation has done nothing. Plus, the Pro-Life Movement is *not* content to just leave the legislation like it is.
You're not summarizing, you're emoting. You can't provide one example from the body of the article as to where I'm misunderstanding them (aside from the questionable one that's not even important to the article). I have provided Scripture references as to how AHA is misunderstanding Scripture, I have provided reason and evidence as to their problematic philosophy (in other articles), and several websites have responded to their troubling theology. If you can't back up your allegations, then I have no reason to respond any further.
One of their most glaring lies is that the pro-life movement is content to allow babies to die while passing legislation that "doesn't save lives."
DeleteWhy is that a lie?
and all-or-nothing legislation has done nothing
Please cite the most recent attempt at passing all or nothing legislation in Texas.
You're not summarizing, you're emoting.
This is no more true after repeating it 10 times than when you said it the first time.
I have provided Scripture references as to how AHA is misunderstanding Scripture
Yet AHA actually agrees entirely with what you said. There is plenty of room in abolition for the different gifts and offices of the church. The problem is in your understanding, not in AHA.
Not that AHA or abolitionists are perfect. Far from it. It's just that in this criticism, you've missed the mark. You ought to rescind it.
I have provided reason and evidence as to their problematic philosophy (in other articles)
And your position was laid waste in the comboxes.
Rhology, you should be condemning yourself for not understanding the views of the opposition.
DeleteIt's a lie because incrementalists are not content to leave the legislation there. Legislation like the 20-week abortion bans are steps in the right direction. No pro-life advocate wants to leave it there. All pro-life advocates want to see abortion outlawed again.
When it comes to all-or-nothing legislation, I wasn't talking about Texas, specifically. But personhood bills have come forward in several states, and have never passed in a single one, even in conservative states that it's been brought before. Meanwhile, incremental legislation passes and saves lives (at least 13 Planned Parenthood clinics were forced to close their doors due to the incremental legislation in Texas).
I will rescind my remark because you have not refuted it. The passage in question is not about church offices, but our calling in life. We can't all be full-time pro-life advocates because there would be no one else performing the functions of the church. AHA treats abortion as the most important thing in the world, but God told us that saving souls is the most important. Plus, there are many human rights violations in the world, not just abortion.
Your statements do not become true the more you repeat it. My position has not been laid waste.
The passage in question is not about church offices, but our calling in life. We can't all be full-time pro-life advocates
DeleteAnother strawman, a result of your misunderstanding of the abolitionist position. It's OK to misunderstand as long as you don't puff yourself up like you do understand.
incremental legislation passes and saves lives
Do us all a favor and watch Brian Biggs' presentation from the latest abolitionist conference, All On Fire. It will come out soon.
But personhood bills have come forward in several states, and have never passed in a single one
Pro-lifers like yourself are responsible for killing them in Oklahoma. Did you know that? Not roundabout responsible. DIRECTLY.
AHA treats abortion as the most important thing in the world, but God told us that saving souls is the most important.
The same false dilemma we have repeatedly dealt with. But you say you've been observing AHA closely. You're either a liar or a poor observer.