We’re half way through our “Matter of Opinion?” series and I didn’t think it was possible to increase the number of emails I receive each day…turns out I was wrong! Keep your questions coming and please continue to read and respond to the blogs as well as the comments left by others. My desire is that each of you engages not just with my blogs but with each other through this series.
Some of you were quick to remind me over the past couple of days that I said I would offer up arguments from science and medicine. I’ve reflected on this in light of my sermon and have decided not to do this on my blog. I want to reiterate that I believe the Bible offers sufficient Truth regarding this topic and nothing needs to be added to what is revealed in God’s Word. Also I’d like you to read an excerpt from an email I received from a good friend at Frontline:
“You spoke directly from the heart of God, which is all we as His children are ever supposed to do. And it’s certainly what He would do. God would never in a million years argue over whether life begins at conception, at the first heartbeat, or at the first brainwave. To even try to imagine that is disgusting. Nor would He even humor the notion that a physically or mentally handicapped person is mercifully spared through abortion. The reality of this practice has nothing at all to do with science or our perception of what defines a healthy life, and politics and statistics don’t allow for that fact.”
I will, however, give you the information I have gathered in summary form regarding the medical and scientific information if you will simply email me directly. (The information is brief and you can gather much more information by doing a Google search on the subject.)
I have heard wonderful stories this week of Frontliners who have experienced God’s forgiveness from their past choices to have abortions. Others have shared that they have been able to talk with friends and family members who are pregnant and considering abortion. They’ve been able to share God’s truth clearly, encouraging the person to keep the baby. The stories are many and varied but I am so blessed to hear of God’s work through our community!
The forum is yours. The dialogue is for you to create. I look forward to any responses to this blog or to the message from last Sunday!
Carpe Deum! (Seize God!),
Todd Phillips
Todd,
I really enjoyed your latest series. I’m a remote listener via podcast, and have a question on this topic. Because we are known before we are born, and God does have a plan for our lives and the lives of those not born, how should we treat birth control?
what about the morning after pill??
The morning after pill is an abortifacient it does not prevent conception.
There is a lot of birth control discussion in the prior blog posting’s comments as well.
Just wanted to note that these comments may duplicate the comments in the comments section directly below (containing the video) so everyone may want to take a look at both or consolidate comments in one or the other…
Todd,
I echo the praise of so many on here. I can’t thank you enough for being an example and taking a stand on these controversial topics to our generation. I believe that Frontline needs to hear these truths that you are presenting, perhaps on an annual basis.
I look forward to the discussion on capital punishment. I look forward to hear how you will prove me wrong. Because I would say right now (before hearing what you have to say) that christians can fall on both sides of that debate. (Although if one is pro-life with respect to abortion, I feel it is more consistent to be opposed to capital punishment.)
I will listen with an open mind.
I am the mother of an amazing Frontliner, who almost didn’t get here because of the possibility of abortion.
He is now among you, a joy for every day of his life, and continues to lead others to the joy of Christ.
Praise God.
Rob…the difference between abortion and capital punishment is a matter of murder versus justice. The Bible very clearly gives the government authority to handle affairs of carrying out the appropriate measures of punishment in Rom 13:1-5 and 1 Pet 2:13-14.
Some will say then why aren’t we cutting off hands for theft and other things the Bible advocates. Well, from what I’ve read, every crime at some point was also given a monetary retribution that is except murder which is always the life of the convicted.
Hope I didn’t steal your thunder Todd.
Shane:
I agree with what you are saying…
but I don’t think that the points that you mention necessitate that christians must all be pro-capital punishment, as I agree that we should all be against abortion.
This is why I stated I currently think that christians can land on both sides of this issue.
I feel that this is state/political matter.
Again, I look forward to hear what Todd preaches whenever this comes up.
Shane,
Although it is premature to have this discussion regarding capital punishment.
My thought is that you did not steal Todd’s thunder.
I think Todd is going to preach that we should not be in support of capital punishment, due to redemption, forgiveness, God being the giver and taker of life, imperfect justice system, etc.
I could be wrong, we’ll know sometime in the next 3 weeks…
looking forward to it…
Rob…unless gambling is a weak brother area for you care to make a friendly wager on Todd’s position? =) j/k of course.
But I agree, as a Christian you don’t have to support it and can work for other ways for justice, but that doesn’t mean the government doesn’t have a right to use it as a means of carrying out justice. And while if the government carried out abortions or mandated abortions for population control like in China they would be acting very clearly against God’s will, with capital punishment they aren’t based on the entirety of the Bible as I read it and the versus I referenced in the last post.
Todd,
Thank you for speaking God’s word and advocating for the lives of those who are not yet able to advocate for themselves. I have been moved and challenged by this message, and I am glad to hear that others have been as well. While I know that for many people facing an unplanned pregnancy the immediate decision at hand is between terminating and carrying to term, I think it is worth bringing up the option of carrying to term and making an adoption plan. There are professional, Christian counselors at area adoption agencies that are available to talk through each of these options with women or couples. The one that I am most familiar with is Bethany Christian Services (www.bethany.org), but I am sure there are other Christian agencies in the area as well. Birthmothers is not an adoption agency but does provide Christian counsel for pregnant women, and doesn’t MBC have an adoption ministry? I hope we can make these resources available to those facing unplanned pregnancies, as well.
Thanks again!
I also wanted to point out that there is a fantastic film playing now that deals with the decisions of abortion and adoption. “Bella” is playing at select theaters in the area (Sterling, Ballston, Alexandria), and a list of those theaters can be found at http://www.bellathemovie.com
Hi Todd,
I have been delayed in emailing you regarding your message on abortion at Frontline Arlington due to high work demands. As I am currently on a business trip, I have some time before my meeting to communicate something that I have been struggling with. I understood the message regarding abortion, however I do struggle on the item that even in harsh circumstances as rape that the woman does not have the right to make that decision. Perhaps as a new Christian, this is something that I may struggle with for a while.
When you asked a question along the lines of ‘if your mother became pregnant with you when she was raped, do you think that you should be born?’ I didn’t raise my hand that night, but I would have if I knew I wouldn’t have been the only one. I honestly would not want to be born if I was a product of a rape. I would not want my mother to suffer mentally and physically from something that traumatic. I would like for my mother to make that decision.
Before I became a Christian, I worked at a rape crisis center. I saw how rape tore people apart not only physically but especially mentally. I accompanied individuals to the emergency room, created and facilitated support group sessions, met families at children’s hospitals were the child was getting physically and psychologically examined for incest. I spoke with many people (men and women) over the phone who were contemplating suicide because they couldn’t manage dealing with the rape. If someone became pregnant from rape, I don’t think that God would want someone to be severely mentally hurt and be in a situation where they were going to kill themselves because they were pregnant because of the rape. Does God want to jeopardize someone’s life and/or the life of a potential fetus because a mother was going to kill herself because she couldn’t deal with the rape?
Also, in the lines of abortion if a woman was pregnant with twins and both babies were in danger if they were to both be born. If the mother decided to go to term and hope that both were born alive when one would be sure to live if the other one was taken out (abortion), is that okay. What would be right in the eyes of God?
1) Mother going to term with both children and hope that they both survive. Essentially making a decision that may end in the deaths of two children. or
2) Mother choosing to abort one child to save the life of the other. – Making the decision to save one child.
Also, on your point about if a mother would die if she she went to term with a child. If the mother was a single mom with two children, would God want her to give up her life leaving three children without any family or someone to care for them just to save one child?
Why is it assumed that God wants the mother or woman to always make the sacrifice instead of allowing her to choose. Is a child more important to God than an adult?
As you can see, I am struggling with a lot of items on this topic. I look forward to hearing from you on these items.
Autumn
Shane,
You were more right… I was more wrong.
Todd boldly preached that capital punishment is definitely supported by the Bible.
I believe that I knew that, my concern is how it is practiced in this country, and does it mean that it has to be an option?
It will be interesting to see where the comments lead us this week.
Rob…I agree…while the government has the right, we definitely need to hold them to account that it is administered under the steps Todd laid out, mainly being not “kill em all” and not “all should live” mentalities. I’ll wait to see how the comments go when the post is posted and give my two cents then.