Character counts again, at least for those with standards
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Monday, June 1, 2009
An open letter and apology to abortion providers and the pro-choice crowd
I have never been a militant anti-abortion guy. However, I am a pro-life Christian evangelical who believes life begins at conception. That makes me an easy target for pro-choice liberals and feminists. Nevertheless, the murder of Dr. George Tiller, a Wichita, Kansas abortion provider who was one of a handful of physicians who provides late-term abortions, saddened me as it should everyone.
Let me be clear: I abhor the practices of doctors like Tiller who commit brutal acts against the defenseless unborn. And I believe Roe v. Wade was a poorly reasoned decision, a power grab that improperly raised the “right” to abortion to the level of federal constitutional magnitude. Further, I believe that the value of life has been cheapened by Roe and other decisions, creating a callousness or indifference toward life. You might disagree, and both of us probably would be unsuccessful in converting the other to our cause, but that’s what I believe.
As for Tiller’s killing, there is plenty of information out there regarding the suspect and the fact that he is not a known member of anti-abortion groups. Many pro-life groups and supporters also have roundly and swiftly condemned the killing.
But the point of this commentary is not to debate abortion. It is for me to express an apology.
You see, my wife has been reading a book by Mike Erre entitled “Death by Church”. When my wife reads a book occasionally she will share interesting parts with me. With this particular book, she has found much more to share than usual. Yesterday, the day Tiller was killed, my wife pointed out to me a chapter in Erre’s book where he writes open apologies to people who have been hurt by the Christian church, including one to abortion providers and patients.
Erre’s apology reinforced in me my belief I have held that the Christians and the Christian church do not do enough to help women who are deciding whether to keep their babies. Part of this is caused by the pro-choice movement marginalizing and demonizing the pro-life movement but some of it is certainly due to the greater pro-life focus on the evils of the sin and not the forgiveness, salvation and love of the sinners.
That prompted a much parodied question we know all too well: What would Jesus do? I believe He would love the sinner, condemn the sin, and seek the restoration of the sinner with God. Not only did Jesus not condemn sinners (other than the excessively pious religious leaders), he welcomed, dined and hung out with them. He even made them his disciples. Of course, the sinner plays a significant role but it’s hard for a sinner to take those steps when Christians are instead condemning them instead of reflecting Jesus’ love.
So, even though I have not personally engaged in aggressive pro-life activities, I believe pro-life Christians should repent for our roles in perpetuating the damage abortion causes. While I have some quibbles with Erre’s apology, it seems overall to be an adequate and appropriate recognition of our contributions to the problem. Giving full credit to Mike Erre, I reproduce his apology below which you can find starting at page 235 of “Death by Church”.
“I want to ask your forgiveness for the ways we have polarized, alienated, and insulted you. I apologize for our aggressive tactics, our political manipulation, and the taunting that so often accompanies our interactions with each other.
“In our zeal to represent what we see as the lives of the unborn, we have used methods, messages, and strategies that are simply not of Jesus. If you are reading this and you have worked for a clinic, or have had an abortion, or simply believe the pro-choice position to be correct, I ask your forgiveness for the way the community of Jesus has treated you.
“Jesus had an amazing ability to hang around all kinds of people. The ‘sinners’ and ‘outcasts’ of His day loved to be around Him while the religious people were suspicious of Him. I grieve that 2000 years later, these perceptions of Jesus have exactly reversed.
“Please know that we care deeply about this issue. Behind our heated rhetoric and misguided attempts at intimidation, most of us are not concerned about the ways in which human life is increasingly devalued…. I, for one, wish we had done a better job welcoming and supporting those women who, in the absence of such support, chose an abortion. We have not done enough to ensure that those who wish to bring their babies into the world have the resources to do so. We have not been realistic about the effectiveness of our abstinence programs, which do little to decrease the rate of teen sexual activity and pregnancy. We have not embodied a radical alternative that opens up possibilities for pregnant women. Please forgive us.”
I add that my apology extends to the family of Dr. Tiller. I don’t agree with his conduct but I know he was a child of God and, apparently, a church-going family man. Now, he has met his maker. If Tiller had a personal relationship with Jesus, then God will have mercy on his soul, just as He will mine when I die. He loves Tiller no more or less than He loves me.
Some might say Tiller deserved it or that his killing was justified. Count me as one who is saddened for his family and believes it is not my role to condemn him, judge him, or declare where he will spend eternity.
Let me be clear: I abhor the practices of doctors like Tiller who commit brutal acts against the defenseless unborn. And I believe Roe v. Wade was a poorly reasoned decision, a power grab that improperly raised the “right” to abortion to the level of federal constitutional magnitude. Further, I believe that the value of life has been cheapened by Roe and other decisions, creating a callousness or indifference toward life. You might disagree, and both of us probably would be unsuccessful in converting the other to our cause, but that’s what I believe.
As for Tiller’s killing, there is plenty of information out there regarding the suspect and the fact that he is not a known member of anti-abortion groups. Many pro-life groups and supporters also have roundly and swiftly condemned the killing.
But the point of this commentary is not to debate abortion. It is for me to express an apology.
You see, my wife has been reading a book by Mike Erre entitled “Death by Church”. When my wife reads a book occasionally she will share interesting parts with me. With this particular book, she has found much more to share than usual. Yesterday, the day Tiller was killed, my wife pointed out to me a chapter in Erre’s book where he writes open apologies to people who have been hurt by the Christian church, including one to abortion providers and patients.
Erre’s apology reinforced in me my belief I have held that the Christians and the Christian church do not do enough to help women who are deciding whether to keep their babies. Part of this is caused by the pro-choice movement marginalizing and demonizing the pro-life movement but some of it is certainly due to the greater pro-life focus on the evils of the sin and not the forgiveness, salvation and love of the sinners.
That prompted a much parodied question we know all too well: What would Jesus do? I believe He would love the sinner, condemn the sin, and seek the restoration of the sinner with God. Not only did Jesus not condemn sinners (other than the excessively pious religious leaders), he welcomed, dined and hung out with them. He even made them his disciples. Of course, the sinner plays a significant role but it’s hard for a sinner to take those steps when Christians are instead condemning them instead of reflecting Jesus’ love.
So, even though I have not personally engaged in aggressive pro-life activities, I believe pro-life Christians should repent for our roles in perpetuating the damage abortion causes. While I have some quibbles with Erre’s apology, it seems overall to be an adequate and appropriate recognition of our contributions to the problem. Giving full credit to Mike Erre, I reproduce his apology below which you can find starting at page 235 of “Death by Church”.
“I want to ask your forgiveness for the ways we have polarized, alienated, and insulted you. I apologize for our aggressive tactics, our political manipulation, and the taunting that so often accompanies our interactions with each other.
“In our zeal to represent what we see as the lives of the unborn, we have used methods, messages, and strategies that are simply not of Jesus. If you are reading this and you have worked for a clinic, or have had an abortion, or simply believe the pro-choice position to be correct, I ask your forgiveness for the way the community of Jesus has treated you.
“Jesus had an amazing ability to hang around all kinds of people. The ‘sinners’ and ‘outcasts’ of His day loved to be around Him while the religious people were suspicious of Him. I grieve that 2000 years later, these perceptions of Jesus have exactly reversed.
“Please know that we care deeply about this issue. Behind our heated rhetoric and misguided attempts at intimidation, most of us are not concerned about the ways in which human life is increasingly devalued…. I, for one, wish we had done a better job welcoming and supporting those women who, in the absence of such support, chose an abortion. We have not done enough to ensure that those who wish to bring their babies into the world have the resources to do so. We have not been realistic about the effectiveness of our abstinence programs, which do little to decrease the rate of teen sexual activity and pregnancy. We have not embodied a radical alternative that opens up possibilities for pregnant women. Please forgive us.”
I add that my apology extends to the family of Dr. Tiller. I don’t agree with his conduct but I know he was a child of God and, apparently, a church-going family man. Now, he has met his maker. If Tiller had a personal relationship with Jesus, then God will have mercy on his soul, just as He will mine when I die. He loves Tiller no more or less than He loves me.
Some might say Tiller deserved it or that his killing was justified. Count me as one who is saddened for his family and believes it is not my role to condemn him, judge him, or declare where he will spend eternity.
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