Pro Life? I am Pro Jesus

“You anti-abortion, mysoginystic [sic] anti-abortion bigots all make me sick!”  Redundant…Oh, there was also some stuff about not caring about the teen unwed mom, Westboro baptists, blowing up abortion clinics and something about posting pics of aborted foetuses.  Anyway.  That was a comment I got on my last post.  Which I find funny since all I mentioned was tiny pink and blue flags, soldiers and a particular reporter’s writing style.  Anywho…

Recently ARPA and We Need a Law set up a solemn and beautiful display of ten thousand tiny blue and pink flags, (representing the 100,000 abortions that happen each year in Canada), on the museum grounds in Chilliwack, BC – my home town. There has been a lot of negative press due to the supposed disrespect to veterans and soldiers because this is where the cenotaph is located. Some calling We Need A Law director, Mike Schouten, a liar, describing the display as a “stunt,” and describing the organizations members as “anti-abortionists.” This term brings to mind all the negative connotations associated with the hateful, in-your-face, “Westoboro Baptist” personalities, to the crazed fundamentalist, religious nut job, abortion clinic bombers. And this is not by mistake or because of ignorance. The world hates us and our biblical worldview.  Jesus told us in Matthew,“you will be hated by all for my name’s sake…” and in John 15:

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15: 18-19)

The crazy thing about all this negative press is that it was just some blue and pink flags.  That’s it.

There were no pictures of aborted babies.

There were no picket signs.

There were no angry fist shaking mobs or chants of, “Repent, sinner!”

There was no shaming of teenage mothers-to-be contemplating abortion.

But since the display itself was not offensive, they had to find something to get mad about.  So they got upset at the location.

I am not going to defend anything here but, can I just say something? We are pro-life, not anti-abortion. We do not kill doctors, shame teen moms, or bomb abortion clinics. I can’t speak for anyone else, but to me, being “Pro-life” does not mean simply being against abortion. Being Pro-life means, educating the public on what abortion is.  It means helping moms to be, (and dads),  seek education on parenting, adoption, counselling. It means loving them. It means, if a teen mom decides to keep the child, helping her find the support and education that she needs to raise the child. Being pro life means sharing the actual, real, gospel message of Jesus… because Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”

Jesus declared in the Gospel of John that He was going to lay down His life for His sheep, and then take it back again. He spoke of His authority over life and death as being granted to Him by the Father.  He promised that “because I live, you also will live.”   In Jesus alone is found the answer to the abortion debate.  And that debate won’t be won using “Westboro” tactics. Jesus is “the life.”   It will be won using Jesus’ tactics – love and grace.  Love does not mean being easy on abortion, but showing the truth of the matter in love. As Ephesians 5:11 tells us, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, rather expose them.”  Exposing it  does not equal being a mean spirited, angry, poopy-face, it means caring about the other person enough to help point them in the other direction. Grace does not mean looking the other way. Have grace for those hurting souls who have no clue what to do when their boyfriend got them pregnant, when they get raped, or after having an abortion. Be willing to forgive, to assist, to love and to offer a hug.

What is the difference between an anti-abortionist and a pro lifer?

Love and Grace.

The pro lifer loves the broken sinner, and has grace for her.  The anti-abortionist condemns her. The pro lifer shares the gospel of grace and repentance in love.  The anti-abortionist serves swift judgement with self righteous anger, without offering the gospel.

Grace and love = pro life.

Life = Jesus.

I guess I am pro Jesus.

And I am fine with being hated for that.

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”