I confess, I am guilty. Abortion and stem cell decisions have exposed my vulnerable underbelly. I support abortion by choice and stem cell research and cure possibilities. Does each destroy life in some stage of development? Yes. This is why in making decisions relating to these situations, it is important to rest on: 1) The grace of God; 2) Forgiveness and repentance; 3) Biblical witness; 4) Accountability to God and Each other; 5) Commitment to a life ethic; 6) The big picture.
THE GRACE OF GOD. God's grace is the unmerited love and mercy of God. God takes the initiative to love the world. The basic nature of God is love. God embraces the world. God's affection consistently renews. God is profoundly pro-life! We are not created to destroy life because all life is that created in the Image of God. The Image of God is nurtured by the grace of God. It is this grace of God that loves the one who chooses to carry a child to term and the one who chooses to abort. It is the grace of God that frees a woman and her spouse, or who alone chooses to donate her embryo to stem cell research for the sake of the other needing cure. God's grace is radically pro-life!
FORGIVENESS AND REPENTANCE. Yet, we are broken and sinful. We push God away. We make choices contrary to God's will. Yet, God's will is not our possession. God owns it and we are the humble borrowers. We make mistakes. We do not see clearly. We do not understand as we ought. So we confess our incompleteness. We admit the faultiness of our choices. We start again, choosing and hoping to make decisions that will cause God to smile upon us. Our humanity is humbled. Perfection is the property of God and we catch only glimpses. We are dependent upon God's mercy for getting us through to live another day. Our pride is crucified with Jesus. Likewise, our resurrection is through Jesus, and not by the rightness of our decisions. We turn around and try again to obey, confidently yet humbly.
BIBLICAL WITNESS. We look to scripture. Paul reminds us that "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Is there any pure choice by which we can stand cleanly before God? Are not some hurt by our choices? How is it possible to always avoid being a barrier to another's confession? How about "None is righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10)? Paul writes that we are justified by grace through faith (Romans 3:24, 28). It is not our works, nor the wisdom of our decisions that make us worthy of God's salvation; but grace and faith. Jesus says "We shall love God, love each other, and love ourselves" (Mark 12:30-31). Cannot the decision to abort or seek stem cells as treatment, to donate your embryo which you choose to not allow to grow into a child for the sake of curing another be an act of greater love? What happend to the notion of dying so another can live? Paul writes to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). Who says these decisions are without travail? Without questions? Without discomfort? These decisions compell us to walk through the valley. Why? Because they are about love and life. Let us remember that Jesus died on the cross. Ought our decisions expect anything less? Paul writes that "Now we see in a mirror, dimly...." (I Corinthians 13:12a). We do our best. We pray, we seek counsel, we worship, we struggle, we study scripture, we.... Then we decide, taking responsibility for our decision, and standing naked before God's mercy. We are both faithful and human. Finally, the prophet Micah writes: "...do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God." (Micah 6:8). Justice is always messy because conflict is an outgrowth of its decision. Bliss is not always possible, nor necessary to the faithful. Is there not a place to be kind to others and ourselves by what we decide? Who defines the parameters of kindness? Of justice? We stand and kneel humbly before God, yielding to God's greater understanding of our hearts and intentions.
To be honest, those opposing abortion can also list many "proof texts" to counter the above. This reality underscores the drama and difficulty of the abortion/stem cell debate. Each side makes valid points. This is ground for listening to each other, loving each other, struggling together to always seek the better way. Who can stand wholly righteous before God? Not I, nor you, my friend.
ACCOUNTABILITY TO GOD AND EACH OTHER. Decisions to abort or donate and use stem cells ought not be made in a vacuum. While the person most directly affected will make the final decision, they need the in-put of family, clergy, counselors, friends, and others. We can help each other look at options such as adoption, carrying to term, having the familty gather round and help rasise the child together. What we decide affects others. All things are connected. All people created in the Image of God links us all in a common humanity, a common holiness. Together we can promote birth control and encourage sex education. We need to help each other live life fully for the sake of the other.
COMMITMENT TO A LIFE ETHIC. Abortion and stem cell issues are essentially about an ethic of life. Our decisions ought to center on honoring the gift of life given by God and liberated through Jesus Christ. What are the best ways to honor life?
REMEMBER THE BIG PICTURE. I have trouble categorically saying that the life of a pregnant woman is less important than the child she is carrying, and who believes to the core of her being that what is happening to her is contrary to her life dreams and ability to deal responsibly with caring for the child. Is there not a valid life ethic for this woman's understanding of herself, and choosing to take responsibility for her decision? I think there is. Likewise, for the woman or couple choosing to donate her/their frozen embryo for the sake of another person suffering from a disease, knowing the embryo will be destroyed for the sake of giving life to another, I think there is a valid case for this decision. Who draws the line on which life is more valuable? Who dares to stand righteous in an imperfect world? Is there not a time and place for sacrificial love?
I must admit to a personal buy in. Our son is legally blind. Doctors tell us that his hope for seeing clearly rests with stem cells. When matters get personal, one looks deeper and asks more profound questions. Black and white become gray. I believe this is why God came to us in Jesus. In Christ we are reminded of the challenges within our humanity, and the gracious presence of God with us as we address these challenges. The cross of Jesus reminds us that life is not an easy road, and that with Jesus we are given grace to help us see, the courage to decide, and the forgiveness to repent and keep going. To paraphrase Bonhoeffer, "We must have the courage and humility to stand guilty before God".
Peace!
Ron
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