jeff mikels

009-01 — Check the Map

Comment Published by Jeff, on February 3rd, 2002 in 009 The Long Road Ahead.

SCRIPTURE: Luke 9:18-27

There came a deciding point in Jesus’ life when he had to double check the map and make his decision about which way he would go. Was he going to go to the cross? Was he going to walk away from it? He checked his map. He made his choice.

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Thanks for the comments Morris.

I'd like to understand what you are saying a little better. Specifically, I want to know why you think my proposed solution doesn't make sense "outside the confines of a Western Evangelical Christian life."

My proposed solution has nothing to do with religious convictions but with a conviction that the problem of abortion starts as a problem with men not being able to control themselves. This isn't about religion. It's about the pragmatic consideration that the oppression of women is solved by men treating them properly. If every man kept his pants on, abortion wouldn't be a women's rights issue.

Your second claim about legislating morality is one that I understand and one that I agree with to a point. I don't believe we should "legislate religion" but legislating morality is what we do all the time. The government has said that murder is not just wrong but also illegal. Therefore, laws and morality have always gone hand in hand. Immoral laws should be eliminated. Moral laws should be enacted.

So what role should the church have in all this? Well, first of all, I want to agree with you that the past history of religion has not always been one of moral uprightness. There have been many atrocities perpetrated in history and evil people have used many excuses for their evil. It just so happens that religion has been used as an excuse far too often. Nevertheless, you can't blame religion as the cause of the evil unless there is something inherent to the faith that is taught which requires people to perpetrate that evil.

For example, the teaching of Jesus is that we should love our enemies, that we should show people grace and forgiveness, that we should proclaim good news to the broken-hearted. However, people who claim to follow Jesus have attacked religious enemies, have offered judgment, have proclaimed legalism, and have put a burden on the broken. Religious people were doing the same things in Jesus' day, and he railed against them repeatedly.

All I'm trying to say is that just because people claiming to be followers of Jesus have done stupid and evil things, you can't blame all followers of Jesus nor the church into which they are organized. It would be unjustified prejudice to negatively categorize an entire group of people based on the unfortunate acts of some members of that group.

Therefore, I do believe the church has something to say about current societal issues because the church was the first agency in history to promote the cause of women (see Paul's teaching on how husbands should treat their wives), the first in history to promote the welfare of children (Jesus, Peter, and Paul all taught the value of children), and the first agency in history to promote universal forgiveness and love for all.

My question, motivated by my faith and also by my concern for the pragmatic realities of life, is this: How can we ensure the welfare of every life--born, unborn, poor, rich, male, female, black, white, urban, suburban, rural?

In the case of women's rights and the rights of the unborn, I believe the answer lies partially in men being responsible, honorable, and respectful men.

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