Time for Reform: Issue 1 - Abortion

If there is one thing I’ve adopted as a personal creed, it is the need for reform in the modern church. In fact, this creed has now become a bit of a mission. I feel compelled to bring a message that is - in my opinion - more aligned with the original message of Christ than the one currently given in many congregations nationwide. Not that I am a scholar or know better than other men. Not that I am a prophet or gifted speaker. Rather, this mission is fueled only by simplicity.

What needs reforming? Well, let’s start with a hot-button topic: abortion.

Here’s a wake-up call for Christians in America: making abortion illegal will NOT stop abortions. Need evidence? Look to the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s. It was during that time that the black-market exploded and moonshine flooded the backwoods. Men were buying aftershave to drink for its alcoholic content. All prohibition did was take an outward issue and push it behind closed doors. No one was helped by prohibition. In fact, many people were hurt in the process. Luckily, the men of that time learned the lesson and issued the 21st amendment in 1933 to repeal the prohibition (it sadly took 14 years).

Why is it, then, that we can’t learn from history?  Instead, the church is throwing money into PACs whose sole focus is the over-turning of Roe v. Wade. The “Christian Right” is so determined to make abortion illegal, it has become the primary issue for many conservative Christians. I believe that some Christians would vote for Satan himself if he simply carried a Pro-Life bumper sticker with him and was a registered Republican. I know that’s a harsh statement, but I’ve met some people who I honestly believe would do so, and it makes me shudder.

Here’s a thought: take the money that is being shoved into these PACs and put it into ministries geared to helping people in poor communities. Studies show that the vast majority of abortions are happening to people who live below the poverty line. Put those millions of dollars being spent on lobbying into giving hope to these young women. Instead of criminalizing their actions - help them to never get to the point of wanting to get an abortion. Wanna choke the problem off at the source? Encourage young men who are running away from their families to be real men and raise their families. I guarantee that this reform will have a permanent impact on the number of abortions in this country.

The only thing you’re guaranteed with passing a law is that there is now another law to be broken. However, creating social change is ever-lasting. Don’t believe me? Just tell me what year it is and remember that time itself was split by the social change of a single man…

This entry was posted on October 16, 2007 at 8:48 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.