How can one set of Lutherans (WELS, ELS, LC-MS, and others) condemn the practice of abortion and another set of Lutherans (ELCA) support it? Either it is God-pleasing or it is not. (It's not.) So, how does the ELCA defend this practice based on the Scriptures? This article offers some insight.
Check it out here: Churches on Abortion: Why We Differ - Christian Life Resources
Much can be said (and deserves to be said) about the abortion controversy. Many consider it a political issue. While it is that, it is far more significantly a moral issue. God is the creator of life. God grants the life of children through sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. While pregnancy is not the guaranteed result of every act of intercourse, it is the means by which women become pregnant. Both the man and the woman engage in sex, therefore both are accountable for the results.
When this is done in the confines of marriage, the resultant pregnancy is a great blessing. At least, God thinks so. "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them" (Psalm 127:3-5)! Sadly, many today disagree.
It is supposed to produce such a shock that we would feel compelled to preserve a safe, clinical method of aborting a child. Well, the shock value has worked on me.
I am shocked, appalled, and saddened that any woman would think that taking a coat hanger and injecting it into her uterus for any reason is a necessary and noble act. I am shocked, appalled, and saddened that any woman would knowingly and willingly take a coat hanger, crank it around in her uterus like an egg-beater, and believe that this is a saner option than giving birth to a child. I am shocked, appalled, and saddened that any woman who recognizes that she is pregnant would consider the child in her uterus something to be rooted out in such a violent, unhealthy, and vicious way.
So, well done abortion activists. Your shock tactic has worked on me. But it has backfired. You want me to have compassion for your cause so that you will not resort to using a coat hanger for a self-inflicted abortion. Rather, I am shocked that you would consider doing this to yourself at all--as if the risk of self-mutilation is a superior choice to giving birth to a child, a child that others would joyfully adopt and raise if the hardship is genuinely too much for you.
Dear women, you deserve better than this. And I pray that you will see that aborting your child is a great evil and that pregnancy with a child is not--even if it is unintended or inconvenient. God thinks so. I hope you will, too.
NOTE: If you choose to do the right and noble thing (which is not to say that it is the easy thing) and carry your child to full term and deliver it, you will find people who are willing to help you to alleviate your hardships in raising a child. Most churches have people who are willing to provide such help. You can also appeal to pregnancy care centers, such as the Redford Pregnancy Care Center.
I can't say I was surprised by much at this panel discussion. Thankfully, all the pastors were clearly pro-life and condemned abortion as opposed to God's will. The 5th Commandment is not flexible in regard to the intentional killing of people, even those in the womb. Sadly, there are plenty of churches and pastors who are pro-choice, but they were not part of the panel. I suspect that none of them would have found any compelling reason to attend. The sides are pretty well drawn up at this point.
There were a few surprises, and each was disappointing. One continual sentiment among the panel of pastors was the apparent need to speak out about pro-life issues on every Sunday. Maybe I was over-sensitive to their advice. Maybe it was overstatement for the sake of trying to impress its importance. As grievous a sin as murder is, and as horrible an abomination it is that abortion is supported and celebrated in our culture, it is not the only sin to be addressed. I am not going to be condemned because there are abortion clinics served by doctors and staff, and visited by frightened women who want to erase an unwanted pregnancy (or by angry men who refuse to accept the responsibility for their sexual exploits). Do I wish they did not exist? Sure. But I face judgment for my own sinfulness and the sinful thoughts, words, and actions that spring forth from that sinful condition. We all need pardon for our sin and deliverance from God's wrath. Jesus Christ alone provides that through the preached word and the administered sacraments. That needs to be the chief and constant proclamation Sunday after Sunday. I suspect the clergy panel would agree with me. I hope they do, and also practice that. But that was not the emphasis I took away from the Right to Life meeting.
The greater disappointment came from two former pastors, each unwitting of the other's comments. The man who sat at my table for lunch is currently a pastor. He is soon retiring from the ministry. I don't begrudge him of that. He had been serving his congregation for 35 years. It was, however, his next venture which he deemed a calling from God that struck me. He told me that he was going to run for public office (I will keep it that vague since he has not officially announced his candidacy). He is certain that God has called him to do this. Why? To fight the evils going on in our society. Isn't he doing that as a pastor now? And isn't he a pastor according to God's call? I don't mean to be overly harsh to this man. He has the freedom to do what he wants. But it seems that he feels he can do more good for God in public office than he can as a pastor in Christ's Church.
The other comment came from the moderator. Now that he is no longer a pastor but works for the Right to Life, he stated that his job is doing battle with Satan and all the forces of evil. Granted, Satan stokes up the wickedness which produces the "need" and desire for abortions. But what was this man doing when he was a pastor? Was he not doing battle against Satan and all the forces of evil? Was he not driving unclean spirits out of the hearts of people with every baptism? Was he not releasing prisoners of Satan by proclaiming the forgiveness of sins? Was he not soothing consciences afflicted by the devil through Holy Absolution? Was he not strengthening the Christians in the Church Militant by feeding them the body and blood which has overcome sin, death, and the devil? If he was not doing battle with the devil, the demons, and all the forces of evil as a pastor, what was he doing?
I have to say that my curiosity was satisfied by going to this Right to Life meeting. I appreciate and support the care and concern for people to have their lives protected and valued. Life is, indeed, a gift of God and for that reason to be regarded as sacred. Who could ever suggest that someone's life has less, little, or no value because of hardship, inconvenience, or expense? That certainly does not come from God's lips.
Michigan Right to Life is a political action committee. They seek to promote and encourage politicians and legislation to protect life and prevent murder. Pastors, however are not politicians. They don't work for politicians. They are prophets. A pastor's role is to preach the Gospel and to release souls from the grip of sin, death, and the devil. Unbelievers will always think and act like unbelievers. Laws may curb behavior, but it will not change hearts. Jesus does not seek to threaten people into submission to morals. He converts sinners and transforms them to love God's word. Therefore, the pastor preaches Christ crucified to change and to comfort sinners--even those who have been guilty of aborting babies. Those who have done so often bear a crushing burden of guilt. Jesus Christ gives pardon from that guilt and from all guilt which no legislative body can ever produce. Christ's love also compels us to support giving aid and assistance to those who have chosen the right thing (even if it is the hard thing) to keep the baby that they were not prepared for. The Redford Pregnancy Care Center is just one place that such aid and assistance can be found. It is a tangible way to show the mercies of Christ to others.
But since the Gospel is the only way heaven is opened, sinners are saved and comforted, and eternal life is granted, I will keep that as my focus. The devil, the demons, and all the forces of evil will hate it and will fight against it. Thankfully, Jesus has overcome them all and grants victory to those who believe in him and hear his word, no matter what our laws are.
