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Christianity Today, May, 2008 |

FOOLISH THINGS

We're Not Finished

Abortion is not simply one item on our social agenda.

Stan Guthrie | posted 5/20/2008 09:29AM

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Yes, some pro-lifers have besmirched the cause by the use of violence, brass-knuckle political tactics, or hateful rhetoric. And yes, a majority of Americans favors keeping abortion legal in some circumstances. But Carrie Gordon Earll of Focus on the Family notes that most would make abortion illegal except in cases of rape, incest, or threat to the life of the mother. "That's a far cry from what we have today," Earll says, "and an encouraging sign that this nation can move back to a place where abortion is no longer legal or thinkable."

It's hard to find anyone who is "pro-abortion" these days. Hillary Clinton calls abortion a "sad, even tragic choice." Barack Obama opposed banning partial-birth abortion, which the Supreme Court restricted last year. But even Obama told this magazine, "I don't know anybody who is pro-abortion."

No, we will not all be called to picket or pray in front of an abortion clinic or pass legislation or support an unwed mother or adopt a child or write letters to the editor. But we all can do something.

Opposing abortion is not simply another agenda item for evangelicals. It is our sacred duty. Whatever other good deeds we are called to do—and there are many—we cannot say abortion is someone else's business. It's our business.

Related elsewhere:

Other articles on politics, life ethics, and social justice are available in our full coverage areas.

Guthrie's previous columns are available on our site.

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May 2008, Vol. 52, No. 5

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sjd	Posted: May 30, 2008 9:53 PM


Well said, Stan. Amen and amen.

Dave	Posted: May 23, 2008 12:10 PM

Picture this. A man is hit by a car and lies injured, bleeding from an artery. Two people run up to help. One is a liberal evangelical who says to the man: “You’re bleeding but we have to deal with more than a single issue here, blah blah.” The other person says “go call 911 quick!” and proceeds to staunch the bleeding, waiting for EMS. The injured man no doubt has multiple concerns in his life but sometimes you have to deal with single life-and-death issues first. The United States is bleeding from an artery. Maybe the bleeding is slowing. Maybe we are getting low on blood.

ugh.	Posted: May 23, 2008 9:57 AM

"Tim: Which is more important? Alleviation of poverty or life?" Are you serious? There are women watching their children die of starvation and disease. There are women giving birth to children knowing that all that awaits them is a life as an indentured servant or a prostitute. You can't say that one is more important than the other; they go hand in hand. To insinuate that "life" is more important than alleviating poverty is to demonstrate your ignorance that poverty takes more life on this planet than abortion. Step outside your North American suburban cauldesac and take a look at this world we're living in. Abortion is the last thing we should be worrying about.

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