Prolife And Prochoice
I agree with CT’s editorial position that there are many ethical human-life issues that evangelicals agree on, and therefore they should dialogue—rather than argue—about abortion [CT Institute, July 14]. But the four men writing in this section did not appear to consider whether the women involved have any choice in the matter of reproduction and abortion. On the contrary, many of us evangelicals are both prolife and prochoice. We believe women’s rights and fetal rights are bound up together and cannot be addressed separately. Reading this section, I felt unrepresented and alienated.
Most astounding was Charles White’s article, “Why Abortion Matters Most.” No wonder both the means and ends of eliminating abortion are so crystal clear to him: he never once mentioned women! Furthermore, as a student in biblical studies, I am unimpressed with his shaky biblical foundation for his antiabortion position. God’s Word simply does not make it clear that the fetus is a person with rights equal to those already born. Abortion was not an issue in the biblical writings; the passages he cited are open to other interpretations.
Reta Finger
Chicago, Ill.
Perhaps the church would get a better hearing on the abortion issue if we approached it the way Jesus answered the question about divorce. Rather than give a list of “grounds” for abortion, such as rape, incest, danger to the mother, and so on, we ought to talk about our Creator’s design for sexual intercourse and marriage. That is, we ought to affirm the beauty of the exclusive mutual commitment to love and respect each other in the marital relationship and stress the necessity of that being present before intercourse takes place.
Should we stop at outlawing abortion? Shouldn’t we also work to pass laws prohibiting the sale of other contraceptive devices to unmarried people? Such a tactic seems to me to get at the root of the problem rather than focusing on the symptom.
Randy Crenshaw, M.D.
Nashville, Tenn.
No one explored the hidden agenda of prochoice. It is population control of the poor and minorities. Abortion has always been and always will be around for the elite. No one discussed how we are going to reach those women who have had abortions now that we have judged them murderers. I used to have on average one woman a week talk with me about her abortion, seeking forgiveness and healing. Now I have virtually none. I assume they are going to secular advisers.
Rev. Jim Christy
Sunny View Church of the Nazarene
Greeley, Colo.
Kenneth Kantzer asks, “Should we pass laws to force a woman who has been raped to carry the child to birth?” What he means is: “Should we require the mother to act like a mother, since the child she is carrying and is thinking of destroying is hers as well as the man’s, or shall we administer capital punishment to the child, denying its rights to life because of the crime of the father?” Which is the more Christian response?
Lloyd A. Hartman
San Jose, Calif.
Kantzer’s plea is anything but balanced. Why is the product of a rape any less deserving of absolute legal protection than that of a loving relationship? Furthermore, since when is the pregnant woman “risking her life to save the life of another”? This line of reasoning, besides being flawed, formed the basis for the entire “slippery slope” proabortion argument in the first place—the ultimate unwanted, and therefore justifiably disposed of, pregnancy.
R. Scott West
Wheaton, Ill.
I can’t believe Kantzer would opt for abortions even if we Christians can’t readily supply all the solutions inherent in bringing troubled babies to birth. Killing is never the solution for the unborn. I agree with White. Let’s not get sidetracked.
Ray Potts
Grandville, Mich.
The prolife people see themselves as the paragon of modern Christianity. They brag of their political power. Forgive me, but when I try to read your correct theology, a picture intrudes of a woman being harassed by Christians, and the triumphant Christians gloating that they have made life harder for her by their harassment. I cannot believe that behavior is the way of Christ. Presumably a partial objective of your papers was to “cool it.” I wish you success.
Harold A. Palmer
Nacogdoches, Tex.
Prayer Requests
Last week during our Bible-study sharing time Jane said, “I’d like everyone to remember my Aunt Mabel. She stubbed her big toe on Uncle Otto’s shin, and has a doctor’s appointment in the morning to see if she’ll need a walker.”
The leader turned to me and said, “Will you take Jane’s prayer request?”
He caught me daydreaming. I admit it. I was mentally replaying a Cubs double play that had iced a Pirates rally, and as the defense headed for the dugout, it was my turn to bat (so to speak).
Being a public-prayer veteran, I did what I had to do. I bluffed: “Lord,” I prayed, “please remember this loved one of Jane’s. Be with her in this time. You know her need better than we do, and we ask that you’ll give her comfort and strength to sustain her through her trials. We pray that thy will be done in this matter, and we’ll give you all the honor and praise for whatever happens. Amen.”
I’m sure no one was fooled, just as I’m sure no one really worried. After all, these things happen to all of us. How does God respond to prayers like that? I don’t know. But when one of my own prayer requests is shifted onto a daydreamer, I always send a backup prayer, just in case.
Which may explain why Jane was still praying as we resumed our Bible study.
EUTYCHUS
Discomfiting Truth
I was greatly pleased to read Virginia Stem Owens’s article, “A Faith that Trembles and Dances” [July 14], as it clearly communicated some points the church often seems to overlook—for one, the intrinsic value of the individual over and above the value of the group.
It’s a shame that Kierkegaard too often gets a bad rap from many in the evangelical community—often, I believe, from those who have not really studied him. Much of what Kierkegaard had to say would not set well with many Christians today; but then again, “truth” has no responsibility to make us comfortable.
David L. Russell
William Tyndale College
Farmington Hills, Mich.
