So here's a thought that's been provoking me lately: "Abortion is a mercy issue."
It's a thought that comes from my understanding of Micah 6:8. The verse reads, "He (God) has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." If you look closely, the whole verse hangs on the revelation of the goodness of God. The goodness of God is not discovered by man, but made known by God through revelation.
The goodness of God is shocking. The goodness of God insists that where sin abounds, grace abounds even more. The goodness of God made the Perfect Son of Heaven who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in the Son we might become the righteousness of God. The goodness of God assures us that He will place us like a seal over His heart and His arm, and that the fire of His love for us is unquenchable. The goodness of God gives us the gift of "no condemnation" first, and then tells us to go and sin no more. The goodness of God redeems us from the pit and crowns us with love and compassion.
I can go on and on and on. But the point is HE has shown us what is good! And He has shown us more than just good things, He has shown us HIMSELF. He has shown us His character, His nature - the core of His being.
Moses experienced the giving of The 10 Commandments and it was a spectacular event. But for some reason, Moses knew that the glory of God was more than that. He beseeches God later on, "Show me your glory!" And what was God's response? "I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My Name." The goodness of God is the glory of God!
So Micah 6:8 begins with, "He has shown you what is good." In other words, God has revealed Himself to you - He has revealed the center of His heart to you and shown you that at the nucleus of everything we know, we will discover the glory of His goodness.
Herein lies the difference between secular, humanistic justice and biblical, godly justice: one is defined by the principles of man and the other by the goodness of God. There is a lot more to be said regarding this, but I must save it for another time. Nevertheless, a Christian involved in justice issues must be theologically founded on the goodness of God. The judgments of God will one day end, but not the goodness of God. The goodness of God will continue to exist as long as He exists.
For me to say, then, that abortion is a mercy issue is not a backing down from the claim that it is also a justice issue. Abortion IS a justice issue. But God-glorifying justice biblically demands that I also treat abortion as a MERCY issue. That's why we adopt. That's why we foster care. That's why take care of the orphans and the fatherless. That's why we speak healing to women who have been damaged by abortion. That's why we have hope that one day abortion will end and the tragedy for women, men, and babies will end - the glorious mercies of the goodness of God.
Writing for the glory of God in the Pro-Life movement.
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Paul, I love this! Justice and mercy go hand in hand... there is no Godly justice without the mercy of God.
ReplyDeleteMy personal convictions are about seeing abortion become a nation-wide justice issue, not just a predominantly Christian issue. If those who are passionate about justice issues in general, get an insight into of the horror of abortion, this then becomes a vehicle for them turn towards a loving and merciful God. As the truth about the injustice of abortion is revealed many will turn from the principles of man toward the goodness of God.
Abortion is absolutely a mercy issue, but in the secular this has to come from us as currently many don't understand the concept of mercy. It is commonly a foreign idea, as they themselves haven't experienced the mercy of our loving God.
So yes, I wholeheartedly agree. Abortion is a justice issue AND a mercy issue. In Micah 6:8 I love that these three elements of God's character: justice, mercy and humility are together and one does not function without the other.
I think the key for us as we live in the revelation of this, is to know how to apply it to the secular. NOT changing or distorting God's Word, or desperately attempting to be "culturally relevant", but instead to draw unbelievers passionate about justice issues into the heart of God. It is then that they can begin to understand His mercy because we are walking humbly with our God.
Justice is the entry point. Mercy is expressing God’s heart. Humility is the condition of our own heart.
Ha! make sense? not sure... lot's of chats ahead!
great post ... thanks!
Yes, Helen, lots of chats to be looked forward to!
ReplyDeleteI think many Christians today don't engage in justice issues, particularly abortion, because they are not given the theological moorings necessary to engage and impact such issues. Many Christians engage in evangelism because they're taught the theological foundations of evangelism from the Bible. It's the same with discipleship, worship, and other areas of the Christian life. But when it comes to engaging abortion, the Church is silent. I'm glad, though, that the Bible isn't.
So here's what I think will be a crucial turning point in the pro-life movement: when Christian leaders begin to teach abortion theologically and biblically, the people will be empowered to engage in the issue freely. If leaders don't do this, the Church will largely remain silent on the issue.
Sometimes, I understand, people's heartstrings can easily be moved through clever marketing, and some people will be mobilized to take action through that. But I think, for the pro-life movement to be truly God-glorifying and God-centered and for the Church to move on mass on the issue of abortion, it must be theologically, systematically, and intentionally taught from the pulpit.
And so, to a degree, it is to this end that I write. Hopefully, one day, God will release me to preach and teach and mobilize from the pulpit. But for now, blogging is the way to go!