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How to be Christlike on the abortion issue

How to be Christlike on the abortion issue

Last updated on: November 16, 2020 at 10:37 am by Kathryn Shihadah

How to be Christlike on the abortion issue 2020-11-16T10:37:25-05:00 Kathryn Shihadah

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Jesus never talked about abortion per se, but we can tell from his conversations how he might have handled the issue (hint: he would have been Christlike).

(I’ve written about abortion before – here, here, here, here, and here. Please read and share. We need to give this issue actual consideration, not just assume we’ve already got it figured out. And please subscribe to my newsletter.)

That poor, infamous woman who was “caught in the very act of adultery,” did she ever imagine her story would live on and on and on? She must have been so embarrassed. She must have wished the anecdote wouldn’t make the cut when the Gospels were being edited. But there she is, for all to see, in the best-selling book of all time!

So let’s review the incident (John 8). Remember how the scribes and Pharisees dragged this poor woman into the Temple and threw her before Jesus, sneering their accusation?

“This woman was caught in the very act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

Remember Jesus’ response? I think he asked the woman,

WHICH PART OF “THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY” DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?

No wait, that’s not what he said. He actually said,

“I do not condemn you (I condemn the scribes and Pharisees). Go and sin no more.”

Then what? Then Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees,

HE THAT HAS NEVER COMMITTED ADULTERY AMONG YOU, LET HIM CAST THE FIRST STONE AT HER.

Just kidding. Jesus actually said,

“He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.”

And then even though he was sinless, he did not condemn the woman caught in adultery. He did however condemn the Pharisees for self-righteousness.

Just sit with that a moment.

Jesus says: get your own house in order before you condemn sinners around you. And when you think your house is in order, it’s not.

This next bit is going to sound off-topic, but bear with me:

One day, back when I hung out with a conservative Christian community, a single young woman among us turned up pregnant. She was the daughter of one of the community leaders.

The grandma-to-be announced on Facebook what was going on, and voiced her full support, as her daughter decided to keep the baby and raise it on her own as a single mom.

The community, to its credit, was so very supportive and encouraging. As far as I know, there was no judgment, no disgust – nothing but love.

Imagine if the Church was known for embracing and supporting young pregnant women like this? What if, when a woman found herself unexpectedly expecting, she could find a loving community to help her in her distress? And to love her even if she decides to abort?

Isn’t that what Jesus was getting at? Compassion, unconditional love?

This is not a trick to get anyone to vote contrary to their conscience, or to let so-called “baby killers” run the country.

This is a call to be Christlike.

We’re fooling ourselves if we think we’ll save babies by cozying up with evil.

I’m so glad I realized this before the Trump era. I would hate to be in the position of having to advocate for him, just in hopes that maybe he could overturn Roe v. Wade. I’m so relieved I don’t have to try to dig up dirt on Biden just to make Trump look a little better. I don’t have to manufacture support for those other folks in Congress whose sole redeeming quality is that they claim they are pro-life.

I found so much peace when I turned my back on that business. I feel like I can see the possibility of Christlikeness on this path.

FEATURED IMAGE: “A little kindness goes a long way” by Ed Yourdon is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

woman caught in adultery

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