A Response to the Tiller Murder
Pastors’ Blog
June 25, 2009

Dear [FIRSTNAME],

While I’m a little late in responding to the murder of the abortion doctor, I figure this topic is not going away. And it deserves a response in the light of Christ.

As you probably know, Dr. Tiller was murdered by a guy who was described as “a Christian.” I am appalled by the murder. And I’m pleased that I’ve heard universal condemnation from Pro-Life groups.

But I’ve also heard the accusation from the other side: Don’t just condemn the murder. Also go further and condemn the messengers who provoked the murder. That is, stop calling abortion “murder” and Dr. Tiller “a murderer.”

Ok.

I accept the challenge. After all, why not? What’s our goal here? If it’s to overturn Roe vs. Wade, I think we’re misguided. Doing so would still leave abortion legal and common in almost all states. If our goal is intimidation and fear, we’ve lost our faith.

The goal is more than simply saving babies lives. The goal is to save the men and women who choose the path of abortion, not only for this life but for eternity (and for their children as well).

So, tell me, what good does it do to call an abortion doctor “a murderer.” Are you going to hide behind “it’s the truth” as if love and persuasion were optional? And what good does it do to tell a young woman that she has murdered her baby? I’m thinking that’s not a good way to healing and wholeness and restoration in Christ.

Women know what they’re doing when they have an abortion. I’d like to know the statistics on this, but my guess is that 99% of women choose abortion because they felt they have no choice. I always grimace when abortion is called “a choice” or a “woman’s reproductive right.” Really? My bet is that it’s almost always a man’s choice. It’s a man’s choice to use a woman as a disposable toy and to shirk his responsibility.

I’d like to know: How many women would have an abortion if the father of the child said to her, “I love you and I love our baby; I want to raise our child together”?

So, if we’re really interested in stopping abortion, our focal point better get off of abortion and onto men. How about men manning up, and owning up to their responsibity for their own life-creating powers; and being fathers and husbands? Yes? Yes!

Ok, and here’s where men could use a little bit of help. Ladies, please stop letting men treat you this way. Please demand that your man be a man. Perhaps I’m asking too much when I ask women at least to have a ring and a date before you give your body to a man. I certainly get the impression that God expects a life-long, public commitment before you do so (Genesis 2:24-25).

Is this unrealistic in our modern age? Maybe so. But, if the statistics I read are accurate, I’m scared: two thirds of kids are not living with both their biological parents; and four of ten children are born out of wedlock. If that’s reality, I’m not liking it too much.

Ok, and here’s where both sexes need more than a little help. I think we need God’s help and Jesus’ forgiveness and strength in order for men to be men and for marriages to become strong again.

For women who’ve had an abortion, you’ve got my love and sympathy. I will not judge you. And, more importantly, God gives His forgiveness, and there’s help at the local pregnancy center (here). They will love you through it. No condemnation.

So, please, let’s attack abortion at the root. And it’s not at the abortion clinic. The center of the problem is in men’s relationship to women and whether it’s centered in love, trust, commitment, and Christ.

(In case you couldn’t tell, I’ve got quite a lot of passion for this subject; thus, I easily may miss some things that are obvious to others, or be unintentionally offensive; so let me know what you think.)

In Christ,
Pastor Steve

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