To Be Consistently Pro-Life

In general, I find that getting overly involved in politics, especially on a forum like Facebook, is futile. You rarely change minds, and more often than not you just tick people off.

I've been trying, for the most part, to stay out of it. On rare occasions, I have voiced an opinion, but even then, I try very hard not to sound all judgey and to respect differing points of view. I recognize that not all people are going to agree with my conclusions, and I am okay with that. There are a lot of amazing people whom I greatly respect who believe very differently than I do in respect to religion and/or politics. I think it is very important to be able to disagree well and to honor one another. To treat others with the same respect you would like to be treated with.

That being said, I find it interesting that the most widely discussed issue I have seen lately is abortion. It is an important issue, no doubt, and I understand why it is given so much attention, but....

I find it odd that so many conservatives, so many evangelicals, so many Christians, fail to see their lack of consistency on this issue.

Here is what I mean: If you call yourself pro-life, how can you also be pro-gun, pro-war and pro-death penalty?

I understand how liberals are scratching their heads about this conundrum.

To be anti-abortion is not the same as being pro-life.

It is not enough to say a teenage girl should not get an abortion if you are not also willing to help her raise her baby or provide a home for her baby. Keep in mind a lot of women obtain abortions because of a lack of finances, opportunities and support.

Pro-lifers should be the biggest supporters of orphans, the most willing to offer foster care {or adoption} and the most ready to open their homes and hearts. They should not condemn people for aborting, decry their *immoral* choice, and offer no viable, loving solutions or tangible support.

And can I just say to those who say, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people", that people USE GUNS to kill people???

{As an aside, I don't have an issue with people hunting for food, if they are so inclined. It is when people use guns as a form of violence toward other people that I take issue.}

As for me, I want to follow out my admittedly pro-life stance from womb to tomb.

This applies also the the idea of retaliatory violence. The Rabbi I serve taught His followers to turn the other cheek, to love ones enemies, to blessed when cursed. These teachings are radically counter intuitive. They are also the only way to {truly} conquer evil. In the words of Dr. King, "Hate does not drive out hate; only love can do that."

I don't have all the answers, I don't claim to be right about everything, and I don't think following out this philosophy would be without sacrifice, heartache, and a lot of messes. But I believe in my heart of hearts it is right.

And while I am not trying to cause an argument or upset anyone, occasionally I think it is helpful to clarify to others what I believe, and why. To draw a line in the sand, so-to-speak.

I hope and pray to be gentle and genuine enough to be able to share my heart with others in a way that communicates who I am without degrading, belittling or judging.

I pray that my actions, my life, would be marked by gentleness, by peace, and by love.

A truly pro-life way of living...

And I also pray that, as I live this out, others would be willing to hear my heart.

 “What you do speaks so loudly that I can not hear what you say.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

~amy danielle