I was horrified when I first received the L.I.F.E. club email stating in big bold letters “Abortion: A Modern Day Holocaust?” that was accompanied by the feet of what appeared to be an infant. I was horrified not because of my views on abortion, but because of the way the e-mail presented the event. The email claimed to be a panel “discussion” yet the way information was presented did not suggest any “discussion” would occur. Instead the email suggested that one viewpoint would automatically dominate the event. In addition to my horror, we must realize that even in this small community; there are most likely people who have experienced the effects of abortion to one degree or another. Therefore I do not feel that we should abruptly equate our fellow sisters and brothers to Nazis. Regardless of the impressions I received from the email, I decided to attend, hoping that researched opinions and detailed thought would be respectfully presented.
Sadly my hope was, for the most part, in vain–the panel quickly veered in one direction and rarely slowed down to think about other avenues of opinion. However, though the conversation repeatedly traveled in one direction, I as well as fellow students, were very thankful to have Dean Jordan present. He continually inserted thought-provoking responses that were honest; reminding the students that there are not easily deduced answers when it comes to society’s issue of abortion. However, this was not as true of the other two speakers.
The male guest speaker was a Bible-thumper, who continually repeated kitschy catchy phrases such as, “We have the World View, and then we have the Word View” or “God is Scripture and Scripture is God.” I assure you, Scripture is not cut and dry. Issues dealing with morality are rarely-if ever- black and white. Yes John 1 does say, “In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” but the Bible speaks in metaphor. As one student at the panel pointed out, there are thousands of denominations within the Protestant Church alone: clearly believers do not commonly agree on many issues regarding the hermeneutics of scripture. In relation to this, Dean Jordan again pointed us to the important realization that the Bible never addresses abortion, but instead discusses the value of life as a theme prevalent within the Bible. We should approach abortion as intellectuals who can support opinions within secular communities, not just as believers who speak up in our small, faith-based town.
The female guest speaker reverted to a repeated tactic of statistical references throughout the discussion, and at one point admitted to looking up facts online recently to ensure she would have information to bring to the panel. Statistics work for initial effect, but we have heard them before and we will hear them again. When bombarded with statistics, one does not often come away with new thoughts to dwell on, but rather one comes away with a jumble of disorienting facts that are hard to process. Also this guest speaker was a Catholic and I, like other students, expected the discussion to at least briefly deal with the differences between Catholic and Protestant viewpoints on contraception, but this was never formally addressed. Instead, references were made to the differing thoughts, but time was not devoted to discussing this rift within the Church.
Lastly, the discussion was not clearly focused from the beginning. I expected the first question to be a starting point that dealt with the definition of when life truly starts. This question was only addressed at the end, when a student asked for individualized definitions from each panelist.
Overall I was disappointed. The issue of abortion is regarded as a very heated discussion both inside the church and within the secular world. Students should experience a discussion that holds differing opinions respectfully presented in a way that stimulates an individual’s thought instead of staunching it. Students who are not encouraged to carefully think about issues will not be ready to confidently present his/her own thoughts when given the chance later in life.
Next time the L.I.F.E Club creates a panel discussion, I suggest they bring in a pro-choice opinion–there are academics in our community who hold this view. I also propose they find more readily equipped panelists to argue each side. This campus also holds people who have devoted time and energy into Pro-Life viewpoints through continual research from both a Christian perspective and a secular perspective. Once again, I was extremely glad that Dean Jordan had a voice in this discussion, but I wish the panel had been better prepared and more diverse.
2 replies on “L.I.F.E. Club Panel Disappoints”
I want to appologize for the “type-o’s” in my response. I am convinced that my struggles with those types of errors and my ADD keep me humble; so everyone else knows I am human too. I am not sure how to fix them but will try. Thanks. Cindy McDonald
This is not my normal thing to do. I am thoughtful and ponder many things but don’t usually reply in this type of format. But over Christmas I was diagnosed with breast cancer and have begun treatments that keep me more homeboy do (had to leave my job with the special needs children I love to work with every day) and I believe God wants to use me in other ways right now. One of them is speaking truth and hope into the lives of hurting people through writing. I may “over do it” a little here and there since I can be so much more bold when I write than when I am face to face, just ask my daughter. Upon reading this response to the recent discussion panel I was compelled to respond here. Truth just Pricks at my heart and won’t let me pass this over. But I want you to know I heart you and can understand where your response is coming from. There really is no more emotionally charged issue our there right now. So here goes. My prayerful, compassionate but truth-filled response.
There is nothing in scripture or in the truth of the value of life that could possibly support abortion as a choice that would be God honoring, except possibly in an emergency to save the life of the mother but this is extremely rare. Having said that, it certainly is a bottom line statement that is devoid of emotion or feeling, Since we are human beings that are full of emotion and feelings as well as differing circumstances and life happenings since the time of birth and before birth, which affect us and guide us (good or bad) in our choices, this issue becomes complicated.
We are all faced with struggles and battles and difficulties. We feel things deeply, we love, we hurt, we think through things and about things through our human heart lense. God made us that way, If He had made us devoid of those things and those emotions we would not be human and we could not choose to love Him or others. God made us and He loves us just like we are. But God has given us the power and ability to see things through a “God lense” through the power of the Holy Spirit. The only way to do that is to submit to Him. To yield to Him. To tell him, as Paul did, “I will be less so you can be more” in my life and give over every decision we are faced with to His will. Despite how we feel about it. We will never be overcomers of evil in this world if we live by our feelings. It is not an issue of abortion. Our society and our world tell us that we must put our needs first. There is much I can say about that, but all I will say is that is a powerful lie to turn us into me centered people and away from God centered people and will affect every single aspect and choiice of our lives and will leave us empty. This leads to trying to fill ourselves with pursuits that will never f”fill us up. Totally empty and broken with no hope. I do want to say that we should all be compassionate towards each other. My heart breaks for those who may have been at that panel “discussion” who have been through an abortion and all I would want to do his hold them and tell them they are loved! We have not walked in the “shoes of the one sitting next to us in class or standing next to us in line at the grocery store, It is through our compassion, understanding and love for others that we can bring hope and healing to the lives of others that have been “stomped on” in this world.
I am also sad to hear that the panel discussion was not a true discussion and that this issue was not addressed with compassion and hope, but rather “Bible thumping” and hard heartedness. This will not bring about hope, healing or change in hearts.
There is truth that is absolutely black and white here, however. While on this earth, in our Human bodies, we will be overcome with feelings that will lead us in decisions that will harm us and others. Allow your feelings to bring you to your knees, to seek God’s beautiful but truth-filled face. Go to the the only God that says to you, “I am truth so you can trust me! I am grace, so you are forgiven”. Allow your feelings to bring you to the side of those that are hurting and struggling and to share the compassion of God and his infinite grace and mercy to those we can touch around us. There is always hope and healing in Christ and this should be the center of the next panel discussion. Truth and grace must co-exist for God to be glorified and for His love to shine through every circumstance of our earthly life.
Always remember that we are just “passing through” on a journey on this earth. This is only our home for a short time. Eternity with God is infinite and more real than this speck of time we are here. Let’s make the most of it by putting it the the potter’s hands and letting Him mold us into the creations He has in mind for us to be while here. This is a long and painful process at times but He promises us that we can know the Joy of the Lord regardless of any circumstance, when we trust in His Truth and guidance for our lives and allow the feelings to follow along after.
Truth must be expressed and not watered down. But with Truth comes the need for understanding and love. Forgiveness and Healing. Hope and compassion through undertstanding that we all experience things in life that are complicated by our “humanness”. We all share this truth while we are on this earth. Things look unclear and fuzzy through our clouded lenses. One day we will see more clearly. Until then let us seek God’s face and yield to His leading, no matter how unnatural it may seem to us. We are not God, he knows this so He has given us a truth counselor in the Holy Spirit. Be filled and empowered by His Spirit while living on this broken earth and you will know Joy unspeakable and faith unwavering and love overflowing. God bless.
We are overcomers in this earthly, broken world. Seek the face and truth of Jesus. He himself said, ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. “. John 16:33. Please consider very seriously reading the full chapter of Jouhn 16. It is directly out of the mouth of Jesus and covers many other the things I have in my response. Jesus is speaking to His disciples but he is also speaking to the time that is now and is to come. His truth knows no time boundries or cultural/social ideas. It is fresh and true for us today and His healing is for everyone who seeks Him. Be His light and truth today.