Tuesday, September 9, 2008

I'm a bad politicial Lutheran

I'm a bad political Lutheran. I just can't get worked up about trying to overthrow Roe v. Wade.

Now, don't get me wrong - I firmly believe that Abortion is wrong, and I firmly believe that it should be illegal except in cases where carrying a child to term would kill the mother. If the law was passed tomorrow outlawing it - I'm as happy as anyone.

But to be honest. . . I can't get worked up on trying to change laws or get Roe v. Wade overturned. I don't get all aflutter over the latest utterings of the candidates on abortion. Part of this is just my being jaded. I turn 31 tomorrow - and it's been the same debate, the same legal back and forth my entire life. The struggle in the political world just. . . not bores me but drives me to apathy.

And part of it too is that I think we end up approaching things wrong when it comes to the whole abortion debate. I don't think our focus should be on trying to change the law by some political sleight of hand or that magical election that lets it be done. That won't end the battle. The other side will just try to pull off the same thing (and let's face it, they are more shrewd in their generation than we are). It would be a temporary victory (and yes, if abortions are stopped a true victory, but a temporary one) at best.

Rather this. We should not be using the tools of politics - the tools of the legal profession to change the world. Instead, we should be teaching - teaching about life and the gift that it is. The world will always be full of murders, of those who by hook or by crook will slaughter people - and no, we should not make it easy for people to do this. But the solution to sin is not better law - it is to teach - to teach Christ, to teach and give out the life that He gives.

I know - wide eyed idealist me. . . but I think I would do more good if I teach 10 gals about the value of life than if I spent 10 years trying to get a stricter law passed. And who knows, if enough of us did that - maybe the law would take care of itself.

4 comments:

Dan @ Necessary Roughness said...

I understand where you're coming from.

Politically speaking, Roe v. Wade is bad law because it has taken something that should be decided by the states under the 9th and 10th Amendments and put it under the federal purview. Even Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg has said Roe v. Wade was bad law for this reason.

I do think we should try to make laws better under our First Use of the law. You may be right that we could get into a game of abortion is illegal for four or eight years, and then it's legal under the next president. You still save the lives of those children in that duration.

If we have the opportunity to curb gross sin, or at least allow the states to curb gross sin if they choose, I think we should take that opportunity.

Rev. Eric J Brown said...

To be clear - RvW is one of the worst decisions in the history of the court - the court completely overstepped its bounds and created a law. And yes - there are those who need to fight that law on a legal standing.

But that isn't my realm of combat -- it would be like me trying to outspend someone -- I don't have the cash for that. Silver and Gold I have not - but I do have the Word of God. I think my fight should be more on an individual level of understanding - not legality.

Preachrboy said...

Rev. Brown,

I think you present a false alternative. Why shouldn't Christians try to do both (teach and change the laws)?

When you say "we should not be using the tools of the world to change the world" who is "we"? Pastors? Christians?

Are you saying fighting the political/legal fight is fine and good for others but it's just not for you? Or are you saying all Christians should do the same, focusing on the teaching?

Rev. Eric J Brown said...

I am saying that I will let others focus on the legal fight. . . it's just not for me. And I think that no mater if you are fighting the legal fight, you need to remember that the issue of abortion will never be dealt with finally in a court.