Lake of Fire
Abortion.It's one of the most divisive issues of our time. Erin and I were settling down for a quiet evening last night and rented the movie Lake of Fire (rent it from iTunes here). The stunningly appropriate title should have been the first warning about it's content. I love documentaries and this has to be one of the best I've ever seen. I use the word"best" with caution. It is also one of most saddening, gut-wrenching, and graphic films I've ever seen. My stomach still feels like a "lake of fire."
Families, communities, and nations will easily split into hard line positions when the topic is raised. Recently it was one of the top issues asked about by Rick Warren of our two presidential candidates.
For many of my generation (say 15 to 35 year-olds) - the activist debate has lessened while the tough stances remain. For those raised in evangelical homes it is still an abhorrent practice. But most of us don't demonstrate or picket.
This film is extremely balanced in its presentation. Fundamentalists, professors, women, men, poor, rich, politicians, and pastors are all given a platform. It reveals the rediculous complexity of making political choices on the issue.If you can stomach the film, I would recommend watching it. Then, you can come back and read my post-film thoughts:
- Abortion has to be one of the most digusting practices humanity has ever been involved in. Watching trained doctors sifting through infant arms and legs is nauseating.
- My niece Annika was born 3 months premature. Abortions are still performed on this age set around the world. Annika will celebrate her 9th birthday this month. It is hard to imagine that babies her size (2nd term) can be aborted.
- I'm so proud of my parents and grandparents generations that kept this issue alive under fierce pressure. My wife's parents spent many years being a part of rallys and grassroots activism. They should be commended for their compassion and diligence.
- There are no clear answers in this debate. Noam Chomsky raised the question about skin cells. With this era of cloning - skin cells from a woman could contain the basic material for another human being (with some modifications in the lab). When does life actually begin? Some orthodox Jews feel wasted sperm and egg are against God's design.
- One human citizen cannot feel responsible for all the sin, sadness, and brokenness of the community, nation, or the planet. It is important to be engaged, but the guilt for all does not reside on the individual. We are each given our tasks and should be diligent with what is before us.
- With all of that said, Christians need to step up to this challenge! We need a comprehensive attitude toward a seemless fabric of life. If we express concern for unborn babies we should be concerned with born babies, Iraqi kids, Darfurians, and our neighbors. Every Christian family should go out today and adopt a foster kid.
Those studying the debate have pointed out that abortions have actually increased during George Bush's presidency. We need a comprehensive attitude of compassion, love, and life. The battered single mothers struggling to pay bills, beaten by husbands, and ignored by Christians should be cared for first!
Any thoughts? Have you guys seen this film? What are your feelings about the issue?
Peace.
posted by Dan @ 2:06 PM
4 Comments:
Dan-thanks for your post. Wes and I watched this film a couple of months ago and both thought it was incredible (he loves documentaries, too. you guys should be friends someday :)
I like the complexity of the issue the film presented. Pro choice women who choose to abort often feel remorse, and sometimes don't. The former pro-choice activist-turned-Christian-right was used by both sides of the issue.
And on the topic itself, while I am pro-life, I found Obama's answers to abortion in the interview with Rick Warren refreshing--let's talk about increasing minimum wage and provided affordable healthcare if we really want to reduce abortion, which is something pro-life and pro-choice can both agree on.
Thanks for your thoughts, and I read your blog often to keep up with you two!
I wish that more Christias who call themselves "pro-life" had a more comprehensive stance than anti-abortion. In my experience the most vociferous advocates of making abortion illegal are often also ardent supporters of the death penalty and war.
Hi Dan,
I think your post is right on. I've got too many thoughts swimming around in my head and I know it won't come out with clarity. So, just suffice it to say that I think all your reflections are accurate. It's unfortunate that the adoption process has become so much about $. And the fact that the mainstream christian view of abortion/"value of life" is so hypocritical only proves to me that it's spurred on by politics (i.e. "power") and not by our love for Jesus and living out his compassion. How did we get to this point? It's horribly sad.
I really appreciate the way Obama talks about abortion because I think he's focused on the right idea and the way to achieve it, but McCain also has a snippet that almost rings true, that he wants to make abortion irrelevant. To me, the only answer visible to this really painful thing in our society is to go one step further, to make abortion OBSOLETE. By hook or by crook, throw ourselves into doing whatever we can that makes any alternative easier. Abstinence, educatin, control, adoption,state funded IUDs...some people may have to lessen their convictions on "encouraging" premarital sex, other people may have to quit rallying around the idea of abortion as a flag to fly for women's rights, and yes, there may even be issues with some forms of birth control, but it seems like in this stage of civilization we can advance past "needing" abortion.
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