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.
I believe that God is pro-choice, and he is also pro-life. God gives us freedom in life, but he asks that we choose self-sacrifice, love, life, and grace. So in some sense the pro-choice movement has a point. It is their choice. But what if Christians burst out of their closed communities and adopted kids, cared for the homeless and vulnerable urban poor, fixed their marriages, befriended those with pro-choice opinions and then - within a generation - abortion wasn't even a debate.
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.
More Sabbath thoughts
This last month I wrote out some thoughts on the Sabbath in the Holcomb Update. Erin and I have thought a lot about it recently. I've continued on the conversation with some of you, but thought I'd share some of the Biblical and historical background on the Sabbath.
I believe that the Sabbath concept is an idea that is foundational to human existence. It is a transcendent value communicated by God throughout all of history to humanity. Before I go into more depth on God's value of Sabbath, I'll define what I understand Sabbath to be:
Definition: A "Stop" time that comes after a time of work or being engaged in activity. The Hebrew root means to "stop" or "rest". The period should come after six periods of non-stop activity. It is a period that is a blessing for humanity and should be used for the following activities: rest, prayer, worship, renewal, healing, feasting, and time with God. It should interrupt our usual activities.
Here is the Biblical and historical background for this concept:
- Before Israel was a nation or humanity chose to rebel against the creator - God spent six days (or periods) working and creating. He then chose to rest on the seventh day (or period). Humans are made in the image of God and are therefore given this example for life (even before man technically had to work). (Gen 2:1-3)
- The Israelites were given the Sabbath as a covenant-sign (pointing back to Creation) that would be a day of the week to stop work, rest, not collect food, and remember God. (Ex 20:8-11)
- The people of God celebrate the Sabbath using Psalm 92 - which is a Sabbath Psalm. The prophet Isaiah encouraged the Israelites to not break the Sabbath - and pointed to blessing if the day was observed.
- Jesus observed the Sabbath while he was on earth. His critiques of the practices of the time were to do with the myriad of rules that at that time trumped love. Jesus healed on the Sabbath - to show that we should love people over following rules. The disciples were allowed to eat grain - to show that enjoying food was more important than following rules. "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath". Jesus never said that the Sabbath was unimportant or should be ignored. Instead, he affirmed it's existence and importance by redeeming it from the confines of the Pharisaical rules.
- The disciples and apostles continue to observe the Sabbath after Jesus' death and resurrection. Paul preached on the Sabbath in synagogues (Acts 17:1-3) - and the believers continued to hold a day of rest and prayer - although it often switched from Saturday to Sunday. The exact day of the week was unimportant - rather it was the principle. This following of the Sabbath is woven all of the way through scripture until Revelation 1:10 where John is caught up "in the Spirit on the Lord's day".
- The church has observed a day of rest and worship from the earliest days of the church up till the present day. Those in leadership of the Catholic church - through to Luther - and onto the present day have taught the importance of a day of rest. It often is ignored by people by is rarely preached against.
So, there are six points to ponder on the Sabbath. Now I think I'll give my fingers a break... What is critical is not the details of this day - but rather the principle. Little rules should not be piled up to frame a period of frustration, tension, and stress. Rather it is a day of blessing, rest, and recovery that is foundational to our existence.
Mmmmm.
