Ridgell's Originals

 I value life because God does.  So I am glad that abortion is no longer legal.  I long for the day when it will not be supported and encouraged by those leading this country.  But I would remind Christians that there is still so much work yet to be done.  Our enemy is the devil.  It is not unwed mothers or babies.  Or any pregnant woman or the man who got her prenant.  People get caught up in rebellion against God.  Even Christians.  There may be a new political reality but people still need Jesus.  Christians still need ot wrestle with what it means to follow Jesus.  And there is much debate among Christians about abortion. 

Because the church has failed to teach.

Even when we talked about abortion, we were missing the point.  Abortion views are formed on the basis of a number of principles taught in Scripture.  When we jump straight to the issue without teaching the basic truths then it becomes a debate with political overtones.

I grew up in a fellowship that put high value on baptism.  So high that our mission often seemed to be winning the arguements about baptism.  You know, convince people to be baptized and assume they know Jesus.  It should always have been teach Jesus and assume they will be baptized.

So along the same lines, here are things I think we better be sure we are teaching before we try to make decisions about abortion.

We need to teach the Great Commandments.  And in the proper order.

We love God above all else.  Above ourselves.  Above our neighbors.  Above culture.  Above the church.  Love God.  We have got to talk about the greatest commandment way more than we do.  

Then love your neighbor as yourself.  God first.  Neighbors second.  By the way, these two do not contradict each other.  Never will loving God conflict with loving your neighbor.  As if God would set up commands that could not always be obeyed.  

So that will help Christians frame the abortion decisions.  Does abortion fit with loving God.  In abortion discussions, who is my neighbor and what does loving them look like.  The pregnant woman, the man involved, the baby carried.  Other siblings.  The people that disagree with you.

I will share some other things I think we need to teach in later posts.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM