I am one of those mother’s who now these pro aborts would wish to save the life of the mother. I had full blown eclampsia. I was in acute kidney failure. I did not make urine for 17 days. My doctor fought for me and my baby. It was never suggested that the baby be killed. You deliver the baby to SAVE the mother. My child was TWO pounds. She is now an adult, living in Japan, helping missionaries. I am also an RN. All this save the mother is a false narrative-deliver the baby. Do not murder it.
Michael Bird and N.T. Wright are always at their most gleeful when they can strike at anything held by American evangelicals or Anglican and Catholic conservatives. They are, I think, just not very nice people, and certainly not orthodox ones.
Nothing profound comes to mind as a response to your words this morning. Deep sadness leads the way. And I'm sorry to say: a kind of seething anger. The number of such ecclesiastical misleaders, on a wide variety of moral and spiritual issues around us today, is depressingly large. But the capstone feeling is quiet gratitude for the sane, servant-saturated pro-life sacrifices of thousands upon thousands of people, like you, whose vision is unclouded, whose heart is uncalloused, whose voice is sure and, above all, clear. God's gift.
When I worked in a daycare back in the day, I could handle hitting, kicking, running, and thrashing from the children. What I could absolutely not handle were the children who would go limp and stubbornly play rag doll on the floor instead of fulfilling their tiny duties. This “going limp” is doubly frustrating when adults do it, theologically speaking.
I still really love NT Wright but you’re right to call him out here. I believe the key point to this doctrinal drift is hidden in his dig on Americans.
To an educated Englishman we represent the unwashed hoi polloi. And I think that’s the root of the problem, this is not about empathy. This is about the ideological NEED to distinguish oneself as “the smart one”.
Sadly Tim Keller did a similar thing at the end of ministry. An unquenchable drive to be “better than middle America and their ignorant culture wars”. I think God had Keller in Hopewell Virginia on purpose before he moved to NYC. Hopewell is very close to me and it’s a rough, poor blue collar neighborhood. And Keller confessed in many sermons how rough that was on his ego and how God had to correct and teach him.
I think in his fame Keller forgot the lesson. NT Wright is in a similar boat
“To do the child in before it is born cuts against reason, decency, intuition, human feeling, divine judgment, and, most of all, love. And the fact that so many people find the “question” “difficult” just shows you how far Western society has slid into the gutter of historically notorious civilizational failure.”
Thank you. This is a true, succinct and (sadly) necessary summary.
He is “not medically qualified to say” when a human deserves to live. Justice Jackson can’t say what a woman is because she’s not a biologist. Apparently, Science is the god we all bow to now.
But, the science and "medicine" are *very simple and clear:* A unique, developing human being exists when a female and a male gamete unite. This human only needs time, nutrition, and protection to grow to be a human adult. The human will require support and face dangers on its path to adulthood, and receiving support and protection will improve the likelihood of reaching adulthood.
This. And I like to point out that the same continues to be true of fully "independent" adult human beings as well. We all require nutrition, support, protection, and a habitable environment no matter what stage of life we happen to be in.
Thank you, Anne, for serving on the board of your center, it is more important than you know (take it from a center director). Thank you for sharing this post -- for readers who aren't aware of the amazing science behind conception and pregnancy I implore you all to go and learn because what it takes for a baby to come into existence is nothing short of miraculous! We have all the science that can actually make what we couldn't see with our naked eye, now visible, so it behooves us to investigate if you haven't already. If we don't get this issue rightly framed and understood, then nothing else in scripture really matters. If our existence depends on our circumstances and can be determined by other humans, then God is not needed. Our salvation came through a woman's womb, why? Well, I'm certain that I'm not "spiritual" enough to analyze fully, but I think it could be for two reasons: 1) fetal development and birth define someone as human, and 2) a virgin's womb was apparently the most holy place for God to enter our world. If we don't see the most vulnerable among us as human and deserving of our utmost respect and dignity, care and protection -- then we don't deserve Christ. We would do well to remember Christ's words in Matthew 25 "Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these you did not do for me." He wasn't speaking figuratively. God bless you Anne!
There is a Scripture in Leviticus on sacrifices. In some translation it sounds like one never kills any animal for dinner even, apart from the temple. It seems therefore, GOD is putting value on life, just as He would any living cell.
But, neither thé egg nor sperm exist on their own in à body, but a fetus does.
I had the fantasy recently, that maybe people who express a desire to abort, could go to à clinic, have thé baby removed, and transplanted to à womb which wants it. What a way for planned parenthood to be redeemed!
Another thought I had reading this is how coarse and violent our movies and other cultural practices have become, wars so terrible, and maybe it begins with our cheapening life through abortion. Healthcare is scary now.
Also, it takes faith to raise a child today. If we scarcely can get people to church, or to believe in morals, or family but we split them up whenever it suits and some know how to drive the stress to do this, how can we say “GOD will help you have a family”, or “provide for your child”?
What is missing?
À sense of agape; of God loving life; that He wants to provide; values relationships and heals, redeems, is patient.
I also think this must be rationalized because people say a child would have “too many troubles” so be “better off not allowed to live”. (Do some fear having the antichrist?)
Once again a lack of faith, hope. Also fear, shame. Didn’t popes hide their babies in convents? And “bastards” were so looked down upon, even in Tolstoys time. Abraham stayed with Sarah, which left Ishmael with baggage, and Isaac alone, and he settled near Ishmael, for a while, after Abraham died. People want family. So, then Jacob had a big blended one.
I understand the fear of suffering. Some have lives full of angst, despite faith.
I do believe in life, not abortion. I wish as a culture, we could just take abortion off the table. People would be more responsible, and have more hope, plans, expectations, and help, I think.
There are deformities which are very difficult to care for. There are homes and businesses which will help.
As for the church, it is hard for a needy friend who has helped many homeless, to even find à driver these days. We have churches of well-off people, without jobs, who help in other countries, and on Community Service Day, but few are helping my friend who needs rides, and help going through her stuff. (It’s not always pleasant.) I cannot explain this to myself.
I am one of those mother’s who now these pro aborts would wish to save the life of the mother. I had full blown eclampsia. I was in acute kidney failure. I did not make urine for 17 days. My doctor fought for me and my baby. It was never suggested that the baby be killed. You deliver the baby to SAVE the mother. My child was TWO pounds. She is now an adult, living in Japan, helping missionaries. I am also an RN. All this save the mother is a false narrative-deliver the baby. Do not murder it.
What a powerful testimony! Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you. I volunteer at a pregnancy care center. I am passionate about helping families.
Michael Bird and N.T. Wright are always at their most gleeful when they can strike at anything held by American evangelicals or Anglican and Catholic conservatives. They are, I think, just not very nice people, and certainly not orthodox ones.
Nothing profound comes to mind as a response to your words this morning. Deep sadness leads the way. And I'm sorry to say: a kind of seething anger. The number of such ecclesiastical misleaders, on a wide variety of moral and spiritual issues around us today, is depressingly large. But the capstone feeling is quiet gratitude for the sane, servant-saturated pro-life sacrifices of thousands upon thousands of people, like you, whose vision is unclouded, whose heart is uncalloused, whose voice is sure and, above all, clear. God's gift.
When I worked in a daycare back in the day, I could handle hitting, kicking, running, and thrashing from the children. What I could absolutely not handle were the children who would go limp and stubbornly play rag doll on the floor instead of fulfilling their tiny duties. This “going limp” is doubly frustrating when adults do it, theologically speaking.
Such a great observation, and I couldn't agree more.
Elisabeth Elliot wrote or said (and I am paraphrasing from memory):
The right thing is usually very simple. It is not always easy to do because of our sin, but knowing right and wrong is easy.
This idea has been very convicting but also encouraging.
I still really love NT Wright but you’re right to call him out here. I believe the key point to this doctrinal drift is hidden in his dig on Americans.
To an educated Englishman we represent the unwashed hoi polloi. And I think that’s the root of the problem, this is not about empathy. This is about the ideological NEED to distinguish oneself as “the smart one”.
Sadly Tim Keller did a similar thing at the end of ministry. An unquenchable drive to be “better than middle America and their ignorant culture wars”. I think God had Keller in Hopewell Virginia on purpose before he moved to NYC. Hopewell is very close to me and it’s a rough, poor blue collar neighborhood. And Keller confessed in many sermons how rough that was on his ego and how God had to correct and teach him.
I think in his fame Keller forgot the lesson. NT Wright is in a similar boat
“To do the child in before it is born cuts against reason, decency, intuition, human feeling, divine judgment, and, most of all, love. And the fact that so many people find the “question” “difficult” just shows you how far Western society has slid into the gutter of historically notorious civilizational failure.”
Thank you. This is a true, succinct and (sadly) necessary summary.
He is “not medically qualified to say” when a human deserves to live. Justice Jackson can’t say what a woman is because she’s not a biologist. Apparently, Science is the god we all bow to now.
But, the science and "medicine" are *very simple and clear:* A unique, developing human being exists when a female and a male gamete unite. This human only needs time, nutrition, and protection to grow to be a human adult. The human will require support and face dangers on its path to adulthood, and receiving support and protection will improve the likelihood of reaching adulthood.
This. And I like to point out that the same continues to be true of fully "independent" adult human beings as well. We all require nutrition, support, protection, and a habitable environment no matter what stage of life we happen to be in.
Exactly. The development of the art of practicing medicine has no bearing on when human life begins.
Thanks, Anne for your godly strength in calling out N. T. Wrong's unimaginable and pathetic weakness!!
N. T. Wrong lost me many years ago. And don't forget he's the guy who gave us Esau McCaulley.
Amen, sister.
Thank you, Anne, for serving on the board of your center, it is more important than you know (take it from a center director). Thank you for sharing this post -- for readers who aren't aware of the amazing science behind conception and pregnancy I implore you all to go and learn because what it takes for a baby to come into existence is nothing short of miraculous! We have all the science that can actually make what we couldn't see with our naked eye, now visible, so it behooves us to investigate if you haven't already. If we don't get this issue rightly framed and understood, then nothing else in scripture really matters. If our existence depends on our circumstances and can be determined by other humans, then God is not needed. Our salvation came through a woman's womb, why? Well, I'm certain that I'm not "spiritual" enough to analyze fully, but I think it could be for two reasons: 1) fetal development and birth define someone as human, and 2) a virgin's womb was apparently the most holy place for God to enter our world. If we don't see the most vulnerable among us as human and deserving of our utmost respect and dignity, care and protection -- then we don't deserve Christ. We would do well to remember Christ's words in Matthew 25 "Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these you did not do for me." He wasn't speaking figuratively. God bless you Anne!
There is a Scripture in Leviticus on sacrifices. In some translation it sounds like one never kills any animal for dinner even, apart from the temple. It seems therefore, GOD is putting value on life, just as He would any living cell.
But, neither thé egg nor sperm exist on their own in à body, but a fetus does.
I had the fantasy recently, that maybe people who express a desire to abort, could go to à clinic, have thé baby removed, and transplanted to à womb which wants it. What a way for planned parenthood to be redeemed!
Another thought I had reading this is how coarse and violent our movies and other cultural practices have become, wars so terrible, and maybe it begins with our cheapening life through abortion. Healthcare is scary now.
Also, it takes faith to raise a child today. If we scarcely can get people to church, or to believe in morals, or family but we split them up whenever it suits and some know how to drive the stress to do this, how can we say “GOD will help you have a family”, or “provide for your child”?
What is missing?
À sense of agape; of God loving life; that He wants to provide; values relationships and heals, redeems, is patient.
I also think this must be rationalized because people say a child would have “too many troubles” so be “better off not allowed to live”. (Do some fear having the antichrist?)
Once again a lack of faith, hope. Also fear, shame. Didn’t popes hide their babies in convents? And “bastards” were so looked down upon, even in Tolstoys time. Abraham stayed with Sarah, which left Ishmael with baggage, and Isaac alone, and he settled near Ishmael, for a while, after Abraham died. People want family. So, then Jacob had a big blended one.
I understand the fear of suffering. Some have lives full of angst, despite faith.
I do believe in life, not abortion. I wish as a culture, we could just take abortion off the table. People would be more responsible, and have more hope, plans, expectations, and help, I think.
There are deformities which are very difficult to care for. There are homes and businesses which will help.
As for the church, it is hard for a needy friend who has helped many homeless, to even find à driver these days. We have churches of well-off people, without jobs, who help in other countries, and on Community Service Day, but few are helping my friend who needs rides, and help going through her stuff. (It’s not always pleasant.) I cannot explain this to myself.