Back in August (2024), Ed Stetzer wrote a piece (linked HERE) for Church Leaders.com entitled ‘What’s A Pro-Life Christian To Do in this Election?’ He surveyed the dizzying series of events that began with the first assassination attempt on Trump including the replacing of Biden with Harris.
Fitch! Love this piece and am agreement with you but I wonder if Stetzer response wouldn't invoke your own work on power and the role legislation can have to limit and protect. I.e. legislation won't change culture but could still protect lives and is therefore still worth it.
Yes my friend. I do see the question "Can anti-abortion legislation be properly seen as a preservatory act (as opposed to a redemptive one) and therefore a legal protection provided to unborn children?" as a legit conversation/discernment. I believe I am arguing in this piece that Stetzer passed right over this discernment. I suggested this discernment on abortion is the one that should happen locally in our churches in 'Reckoning with Power" (pp96-97) Although I think it cannot be a preservatory act, I still think it's reasonable to argue that way and discern just how we understand morally the act of procreation when we live alongside people who do not.
Great piece, but missing one argument. One of the strongest pro-life arguments for voting against Trump is that his policies have been proven to lead to an increase in the national abortion rate. At the end of the day, if it’s all about getting that abortion rate curve to keep trending downward (as it had from 1990 until 2016), then one should support Democrats and their policies.
Of course, there are other goals the pro-life movement has besides that one, but it does seem a bit contradictory to support a candidate that presided over the largest increase in the abortion rate since 1973.
"he (Trump) serves as a mentor for the sexualizing of women to be exemplified for this culture." Chilling. Tip of the iceberg worshipping power.
Being "pro life" is not simply about the unborn.
FOR OUR DAUGHTERS a documentary streaming Sept 26.
"Those of us raising our voices are not calling for a departure from Christ, but rather a return to who Christ really is." Rachel Denhollander
Fitch! Love this piece and am agreement with you but I wonder if Stetzer response wouldn't invoke your own work on power and the role legislation can have to limit and protect. I.e. legislation won't change culture but could still protect lives and is therefore still worth it.
Yes my friend. I do see the question "Can anti-abortion legislation be properly seen as a preservatory act (as opposed to a redemptive one) and therefore a legal protection provided to unborn children?" as a legit conversation/discernment. I believe I am arguing in this piece that Stetzer passed right over this discernment. I suggested this discernment on abortion is the one that should happen locally in our churches in 'Reckoning with Power" (pp96-97) Although I think it cannot be a preservatory act, I still think it's reasonable to argue that way and discern just how we understand morally the act of procreation when we live alongside people who do not.
Great piece, but missing one argument. One of the strongest pro-life arguments for voting against Trump is that his policies have been proven to lead to an increase in the national abortion rate. At the end of the day, if it’s all about getting that abortion rate curve to keep trending downward (as it had from 1990 until 2016), then one should support Democrats and their policies.
Of course, there are other goals the pro-life movement has besides that one, but it does seem a bit contradictory to support a candidate that presided over the largest increase in the abortion rate since 1973.
Excellent, powerful piece. One quibble - Trump's an adjudicated rapist.
This is excellent! Appreciate the care with which you write.