CCC Statement by Mark Yoder on Roe v. Wade
June 29, 2022
I read today a short twitter message from a friend and fellow pastor who simply mentioned that he had grown up hearing over and over that America was becoming less religious. He then stated, “Never has it become more obvious that our country is becoming more and more religious all the time.” His point wasn’t that we were becoming more like Jesus. It was that we dig in deep and take positions that we cling to with religious loyalty. It wasn’t a compliment.
This past Friday our Supreme Court overturned a ruling that stood for 50 years, Roe v. Wade. It’s not simply a law that was overturned, much of our nation today has in many ways been “overturned”, feeling that everything is different. This isn’t just a legal issue, or a political issue, or even just a theological issue. This is deep rooted and personal.
How does a person respond who deeply desires to follow the way of Jesus? How do we stand, or kneel, when much of what we see and hear around us are loud protests and violent rhetoric, if not destructive action?
Let me propose two lifelines we should hang on to.
1. People are more important than politics. Roe v. Wade is a policy. The overturning of it is as well. The value of people should never get lost in the debate. Before we lash out at those who disagree with us, let’s remember this is personal for them as well. There are likely thought-out reasons they have come to believe as they do, and we would serve Jesus well to get close enough to people to understand why they believe the way they do.
Here at CCC we place a high value on life and the rights of the living – all of the living. That includes both the unborn and the women who bear them. The complexities of the debate get lost when the discussion gets simplified to simply “life vs. choice”. It’s deeper than that. What gets lost in the arguing is not just the points, it’s the people. So in our debating, on either side, we would serve our community well if we would argue from a defense of ALL people, not simply the group “our side” focuses on. People deeply matter.
2. Making a point is not a substitute for making a difference. Over the last days, as well as over the last decades, countless points have been made. Loudly. But the current volume of the debate cannot be a substitute for caring for people. We pray for all of us to see anew, to take on the role of giving compassion to all, and to value the lives and the rights of all those involved.
One of the Church’s roles is to make a difference in the world around her. As God has led us to repentance through His kindness (Romans 2:4), we too are called to compassionately come alongside those who don’t line up with what we understand as the way of Jesus.
Be prayerful. Be hopeful. Be compassionate. Be caring. Be thoughtful. Be understanding.
Be like Jesus.
June 29, 2022
I read today a short twitter message from a friend and fellow pastor who simply mentioned that he had grown up hearing over and over that America was becoming less religious. He then stated, “Never has it become more obvious that our country is becoming more and more religious all the time.” His point wasn’t that we were becoming more like Jesus. It was that we dig in deep and take positions that we cling to with religious loyalty. It wasn’t a compliment.
This past Friday our Supreme Court overturned a ruling that stood for 50 years, Roe v. Wade. It’s not simply a law that was overturned, much of our nation today has in many ways been “overturned”, feeling that everything is different. This isn’t just a legal issue, or a political issue, or even just a theological issue. This is deep rooted and personal.
How does a person respond who deeply desires to follow the way of Jesus? How do we stand, or kneel, when much of what we see and hear around us are loud protests and violent rhetoric, if not destructive action?
Let me propose two lifelines we should hang on to.
1. People are more important than politics. Roe v. Wade is a policy. The overturning of it is as well. The value of people should never get lost in the debate. Before we lash out at those who disagree with us, let’s remember this is personal for them as well. There are likely thought-out reasons they have come to believe as they do, and we would serve Jesus well to get close enough to people to understand why they believe the way they do.
Here at CCC we place a high value on life and the rights of the living – all of the living. That includes both the unborn and the women who bear them. The complexities of the debate get lost when the discussion gets simplified to simply “life vs. choice”. It’s deeper than that. What gets lost in the arguing is not just the points, it’s the people. So in our debating, on either side, we would serve our community well if we would argue from a defense of ALL people, not simply the group “our side” focuses on. People deeply matter.
2. Making a point is not a substitute for making a difference. Over the last days, as well as over the last decades, countless points have been made. Loudly. But the current volume of the debate cannot be a substitute for caring for people. We pray for all of us to see anew, to take on the role of giving compassion to all, and to value the lives and the rights of all those involved.
One of the Church’s roles is to make a difference in the world around her. As God has led us to repentance through His kindness (Romans 2:4), we too are called to compassionately come alongside those who don’t line up with what we understand as the way of Jesus.
Be prayerful. Be hopeful. Be compassionate. Be caring. Be thoughtful. Be understanding.
Be like Jesus.