Christian Outrage

Our Bible lesson yesterday was on hypocrisy. And towards the end, someone made a
comment against abortion and said, “right is right”. And my insides rose in outrage
and I spoke:

“Have you had four children and been pregnant and had to choose between working and
feeding the four children you have or being homeless and pregnant with your
children in foster care?”

I stopped myself before saying:

“Have you been emotionally neglected – with nobody to touch you or love you or want
you except sexually?”

Sex is free (in the short run) and even birth control costs more money than some people
have. Stupid – you bet. But throwing stones at godless people who agonize in
isolation is self-righteous hypocrisy.

I did say, “You shouldn’t judge unless you walk in their moccasins.” And “Have you put
your money where your mouth is? Have you given to organizations that help give
choices to these women?”

I had a friend get an abortion when she had alternatives – I had tried to talk her out of it,
but failed. But I loved her through the loss of her lying boyfriend and her recovery.
And I love her still. Now that friend is 45 years old and has no children and is
getting fertility treatment. Where are her thoughts when she turns off the light at
night?

And, incidentally, the Bible doesn't talk about abortion. Life is defined with the word
"breath" and a fetus hasn't breathed.

But abortion is an evil thing. Nobody ever wants to have one. And nobody would have
one if they didn’t have to choose between the lesser of two evils.

I will not join either camp. I saw the ultrasound of my granddaughter in the womb. I
cannot imagine destroying such a perfect 22 week-old life. And really this letter is
not about abortion.

The point of this letter is that Jesus gave us two commandments – and those
commandments are to love and to love. And anytime we choose to judge, we are
violating these commandments. The Bible says not to judge many, many times.
Yet, the Christian Right (WRONG!!!!) is out compaigning “Against!” most of the
time.
Christians reading this epistle will probably be cursing my liberallity right now. I’ve
never had an abortion and if anybody comes to me I will try to find alternatives and
to talk them out of it. I give to our local organization that counsels pregnant women
in alternatives and walks them through the various aid available from different
organizations, including the government. How many of those who spout their lofty
ideals put their money, or their time, where their mouth is?

James 2:15-17 (New International Version)

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one

15 16

of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but
does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same 17

way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

The passage yesterday is at the end of this letter and includes “whited sepulchres.” Fancy
tombs. These Christians with their loud words and dead faith are epitomizing the
verse we studied.

And so, am I violating the great commandments? Am I failing to love these Christian
people? Am I caught in a Catch 22 where I hate the haters? I do love them. They
are kind and generous and caring – to me. They tear my heart out.

I am a Christian. I study the Bible and try to follow. And I see people falling away from
the church in droves – because they cannot stand the whited sepulchres. They want
love and acceptance – not judgement and fancy tombs.

I need the support of other Christians. I love God. I study the Bible. Jesus was not this
way. Jesus cried out against this type of behavior and thought.

My heart is breaking.

The following was our Bible lesson yesterday:

Matthew 23 (New International Version)

1
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of
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the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them
3

and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they
do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put
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them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a
finger to move them.
5
"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their
phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love
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the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the
synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have
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men call them 'Rabbi.'

Matthew 23:23-24 (New International Version)

23
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You
give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have
neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and
faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting
the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a
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camel.