Representing Jesus…?

Like so many others, I’ve been deeply saddened by the recent events surrounding the US Supreme Court ruling re: Roe v Wade.

I used to believe that issues surrounding abortion were easy and straightforward. It seemed to me that too many people were treating abortion as a form of birth-control, so in those days, you were considered either pro-abortion or pro-life (thankfully, today’s terms of pro-choice and anti-abortion allow for greater accuracy). I realise now that this was largely because I believed that my ‘biblical’ view of ‘ensoulment’ (the moment that human life is thought to begin) was the only one, the right one and the obvious one. As you can see from this very helpful article, the matter is far from easy, straightforward or settled even within Christian circles. And as for me, these days, I’m far less certain… and far more concerned about what it means to follow Jesus in times like these.

Although it irks me to say it… there is undoubtedly a deep concern for life on all sides of the Roe v Wade debate both within and beyond the US… However, believers have a mandate to represent Jesus in their approach and disposition (something not in much evidence lately).

At the very least, representing Jesus means opposing narratives which suggest that imposition, domination and control are God's intention for the lives of all, including the unborn (especially as God who is entitled to impose, dominate and control, never actually does so)… It means we can’t afford to ignore the ‘real’ (rather than imagined) complexities… It means insisting on justice and not just welfare… It means, seriously engaging the concerns of those who now fear what the future might hold… And it certainly means practical demonstrations of compassion toward the largely poor and marginalised (often people of colour) women and men (because entire families are affected), whose lives will be profoundly impacted by this decision.

Whatever our personal convictions might be… Representing Jesus remains our primary calling.