James Heidinger, former long-time head of Good News, United Methodism’s evangelical caucus, has penned a wonderful new pro-life resource, published by Seedbed, itself an exciting new Wesleyan publisher associated with Asbury Seminary.
Called About Abortion: 10 Things a new Generation of Christians Should Know, Heidinger’s book is an elaboration of a speech he gave at Lifewatch’s annual pro-life service in the Methodist Building on Capitol Hill in 2012 on the Roe versus Wade abortion rights ruling anniversary.
As Heidinger notes, since 1973 United Methodist agencies have belonged to what is now called the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, which rejects any limits on any form of abortion under any circumstances. As Heidinger also explains, the official United Methodist position is actually far more nuanced, qualified, and has moved increasingly if incrementally in a more pro-life direction in recent years. But agencies like the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society and the United Methodist Women’s Division have largely ignored these new official stances, which include opposition to partial-birth abortion.
Heidinger shares a legal critique of the Supreme Court’s 1973 abortion rights decision, and a moral critique of the abortion rights regime, including the teachings of the Early Church Fathers. “If a denomination continues to claim it is pro-choice, it is not then ‘in continuity with past Christian teaching,'” as the United Methodist Social Principles once insisted, Heidinger points out. The Early Church Fathers were nearly unanimous in their disapproval of abortion, he observes.
Distinguished 20th Century theologians, even within liberal Protestantism, have also opposed abortion, Heidinger recalls. He quotes Methodism’s Albert Outler, the father of three adopted children, who declared: “To tell me now that the social values that might have accrued to their three anguished mothers [had they aborted] would have outweighed the human and personal worth of these three persons is, I’m afraid, literal nonsense.” Outler further presciently warned:
Moreover, it will have for its rationalization theories of fetal life defining it as a chattel to a mother’s private value-judgments. Who then will be surprised if our human sensitivities are still further calloused, if sex becomes yet more promiscuous – with our scruples against euthanasia crumbling and the moral cements of our society dissolving?”
Heidinger also quotes the great Methodist ethicist of Princeton University, Paul Ramsey, who once testified to a Congressional committee:
“And life-and-death decisions involving lives possessing sanctity have never before in the history of our civil community been believed to be a proper subject for purely privatized choices.”
Noting the over 55 million abortions in America since 1973, Heidinger concludes with his own prayer:
“Help us as your people, loving Lord, to keep marching, praying, caring, speaking out, voting, legislating, loving, informing, and defending on behalf of all of your children, born and unborn, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Wesleyans have always been concerned about reforming society and defending the vulnerable. As official United Methodist channels are not currently advocating for vulnerable human life, the obligation is upon all of us individually and corporately to include the unborn in our prayers, ministry and advocacy.
Be sure to order a copy of Heidinger’s book here.
Comment by Marco Bell on February 18, 2014 at 8:15 am
Albert Outler is comparing apples to oranges when he compares the worth of three children adopted into his home, to the unknown angst of their respective mother’s lives at the time of delivery, or even earlier during gestation, had their mothers chosen abortion.
And on the very personal decision of euthanasia, whose decision is it, but the person who faces death, to decide for themselves, when they determine their end?
We should all possess that right to decide for ourselves!
Lamenting over the fifty-million babies not brought onto this planet, is like “crying over spilled milk”. There are enough of us here already!
Comment by Gus Schaefer on February 24, 2014 at 7:41 pm
To be sure the previous commenter only read the short review above, I don’t know from his comments if he is Methodist or Christian but I would encourage him to take his thoughts about abortion (on demand) to God in prayer and let the Holy Spirit provide him with wisdom and understanding regarding the difference between spilled milk and 50 + million babies denied a chance for life on earth. If he is a Christian he should know that God’s purpose in putting us here is so He can have a relationship with us and we with Him. How sad that 50 + million souls have been denied that opportunity. When I appear before Jesus and am asked “what did I do to stop abortions on demand ” I’m sure I won’t use the “spilled milk) defense. One last thought: People who support the Pro-Choice agenda – Are Already Born – and damn glad to be alive.