How Would Jesus Choose?
Adam Hamilton does not call himself "pro-choice." He prefers "pro-life with a heavy heart." What that means, as he explains in his new book "Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White," is that he believes abortion should be available and legal, that there are instances in which it might be necessary and that those instances should be very rare. Further, he says, the abortion debate has been too hot for too long, and that, as a Christian minister, his job is to try "to support people no matter what decision they make." As an evangelical megachurch pastor in Kansas, a man educated at Oral Roberts University, Hamilton speaks carefully, aware that he's staking out a controversial position.
Or maybe not. About a third of white evangelicals say that abortion should sometimes or always be legal, according to the Pew Research Center—a number that hasn't changed in a decade. In recent election seasons, however, these moderate voices have been drowned out by hard-line shouting on both sides. In the past, an evangelical who might condone abortion in the case of his ailing wife or 14-year-old daughter would never say so in public. Now, the abortion rhetoric has faded somewhat as evangelicals turn their attention to other things: AIDS, the environment, Darfur. In 2004, megapastor Rick Warren announced that abortion was a "nonnegotiable" for evangelical voters. This year, he's been silent. What's new, then, is not that a pastor like Hamilton would take a softer approach to abortion, but that he would feel comfortable enough to say so from the pulpit and in print.
Hamilton wants pro-choice and pro-life advocates to join forces to reduce the number of abortions and he enumerates seven areas where they could find common ground. Let both sides agree that adequate information about birth control can help prevent pregnancy, he says. And let both sides agree that the longer a pregnancy progresses, the more morally problematic an abortion becomes.
As for his heavy heart, Hamilton comes by it honestly. Seven years ago he received a letter from a parishioner describing her own teenage pregnancy in the years before Roe, the pressure from her parents to abort and her refusal to do so—in spite of the cost. That letter was from his mother.
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: andio65 @ 04/18/2008 8:52:53 AM
Comment: Do you wonder why many of your older counterparts are less restrictive in their beliefs? Is it possible that its because they are of the generation which still remember all the deaths and maiming which occured before abortion was made safe and legal? The mothers, sisters, aunts who died or were left barren by botched illegal abortions or self induced abortions. No stats were kept because it was ILLEGAL. Women have strived to control their reproductive choices since history was first written. Doctors protected these women from the law, risking their license in the process. These doctors are few and far between as they retire and leave this world. I will never forget their sacrifices and the deaths and I will continue to tell the rest of the history of Roe v Wade to every young woman I meet. It's a part of history you never hear about when the topic of abortion comes up. Hooray for this Minister for speakig out when he has been moved to see things from a different light. Can you imagine being open minded and accepting of another beliefs? Not everyone in our country is of your faith. Yes, most evangelicals cherry pick from the bible for their "truths" otherwise we would be allowed to own slaves.......as long as they are from a neighboring country.
Posted By: RevAHamilton @ 04/15/2008 8:27:29 AM
Comment: You may want to read a few clarifying comments about Lisa's article, and the chapter an abortion from my book, Seeing Gray. You can do so at http://adamhamilton.cor.org/2008/04/08/newsweek-and-why-im-pro-life-with-a-heavy-heart/. - Adam Hamilton
Posted By: PastorJim @ 04/14/2008 1:08:14 PM
Comment: For reinadelaz - can you tell me where in the Bible you find the word pedophile? That certainly doesn't mean that the Scriptures are neutral (silent) on chld abuse or child molesters. Your logic has a serious flaw.
Gdubya31 is absolutely correct. There are no grey areas when the Scripture (therefore God) have addressed an absolute moral truth such as the perverseness of taking an unborn life or supporting the right to choose to eliminate an unborn life. I hope and pray "Pastor" Hamilton is appreciative to his mother for following the leading of the Spirit of God in what was probably the most difficult situation of her life rather than yielding to the moral relativism of the two very people God had placed her under for protection and encouragement--her parents (his grandparents). What a tragedy for her at that time in her young life.
Also, I would expect Pastor Rick Warren to say nothing more when he has made absolutely clear his feelings and position on this issue. Of course, a liberal (both political and theological) must constantly redefine one's position when moral relativism is one's underlying philosophy (no absolutes in life or society). However, "Thus says the LORD" is a continuing absolute (whether talking about His love for mankind or His laws for society) and "Thus says the LORD" doesn't need constant redefining or cultural explanation. Pastor Jim from Mobile.