pro life? 117/366

A friend posted a video clip of a scene outside of an abortion clinic. A crowd is gathered. Picket signs. A man on a loudspeaker, raging against abortion, detailing the horrific result, calling out/shaming the woman trying to get into the clinic. She has buried herself in her coat, hiding her face for protection. She has to be escorted by several people to get into the clinic safely. There is more charity shown by those escorting her than by those claiming to be God's people. My heart aches after watching it. Tears fill my eyes. And I want to reach out the woman and offer her a listening ear. A hug. I want to share with her that there is hope, that there is life after this.

I want to reach out the protesters. 
To those holding signs I want to provide a full length mirror and tell them to look themselves in the eye for a full minute, speaking loudly, with conviction, the words that are written on their signs. "How does that make you feel?"
I want to hogtie the guy speaking, have him close his eyes, with his ranting piped full blast into his ears, and ask, "Is what you are saying, the way you are saying it, something you would say to yourself?" 
And if that didn't bother them I'd ask "What if we put YOUR sins on signs and blasted condemnation from a loudspeaker in public and made you run through the gauntlet?"

Love God.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
All men will know that you are My disciples if you love one another.
Jesus said these things.
And His words are what ring in my head as I watch and listen.

I weep. Over the loss of life. In more ways than one after a scene like this.
I weep. Over the misinformation.
I weep. Over life circumstances that make this her "best" option.
I weep. Over the heart that will stop beating and over the hearts that are broken.
I weep. Over the misrepresentations.

I want to ask the protesters: "Are you pro life or anti abortion?"

I am guessing they would respond "Why, pro life, of course! Isn't it evident? Why else would I be here protesting?"

I would have to respond with, "No, based on the way you are treating people going into this clinic, based on the witness you are to the people working at this clinic, it is not evident that you are pro life. I think you are here because you are anti abortion."

If the opportunity presented itself I would have a lot more questions for those in the group who think because they are anti abortion they are pro life. Some examples:

"What are doing to make yourself available to women who find themselves pregnant and are in a place where pregnancy is the last thing they need right now and think this is the best option. Before they get here?"

"Do you provide shelter for abused women?"

"Are you involved in any rehabilitation ministries?"

"Do you visit jails...orphans...widows...widowers?"

"Are you involved in hospice care?"

"What are you doing to help support the single parents in your church-in your neighborhood?"

"How are you helping men and women recently released from prison get a job and safe housing?"

"How are you coming alongside those who are doing foster care?"

"Have you looked into adoption?"

"How are you going to help this woman live day to day if she carries this baby to term?"

"Do you serve in a soup kitchen or Crisis Pregnancy Center?"

"How are you identifying and coming alongside "at risk" people?"

Those questions will do for a start.

Are you pro life or anti abortion? 
Pro life means for life.
All life. Even those we disagree with.
Every life matters.
Anti abortion, well that is self explanatory.

Am I saying Christians should not be upset by the horrors of abortion? 
Not at all. Abortion is a horrible way to solve a problem.
And honestly, it only opens up a whole slew of other issues.
What I am saying is that this is not pro life.
This is not the way to represent Jesus and make a difference for Him.

the clip she shared is the first minute of this video.