Abortions for Rape Victims

ABORTION FOR RAPE VICTIMS?

In his energetic attempt to appear completely pro-life Missouri U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin suggested that a woman’s body knows when it is being “forcible raped” and that it has an ability to prevent a pregnancy in such cases. This is just another case of saying things completely untrue in order to promote yourself and your views. It is common practice in politics from all corners.
Rep. Akin and Rep. Paul Ryan introduced a bill which would prohibit Medicaid help to rape victims unless they were “forcibly raped”. The bill was designed to limit Medicaid bills, and it excluded 13 year old girls who were coerced into sex by their uncles, or women who were drugged and allowed themselves to be violated. Again, the bill was money driven. Wow, a political bill that was money driven - who knew? Ryan is a Roman Catholic and Akin is a Covenant Presbyterian. That figures predominately into their pro-life politics.
I am pro-life in all cases except when the mother’s life is in jeopardy. If you believe that life begins at conception then you have no other choice. But I also believe that championing moral issues obscures the gospel and pits the lost against the saved. And moral legislation is void of redemption. The Scriptures are full of moral commandments but full of redemption as well. But the question remains, how do we as believers respond to such moral questions?
You are in an interview and you are asked about abortions for rape victims. How should you respond? Perhaps:

Interviewer: But what about rape victims who become pregnant, Mr. Frueh?

Me: I cannot even pretend to imagine the horror of being raped. I am ripped apart inside when I think of what a girl or woman must go through when she is violated in such a brutal way. I believe life begins at conception and therefore I cannot support another intrusion into this woman’s body in order to eliminate that life. But that does not mean I am not flooded with all kinds of emotions. I am.
But I will say this, I believe that those of us who believe in life at conception, and our churches, should exceed our words with our deeds. We should reach out to help rape victims in whatever capacity we can. And if that woman gives birth to that child, and if Medicaid cannot pay for it, then the church should pay for the medical expenses. And we should help to find that child a suitable home if the mother does not feel adequate as a parent at this time.
Additionally, if that woman does terminate that pregnancy, we as followers of Jesus should run to her with love and compassion and again help her in any way we can.

Interviewer: So you will not allow for abortions in any cases of rape or incest?

Me: It’s not that I will not, it’s that I cannot. I believe God teaches that life begins at conception, and I also believe that a baby born from a rape has much worth and can, by God’s grace, be used by God for good in this world. But I also believe that we as believers have fallen embarrassingly short in showing love and compassion to these victims, and sometimes we use them as political positions rather than objects of our deeds of love. It is much easier to present our positions as pro-life than it is to be sacrificially involved with the lives of the victims. I abhor the pictures of politicians presenting pro-life bills so they can be used as badges and vote getters in their districts.

Interviewer: So what is the answer, or what is the common ground?

ME: The common ground can be found in the Middle East. And this is the only answer. Picture an island completely ablaze and one boat has come to rescue those still on the island. But as people step into the boat there arises an argument over what color pants should be worn. The crew of the ship were once trapped on that island, and they call out to all the rest to come aboard before it is too late. But the people call out to the crew suggesting that they do not really care about them because they refuse to support them concerning their pants.

Interviewer: What do you mean?

Me: Well, I realize that abortion is much more serious than is the color of our pants. But the point is this, being for abortion or against it carries nothing as it concerns eternity. Jesus never mentioned abortion and said very little about moral issues as we define them. His concern, and in fact His mission, was redemption for us all. And that is the eternal question. Who is Jesus? And that question must be personally answered by kings and queens, rich and poor, as well as rape victims or virgins. I hope everyone will see that and not just the political dust.

That is one scenario. But let this episode again reveal what politics and moral crusades do to the gospel. This election, just as all elections, are not about Jesus. It is about money. The Republican and the Democrat candidates loudly proclaim that their way is the way to prosperity. But I remember a statement which puts it all in inperspective.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

We as believers should not be forced to champion what the world deems important, but we must always be energized by the Great Commission and the redemption of the Lord Jesus. The time is short, but the devil still has us chasing our moral and political tales.