Fetus Fatigue

Posted by: jeffmooney | October 17, 2008

Fetus Fatigue

Douglas Groothuis coined the term “fetus fatigue” to describe the current exhaustion and impatience among evangelicals that abortion has occupied the center stage in political debate.

In his latest essay Al Mohler picks up on the same idea:

There are signs of fatigue among Christians on this issue. Some argue that the sanctity of life issue is simply one among many important issues. Without doubt, we are faced with many urgent and important issues. Nevertheless, every voter must come to terms with what issues matter most in the electoral decision. At some point, every voter is a potential “single issue” voter. Some issues simply eclipse others.This is the case with the sanctity of human life. I can understand the fatigue. So little progress seems to have been made. So much ground has been lost. So many unborn babies have been aborted. The culture has turned increasingly hostile to this commitment, especially among the young. There is a sense that many want to get on with other issues.

There is fatigue and frustration with the Republican Party and with limited progress. There is frustration with mixed signals and missed opportunities. There is the acknowledgment that we have too often been told what we want to hear and then ignored.

There is the sense that the battle has grown old — along with those who are fighting it. There are signs that the culture is closing its ears. We all have other concerns as well. Can we make any progress on those if we remain tenaciously committed to opposing abortion?

Yet, there is the reality that we face a choice. This is a limited choice. And we cannot evade responsibility for the question of abortion. Our vote will determine whether millions of unborn babies live or die. The Freedom of Choice Act, if passed, would lead directly to a radical increase in the numbers of abortions. The abortion industry has told us that themselves.

The question comes down to this: How many lives are we willing to forfeit — to write off as expendable — in order to “move on” to other issues of concern? There is no way to avoid that question and remain morally serious. The voting booth is no place to hide.

Read the whole thing, which also contains a summary of Robert George’s article.

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Posted in Christianity, Church, Politics | Tags: abortion, Evangelicals/ Evangelicalism, Politics

Responses

He is exactly right. It is easy to forget the importance of a babies rights because they cannot voice the desire themselves. They are completely dependent on us to speak for them. Hopefully we will not fail them for the sake something as temporal as economic policy. Though I am not tempted to think one candidate has a remarkable better plan than the other for running the country (mainly because I know that in this government of “checks and balances” economic policy is very complicated and George Bush alone is not responsible for the issues in this country currently….though he is certainly a favorite scapecoat for everyone’s woes), however I am tempted to feel completely disheartened because of the apathy I see everywhere. At times it makes me want to “disengage” for the sake of relationships and at other times it makes me waste time arguing with someone who has no capacity for understanding the value of human life because they do not value the Creator (referring to my online discussion with a stranger). I know there is balance; I just hope that God will grant me the grace to speak effectively for His glory for this issue and others. I hope the same for my brothers and sisters in Christ.
By: Angela Mooney on October 17, 2008
at 9:07 am

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I thought I would just weigh in on the struggle that I have had concerning this presidential election and how God has guided my thinking concerning this issue.

(I will just be blunt and say this from the beginning) As I have been watching the election coverage and have been studying the two candidates I am convinced that we are faced with a lose-lose situation with these two candidates and their ability to lead the nation. And particularly, as a Republican, I think that John McCain might be the worst Republican nominee ever. This being the case, I have even found myself at times hypnotized under the saavy rhetoric of Barack Obama. He clearly is the smarter and more convincing candidate. And personally, I think most of his policies are better than McCain’s. I even at times found myself guilty of “fetus fatigue.” I was thinking of all the important issues at stake through the lens of an American concerned for the economic (among other issues) well-being of this great Country. After all, is it even realistic to think that Roe vs. Wade would ever be overturned. And even if it did, that would just place abortion under the jurisdiction of the States and if someone wanted an abortion they could just travel to another state get one. I let my cynicism get in the way.

With all that being said, I was quickly brought under the conviction that, while there are many important issues at stake in this election which could change the direction and welfare of this country, my true identity is NOT American. I am first and foremost, a Christian. I like all of my other brothers and sisters in Christ have been rescued from slavery and given new life in Christ. I cannot base my final decisions on how I feel as an American concerned for American politics. I must ultimately act as one who is identified with Christ.

As I thought about my identity in Christ, my mind was quickly brought back to a book that I read for my ethics class (go figure-it totally skipped my mind) last month. The book is, “Old Testament Ethics for the People of God,” by Christopher Wright (a familiar name for anyone associated with the awesome moderator of this blog). In his book, Dr Wright argues that Israel as a Nation, having been rescued from slavery in Egypt by YHWH, was to be live as a light to the nations defined by YHWH’s character (please read this book. Everyone!). He states: “God wants a community characterized by his own values and priorites…Election means election to an ethical agenda in the midst of the corrupt world.” So, as the people of God, they were to live their lives in congruence with God’s agenda.

Let’s quickly transfer this now to the New Covenant in Christ. As Christians, we have become members of the body of Christ. We are a community of people who have been rescued from slavery, like Israel, and are to be defined by who Christ is. In this sense we have entered into an “ethical agenda.” Our lives and choices as Christians, should reflect Christ’s character.

All that to say, our actions as Christians should not be as those who are defined by the American political agenda; rather, we are to be defined by Jesus Christ and that means that we are to fight for life. We are to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.

Our hope should never be in Barack Obama or John McCain. Our hope is in Christ. Our loyalty should not ultimately be to this nation. Our loyalty is to Christ. Let’s remember who we are in this election.

I am sorry that this was long, redundant, and probably not very clear, but I was just hoping to help those out there, like me, who have struggled with who to vote for in this election.
By: TC on October 17, 2008
at 4:29 pm

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VERY ENCOURAGING T.C. Yes, let us all think more like Christians than American dreamers who have nothing more to live for than the 80ish years they might get here. May God be glorified by His people.
By: Angela Mooney on October 17, 2008
at 9:09 pm

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