So I am disappointed, to say the least, that last Sunday’s
(May 12) message came across to some as guilt-based, unfair, untimely, &
offensive. Part of my preparation for the message that dealt with the tragedy
of abortion included seeking out the counsel of two women I respect, my wife,
who is a volunteer counselor at the Pflugerville Pregnancy Resource Center, and
a woman that had told me she’d had an abortion many years ago. Obviously there
is no way for me, a man, to know what it feels like to be a woman in the tragic
situation of coping with an unwanted, untimely pregnancy. There is no way for
me to comprehend what it’s like to feel trapped with the limited options
available seeming equally catastrophic. So I took time to listen to a woman
who’d been in that position and to a woman who counsels them.
I wanted to communicate my view that women who choose
abortion are victims too. No woman wants to be in that situation. I want to be
a church that welcomes all with love and grace and mercy, because we all need
love and grace and mercy. I’m not sure why that failed to come through to some,
but I deeply regret that it did not. PCC has supported pro-life in the most
positive ways that we know how for the entire history of our church. That means
providing financial support and volunteers to the Pflugerville Pregnancy
Resource Center since its inception. This support has been open and
uncompromising for 17+ years. On the other hand, we’re not into the politics of
the issue. We do not campaign for pro-life candidates or any political
candidates for any office period. I personally do NOT believe the answer is
with Congress passing laws, courts striking down laws, or electing pro-life
candidates. But we are for life; always have been, always will be. We will
always be for the “least of these” and that includes both prenatal babies and
their mothers.
Some may be right in saying that Mother’s Day was the wrong
time for that message. I struggled with the timing. I even had a different
message ready if I decided late in the week not to go forward with the original.
In the end, I decided that it was part of the “Justice for All” series and that
it fit. I felt like it was what the Spirit was leading me to do. That’s a
subjective perspective. It was my decision and I won’t blame God for it, but I
still feel that God was leading me. I’m not infallible; sometimes I miss God’s
leading.
Christians differ on this issue. No one at PCC is required
to sign anything supporting pro-life. No one will ever be asked to withdraw his
or her membership from PCC over this issue. And for those offended by last
Sunday’s message, I would like to have the opportunity to sit down face-to-face
and talk. I feel certain that we agree on so much more than on what we
disagree. It is not my goal or desire to change minds on the issue, but to make
sure we understand our differences and what we stand united upon. So, if the
message last Sunday challenged you, pushed you out of your comfort zone to
think deeper and harder about your faith and how you live it out… good. I hope
that happens every Sunday at PCC. If you were deeply offended and you’re angry
with me about that message, whether it be the content or the timing I want to
hear from you. I want to hear your story and better understand your
perspective. I want to walk together in faith serving God together, even if we
agree to disagree on some things. So call me. The church office phone is 512
251-0719.
