(Tim) Earlier this morning, I received this E-mail from a young man in our church who's here in Bloomington pursuing a graduate degree at Indiana University. Among the many excellent things the souls of CGS are known for in this community--things such as hard work, respect for authority, academic accomplishment in their disciplines, adopting special needs children--we are also known for publicly protesting the slaughter of more than six hundred little babies each year here in our downtown area by Planned Parenthood and the ghoulish executioners they've hired. We call out to those going into the executioners' chambers pleading with them not to kill their babies. We offer them love and help, particularly financial help, so they can carry their baby to term. (And we have a young man growing up in our church whose mother took us up on that offer.)
Another form of protest used is the display of large-format color pics of murdered babies, typically held at the most public entrance to IU at the foot of Kirkwood Street known as Sample Gates. Below you will find questions our brother is asking about this display. I asked him if he would be willing for me to put his questions up publicly on the blog for the response of our readers, and he was happy for me to do so.
One request: It's very difficult to discuss any aspect of the slaughter of the unborn without the discussion becoming quite emotional. Let's do our best to assume the best about one another in this discussion. But whatever the tone of the debate, my friend and I do think the debate will be helpful to many. So have at it, brothers and sisters!
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A friend of mine brought it to my attention that some folks from CGS sometimes display images of aborted babies when they protest on the streets. I had seen these protests near campus before, but didn't know who was doing them.
If these are indeed people from CGS, I'd like to let you know about a misgiving I have about this manner of protest...
There are few, if any, among us who would allow our children to watch highly violent movies (I'm speaking as if I had children, which I of course do not). Well, that analogy doesn't quite hold up, because that kind of violence might be gratuitous, without the moral imperative of these abortion images. But what if there was an unjust war going on -- as some of us believe there is? But let's keep it entirely hypothetical: What if there was a blatantly unjust war, and the Church was protesting it? Would we display pictures of mutilated soldiers to our children in order to convince them of the truth? I would argue that when we display images of abortions on the street, we are exposing, without discrimination, men, women, and children alike to them -- both those guilty of approving abortion, and those innocent of it. I myself avert my eyes when I see these images -- I already know that abortion is an abomination, and I do not want the images in my mind, torturing my spirit. Much less do I want them in the minds of children, regardless of their parents' views. True, we as a society cover up death, deny its existence. Yet, we do not want to afflict children or others whose hearts might be harmed by seeing such graphic representations of this atrocity, do we?
Can we perhaps, instead, trust the truth of God's message itself without resorting to shock tactics? I would exhort the brothers and sisters of CGS to faith in the work of the Spirit through the simple proclamation of truth -- that unborn children are fully human, possessing souls and being created in the image of God.
Jesus said to Pilate, "For this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me" (John 18:37). Is it not as simple as that?
I don't doubt the good intentions and pure consciences of those participating in these protests, but I do feel burdened to bring this issue to you, brother. These images offend some people, and I'm afraid it may not be the offense of the gospel.
