Thread by @MattJThiessen

These are very good questions. My impulsive response is "yes" to all.

I realize I’m RTing this as a Christian white male, and anything I have to say on this comes with a lot of context re: my privilege, and anything else so many other Christian white males have said, with no empathy for the mother or her child once he or she leaves the womb.

So much is wrong with how we’ve gotten here, and I’m not talking about the progressive side.

It seems like once we Christians decide a thing is a sin, and the "other" group is committing it, we feel entitled to throw out any pretense at empathy or respect. They are not worthy of dignity, or the effort it would take to lift them up. Bc God loves us, bc we "have less sin."

God does not exclude us because we have more sin.

He includes us, because he GIVES us his Holiness.

I believe he would love and respect and lift up the mother—the same as he would her child, unborn or after birth—no matter her choice.

No matter her choice.

Whether it’s a sin or not, some sins we commit, not knowing what we do. He spoke directly on the cross about that.

Sometimes the life he gave us is more complicated or nuanced than our small-minded theologies have provided for.

Me yelling at someone from my limited perspective about how unholy their decision is does nothing to show the holiness of God.

In fact, I am representing Christ in a decidedly anti-Christlike manner.

Something Jesus will likely be waiting to have strong words with me for.

Words, and maybe even consequences... for all the consequences I likely gave to others.

We conclude that others reject God and his ways as if they’re truly informed, when in truth they’re really rejecting us, and how we’ve represented him.

Rightly. Deservedly.

And to us that’s always been their greatest sin.

As Christians we believe abortion is a sin: It is a life. The most helpless life. And that life is ending.

But sometime immediately after that statement is made, we lose all of Christ in our responses to it.

Why is that?

Why don’t we even care to look at ourselves? Those who Christ TOLD us to look at?

I believe Christ takes care of that child, infinitely better than we’ve taken care of the children at our borders. His grace that we enjoy covers even this.

I know that’s a strong statement. He’s a scandalous God. His Grace would be obscene, if it weren’t so Holy.

But I’m confronted with the fact that Christ never reduced a woman to someone who inherently had no right to choose—whether seeing a sin or not—and then policed it bc she was incapable of policing herself.

Only caring for the theology, but never the person or people involved.

He never took away dignity. He always gave it.

Always gives it.

What am I doing? What is my job description? Whose name am I claiming, when I identify as Christian?

Is God policing me? As I throw his name around, and act, and speak, and hurt others, and fall short... has he taken away my dignity because I am incapable of policing myself?

No.

He gives me dignity, so that I may be lifted up out of that. He tells me the truth about sin, and myself, not to reduce me, but to raise me up.

He finds a way to include me—with his Son!—and GIFT me with Holiness.

And maybe, just maybe, I can start identifying with him—not just in my mind or theology, but in my heart of hearts.

Maybe... that’s the only thing that will EVER be effective, and he knows it.

Maybe it’s the only thing that ever saved me in the first place.

So I support a woman’s right to have dignity.

I endeavor to be like this hero of mine, Jesus of Nazareth, and not let any sin—perceived or otherwise—stop me on the way to the heart of someone our Father loves.

Because it was Jesus’s job to take care of that sin, and he did. Effectively. Brutally. It’s not my job anymore.

I don’t have to nail anyone to their cross to show them the love of Christ. I just have to actually love them.

I have to see they’re worthy of it.

I know this one is..controversial. Some of you may not agree. I’m thankful for the intimacy I have with this Twitter community—what intimacy I have with each of you. I’m thankful that Christ has made me your brother. This is what I appreciate most of all. Thank you for being you:

@hathiessen @Whimsy36853432 @neighbormike42 @AliaJoyH @fairlyspiritual @aundikolber @HappySonship @chialphagirl @KerriRawson @HeatherTDay @ShannonDingle @Lechatbon @HausoMikki @NirvanaMonk116 @kat_armas @lambert_lynda @ShannonDingle @Lechatbon @RevDaniel @roblee4 @JBsTwoCents

@HollyStallcup @CLStansberry @SHoddeMiller @lisasharper @MarlenaGraves @ryankuja @mwestramke @courtneyellis @KyleJamesHoward @BethMooreLPM @LadyJNoelle @TravelingNun #rememberingRHE