Yet Another Great Sauna Conversation: Why don’t I Support Abortion?

I had another great conversation in the sauna recently. Thankfully, this time all participants were clothed.

The conversation started with the 2016 Presidential election and candidates. After bantering around the usual topics of the economy and defense, my conversation partner asked me about my political views.

Hmmmmm. What do I say now? How much time do I want to spend (again) in this hot sauna?

I figured this was another God-opportunity (although I’m wondering why I couldn’t have as much success conversing at, say, Pinthouse Pizza, as I do in this blasted sauna), so I dove in.

The conversation went like this:

Me: Well, I need to qualify my answer. I’m a serious Jesus-follower. Thus, the book I believe to be his Word, the Bible, radically impacts my thinking on certain issues. So, when it comes to presidential elections, I’m pretty much a one-issue guy.  I can only vote for a candidate that is clearly opposed to abortion in any situation, even in the cases of rape, incest and when the mother’s life is at stake.

Him: Wow, that’s a very narrow point of view. I bet you have a hard time finding candidates to support.

Me: Finding a candidate isn’t really my primary goal. Being a voice for the voiceless and a defender of the defenseless is. I can’t think of a single reason to ever take the life of an unborn child–not and still be obedient to what Jesus taught.

Him: (And this is when things started heating up in the sauna a bit.) So you’re in favor of social engineering. You want to take a 16-year-old pregnant girl and make her keep her baby. You want to tell her how to live her life.

Me: No, I don’t. I want to educate her about her options. The waiting list for couples wanting to adopt is endless. We could end the vast majority of abortions today if the mothers would just consider adoption. But honestly, we’re talking about the wrong problem. That 16-year-old being pregnant isn’t the real problem. That’s just a symptom. When she got pregnant, her body did exactly what it was designed to do. The problem isn’t that she got pregnant; the problem is that she had irresponsible sex.

Him: You’re right about that. (That response surprised me.)

Me: I want to educate that 16-year-old about the covenant nature of sex. I want to equip her to say “No” to a guy’s advances and to understand why saying no is a good option until she’s married. If we can eradicate irresponsible sex in this country, then we can eradicate nearly 95% of all demand for abortion.

Him: (And this too surprised me.) That’s the most cogent argument I’ve heard from any pro-lifer, including any current candidate.

Seeing that moment as a great time to head to cooler air, I thanked him for the conversation and left.

So why am I telling you about this?

First, to remind you that God gives you daily opportunities to talk about him. I’m very glad that I got to tell this guy about my relationship with Jesus. The pro-life issue is secondary to the condition of his spirit. I hope I can talk to him about Jesus again soon.

If you will be alert and just take a little risk, you can sprinkle Jesus into your conversations throughout the day.

Second, people, including people of differing points of view, want to have rational conversations about our belief system. They may not necessarily agree, but they’re curious if we have any real thought behind our convictions. Most think we’re just spouting the talking points we learned in Sunday school or from some right-wing web site. They’re actually pleasantly surprised to learn that we have thought and reason behind our convictions.

So be okay with a little disagreement and respectfully share your beliefs with people.

Jesus told us to be salt and light. It’s hard to be either if we never get in the same arena with those who need it.

 

 

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