Mark

I read the thread about Zoey 101 and the pregnancy of the 16 year old star. Having lived in the south I am well aware that the majority of young girls entering abortion clinics are those attending protestant churches who teach the Word! Why? Because some churches would rather these girls get an abortion then bring shame on their parents and church.

Soooo, where should we stand on this? Why do we get so upset about the pregnancy, but give passing condemnation the acts and behaviors of our children leading up to this problem?

Anyone?

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Mark Strohm, Jr.
Thrifty Times

Banarenth

Teach and correct in love, and not in condemnation. Always look at our motives when talking to people about their sins. Are we seeking to help them or are we seeking to judge them.

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Mark

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that teenage pregnancy is ok. Trust me on this one - I am out preaching and teaching on the front lines talking to kids about making wise, godly choices.

What I get upset about is a culture that gets more upset that our children are not using protection and would allow themselves to get pregnant, rather than one that is concerned about following Biblical precepts.

We have 60% of Seniors in High School involved is sexual relationships. Who is crying out against that? Just about no one! We have 90% of High School students viewing pornography online. Who is crying out against this? Just about no one. We have the New England Patriots caught cheating - something that the majority of companies do, surveys show the majority of High School students cheat - so how much have we heard in the last two weeks about the cheating Patriots? Just about nothing. Our culture and Christians are silent!

But, if a girl becomes pregnant, then we hear all kinds of outrage! Yes, because we are not on top of every sin does not mean we should ingnore some sins. This 16 year old girl was living in sin. Now she has chosen to not add to her sin by destroying the life of this child. By not compounding her sin with abortion she publicly exposes her first sin. Now how does the church react? By viciously attacking her. Maybe we should spend more time teaching the importance of following Biblical truths! One of those truths is the sanctity of life!

Just more food for thought.

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Mark Strohm, Jr.
Thrifty Times

Jax

I understand what you are saying Mark.
It is like people cant face the disgrace and would rather sweep it under the carpet with no-one finding out.
It is the legalistic view that would rather look good, than face the reality.
I think it is awful,
and I am sure God looks more mercifully on someone that makes a mistake but faces up to it, rather, than in order to save face, gets an abortion.
Too many 'christians' would rather look spiritual and good, than actually be that.
It is all about image.

GrannyG

The issue of protecting the life of the unborn child is great and not to be belittled in any way among Christians. I think what Mark is finding issue with here is the fact that the Christian community prefers to sweep it under the rug and not to bring it out in the open to the shame and disgrace of the church.

No Christian should ever do anything that would bring reproach upon the name of Christ. Please note I said should ever. You see, we do bring shame to our blessed Saviour daily. However, that, too is not the issue Mark is endeavoring to discuss.

I believe the issue Mark is concerned with is that of not letting a sin become public knowlege in the open community or the church community and bring shame to the CHURCH. You see, the shame has already been brought to and placed upon our blessed Saviour if one of his saved ones sins.

In the case of a pregnancy out of wedlock, in times past it would have been handled by a back alley abortion, a visit to a friendly family doctor who would keep it secret, or the mother-to-be being sent out of town to "visit Auntie Susie" for a year. You see, if any of these options were exercised, the CHURCH would not be shamed.

In today's Open Community and Open Church, I would think that the "anything goes" philosophy would prevaile and the unwed mother would simply continue life as usual; and when it was near time for the child to be born, the CHURCH would host a baby shower (note: this is almost always done for wedded mothers, WHY not for UNwed mothers?). The baby is born and given up for adoption or raised by the grandparents or by the young single mother. I have seen this happen numerous times. What is RIGHT about this senario is that the child lives to be born!

What is wrong about this senario is that the sin issue has not been addressed. Once the sin issue is addressed by the church pastor and the young mother-to-be, she should be welcomed into the church. I am not certain I would go so far as to host or attend a shower in such a situation, but I would probably want to help provide for the child through a gift.

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Boanerges

Abortion is human sacrifice on the alter of selfishness. Barretta used to say if you can't do the time don't do the crime.

Mark

GrannyG,

You put it very well. I very much agree with you.

The last church I was at, a single mom got up in front of the church and asked for forgiveness for her sin and told us she was pregnant. We were all shocked, but she was supported because she asked for forgiveness. She was in my Sunday School class and yearly she would share a letter she got from the adopted parents. It was such a joy in her life to hear how the baby was doing. I liked how that was handled.

Recently in my church a high school girl got pregnant. Rightfully so, she decided to allow the babby to be born, but never was there a "repentance" or anything close to admitting sin. Instead the church "supported her" by acting as if nothing were wrong. They even held a baby shower for her. I was shocked how this was (or was not) handled.

Again GrannyG - well put.

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Mark Strohm, Jr.
Thrifty Times

Boanerges

Mark I have to say in response to the title- I do not like to see anyone mess up their life but I do not hate anyone regardless of where they find themselves.

Beloved

Sorry, i'm not sure if I understand this post...I think everything has been said Mark...

What concerns me is in the years I've been attending various denominations, I 've never heard a sermon or teaching on morality

Our young people are bombarded with moral codes by the world so why is the Church silent on this

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Shalom

( SHALOM says: Completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. )

Beloved
1 Corinthians 14:1 Let Love be your highest goal.

Boanerges

I can say I have heard a plethara of sermons on morality in some churches and the people there were no more moral than any other. It is ok to have standards of course and they are needed but I have yet to see any good fruit come out of the contiual preaching of them. I have to say most people know when thy are sinning and do so in spite of the conviction they are feeling. What most need is not to be humiliated publicly but they intead they need to be shown the answer- the delivering power of Jesus Christ.
Calling people tp the front to confess before the whole church is not scriptural at all. Some may benefit but I have seen others completely driven away by this.