Pray to end Abortion. Why has God not answered this prayer of Anti-Abortion Activists?
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There is great power in prayer. It can change the hearts of people. Over time it can bring monumental changes in society. Two events in recent history testify to this enormous power of prayer. The prayers of Mahatma Gandhi to rid the Indian subcontinent of the scourge of colonialism were answered. So were the prayers of Nelson Mandela to bring a peaceful end to Apartheid in South Africa. So we don’t have to even look very far back in history to realize the powerful effect of prayer. It may take time, half a generation or a bit more, but prayer can bring change. Not so with abortion in this country.
One important thing is the prayers have to be sincere and the person’s life should reflect the change they are seeking. Gandhi ji said: “Be the revolution you seek to see in the world”. That is, start practicing what you are asking for others to come to. Nelson Mandela’s message was of peace even against the most atrocious violence of the aggressor. That is don’t react with violence even if the other is violent and CERTAINLY don’t commit violence.
Insincerity in matters of faith is contemptible in the eyes of God. To say one thing and practice another is the worst crime against religion. In another blog I used this quote from the Book of James and it is most appropriate in the context as well:
“14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good [2] is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Indeed the whole Book of James is worthy of paying serious attention to. The overly zealous rhetoric that inundates the airwaves and attacks that are verbal but do turn to physical and sometimes fatal.
“How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, [1] and set on fire by hell. [2] 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, [3] these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.”
We live in the richest nation in the history of the world (and number 2 is not even close). So it would really behoove us to heed this warning. Who can it apply to more than us?
“Warning to the Rich
5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.”
Gandhi early life http://nhdmkgandhi.org/
Both Gandhi and Mandela could have lived lives of luxury but gave it all up to bring change in their societies. Their lives reflected their prayers. It is difficult to say the same for most anti-abortion activists. Anti-abortion activists insist on calling themselves Pro-life yet show scant concern for the poor. We, the greatest nation in the world, has over 30 million people living in poverty, without health care and wherever anti-abortion groups have prevailed in election process (like here in Missouri) funding is deeply cut to help with these problems of the poor. Is it a wonder that for over 40 years their prayers are not being answered?
Gandhiji from rich lawyer to carpet weaver http://www.indhistory.com/
Both Gandhi and Mandela did not wait for change to come. They worked to help make positive changes, no matter how small, for 20 - 30 years until finally the wonderful transformation came. Again, the same cannot be said about Anti-abortion activist. Abortion is really a symptom of problems that lead to abortions. They rail viciously against abortion yet do little to help remedy the root causes that lead to abortions. There is strong evidence internationally that wherever Anti-abortion activists are strong in a country the abortion rates are actually higher. Our abortion RATE is twice or more that of comparable western European societies. So not only do they not help remedy root causes, they try to prevent others from doing something as well. This shows Anti-abortion activist are making negative changes to reduce abortion. Is it a wonder that for over 40 years their prayers are not being answered?
Nelson Mandela age 42 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Mandela in prison 27 years http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk
Khalid Shah, 50, is an American Muslim who came to the U.S. 32 years ago. He and his wife have lived in the St. Louis area since 1990, and have been active in a variety of interfaith activities as well as in the local Muslim communities. They have both spoken about Islam at a variety of houses of worship. After working as an engineer for most of his career, he is currently a small business owner. 
The most certain way to know that a mirror has been held up to someone is to observe their reactions.
I think there is a valid point being made here. And, as Christians, we need to be careful of what we say, who we say it about, and to be careful to live according to the public things we do say.
Further, a lifetime of observation suggests to me that the most dangerous thing for the Church corporate to do is to build alliances with those seeking political power. In truth, it can be argued that there are religious principles being espoused by both major political parties, that there are differences of interpretation and emphasis there. I would ask, how many congregations have split and re-formed themselves due to the vehemence of politics spilling over into the church?
And, do the very real and public battles within the churches and between the churches keep us from doing the work of the Great Commission? I would argue that yes, they do. After all, the bottom line of being ‘out there’ doing the work that is demanded of us is simple: If you’re doing that work, you’re going to be running into people who have messy lives, who have real problems, and who want real answers. Further, out ‘there’, our differences matter much less than our agreements. When the time comes for worship and prayer, I’ve found it doesn’t matter what the fellow believer sitting next to me thinks about this host of subjects that divide us here. Is that person trying to live their life the best they can? Are we sharing study, and prayer, and the breaking of bread together? Am I reaching out a hand to help him, knowing that his hand will be there to help me later (or was there first?).
I agree, sometimes prayers are answered “yes”, sometimes they are answered “no”, and sometimes they are answered “not yet”. Consider this: Jesus prayed that all his disciples would be in Unity. My observation is that the church, in particular, is bent on disunity, every single day. Unity, by the way, does not mean agreement. It’s something different from that. Unity (my opinion) has to do with purpose, and with willingness to accept others where they are, rather than demanding they change into ‘my’ version of what they should be.
..that hope is anything more….
hope–noun 1. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best
Hope formalized is not a useful thing?
It is not necessary to believe in God to gain the benefits of prayer, to speak powerfully for yourself to yourself, or to whoever may listen for you.
The power to speak what you want in your life may be the first free act of a creative endeavor by a being.
For those who believe, God spoke both creation and love into being. These did not exist until they were spoken.
Language is how we exist for each other. Relationship exists in the power of language. For those who believe, relationship is the realm of god, where God is experienced.
All of this, as the power of being, is available without a belief in God.
If stopped by the idea of God, consider that what believers consider the laws of God are consequence, the what so of the world as it is.
to Khalid’s point, if our prayers are not being answered it may be powerful to consider we are not being authentic in them, and the power is to look to ourselves, not blame, not sin, not righteousness, but who we are being.
To his examples, those who are authentic in their being are successful in making a difference in life.
Making it about others, i.e. India, or the wrongness of a sinner, will not make a difference for you, only justify righteousness and hold your place in the world as it is.
As a mantra or prayer, What you resist will persist.
hs,
I believe all prayers are answered. Why only in the form of yes, no, or maybe?
This is contrary to the belief that God has given us free will, and will not interceed to compromise that covenant. There is consequence in this world as God has created it. There is us, there is freedom, and there is choice.
What you ask for will be provided. It is the power of being. The confusion may be in the pretense in what we are asking for and who we believe is providing it. God will honor the being and the intent without compromising free will and its consequence (some would say without judgment) even if it provides evil into the world.
It is at the heart of the false accusation of God that God allows evil. God’s integrity honors choice. Evil is the consequence for some of this freedom. God is not the source of evil nor does God permit it.
God will not honor inauthenticity.
Mr. Shah,
First off, I am a bit offended at the moniker you use for those opposed to abortion. We are pro-life. I am certain you would be equally offended if I were to call you anti-life.
To say that the problem with abortion is solely the acts leading up to it, is a little out of touch with reality. If you get angry and murder your neighbour, would you say that the real problem of that act was that you got angry?
In spite of your pro-abortion rhetoric, I do see some valuable words of wisdom in your post. We are a lazy nation and mostly inconsiderate of the poor and needy. While Catholic organizations are very generous and supportive of the poor and those in need, many Catholics are not. I know I could do more, but I am too comfortable in my life. People of faith need to do more.
There is nothing more symptomatic of this laziness than abortion itself. It is much more convenient and irresponsible to undo the life than to accept the gift and take care of it. There is no person more poor and needy than an unborn child.
For the people who do not pray and slaughter our next generation of children, is it any wonder that they have a hunger and thirst for power over the dead bodies of the unborn? Is it any wonder that people like yourself spend more energy to achieve political gain than to heed God’s word? Abortion is your rise to power and you will not let it go no matter what God tells you.
“If you get angry and murder your neighbour, would you say that the real problem of that act was that you got angry?”
Yes! What provides the anger is a conversation you have with yourself that blames the neighbor as being wrong for something and therfore justifies your action. It begins in the heart, first thought, then word, then deed.
There is no person more poor and needy than an unborn child.”
No! In God’s eyes, an unborn child wants for nothing. To cast an unborn child as “needy”, as having less than what God’s wants for them, serves no good purpose. It only fuels the fear of those who believe they may not be able to provide for that “needy” child, the mother.
God’s promise to us is that all has been provided. Share this faith, and the fear will disappear. This is what you can do.
To the point of the post, it may justify righteousness and judgement to pretend to speak for the child to condemn the mother. Jesus does not speak this way.
On the subject of prayer: So many people use prayer as a sort of divine slot machine, and treat God as a sort of celestial butler, who gives us what ever we want. And, when we don’t get it, we pout like little kids.
The longer I live, the greater is my understanding that there is truly one one prayer that is always appropriate, and will always be answered in a positive way: “God, grant me knowledge of your will, and grant me the ability to carry it out.” All other prayers are marginal, at best.
Since Khalid is going down the road of quoting James extensively, I consider this verse as one that convicts me greatly: “…If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “go in peace, be warmed and filled.” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” James 2:15,16 How many Christians are silent when the political leaders of our day DO exactly that, in our name?
The more I study, the more I’m convinced, by the way, that many of the texts that we cite as individual demands…and use to justify our personal behavior….are ALSO applicable to us as a nation, as a society. Matthew 25, in the parable of the sheep and the goats, starts by stating, “When the son of Man comes, he will gather the NATIONS before him…..” What if we took that literally? That we, as a nation, will stand before the judge of all things? And that the criteria set up following will be applied to us, as a nation? That is not a good thought, is it?
To all, what would happen if we actually read these texts (and others), and refused to filter them through our various political persuasions? How can these verses be seen as “advocacy of socialism”, for example? What if, instead, we looked at these verses as demands on us as individuals and as a nation, and applied them as written?
Well said, that would have integrity, and require a shift in how we listen for the word.
Just got back from a hard days work (seriously). and there is quite a bit to say. But last things first.
hs, good prayer. Muslims go a step further (please forgive my partisanship here). The favorite prayer is ‘Lord grant us (don’t ask just for yourself that is too selfish) in this world that which is good and grant us in the hereafter that which is good and protect us from the agony of hell fire’. Who knows better than the Creator what is good for us. This prayer is actually in the Qur’an. God does always answer our prayer it is just that sometimes what we get is not what we thought we were asking for. I want a ferrari but walking is much better for my health. So if I ask for good health and a ferrari then I may get good health and not the ferrari. The prayer was answered, it is just I who is ignorant.
Think,
I agree with much of what you write and the sentiments you express are indeed pro-life. However, I must tell you in writing blogs for over six months and talking about this issue a number of times you are the first person who has identified themself as pro-life AND expressed such sentiments. One swallow does not make a spring. Instead of repeating everything, let me refer you to a previous blog of mine that dealt with this issue solely and not ONE person identifying themselves as ProLife said that yes we should do more on education and health care and for the poor http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/civil-religion/abortion/2009/03/are-pro-choice-people-more-pro-life/. So if you are hurt please channel that to useful purpose and work on those who you consider like minded in becoming ProLife not just about abortion but all issues of life.
I won’t defend some of the things you wrote. If you are interested in truth I have written enough to make my position quite clear. I will just summarize and say that the Anti Abortion movement is now clearly very distructive for our nation. It has shown no positive elements in it and is infact even impeding efforts to reduce abortions. There are many reasons for abortions but the very high number we have is fed in large part by sexual promiscuity. This is a moral issue. We cannot legislate it but shouldn’t churches be doing something about it? ‘hs’ has in the past brought to attention the point that sexual conduct among teenagers who attend strict churches (teaching abstinence) is no different than general teenager population (please correct me hs if I am misquoting). This has been clear for a while with no improvement in whatever the ‘AntiAbortion Churches’ are teaching. I wish all the Anti-Abortion people had sentiments like yours and then I would be very happy to refer to them as Pro-Life but as things stand it is most inappropriate to label this movement as anything but simply Anti-Abortion.
Although ‘Another’ gave a very appropriate response to ‘what what’, I would like to add.
It is most unfortunate and almost a knee jerk response of Anti Abortion activists to tear down anything that they percieve is against them. One can only hope that they will stop this one day.
Yes India and South Africa today have real serious problems. News flash so does every other nation on Earth. Is the point that overcoming Aparthied and Colonialism weren’t great achievements? Does anyone think life would have been better under Aparthied or Colonialism?
Gandhi and Mandela both made enormous personal sacrifices and beyond that displayed exceptional love for God and for God’s creation in working for their causes. And with the help of God they were successful and millions of people have much better lives because of their efforts. They didn’t solve all problems for all times but they did, with the help of God, get rid of the biggest problem their people were facing.
Khalid wrote
Yes India and South Africa today have real serious problems. News flash so does every other nation on Earth. Is the point that overcoming Aparthied and Colonialism weren’t great achievements? Does anyone think life would have been better under Aparthied or Colonialism?
Were Apathied and Colonialism truly overcome.Symbolically and on the surface maybe yes.But at the heart of many of the people obviously not.
My statements were neither of blame or judgement just areality check on success.
Many times and again Mandela would do both as it pertains to America,blame and judge.Negating all that America has done for muslims in bosnia, kuwait to name a few and focusing on the negatives of Iraq where many muslims were freed from the tyranny of sadaam.Are there still serious problems there yes.News flash there are problems all over the world.Does anyone think life would have been better for them without U.S. involvement.
Has america or pro-life people done anything to improve the lives
and problems of their time.It was through resistance that Mandela and ghandi changed their world.I am not seeing the difference from the pro-life people as many are there for women after they have chosen abortion and dealt with the guilt involved.Khalid is very biased and myopic in his views of the greatness of the muslim community vs. that of christians.
If you would like to compare something.
Compare the way the Jesus and the first followers of christianity spread their message originally, and how muhammed and the first followers of Islam spread their message.And to the mantra of resistance by Another,
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We are called to pray and serve God the results are solely left to Him,in response to or in spite of those who are involved.What we do now is not so much for now, as it is for eternity.