Pray to end Abortion. Why has God not answered this prayer of Anti-Abortion Activists?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com
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. 
Think,
Thank you for your response. You bring up a number of issues that deserve to be dealt with in detail. And I will make a note and do that at a later time because this may take more than one blog. As someone corrected me today, I want to make sure before bringing the information up. But as a starter let me suggest if you take a look at one of my previous three blogs on the abortion issue. http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/civil-religion/abortion/2009/03/challenge-to-faith-is-religion-a-blight-upon-humanity/ It covers the issue of a positive correlation between abortion and church attendance across 8 western nations. That such a correlation was found across multiple western societies has very strong implications and we dealt with it extensively in that blog. But some of the other issues I will, God willing , hope to address in the future.
Wow,Khalid,
Apparently dark sarcasm and judgemental, condescending arrogance, are accepted in the muslim faith.
hs,
Two comments about what you wrote. I think the abortion rates for women who are married (need to separate out those that are separated/divorced) is much lower so that does point to the very important effect if the man takes responsibility.
When you write about individual ministry what comes to mind is the systemic nature of social behavior. Many recognize a ‘herd’ mentality among teenagers when it comes to fashion, music etc. But all of us are modified in behavior by our environment. I came to USA in 1976 and did not return for a visit to Pakistan for nearly 10 years. On my first visit back I became aware of how many of my responses were so different. Social behavior is influenced by societal environment. What I am trying to say is that sometimes good national social policy means recognizing this systemic nature of social behavior and nudging policy in a direction to have a positive effect. I think carefully crafted social policy has a lot of potential for dramatically bringing down the abortion rate in our country.
whatwhat,
I have never said I was right in my thinking. You make a good point, and it is a constant consideration. In other words, you are right:)
I am not advocating that we ignore the jaragon of right and wrong. It is the world we lve in. Yet within a safe place of faith, we can discuss the possibility, practise it, and provide it as an example to the world in our being, if not in our language. This is what the master’s do.
Of course, there is great risk in this because we will certainly love them, then hate them, mock, inprison, or kill them, then love them again.
Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison “being” free.
It is a very distinct line, the difference between being and judging. I am no master at it. I appreciate your remark.
Think,
Thank you for a thoughtful repsonse. There is a powerful distinction in anger. It is the outcome of blame. These are red flags for us. If we are experiencing anger, blame, or righteousness as in someone is occurring for us as wrong , we are in judgement. There is nothing wrong in this. It is what we do, and it will not make a difference.
One possibility is to acknoledge it, give it up, and create something else for ourselves in that moment. Something that inspires us, that touches something else within us, and share that with the target of our blame or judgment.
This is to Khalid’s earliar comment about the intent of prayer, (or a time out for a child) the practise of giving up of ourselves, of letting go of all that we know, and to be open for that which is possible.
A master brings nothing of themself, and in that moment of nothing what is possible? Everything.
Thank you both for listening for what I am sharing.
Mr. Shah, glad I could provide you with some amusement on such a gloomey day and that you accept your frailty. Bottom line I agree more in principle with the GOP than the Dem party. Also, I won’t take the bait and attack you or your religion as I am not an expert on it. Personally, I find it odd, however, that Muslims and Baptists voted Democrat, yet I believe their religions are opposed to gay marriage and abortion. Have you attacked them for voting for a party that does not go along with their core religious beliefs? Don’t Muslim countries actually kill people for even being gay?
Do I think the GOP is perfect and agree with them wholeheartedly? No, and I think anyone that doesn’t question their political party and believes everything they promote, should re-think that. Mitt Romney, for instance whom I supported, actually had the same healthcare plan as Obama. The GOP are not quite as congruent a group as Democrats. Democrats just seem to go along and accept everything that Reid and Pelosi say. I don’t trust any of them.
Democrats will pander and say anything to whatever group just to get their votes and their only goal is to control everyone, but they just can’t see it. How sad. I believe in freedom and distain the Marxist, socialist, Communist control of the Democrat party. Weak people want to be controlled and they will be.
Also, Mr. Shah, why do you think the media totally took at pass on a Muslim shooting an American soldier in Little Rock? Why hasn’t anyone posted a blog piece about it to discuss the first Islamic terrorist attack on American soil under the Obama admin.? Why the double standard?
I doubt we will see the P-D report this:
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/06/hijab-wearing-muslim-fanatic-crashes.html
I also assume you are aware that most Democrats also voted for the war in Iraq. I would not have voted for it.
Another,
Perhaps it is a cultural thing. The definition of righteous I grew up with was someone standing at ready to obey God. An upright person, a pillar of the village community, helper of those who need aid, quiet and humble in demeanor, short of speech, kind and gentle, yet strong. I agree with what you have written but from where I stand it is difficult to understand what is the distinction between righteousness and sel-righteousness for a human being in what you are stating?
Applying the word to the Creator is also muddling. It is not a quality I associate with the Creator. Trying to figure out why the only thing I can come up with is, and perhaps I just don’t understand this word, that righteous in with respect to or towards another. The Creator has no equals and so how does one apply a relativistic term to the Creator? One cannot.
A long time ago an old man said to me, ‘Allah has everything?’, ‘No Allah does not have humility (actually he used the persian word ‘aajazee’ which is humility and dependence)’, ‘I offer Allah something Allah does not have, my humility’. It made me realize that there are terms that do not apply to the Creator.
God answers all prayers. Sometimes the answer is “no”. Sometimes it’s probably, “you’ve got to be kidding”. Maybe because for many it’s more about punishing people who have sex than it is about life? Joe Garagiola tells the story of Jimmy Pearsal batting and Yogi catching, and Jimmy, who had had some emotional problems at one time (with Cleveland, I believe, and I think I was there at the time; he may have got them from me, but I digress), went out in front of the plate and drew the sign of the cross in the dirt. Yogi went over to him and said, “Yogi, why dont you just let god enjoy the game?” Story not relevant to this blog item, but still a good story.