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Dear Parish Faithful,
I would like to share a response from Alexis Callender to this morning's Fragments for Friday. There is an excellent application of theology to the "abortion issue" in what Alexis wrote. Finding the source of the issue in "free will" and the privilege/gift of "choice" is also the source of a sound Orthodox approach.
Fr. Steven
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Good Morning Fr. Steven,
I came across a quote yesterday that I found interesting and perhaps “applicable” in some fashion with regard to the events taking place this weekend as they pertain to The March for Life. If I may paraphrase, it reads something like this: “Freedom to choose is our privilege. Multiple choice is the problem.”
There are many ways one can “read into” this quote. I took from it the following: God has created us in His image and likeness and has given us the gift of free will. This is the very basic foundation of creation as put forth in Genesis – the beginning. Since the beginning, we have also been given multiple choices - between right and wrong, good and evil, etc. However, I do not see it as a problem, per se. As an Orthodox Christian, I view it as a “test”. Through tests and trials our faith and knowledge are strengthened. Christ through His incarnation humbled Himself and took on our human form so that He could walk among us, teach us and reveal Himself to us. Subsequently we are enabled to learn to be that which we were designed and destined to be. As long as the Evil One reigns on the earth, temptation will exist and we must make our choices. Therefore, daily we are tested and daily we pass or fail, we fall down and we get back up again. As a loving and gracious Father, God allows us these failures and successes so that we may learn, “the Way, the Truth and the Light.” It is a process that begins at birth and continues “even unto our last breath.” To quote, Fr. Michael Azkoul, “The knowledge of free will comes by faith and experience.”
So how does this apply to the issue of abortion? With regard to this issue, it is a known fact that I am opposed, I believe it is a murderous act and should have never been legalized. As somewhat of a ‘realist’ though, I know that even if Roe v. Wade is overturned, abortion will not go away or simply vanish. How then do we stop it? Can we stop it? Or, do we simply just accept it and try to carry on as best as we can? Humbly again, I suggest we get to the root cause and start there.
First, we have to look inwardly at our own sinfulness and strive to center ourselves in Christ for all things. If one truly strives for a Christocentric (sp?) existence, multiple choice is not a problem…the decisions become quite clear. If we continue in this manner, His Light will shine forth so that others too may see…“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 5: 14-16).
Second, as you stated, we have to be careful to not pass judgment and point our fingers with harshness and bitterness and become prideful. If we are created in the image and likeness of God, we too have to do our best to show, love, mercy and compassion in the same way that God graciously bestows these things upon us. I am not suggesting that we be passive in our stance, but rather we express it with love and a deep conviction to show mercy and see Christ in all people. “Never look down on anyone. You do not know whether the spirit of God prefers to dwell in you or in them.” (From the Sayings of the Egyptian Fathers).
Third, treat all life as sacred. Simply put, God created us. “For you possess my heart O Lord; You took hold of me from my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and my soul knows this very well. My bone You made in secret was not hidden from You. And my substance was in the lowest parts of the earth; Your eyes saw me when I was unformed, and all men shall be written in Your book; they shall be formed day by day, when yet there was none among them. ” (Ps 138: 13-16)
The three are intertwined and work harmoniously.
Abortion like other sins will always be present, but that does not mean we as Orthodox Christians simply accept this. We have been given free will and freely we must choose to do what is “meet and right”. Just as sin is ever present, so too is the Holy Spirit, “ever present and filling all things”. It is our choice then to allow the Holy Spirit to work within us to prayerfully, compassionately and lovingly bring those who have stepped into “darkness” back into “light”. “With You there is nothing that cannot be put aright. You are Love. You are the Creator and Restorer.” (Kontakion 10 – Akathist Glory to God for All Things)
Humbly, I might suggest to the writer of the quote to re-word it as follows: “Freedom to choose is a gift from God. It is how we utilize this gift that matters.”
There are many ways one can “read into” this quote. I took from it the following: God has created us in His image and likeness and has given us the gift of free will. This is the very basic foundation of creation as put forth in Genesis – the beginning. Since the beginning, we have also been given multiple choices - between right and wrong, good and evil, etc. However, I do not see it as a problem, per se. As an Orthodox Christian, I view it as a “test”. Through tests and trials our faith and knowledge are strengthened. Christ through His incarnation humbled Himself and took on our human form so that He could walk among us, teach us and reveal Himself to us. Subsequently we are enabled to learn to be that which we were designed and destined to be. As long as the Evil One reigns on the earth, temptation will exist and we must make our choices. Therefore, daily we are tested and daily we pass or fail, we fall down and we get back up again. As a loving and gracious Father, God allows us these failures and successes so that we may learn, “the Way, the Truth and the Light.” It is a process that begins at birth and continues “even unto our last breath.” To quote, Fr. Michael Azkoul, “The knowledge of free will comes by faith and experience.”
So how does this apply to the issue of abortion? With regard to this issue, it is a known fact that I am opposed, I believe it is a murderous act and should have never been legalized. As somewhat of a ‘realist’ though, I know that even if Roe v. Wade is overturned, abortion will not go away or simply vanish. How then do we stop it? Can we stop it? Or, do we simply just accept it and try to carry on as best as we can? Humbly again, I suggest we get to the root cause and start there.
First, we have to look inwardly at our own sinfulness and strive to center ourselves in Christ for all things. If one truly strives for a Christocentric (sp?) existence, multiple choice is not a problem…the decisions become quite clear. If we continue in this manner, His Light will shine forth so that others too may see…“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 5: 14-16).
Second, as you stated, we have to be careful to not pass judgment and point our fingers with harshness and bitterness and become prideful. If we are created in the image and likeness of God, we too have to do our best to show, love, mercy and compassion in the same way that God graciously bestows these things upon us. I am not suggesting that we be passive in our stance, but rather we express it with love and a deep conviction to show mercy and see Christ in all people. “Never look down on anyone. You do not know whether the spirit of God prefers to dwell in you or in them.” (From the Sayings of the Egyptian Fathers).
Third, treat all life as sacred. Simply put, God created us. “For you possess my heart O Lord; You took hold of me from my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and my soul knows this very well. My bone You made in secret was not hidden from You. And my substance was in the lowest parts of the earth; Your eyes saw me when I was unformed, and all men shall be written in Your book; they shall be formed day by day, when yet there was none among them. ” (Ps 138: 13-16)
The three are intertwined and work harmoniously.
Abortion like other sins will always be present, but that does not mean we as Orthodox Christians simply accept this. We have been given free will and freely we must choose to do what is “meet and right”. Just as sin is ever present, so too is the Holy Spirit, “ever present and filling all things”. It is our choice then to allow the Holy Spirit to work within us to prayerfully, compassionately and lovingly bring those who have stepped into “darkness” back into “light”. “With You there is nothing that cannot be put aright. You are Love. You are the Creator and Restorer.” (Kontakion 10 – Akathist Glory to God for All Things)
Humbly, I might suggest to the writer of the quote to re-word it as follows: “Freedom to choose is a gift from God. It is how we utilize this gift that matters.”
In Christ
Alexis
