As most of my regular readers know (thanks so much for your support, by the way!), I usually use a lot of imagery to convey my message. But today I don’t want to do that—I want to talk plainly about some issues which don’t normally get much air-time on blogs such as mine.
There is a quote from the 2006 movie of Amazing Grace which I find both amusing and yet inspiring. Ioan Gruffudd, who plays the role of William Wilberforce, is having a meeting with fellow abolitionists (albeit only a handful) to thank them for their support even though their efforts seem to be yielding no fruit. Naturally, everyone’s spirits are dampened by the failure of their strategies and tensions are running high. In the midst of trying to bring back some order, Wilberforce has a lightbulb moment about a new strategy. This is the part of the quote which I am referring to:
“We are talking about the truth. So we should hand it out to people. Drop it from church roofs. Paint pictures of it. Write songs about it. Make b—– pies out of it.”
It makes me smile and shake my head, but that is practically what all the courageous people who struggled to abolish the slave trade and change the culture did! And I believe all Christians, no matter what era they live in or issues they are facing, are called to do the same. The Bible specifically talks about how we are to function as many members of the same Body (1 Corinthians 12). In verses 4-6, Paul states:
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.”
It is vital for us to use whatever talents we have to search out and talk about the truth—the ugly and the beautiful. To see past our personal likes and dislikes, to acknowledge the truth whether we’re rejoicing with the hope it brings or shrinking back with horror.
You know, the other night I watched the movie Unplanned, which is based on the story of Abby Johnson—an anti-abortion activist who used to be a clinic director for Planned Parenthood. She resigned after watching an abortion on ultrasound. It was so difficult to watch! Although I was already pro-life and knew part of what the procedure entailed, I don’t believe I will ever view the word “abortion” the same way ever again. For that reason I am thankful I went and watched it.
Can you see how this fits in with what I was saying earlier?
This blog post, a small donation to an organisation which provides counselling and practical support to mums and bubs, a letter to an MP, a conversation with a friend–they’re all ways of changing the culture.
Sure, Christians and pro-lifers are often accused of wanting to control people, control their bodies. But we don’t want that. Why would we when a properly-functioning conscience does a much better job than we ever could? However, that conscience has to be revived somehow.
We are talking about the truth–the humanity of the unborn child.
What will you do to spread it?
Liv'n'Hope 