As I have contemplated the church's engagement in the public arena, I realized something key. We are using the same tactics as the world uses such as pickets and protests for one simple reason: We don't know any other way. We remember the marches of the civil rights era and the antiwar protests, especially against Vietnam, and believe that this is the way to get our message out and solve the problem.
Reinforcing this are the awareness campaigns for a wide variety of causes from breast cancer to the environment. The medical causes are especially effective as the money flows into their coffers from these events and ads. It is easy to fall into the trap the moral and cultural issues can be addressed in the same way. We thinks that as long as people know about the issue they will believe us and accept our views.
The truth is much harder to face. Signs, protests, and marches do not change many minds, if any. The effective campaigns in this pattern address issues that almost anyone can agree upon, such as cancer treatment or autism. More controversial views do not have the same impact through these means.
So, if this approach will not actually solve anything, what do we do? The first thing is to change our mindset. We cannot "save the world" en masse. That type of thinking is what leads us to absurd attempts to use large, national campaigns or even media blitzes on a local level. What if the solution were more personal? I think of the nor former director of a Planned Parenthood office who changed her mind completely after watching the ultrasound of an abortion. Her mind was not changed by all the protests in the world. It was the reality of the procedure and seeing it that changed it for her. However, this is an impractical approach to reaching the young women who are considering abortions.
Continuing with abortion as an example, what would it be like if we took a personal approach instead of political? I hear from a lot of people who complain that this or that pastor or church doesn't stand up for life because they aren't seen in the protests and rallies. I wonder what the complainers would do if suddenly confronted with woman who feels she has no other alternative? Would they sight the same rhetoric used in the rallies or would they do nothing at all?
The radical solution is personal and much more helpful. What would happen if instead of protesting, each strong believer in the Pro-Life cause took the time to love on and help one of the mothers? What if a church or other group got together and bought the needed supplies for the baby that she can't afford? What if they offered to help her as she raised the child and made a commitment to her? This is not about a program, but about actually changing lives.
The objection that I know is on many of your lips is that this won't save all the babies. It won't but neither will your marches and protests. But it will make a difference in not just one life but two every time we take this approach.
Abortion is only one example. All the stuff we protest and rave about can be approached from this direction. Jesus knew the world was full of sin and vice, but He didn't try to change the world as a great political leader or speaker. He did it one person at a time. Do you really doubt that His way actually changed the world?
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