What is the best way to change hearts and minds about abortion? I have participated in “40 Days for Life” (40DfL) the past 3 years and am now part of the local leadership team. If you haven’t heard of 40DfL it is an ecumenical peaceful prayer vigil located outside of abortion facilities worldwide. Participants pray and fast for 40 days in the spring coinciding with the 40 days before Easter and in the fall late Sept to early Nov (October is Life month).
The best way to show people the truth about when life begins is to be like Christ! Jesus came to save not to condemn (Luke). How easy it would be to look down on these women from a state of moral superiority. To intimidate and emotionally manipulate them with threats and graphic pictures of dismembered unborn babies is not a path of love. So instead of dressing up like the Grim Reaper outside of Planned Parenthood protesting against abortion. As part of 40DfL we kneel, walk, or stand outside PP witnessing for life via prayer. We try to love them both. One of my favorite Martin Luther King, Jr quotes is as follows:
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate, only LOVE can do that”
This past fall my prayer hour happened to coincide with the presence of a prolife non-40DfL group. Mary, the 80 year old prayer warrior that had the hour after me, said her husband refers to them as the “go-to-hell people.” They had bloody baby signs (which I didn’t particularly want my 3 year old seeing) they would yell, “Repent” through a megaphone and had a video camera set up taping cars that drove in. They had a sign that quoted the bible I’m assuming, “Do you hate me because I speak the Truth?” Their signs scream abortion is murder and you are wrong. Does this approach work? I don’t disagree that abortion is murder, but are we here to change hearts and save babies (and mothers)? Or are we here to piss people off and make it easy for them to dismiss us as judgmental asses?
I personally don’t believe cramming the truth down someone’s throat works. It is true that the Holy Spirit can work in many ways, and could use that graphic picture to pierce a hard heart. But more often they will just choke and spit it out and be shy to ever look into the whole “Jesus thing” again. I much prefer to try to be the Light of Christ. To strive to be like Jesus with the woman at the well and at first out of curiosity they may wonder. Then later they may try a taste, and though it is bitter truth at first they may realize that this is the Love that can endure anything.
Of course easier said than done, since the pro-aborts don’t love you! (They assume you are the former prolife zealot). One lesson I learned long ago as a catholic worker is that it is much harder to treat people like Jesus when they don’t act like Him! You have to discipline yourself to be patient, kind, and persistent, which comes more naturally to some than others!
Now my last blog, I ended saying my brother was right. He had emailed me some harsh and graphic forwards implying guilt by association if I voted for the democratic candidate in the impending election. I actually don’t agree with his methods. I don’t think he knows how much he hurt my feelings. But in hindsight, seeing the negative impact that the Obama presidency has had on Life issues, I’m glad that I never voted for him. I’m also glad that I got more involved in the pro-life movement, although I wish my brother could have spurred me in a different manner. As an eye doctor it is a great feeling being able to help people see better, but optometrists rarely save anyone’s life. However, as a prayer warrior I may have already helped to save a life!
I heard a statistic today from a (former) abortion clinic director that said it was common that the days the pro-lifers were outside their doors (praying) they would have a 75% no-show/cancellation rate! Considering 92% of Planned Parenthood’s services are abortion related that is saying something!
If you have any fears holding you back from being a part of one of the 500+ prayer campaigns let me ease your fears and give you courage! Visit www.40daysforlife.com to sign up for a site near you. Join the more than 600,000 prayer warriors world wide. Still not convinced the 40 DfL method is effective? Since 40DfL has gone national in 2007 there have been 88 clinic workers quit, 44 abortion facilities closed and 8,245 babies saved in direct correlation with one of the 2,786 campaigns. The spring campaign begins Ash Wednesday (the day after Mardi Gras) this year and every year. We’re not going away until abortion does. Please join us. You just might save a life!
Stephen Seberger
February 6, 2014Well written, Em. I applaud your efforts for life. I applaud the 40DFL approach. I only participated once last year, but will do more this year. We don’t have a clinic nearby (thankfully) so it’s not convenient, but I WILL make the effort.
I emailed my senators yesterday to urge their support of the “no federal funding for abortion” bill. I figured it was the least I could do for the least among us. I also urge everyone to pray for the unborn and their mothers every day.
Brenda
February 6, 2014Seriously? So what if they dress up or show graphic images? What about during the holocaust, the only thing to open the people’s eyes of the time was to walk through the concentration camps to see the dead mulatated bodies for themselves to truly understand the severity of death. Are you that afriad of a costume? Sheesh. This may be offensive, But if you have ever read the Bible for yourself you would see that God commanded his people to do offensive things to wake people from their sins
For example. The prophet Hosea was commanded by the LORD to marry a whore which obviously offended the Isrsalites.
God told the prophet Isaiah to walk naked to prove a point to the wicked land
And uh, if you have read how Jesus witnessed. It wasn’t hippie “come as you are” garbage…it was REPENT.
These things Were/are HIGHLY offensive but it shook people and woke them up to the truth.!!! It’s easy to not confront falsehood or sin today, yet it has become easy to confront those who point it out. By telling people not to judge, you are making a moral appraisal of those whom you accuse of making moral appraisals. By not tolerating their intolerance of sin, and telling them not to judge, in the process you are committing. Highly doubt these people are getting a laugh for holding dead fetal signs, lady.
Regular Joan
February 6, 2014Seriously. I agree with you some people may need to see something graphic to pierce their hard heart. However, again and again it has been reported by pro-choice converts that more often this approach is easily dismissed and ignored. They detest it and harden their resolve to continue what we would think is the unthinkable. Why would I be afraid of the costume? I have seen it many times, but I don’t like exposing my young children to that or the blood dissected baby. The point is we have a proven method here with “40 Days for Life” Over 11,000 babies have been saved and their mothers have been saved too from the pain of abortion and that sin. We’ve seen 128 abortion workers quit through this “truth and love” approach. We’re not hiding the truth here, but we are being listened to because we are approachable. I would disagree with the statement that these people are easy to confront. I would consider them confrontational, however I am not a big fan of yelling and conversations that are one sided. I am not assuming anything about these people I have heard some of them say that the women are going to hell and they are not witnessing to save the women’s souls like we do, they from their own mouths are only there for the babies. Why do you say I don’t tolerate them? Because I don’t condone their methods? They have their right to be there and so do we. It takes courage for them to stand there as it does for us too. But last week we remembered 48years ago Martin Luther King, Jr’s death and I quote him, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that; Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” I believe Jesus does say, “come as you are” he accepts the woman at the well, and the Mary Magdalene. He hates the sin, but loves the sinner (loves them so much he died for them while they were still sinners). The abortion workers and pro-choicers are not evil, they are blinded by evil. How can we help them see the light? I stand by my assertion that the best path is one of humble and heart-felt love. We don’t change hearts God does.