Point of View

INSERRA

As a younger evangelical, I have a dilemma: I abhor the pro-abortion policies of the Obama administration and I’m outraged by the nonchalant attitude of my contemporaries about this public policy and human tragedy. On the other hand, I detest the attitude of some older evangelicals who seem willing to be the “Republican party at prayer” while ignoring other legitimate social justice concerns about which the Bible also speaks.

Throughout the 2008 presidential campaign Americans were told Barack Obama was popular with younger evangelical voters. This group of 18-29 year-olds were reportedly dissatisfied with the policies of the Bush administration and the overall direction of the Republican Party. Largely pro-life, many younger evangelicals accepted Obama’s professed commitment to working towards reducing abortions, while maintaining his commitment to the legal right to abortion.

Coupled with his willingness to address other social justice concerns younger evangelicals have, Obama’s abortion reduc­tion claim appeared to offer common ground, causing some of my peers to overlook his pro-abortion voting record in the U.S. Senate and Illinois Legislature.

The “God is not a Republican” bumper sticker describes the feelings of the emerging generation of evangelicals, and their votes reflected this desire for change. The Religious Right’s positions on issues ranging from nuclear proliferation to torture came across (and continue to do so) as more pro-American than Christian. The right to life for an unborn baby was seen by younger evangelicals as a single-issue vote that could be overlooked in favor of other social justice issues. Younger evangelicals rationalized a reduction of abortions was better than abortion on demand and seemed to be a place where we could all find some common ground.

What is the early evidence of the trust these younger evangelicals put in Obama? Just as we were told as children, “actions speak louder than words.” Elections have consequences. The promise to actively work towards reducing abortions is at odds with the nomination of staunchly pro-abortion Kathleen Sebelius as secretary of Health and Human Services and Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court. Promptly after his inauguration, the president overturned the Mexico City Policy, sending millions of dollars to pro-abortion organizations to fund international abortions. Rather than reducing abortions, Obama’s policies will undoubtedly result in more.

Where is the outrage among the younger evangelicals who helped to elect Obama? How can they sit at a traffic light on the way to a rally against some other injustice and be unconcerned by the Planned Parenthood clinic outside their car window? How do we wake up a generation that claims to be committed to social justice across the globe to proactively care about the greatest injustice our nation since slavery? Perhaps these younger evangelicals who voted for Obama have become so preoccupied with questioning all things Republican that they are failing to see the magnitude of the Obama administration’s pro-abortion activism.

The emerging evangelical generation is pro-life. The urgent task is leading them to approach the abortion tragedy with the same passion they bring to other issues of injustice. I believe Southern Baptists can lead a movement that results in the most pro-life generation of American believers ever. But that begins by moving from being merely anti-abortion to truly pro-life. Younger evangelicals will listen and engage the most important issue of our time if they see the passion and care of those who are unashamedly pro-life extend to those also outside of the womb.

Whether or not some older Southern Baptists agree, younger evangelicals are confused when they see the same people call for overturning Roe v. Wade while dismissing discussions on the possibility of climate change, the moral acceptability of torture and healthcare to those in need. These topics are pro-life issues for this generation, even if their minds are not entirely made up on these issues.

Rather than viewing these as conservative or liberal issues, this generation is asking what it means to be Christ-like. Many younger evangelicals are asking if Christians should be willing to accept a lower quality of healthcare if it means people in need could have coverage. They are asking if those in generations ahead of them think as conservatives or Americans before they think as Christ-followers.

These 18-29 year-old believers are tired of being marginalized and labeled as liberals when asking questions contrary to GOP orthodoxy. They need to be shown the tremendous and heinous evil that is abortion while being heard and encouraged in the pro-life issues they are engaged in around the world.

Whether one agrees with their issues or not, this is how many in this generation think. They are passionate believers engaged in many issues of compassion and social justice. If this same energy was channeled towards the protection of unborn human life, the overturning of Roe v. Wade in their lifetime might be possible. What a glorious day that will be!

The Church must value the way these believers view being pro-life. A move from being anti-abortion to a passionate engagement in all areas of life could ignite a generation to never settle again for merely a promise to reduce abortions.

Dean Inserra is pastor of The Well, a Southern Baptist church in Tallahassee.