Justin Taylor links today to what I believe to be a powerful and prophetic call from philosopher Douglas Groothuis regarding what he calls “fetus fatigue” among younger evangelicals. Specifically Groothuis speaks of those evangelicals who wish to “broaden the tent of evangelical concern.”
I agree with broadening the tent, and am concerned about poverty, the environment, racial justice, and other issues, and am frustrated by the apathy with which some conservative Protestant churches have approached such things. Still, one should be as shocked as Groothuis is at evangelicals who are willing to embrace political leaders who embrace abortion rights, often dismissing the unborn as “one issue among many.”
“It appears that millions of evangelicals, especially younger ones, are experiencing fetus fatigue. They are tired of the abortion issue taking center stage; it is time to move on to newer, hipper things–the sort of issues that excite Bono: aid to Africa, the environment, and cool tattoos. Abortion has been legal since they were born; it is the old guard that gets exercised about millions of abortions over the years. So, let’s not worry that Barak Obama and Hillary are pro-choice. That is a secondary issue. After all, neither could do that much damage regarding this issue.
“Evangelicals (if that word has any meaning), for God’s sake, please wake up and remember the acres of tiny corpses you cannot see. Yes, the Christian social vision is holistic. We should endeavor to restore shalom to this beleaguered planet. That includes helping Africa, preserving the environment, and much more. However, the leading domestic moral issue remains the value of helpless human life. Since Roe v. Wade, approximately 50 million unborn humans have been killed through abortion. Stalin said, ‘One death is a tragedy. A million dead is a statistic.’ Too many are now Stalinists on abortion. The numbers mean nothing, apparently. The vast majority of these abortions were not done to save the life of the mother, a provision I take to be justified. Things have reached the point where bumper stickers say, ‘Don’t like abortion, don’t have one.’ It is simply a matter of private, subjective taste. But how about this: ‘Don’t like slavery, don’t own slaves’? Two human beings are involved in this matter, inescapably. . . .
“Evangelicals, for God’s sake, please wake up. Remember the least, the last, and the lost: the millions of unborn human beings who hang in the balance (Matthew 25:31-46). No, this is not the only issue, but it is a titanic issue that cannot be ignored. Rouse yourself to recover from fetus fatigue. God is watching.”
Read the article. Pray for the “fetuses.” And for the “evangelicals” too.
