A couple of weeks ago, in SDM’s first audio podcast for Summer 2022, I talked with T.C. Talley, Director of Men’s Mentoring and Abstinence Education at Birth Choice (a pro-life pregnancy resource center headquartered in Jackson, TN), about the issue of abortion. About a week later, Row V Wade was overturned. In the comments I have seen online concerning both of these things, I have seen a common theme. That is that men have no right to even have an opinion about abortion and they certainly have no right to have a discussion about it.
For the moment, I will set aside the facts that Birth Choice and many other pro-life pregnancy resource centers are mostly run by women and that many women feel exactly as T.C. and I do concerning the topic of abortion. I would like to directly address the issue of men talking about abortion. As we get into that, I would like to tell you a couple things about myself and then ask you a question.
I have two nephews who were killed, as small children, by a drunk driver. I have seen, first hand, the devastation that drunk driving can have on a family. I very strongly believe that driving while under the influence of alcohol should not be allowed and I believe that there should be laws that prohibit and actively discourage it. I am completely blind, in both eyes, lacking even light perception, and there is no way of repairing the damage to my eyes. I will never be able to drive, drunk or otherwise. Because of this fact, have I no right to an opinion concerning the laws that pertain to driving under the influence?
I am a man. I will never be able to get pregnant. Because of this fact, have I no right to an opinion concerning the topic of abortion?
As it concerns my right to an opinion, what is the difference between these two scenarios?
You may say that my family was directly impacted by drunk driving and so that gives me a right to an opinion about this but men are not directly impacted by abortion so they have no right to an opinion concerning that. If you believe that men are not directly impacted by the issue of abortion, I would invite you to listen to the conversation between T.C. and myself and then see if you still feel that way.
You can check that out here:
http://www.scottduck.com/audio-podcast-abortion-a-conversation-with-t-c-talley/
We all, rightly, have opinions and expect to have input concerning laws that do not directly impact us or laws which define crimes which we will never perpetrate. I have opinions concerning immigration, even though I am not an immigrant. I have opinions concerning corporate taxation, even though, as a nonprofit, this ministry is not taxed. Most women probably have opinions about laws concerning violent crime, even though at least 85% of violent crime is committed by men. Many people have opinions concerning disability law and I don’t try to tell these people that their opinions are not as valid as mine, even though they are not disabled and I am. If we try to tell everyone that they are not entitled to an opinion concerning anything in which they are not directly involved, we may as well just go ahead and shut down the legal system entirely and shut down the whole government shortly there after. However, civilization simply cannot exist that way.
Most of the media portrays the abortion issue as a political issue, rather than a spiritual one. Ironically, as part of that, many portray the pro life prospective as one that is only held by Christians and they say that it is a prospective that the Christians try to shove down their throat. So these people try to tell me, as a Christian, and especially as a Christian man, to sit down and shut up. Hmmm, who is shoving what belief down who’s throat? I’m getting a little tired of that but it is to be expected. As followers of Christ, we have chosen to follow the one true God, Who the rest of the world has chosen not to believe in or not to follow, and Jesus Himself said that we will be hated by the world for that.
John 15
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
Matthew 10
26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Really think about the above Scripture. Jesus said “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you”. Well, they persecuted Him to the extent that they killed Him. However, He didn’t stay dead. He rose, victorious over death and sin and He offers us that same victory. He said “they will also persecute you”. He did not say “they may also persecute you”. When we take a stand for Christ and we get some backlash for it, that certainly isn’t fun but, if we aren’t getting any backlash, then I think we have to seriously ask ourselves if we are taking a strong enough of a stand for Him.
Look at God’s commissioning of Joshua, to lead the children of Israel, after the death of Moses.
Joshua 1
6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
One of the first things God said to Joshua was to be courageous (verse 6). In what did He say Joshua was to be courageous? In living out God’s Word (verse 7). God didn’t tell Joshua to just live by God’s Word and otherwise mind his business. Joshua was also told to proclaim God’s Word to others (verse 8). This instruction to be courageous in doing these things was not merely a request or a suggestion. It was a command (verse 9). These same things apply to us and our commission to live out God’s Word and proclaim His Word to the world. Be courageous. There are those who will tell us to mind our own business. Things that directly pertain to God’s Word are our business. Do not be ashamed and do not be afraid. Proclaim Him and His Truth!
