The Moral Issues - Meaning What Exactly?

Mention the "moral issues" or "ethical issues" to most Christians in relation to the election, and immediately what might come to mind is abortion, followed quickly by gay marriage and stem cell research. Then after more thought perhaps we could add euthanasia and, for really thoughtful Christians, the death penalty. These are some of the best known "sanctity of life" and "family values" issues. But in Living Faith yesterday, based on Deuteronomy 30's injunction to "choose life, so that you and your children may live" (v19), it becomes apparent that moral issues include everything to do with an individual's ability to live the abundant, fulfilling lives that God intended for them.

Now abortion is clearly an important issue, and it proves to be a good example of all the moral issues. What isn't so clear is that it is THE important issue, as so many Christians seem to feel. The vast majority of Christians, along with the rest of the population, would like to see abortions drastically reduced if not eliminated. The difference of opinion is in the approach and the cost. For some, abortion must be stopped immediately through legislative and judicial action, regardless of the impact on the mother and as-yet unborn child, and any who disagree must be vilified publicly. For others, this isn't a matter for extreme legislation and enforcement - rather the conditions that lead to abortion (poverty, abuse, lack of education, maternal mortality, and societal examples all figure in addition to simple bad decisions) should be attacked. Even if legislation forms a part of the solution, which for many Christians it must, perhaps we should be legislating the kind of justice God Himself embodies - a justice tinged with mercy, compassion and grace.

It turns out that this approach to dialogue about abortion applies to all sorts of other issues, such as immigration, poverty, racial and other forms of discrimination. As a result of our Living Faith discussions under Pastor Mike's excellent leadship yesterday, when I consider my voting options, I'm not so much interested in a President's personal position on the issues as their ability to lead bipartisan Congressional action that will address causes as well as symptoms, and that will show compassion and mercy to all the victims of these causes (which in the case of abortion means mothers as well as embryos).

"Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" (Amos 5:24)