Original posting from myspace 11-22-07
The small group at my church is currently deep in the middle of a Bible study entitled "Bioethics & Compassion". 
   It's a thirteen part study that talks about moral and political topics such as stem cell research, human cloning, and how we as Christians can view other humans with disabilities. The overall theme seems to be evident in each study, and it's funny because during each study, a group member will always unknowlingly say "There is a reason that this happens…" or "There is a reason why we suffer from these things…" 
   There is a reason that we have pain and suffering in our lives. We usually don't know why we suffer and most of the time we have no answers for those who are suffering…but God does. He knows. He has a plan for each of us and it doesn't involve slaying unborn babies, or using every scientific means necessary to prolong our lives 5-10 years, or ending the life of a criminal because we decided they no can longer provide anything good for our society. 
   We know these issues are deep and complicated. Or are they? With our simple, mere understanding of life, yes, but in the whole scheme of things, not at all. 
   Everyone has a chance at life. To be born. Even if a young girl is raped, a couple is not ready emotionally or financially, or the child will be born with a disability. This may be the person who will be born to change YOUR life. When we deny life it's like pulling the shades on all the windows in your house and not letting the sunshine in. We're denying light into this world by denying these beautiful babies to be born. 
   Everyone has a chance at a happy life. To love their life. Even if a child is given 5 years, or we're faced with a horrible life-threatening illness with no cure or our bodies or minds don't work as perfectly as we would want them to. We are meant to cherish the time we have and love those around us…not to destroy future life, work the years away and find a cure and then possibly die before we're able to benefit from it. 
   Everyone deserves a SECOND chance at life. Even if it's the criminal who rapes the girl, or murders a family, or robs a store killing the cashier in the process. These people are sick. They need help and support. Not judgement from people who may have no idea what past environment shaped their tainted minds. 
It's simple. We need to protect life at all costs. This is not done by labeling ourselves Pro-life, Pro-Choice, Republican, or Democrat. 
   We have a president who claims he wants to protect life. Yet he's all for getting rid of the criminals and murderers by means of capital punishment and war. How about taking the billions of dollars we use on our war efforts and using it for the poor and educating our dangerous neighborhoods. It's not impossible…just hard work. But it's necessary to protect life. 
   Those politicians labeled Democratic oppose the death penalty yet find it okay to allow a human to be "aborted" out of convenience or "what's best for the mother". What's best for the mother…is to learn from this situation and experience and cherish the life given to her by raising the child or finding a loving family that can. Again, it's hard work, and there is extreme pain involved. But, it's necessary to protect life. 
   As much as we categorize it, we can't. These are not political issues. Politicians can't solve these issues. And legislation will not stop evil. People can always find ways to have abortions, do underground research, or avenge the murder of someone they loved. 
   The only way to stop evil is to love evil. That may be a hard concept to grasp for some. We can only love the things that hurt us. Because in the end, we will have arrived in a better place than if we would have responded to evil with evil. 
   This is pure love. And Jesus is the only perfect example of this. He loved the pain and sin of the world until it killed Him. Nailed on the cross, bleeding from the near-fatal wounds covering his body, he said "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." He didn't say "Father, take the pain in my heart and soul and give it to someone else to give me a simpler way out of this." He stood up to the evil, not with an iron fist or cowardice…but with an open heart. 

We should all strive to be so strong.