Stanek weekend question I: What will you give up until abortion ends?
Just in time for Lent, charismatic and innovative pro-life leader Jason Jones of I Am Whole Life has launched a new campaign: Until Abortion Ends: What Are You Willing to Give Up?
Kick-off was March 9, but this sacrifice won’t be ending in 40 days, at Easter. Pro-lifers are being asked to sacrifice something they like – until abortion ends. The concept makes sense. Let our small sacrifices be a constant personal reminder of abortion.
Bryan Kemper of Stand True Ministries has given up french fries (even McDonalds!). Another friend (who I’ll leave nameless until he actually goes through with it… :)) has said he is giving up smoking, a different sort of permanent sacrifice.
I haven’t settled on what I’m giving up. It’s a big decision, actually. What will hurt to sacrifice but be achievable?
Participants are being encouraged to submit videos to inspire others. Here’s Jason’s…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPHXt_XbWnk&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
What about you? Are you game? What will you give up until abortion ends? I’ll figure out by the end of the weekend what it will be for me.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
I believe God would be more pleased if we treated others more kindly and went out of our way to help or listen to others than if we gave up something we really love to eat or drink. Either option would cost us something personally, but only the first plan blesses the giver, the receiver and, most importantly, God. This also falls within the greatest two commandments: loving God with all our heart/mind/soul and loving others as ourselves. LL
I see what this project is trying to do, but I don’t think it’s necessarily effective for a lot of people. Giving up candy or a TV show or whatever doesn’t do a single thing to end abortion.
Back in WWII, Simone Weil decided she was only going to eat as much food as people living under German occupation ate. What happened? She died and was therefore unable to do anything to actually help people living under German occupation. I think that’s like the way, way more extreme form of this in that it doesn’t do anything practical and just deprives people for no useful reason.
Come on nay-sayers! Fasting and prayer (sacrificial giving) is effective. And I doubt anyone who cares enough for the unborn to sacrifice something is going to leave it at that.
This is a noble idea. Don’t crap on it.
Come on nay-sayers! Fasting and prayer (sacrificial giving) is effective. And I doubt anyone who cares enough for the unborn to sacrifice something is going to leave it at that. This is a noble idea. Don’t crap on it.
I think an important point that is missing is abortion will never end, women will always seek abortion, however legal abortion can end making abortion rare. I think the prolife movement does a disservice to it’s cause and women when they talk about abortion ending and not stipulate legal abortion ending.
It is a noble idea. But, let our yes mean yes and our no mean no. God already knows how flimsy my promises have been in the past. I believe that temporary fasting does strengthen our bond with God. But God desires obedience more than sacrifice. So, if we give up candy, let us do so hand in hand with good works.
Jill i have actually given up ALL french fries
Bry – fixed!
That’s what I learned about fasting too God is more pleased with what we do than what we give up. What I will commit to is giving to pregnancy crisis centers until and probably after abortion ends. I understand though what Jill is saying. Something else I think that would be good is to give to organizations that provide legal defense to the victims of abortion or sites that advocate for life! And a minimum of 10 minutes a day praying for those who are on the front line fighting for life and also praying for those who would take it. I’ve started selling Avon and a percentage of my net profit will go towards crisis pregnancy centers.
I think I will give up criticizing the efforts of other prolifers. Seriously, I find it largely pointless and destructive.
Unless someone is doing something grossly illegal, or physically harmful to themselves or others, I will butt out. I will support them regardless of whether I feel called to participate in their particular idea.
Millions of lives are lost through abortion and people are trying to find something to do about it, to stop the violence and the slaughter. I will support other prolifers wthout complaint.
It’s always sad to me to see how people blow off fasting without a second thought. As though there is no value in exercising our willpower.
I’m certainly game :) I already gave up Walmart, CocaCola and Starbucks because of the controversy surrounding who they support (if I can’t verify that they don’t donate to PP, it doesn’t adversely affect me to choose not to support them with my business…but it is difficult!)… I will add to the list fast food burgers & sandwiches. That knocks out the one fast food restaurant where I occasionally waste money. I also will commit to at least one day a month standing vigil outside of the clinics. I know it’s not *much* but I am confident I can honestly commit to once a month.
Mary Ann,
THANK YOU! I don’t see why people in the movement are so quick to downplay the good-faith and benign efforts of others. If it doesn’t do HARM, then why must we criticize it? If someone has a better way- DO IT. But so often those most vocally critical of the efforts of others are those who do nothing themselves.
I want to participate too and will have to give it some thought about what to give up. (My family gave up ice cream for Lent but we already forgot last night and stopped for a cone after a fish fry!)
I believe giving up something like television can be a huge positive because it frees time up to do other more positive things — like praying outside abortion clinics (or just adding prayer time) or meeting with/contacting legislators or campaigning for prolife candidates.
Isaiah 58:6
That’s where I got my idea of an ideal fast. The Holy Spirit showed it to me when I was constantly fasting to make a difference in someones life. The kind of fast I would need to go on is a fast from a certain pro-life site because I really need to be doing my homework and studying for two exams next week. This is my challenge. But if I fast from the internet who will take care of my farm in farmville?! Decisions. So far I’m doing good but will have to do better. Night.
:) I second the idea of giving up television!
On a side note (pardon me!), I’m actually going to be giving up “active commenting” on blogs, for Lent! Too much to do, and too much spiritual progress to try to make (even if much of the “progress” is often recovering spiritual ground that I’d lost in the meantime). I’ll still “lurk”, but if you don’t hear from me, don’t worry; I’m fine, and (God willing) I’ll be back at Eastertide!
Promise not to feed the trolls, while I’m gone, eh? :)
If this works for some people, great. I don’t think it would be very effective for me, though.
Paladin: You know, that actually sounds like a GREAT idea of something to give up for Lent. As much as I love commenting here, I think it takes up probably too much of my time. Probably not going to give it up for Lent, but I might cut back a bunch.
I find that, as with Lent, the idea of mass sacrifice for a cause tends to lend itself towards discussion and questions. Which means it opens up the avenue to discourse with those around us. Just something to think about re: fasting. No, it’s not necessary to go around advertising, but when a large group chooses to fast at the same time, people tend to take note. :)