FROM THE EDITORS
While some may thrive on heated confrontation, most of us long for a calmer, more compassionate means of resolving differences.
Marshall Shelley
January 1, 1993
Several months ago, friends from our church helped organize a "Life Chain," a nonconfrontational demonstration against abortion. When they invited me to participate, I agreed.
That Sunday afternoon, our family gathered with several hundred others to line one of our major streets. We stood ten feet apart, quietly holding signs. Some of the signs were blunt: ABORTION KILLS BABIES.
Others were a bit gentler: ADOPTION NOT ABORTION.
Others took the positive but less specific tack: LIFE IS THE BEST CHOICE.
During our two-hour vigil, I was fascinated by the reactions of passing motorists, some ninety per minute. (I counted!)
Many drove by honking their horns and giving the thumbs-up sign.
Several drove by with a different finger upraised, which I interpreted to mean they held a differing opinion on the abortion issue.
Most, however, kept their gaze straight ahead, studiously avoiding eye contact with anyone holding a sign.
One young man with shoulder-length hair drove the length of the line twice, horn blasting. Leaning out his window, he shouted with obvious anger, "I hope your sister never gets raped!"
"Me, too," I whispered. "Me, too."
All in all, it was a fairly calm experience compared to some of the others we've all heard about.
Perhaps you, too, read about the protests and counter-protests outside Immanuel Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, home church of President Bill Clinton. Politically conservative Christians squared off against a group of gay and lesbian activists.
"You're going to hell. Get used to it," shouted one group.
"A narrow mind is a terrible thing to use," shouted the other.
The leader of the first group told a reporter, "We're here today to give the sodomites a little taste of God's Word."
While some activists ...
Like the preview? To read this complete article
and 20,643 more in the archive—JOIN NOW!
Easily find high-quality, well-researched materials that provide a Christian perspective on topics ranging from headlines to history.
Start using this invaluable tool TODAY for preparing your Bible studies, presentations, class lectures, sermons, meetings, and more.
|
It's easy and quick to join:
Brought to You by Christianity Today Int'l |  |
|
| 
Find similar articles
E-mail this page
