Abortion

Roe vs. Wade, pro life, pro choice, pro abortion, anti abortion, reproductive choice, etc.  all these terms are known by most Americans.  Few things polarize groups more than this issue.  Is abortion a right, a choice, or is it wrong.

The entire Bible is about God and the sacredness of the life God created.  Life belongs to God, begins with God, and ends with God, and the ending of innocent life is not to be taken into the hands of humanity though through God’s great grace we have been given the ability to begin life.  Matthew 16:26 tells us that “whoever wishes to save their life shall lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake shall find it.”  God and only God is the author of life.  In our society today we often look for easy and simple solutions to difficult problems, even an unwanted pregnancy, instead of what is right, even if that right might call for personal sacrifice.  Right almost always calls for personal sacrifice as does Christian Discipleship.  It is in the giving of ones life that we find real life.  In His mother’s womb, John the Baptist leaped for joy when he came into the presence of Mary and the unborn Jesus.  Life begins at conception.

The United Methodist Book of Discipline states
“We believe in the sanctity of unborn human life…abortion is not a solution for birth control or gender selection…after prayerful consideration with pastor and doctor, it is the woman’s choice concerning abortion but only in regard to health issues, rape, incest, or if the life of the mother is at stake.”

Any other use of abortion is unacceptable.

The First United Methodist Church of Mansfield is dedicated to serving all people, those who have had abortions, those who have not, and those considering abortion.  The foundation of our Church is always God’s grace.  But we are committed to celebrating the sanctity of all human life.  Therefore abortion is an extremely serious issue.  The response to this teaching is abstinence as the birth control of choice for Christians; “faithfulness in marriage, celibacy in singleness!” is the teaching of the Methodist Church.  Abstinence is seen as a gift and not a challenge for the unmarried.  We respond with prayer, understanding, and love for the mother in a difficult place where abortion might appear to be a solution.  We support the teaching that abortion is a mother’s choice, but only in cases of rape, incest, or health issues, but only after every other venue has been explored with the help of support people, pastor, prayer, and doctor.