Great post. These lines particularly resonated. “Our faith, however, teaches us that lives of ease are not our goal. The pursuit of them leads us into all kinds of sin—self-indulgence, pride, sloth, and greed. The life we should pursue is one of faithfulness, virtue, and love.”
Thank you. When I read the account yesterday, the only theme that seemed to matter to the author of the article was the "hate" that was shown to them over their decision. The thing that was the most disgusting was them lamenting over how their 6 year old dog being treated for stage 4 renal falure was being used as a weapon...how far our culture has fallen.
My older sister died due to a Congenital Heart Defect two days after she was born. It impacted my parents more deeply than showed on the surface. My mother cast God as not involved with the day to day of our lives. It was too painful to consider that God had ordained for her beautiful and deeply desired baby to die. She guarded her heart from experiencing such deep pain again. People like my parents embraced the March of Dimes campaign against birth defects, not just helping with maternal nutrition and health, but also aborting imperfect children. They bought the lie that preventing pain, suffering, and lifetime care for children was a noble pursuit.
Thank you. I just finished the book "Against the Machine". I found coherence between that book and your assertion that theological anthropology is the central issue of our day. I agree.
Dr. Watson, I am late in posting, but this is my one comment. Your article is excellent, however, regarding that list of "values," I would have begun the listing this way:
1. I am entitled to the life I want to live.
2. Therefore, I am entitled to a perfect child.
Then continue from there. It seems to me that this is how the world - or at least, America, views things.
Thank you for your always thoughtful and important words. We need them.
Excellent and true article. As we age we have “disabilities” we didn’t expect. BUT GOD strengthens. It’s not a comparison but there are those who feel the elderly are "non-contributing humans”. Many other modern day labels devalue human contribution based on ability, intelligence and human connection. If you can’t contribute, according to “some" definition established by “them” (whoever “they” are!), you’re not worth the time or effort. If you’re not as intelligent as “them” or your intelligence has suffered the effects of time or dementia, you’re not worth the time or effort. If you can no longer communicate with those close to you, “they” say you shouldn’t exist. Praise God, I don’t listen to “them”, I listen to Him! I value all life and I love reading about Sean’s in your family!!
Thank you so much for writing this, Dr. Watson! I know at Great Lakes Annual Conference, we have a resolution to strengthen the Pro-Life language in the Book of Doctrines and Discipline, and I pray that it will go forward to General Conference. I pray that our churches will support all life in robust ways and support those who are in need and who have gone through an abortion.
Beautiful, as a father of a special needs daughter there are age 67 journey it's not always been easy but it has been worthwhile and I thank God for our daughter
Wow, David. This would have been powerful regardless of who wrote it, but this is an area with which you have deep, longitudinal life experience with your beloved son. Thank you for sharing this. The connection with Trueman's recent volume, which my son and I have bygone through together, is very apt as well.
Ridgway's article is appalling. What is also appalling is that is also the position of the Global Methodist Church, of which I am a member. Paragraph 302.3 of the Book of Doctrines and Discipline of the Global Methodist Church states the church resists abortion "except in the cases of tragic conflicts of life against life when the well being of the mother and the child are at stake." Ridgway's argument is that his wife's pregnancy was one of those "tragic situations." We may disagree but we have allowed the camel's nose into the tent. There would be many in our church who would agree with Ridgway, and the church's official position is lukewarm at best and prochoice at worst. Already over 50% of babies with a prenatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome are aborted. I am angry at and ashamed of the position of my church, the Global Methodist Church, and I pray that that will change at General Conference in August/September.
I am on the Social Witness Committee for the GMC General Conference in Johannesburg. I,too, hope and pray we have the opportunity to change the wording in Paragraph 302.3. It is an abomination as it now stands.
Great post. These lines particularly resonated. “Our faith, however, teaches us that lives of ease are not our goal. The pursuit of them leads us into all kinds of sin—self-indulgence, pride, sloth, and greed. The life we should pursue is one of faithfulness, virtue, and love.”
Thank you. When I read the account yesterday, the only theme that seemed to matter to the author of the article was the "hate" that was shown to them over their decision. The thing that was the most disgusting was them lamenting over how their 6 year old dog being treated for stage 4 renal falure was being used as a weapon...how far our culture has fallen.
My older sister died due to a Congenital Heart Defect two days after she was born. It impacted my parents more deeply than showed on the surface. My mother cast God as not involved with the day to day of our lives. It was too painful to consider that God had ordained for her beautiful and deeply desired baby to die. She guarded her heart from experiencing such deep pain again. People like my parents embraced the March of Dimes campaign against birth defects, not just helping with maternal nutrition and health, but also aborting imperfect children. They bought the lie that preventing pain, suffering, and lifetime care for children was a noble pursuit.
Thank you. I just finished the book "Against the Machine". I found coherence between that book and your assertion that theological anthropology is the central issue of our day. I agree.
Dr. Watson, I am late in posting, but this is my one comment. Your article is excellent, however, regarding that list of "values," I would have begun the listing this way:
1. I am entitled to the life I want to live.
2. Therefore, I am entitled to a perfect child.
Then continue from there. It seems to me that this is how the world - or at least, America, views things.
Thank you for your always thoughtful and important words. We need them.
Excellent and true article. As we age we have “disabilities” we didn’t expect. BUT GOD strengthens. It’s not a comparison but there are those who feel the elderly are "non-contributing humans”. Many other modern day labels devalue human contribution based on ability, intelligence and human connection. If you can’t contribute, according to “some" definition established by “them” (whoever “they” are!), you’re not worth the time or effort. If you’re not as intelligent as “them” or your intelligence has suffered the effects of time or dementia, you’re not worth the time or effort. If you can no longer communicate with those close to you, “they” say you shouldn’t exist. Praise God, I don’t listen to “them”, I listen to Him! I value all life and I love reading about Sean’s in your family!!
I imagine this was both easy and hard to write, friend. I pray that it is sent to those with ears to hear.
Thank you so much for writing this, Dr. Watson! I know at Great Lakes Annual Conference, we have a resolution to strengthen the Pro-Life language in the Book of Doctrines and Discipline, and I pray that it will go forward to General Conference. I pray that our churches will support all life in robust ways and support those who are in need and who have gone through an abortion.
Beautiful, as a father of a special needs daughter there are age 67 journey it's not always been easy but it has been worthwhile and I thank God for our daughter
Wow, David. This would have been powerful regardless of who wrote it, but this is an area with which you have deep, longitudinal life experience with your beloved son. Thank you for sharing this. The connection with Trueman's recent volume, which my son and I have bygone through together, is very apt as well.
Ridgway's article is appalling. What is also appalling is that is also the position of the Global Methodist Church, of which I am a member. Paragraph 302.3 of the Book of Doctrines and Discipline of the Global Methodist Church states the church resists abortion "except in the cases of tragic conflicts of life against life when the well being of the mother and the child are at stake." Ridgway's argument is that his wife's pregnancy was one of those "tragic situations." We may disagree but we have allowed the camel's nose into the tent. There would be many in our church who would agree with Ridgway, and the church's official position is lukewarm at best and prochoice at worst. Already over 50% of babies with a prenatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome are aborted. I am angry at and ashamed of the position of my church, the Global Methodist Church, and I pray that that will change at General Conference in August/September.
I am on the Social Witness Committee for the GMC General Conference in Johannesburg. I,too, hope and pray we have the opportunity to change the wording in Paragraph 302.3. It is an abomination as it now stands.
So good David. Thank you for your courage and leadership. I am proud to serve with you.
That’s mutual, Ron. Thank you.