In all things charity

One of the difficulties we have as Christians opposed to social evils like abortion is perception.  The world expects us (and rightly so) to be “meek and mild” and not prone to anger, hypocrisy, etc.  These are high standards and, for Christians especially, very appropriate.  When discussing extremely sensitive “personal” issues like abortion (and homosexuality, adultery, etc), it is exceedingly easy to offend those on the other side of the issue, so great care must be taken to defend our position “with gentleness and with respect” (here, here, and here, for example).  Of course, it’s probably impossible to avoid completely offending some, as the truth can be offensive, but we need not add to that offense with rude, obnoxious, and abrasive behavior. 

As I’ve thought more on my Wal-Mart and abortion blog entry, I think I may be guilty of that very behavior.  While my part of me is still somewhat proud of how wity that title was, it was probably too inflammatory to be of much good.  To correct the error, I’ve retitled the entry (though I’ve left the body as is, for now at least).  I earnestly want to affect positively (for pre-borns) abortion policies and attitudes in this country, but being abrasive will only help to further polarize the situation.  Mea culpa.