I am a bit perplexed. Someone posted on Facebook a comment about abortion “it should be totally abolished and anyone who performs an abortion or has one should be charged with murder.” Definitely a hot topic and I hesitated before responding but I did. I replied “I don’t think we can make blanket statements about such personal things. As a 17 year old who was raped by my step dad on numerous occasions I KNOW without a shadow of a doubt had I gotten pregnant due to those rapes I would have had an abortion.”
And boy did I get a response “murder is murder and anyone who commits murder should be punished. Abortion is murder!” and then she quoted scripture upon scripture. I told her I didn’t want to argue. She would never change my mind and I would never change hers. She came back two more times saying how wrong my thinking was, that I needed to forgive my step dad and move on. Now nowhere in that dialog did I say I had or had not forgiven my step dad (and I have but that is a post for another day). I replied for the final time “I hope you are never faced with the situation of being raped ~ and till you are you really don’t know what you would do.” She then replied “what about this scenario: a man & woman are married, they have a child. 3 years later he becomes abusive to the mother and she decides to kill the child.” Now what do you say to that. I did not respond. I don’t believe the two scenarios are any where near the same.
So then I started thinking ~ I sure hope I have never tried to force my opinion/beliefs on someone especially if I have never walked in their shoes. If I have, I am sorry. And I hope I never do that in the future.
Life with us ~ The Wandering Workentins 
What a poignant post. I decided many years ago to put down the gavel as I had no right to wear the judge's robe. I totally agree with you that dogmatic, judgmental attitudes accomplish nothing. Each one must decide what they can do in a given situation, be it abortion, divorce, or so many of the other things Christians (and others) fight about. As a Christian, it is NOT up to me to judge or condemn, I am commanded to LOVE.
As a Christian …I too am against abortion….but I would never ever judge a woman having an abortion due to rape. I just thank God I wasn't in her shoes where I would have to decide!!! I am so sorry you suffered as a young woman. How horrible for you and how brave you are to talk about it. I was pregnant at 19 and unmarried. My uncle offered for me to go for an abortion. I didn't hesitate…. I said no I will raise the baby myself. But she was conceived in love not rape. Praise God her daddy married me and here we are 5 children 11 grandchildren and 35 years later….happy.Hugs Cindy
I think that I would have not replied at all. There are people who are so opinionated and closed minded that they will NOT hear your response. Just my 2 cents. Hugs,Liz
This post was a good reminder for all of us not to be overly judgmental, and for those of us who are Christian to lead by example.