Who are We?
By Rev. Dr. Monica C. Jones
Had I had an opportunity to have children, it is likely that I would not have terminated a pregnancy. Yet, if I had needed to, I would not have expected to have someone in the halls of the state capital, congress, or other legislative body, try to make the decision for me. I certainly would not have expected unyielding, power-seeking politicians to place my life in danger in an attempt to suspend my civil rights and reproductive freedom.
In the garden, God could have certainly forced the couple to obey the commandments they had been given and submit to God’s will. Yet, God allowed Eve and Adam to determine whether they would be obedient or disobedient.
Jesus, in all of his power and authority over humankind, gave us choices. When he said that he would stand at the door and knock (Revelation 3:20), he was making it clear that it was our decision to choose salvation or sin. It was our decision to choose the path we would take for our redemption.
Already, women have testified to the horrendous and life-threatening circumstances to which they have been subjected. Some have sat in cars outside of hospitals, hemorrhaging until their lives were declared “in danger.” A ten-year-old rape victim had to travel outside her home state to get the care she needed.
Physicians have already testified about life-threatening emergencies that have occurred because of narrow-minded individuals who, without medical knowledge, have dictated when a pregnancy is viable or not. They were forced to sit by while their patients carried dead fetuses to term.
An interesting observation about this crisis is how some of us, as members of the Black Church community, have latched on to the one issue, standing side-by-side with extremists and various evangelicals who uphold anti-choice laws. These biased, ill-informed voices declare that they are pro-life. Still, one does not see them putting as much energy and effort into advocating for the loss of Black lives because of the inequitable application of capital punishment.
The question we should ask ourselves is, who are we to make decisions regarding the health and reproductive rights of women? Who are we to decide what a person should or shouldn’t do regarding the future of their family? Who are we to attempt to legislate reproductive choice?
Who are we? We are human beings with fallacies and weaknesses, and shortcomings. We all have sinned; we have all fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We all have a right to our privacy, and we have no business deciding for other human beings matters that should be between them, their physician, and their God.
The Reverend Monica C Jones is on staff and Director of Christian Education at Big Bethel in Atlanta, Georgia.
