Anti Abortion Depends More on Southern Baptists Than on Catholics
At the time of the Roe decision, nearly all Protestant denominations were in favor of abortion rights. A few years later they began to fall into the pits of anti abortion.
This brought in tons of money and big numbers of support. Protestant anti abortion politics centered on the largest denomination, Southern Baptists. If Southern Baptists had not gone anti abortion other Protestant denominations would not have done so either. It was a set of dominos.
It is impossible to predict what will happen to anti abortion if the Southern Baptist Convention becomes so small it is insignificant, but that is the direction it is headed. I see various factions splitting off and going in other directions. The current Chair just resigned due to bitterness of various factions. No one knows how to put the genie back in the bottle. The block asks who is the person to lead the denomination back to success. The new President talks about prayer and finding a solution praying. Good luck amigo.
While the old denominations look down on the simple and crude Southern Baptists, the SBC has been driving the Protestant bus in many ways. When SBC names a sin others note. I'm cynical enough to think other denominations watch the money and react accordingly.
The latter certainly seems to have happened with abortion. When SCB smelled money opposing abortion it went that way. A whole passel of other Protestants followed along like sheep even though they were already on record favoring Roe. Gotta keep an eye on the bottom line.
The number of cable TV channels, music genres, ethnic food tastes and clothing art has expanded almost beyond what we can measure. Why would Southern Baptists think they could hold onto their position as one big umbrella? Even the U.S. Catholic church is declining in membership. More are leaving than coming in. Birthrates have fallen too. It's influence in public affairs in the Western World has slipped as several countries known an "Catholic" have liberalized abortion rights.
Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part, but I see the influence of Southern Baptists declining in coming decades and Catholics soon to follow.
Jon; The SBC does not drive our bus thank you. In fact they have not one whit of influence on us. thank you again. Would they listen to us, they would not be involved in politics, but alas, they won't.
ReplyDeletehelper--Kuddos to Lutheran Missouri Synod for steering clear of most of the current Christian nationalism. I'd like to know its position on abortion the years just before and after the Roe decision. My memory may be faulty, but as I recall the post I saw on the LMS stating life begins at conception is dated during the window of time when all those other Protestant denominations, including Southern Baptist Convention, jumping from abortion rights to anti abortion. Again, I don't know its position at the time of the Roe decision.
ReplyDeleteIf I am correct and it changed at the same time as all those other denominations, you are free to claim it was not influenced by them or money.
No change. No cash.
DeleteHelper--I see Missouri Synod issued its first statement against abortion in 1971. I don't know what it position was before then.
ReplyDeletehttps://wels.net/about-wels/what-we-believe/doctrinal-statements/abortion/
Jon; Who is the LMS? Why do you use WELS material concerning LCMS?
Deletere. before Roe; I know you have claimed churches were in favor before. Again conflation. (A favorite dishonest practice of yours). We have never approved of abortion before or after Roe. with the exception of complications of or the safety of the mother.'s life. Roe generated the question of "the start of life". The CTRC researched the question, and concluded that the most reasonable was; conception was the start. Before that, it was a non topic, so then the question arose, it was answered. That being said, None of this or your other hot button bait have anything to do with the Gospel, which puts it/them beyond the mission of the church. It is not the position or duty of the church to "enforce compliance".
Re.8;04 re your last sentence; See my 8;37; "No change, No cash". We do not consult with the SBC, or take their lead.
Pretty slick Jon; Don't try to bait me.
Jon; If you consider the timelines of 1971 in the opposition to abortion, you should come to the conclusion that the LCMS was at the fore of that opposition, not following.
DeleteYour problem is you don't consider the situation present at the time of Roe. It was a catalyst for formalizing an already considered and formed opinion on abortion in the LCMS. I don't really care what, when, or how others arrived at their position, but ours was totally independent of other denominations.
If a Catholic and a Baptist were in an airplane and the pilot said all engines had flamed out, and a crash into a mountain was certain, they would no doubt agree due to the timing of the event, and the result, not based on what the other thought. Your smarmy attempt to imply "follow the leader" is simply false, and equally smarmy. Conflation on this reveals your dishonesty.
I have been active in the LCMS for almost as long as I have lived, Married 11 years before Roe and holding several positions, Another of your favorite subjects, (money) has NEVER, I repeat NEVER been a consideration in the subject of abortion. I understand an economist may have money as a central element, but that is a distortion injected by you, not us. "You are free to claim it", since you are the one who brought it up.