Abortion - Free Essay Example

Introduction

Church and politics have a substantial relationship in how they coexist and how each influences the other. The church is an institution that nourishes the souls of the people spiritually. The clergy are the custodians of the Christians they serve. A community that is not based on religion ends up being immoral and may be ungovernable. The church supports society morally and makes the government's work more comfortable as the people tend to abide by the law. As a result, a positive coexistence can be noted (Thomas, 2016). Politics, on the other hand, form the institution of leadership and development of a country. As a result, it becomes an integral institution in the community. Politics affect the churches significantly in a variety of ways. Bad politics can hurt the church and leadership. For many years, churches have been considered the mirror and guidance for society as it teaches staunch adherence to the commandments and the lord's teachings. With good church leadership, the leadership of the nation politically is enhanced. Thus, a significant relationship between the church and politics exist. Churches may affect the politics of a country negatively or positively. Politics may also impact the church negatively or positively (Thomas, 2016).

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Explanation

A nation where religion is respected and the faith leaders take active roles in the government and politics of the day, political stability is likely to be enjoyed by the citizens, unlike in nations where the churches are always against the political institutions. On the other hand, bad politics hurt the churches as well (Thomas, 2016). This may be in the form of bad governance of the nation, which may lead to legislation that contravenes religious beliefs hence a conflict between the political and the church institutions. These conflicts may result from the passage of policies that may affect the morals of society (Schouten, 2017). Such systems may include allowing abortion, which would be against the teachings of the churches. In such a position, the church leadership may conflict with political leaders. The bible further teaches us about the role of the government and that of the church.

Years ago, during the medieval period in Europe, the church dominated the government. McQuilki and Copan (2014) noted that “even if the church or church people could control the government, it would not be a good thing" (p. 532). With too much power for the church, it was terrible as somebody who was not of the church. It is difficult and rare for political success when the government is operated by a person whose ideologies and morals are to determine the land laws.

Therefore, the relationship between the church and politics is influenced by its primary role in controlling human behavior through Christ's teaching and power. It assists in encouraging people who have not received Christ and are lost. The government, on the other hand, to be able to do this it must concentrate on encouraging good deeds and punishing those who do wrong. Additionally, the church's role is to encourage people to behave appropriately and spread the gospel. The church provides an example of what good citizens should be according to the teachings of the bible.

Theological Analysis of a Contemporary Topic

The teachings of the church and Christianity make people believe more in God and live holy lives. The church subscribes to specific ways of life where it does not allow various behaviors. According to the current world, the people have been more into politics and making the laws that help them and suit their needs without the church's guidance and the Holy Spirit as taught by the bible (Thomas, 2016). Biblically, abortion is discouraged. The bible provides that no one has the right to take away someone's life apart from God Himself, who is the creator of everything and life. By aborting a fetus, one goes against the teachings of the church as guided by the bible. God commands the people not to kill, and by aborting that fetus, there is the killing (Austin, 2020). In politics and governance, people are trying to craft laws to permit aborting. Several reasons are mentioned to allow abortion. Some nations have partially allowed abortion because it can be done to cater to the mother's wellness. A majority of the countries in the world have partly, and others fully allowed abortion.

Essentially, the bible, which guides the church, does not allow any form of abortion for any reason whatsoever. Therefore, politicians and lawmakers must be guided by such rules not to push clauses and other debates into law, legalizing abortion. The church maintains that life must be respected at any form or level as only God who has the right to take away a human being's life (Austin, 2020). Politically, the government provides that every human being has a right to life. The question that the church asks is how is then the fetus denied its life request. Abortion should be criminalized, and people discouraged from procuring it. Pro-life subscribers believe that abortion causes more harm than good. The bible teaches Christians that their bodies are the temples of God. It means that the people should live holy lives with the permitted morals to remain holy. By procuring abortions, they make their bodies unholy and go against the commandments of the lord that prohibit any human being from killing and destroying life (Austin, 2020). Therefore those against abortion as per the teachings maintain that any fetus after conception must be allowed to live if natural abortion does not occur.

In many parts of the world where immoralities such as abortion are done, churches have been seen standing strong against the practices which is part of its roles. As mentioned earlier, the church's roles might be distinct from those of the government but may be influential. The government cannot turn a blind eye to the church and assume that it can do its operations sidelining the church. In such countries, the church takes the role of educating the citizens on the need to discourage practices such as abortion to ensure that they do not contravene the teachings and God's laws to the Christians. Thus, the church is the watchdog of the government in terms of its practices and ensures that the policies are in line with the morals of the society as grounded on their Christian faith. In most Christian countries, practices such as abortion are prohibited and criminalized due to the church's influence and its staunch stance on such practices (Austin, 2020). Thus, it is an indicator that the church plays a critical role in influencing politics and governance in as much as the two institutions have diverse functions.

Application of Your View to the Church

The medical field has Christians who work as a doctor, nurses, and in other categories. Ideally, abortions are done by medics who may lack moral values. Some may be forced into performing such practices by the state or by the influential individuals and want to procure abortions. The staunch Christian medics who find themselves being forced into these practices would make them bear to the pressure or stand firm against it. In the states where abortion is legalized, and there are Christian medics, they might have to undergo traumatic experiences as they try to remain within the teachings of their Christian faith, which does not allow abortion. They may often find themselves being put under extreme pressure, especially when the laws provide abortion as a right of the client who feels they do not need the pregnancy. In such a situation, it might be hard to convince the client otherwise because they have the right to. In the medical field, any public complaints on negligence or a situation where they are denied the right to the service they need may lead to severe repercussions. In other states, medics are convicted for not offering their clients the services they need. It means that in the countries where abortion is allowed, a Christian healthcare provider might find themselves in situations that force them into the practice due to the consequences that might befall them if they refuse.

Other nations have permitted partial abortion, especially if the doctors recommend that after a critical evaluation of the mother's health and complications that might follow. A Christian in a health facility in such a nation might weigh the benefits or disagree entirely to take the practice and may decide to hand it over to a colleague who wouldn't mind performing a lifesaving abortion. In an event where a woman presents to a staunch Christian medic wishing to procure an abortion in a country that does not legalize abortion, such a doctor should consider not to perform it whatsoever. Instead, if a medic finds themselves in such a situation, they might take that opportunity to deliver Christian teachings to such a client to ensure they impact morals on them and to help them live as God would want them to. Additionally, abortion is said to cause other complications, some of which might be life-threatening. Thus, in an event such as when a doctor meets a client who seeks abortion for no medical reasons, such a medic should take the opportunity to teach and explain the client about the dangers of the practice and encourage her to think otherwise.

Conclusion

Overall, churches play critical roles in society. There exists a crucial coexistence between the church and the political institution as the church guides it morally. Additionally, these two institutions serve society's functions, and they both help instill good morals for the people. Thus, the church and the political institutions serve to synergize each other. The church and the state, however, have been bestowed roles that are distinct from each other. What the church can do, the government might not be able to do that, and vice versa.

Additionally, the two institutions have mutually exclusive roles that they deliver to the community. On the issue of abortion, the church's stance is usually that no life should be harmed and that only God has the power to take the life of a human being. Thus, the church urges the government to be careful and look into the issues of abortion.

References

Austin, V. L. (2020). The Education of a Pro-Life Clergyman. First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, (303), 14-17.

McQuilki, R., & Copan, P. (2014). An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking in the Way of Wisdom (3rd ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Schouten, G. (2017b). Fetuses, Orphans, and a Famous Violinist. Social Theory and Practice, 43(3), 637–665. https://doi.org/10.5840/soctheorpract20178417

Thomas, D. (2016b). Better Never to Have Been Born. Journal of Religious Ethics, 44(3), 518–542. https://doi.org/10.1111/jore.12152.