Human Matters with Sami Parker: The importance of speaking the truth with love

In a recent episode of Human Matters with Sami Parker, a series powered by Live Action, Parker discussed the story of Jesse and Ashley Ridgway, the YouTube couple who recently announced their controversial decision to abort their preborn son due to his Down syndrome diagnosis.

The controversy, Parker said, opens up an important discussion about how pro-lifers should participate and respond in public conversations about abortion.

Key Takeaways:

• In the latest episode of Human Matters with Sami Parker, Parker explored the reaction to the viral news that YouTube couple Jesse and Ashley Ridgway had aborted their preborn son diagnosed with Down syndrome.

• Parker explained that it is important for pro-lifers to always speak the truth, but to do so in a loving manner.

• "This story stops being nearly as compelling to people to consider taking the pro-life position when pro-lifers respond with hate," she said.

The Details:

Pro-Lifers Need to Talk About This Differently

Parker reflected on the widespread reaction to the Ridgway's story (which Live Action News covered here), pointing out that the pro-life response is incredibly important.

Abortion, she noted, is not an issue that is often trending on the newsfeed of millions of people. When it is trending, it's often because the pro-abortion media is twisting a story to make pro-lifers or pro-life laws look evil. A story like the Ridgways', in which average people (who aren't activists on either side of the issue) have overwhelmingly responded with outrage.

"A viral story that makes a lot of people take or sympathize with the pro-life position very rarely happens," she pointed out.

However, not all of the comments have been helpful to the pro-life point of view. She shared several social media posts calling the couple "evil" and "murderers."

"This story stops being nearly as compelling to people to consider taking the pro-life position when pro-lifers respond with hate," she said.

"How we respond to stories like this as pro-lifers, and particularly as Christians, matters so much," she explained. "One, because we are being a witness to the pro-life movement... [and] second, and most importantly... is we are being a witness to Christ."

Zoom In:

Parker reminded Christians that we are called to "speak the truth in love."

"People who are on the fence about this issue are watching how both sides respond," she explained. "And I can tell you from years of experience trying to convince online users to be pro-life, cold hard logic and facts alone never wins [sic] a person over to our side."

She said the pro-abortion side is skilled at making its position look like love, using empathetic language to mask the ugliness of abortion and what it does to preborn children. As a result, many people are drawn to that side, without considering the realities of what abortion entails. When pro-lifers respond without love, it further pushes those people away.

This doesn't mean pro-lifers should shy away from the truth, but should instead pair that truth with love. She pointed to Christ's encounter with the woman at the well as a perfect example as to how Christ confronted the woman's sin while extending compassion and an invitation to healing.

“Jesus named her sin. Yes, he spoke that truth,” Parker explained. “But he did it in great love for her and she felt that.”

The Bottom Line:

"If the pro-life movement wants to win, and winning means saving babies, saving mothers, saving fathers, the pro-life movement has to be known for our love," Parker said.