Outrage: Feminists or Mutilation
In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. Proverbs 14:26 (ESV)
I am not a fan of outrage but I’m getting accustomed to its being the new normal – at least on social media.
In Michigan, there were doctors arrested for “female genital mutilation” of patients ranging in age from 6 – 8. Apparently there is a sect in the Muslim world that considers it a “moral obligation” to do this hideous thing to their daughters. I do not understand it.
These doctors escaped prosecution, not because they were innocent, they were quite guilty as charged. The charges against them were dropped because the federal judge ruled that it was unconstitutional for congress to have passed the law in the first place. It is a federal law and he claims it should be a state law.
He is right on that. How many of our laws come down from the federal or even Supreme Court level that should be state issues? It seems they do not get challenged.
My bigger gripe in this issue is the response this decision is getting from the “conservative right” and being shared by Christians. Here are two headlines and their links:
“Judge Rules Against Federal Law that Bans Female Genital Mutilation. Feminists Remain Silent” https://needtoknow.news/2018/11/judge-rules-federal-law-bans-female-genital-mutilation-feminists-remain-silent/?fbclid=IwAR0OvqQnAOr5LLKlD_viV9tabflUJpaPzRT7PUKHxROy766Mn_bphW56wMQ
“What’s the point? Men can’t find it anyway!” Feminists Rejoice with Historic Ruling Allowing Female Genital Mutilation: One small cut for women. One giant blow to the Patriarchy.
https://npcdaily.com/1138/whats-the-point-men-cant-find-it-anyway-feminists-rejoice-with-historic-ruling-allowing-female-genital-mutilation/?fbclid=IwAR12-UXfs-BBgISOPhwtEzCPaArLssG9altp9ocgpC9v6mm48z7deF8VTCc
So, the greater outrage is not at the parents for demanding it or the doctors performing this cruel procedure; it is against feminists who are not standing against it.
Christian, where is our outrage about the procedure? Many have been saying for a long time what this judge pointed out in the hearing – that congress oversteps its bounds of authority. Should we ignore that principle in this case? Should we allow this kind of abuse to happen with no outcry of our own about the practice rather than the feminists?
Sadly, what this shows is that we believe that if we want something to change, we need the clout of the feminists, the LGBT political groups, or the friends of Planned Parenthood to do the protest for us. Or worse, that all we really want to do is criticize feminists.
I fear we have lost our saltiness. Even worse, we want others to have it.
After a number of verses on the cost of discipleship in Luke14, Christ says, “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 14:34-35 ESV)
Let’s check our own saltiness. Are we willing to stand against evil and promote righteousness? Children should have a refuge in their parents (Proverbs 14:26).
We will not be popular in our culture when we stand against the things of the world that need to be changed. We will, however, be blessed of the Lord when we obey His Word.
Genital mutilation is just what it says: mutilation. Are we willing to speak against the evil in our midst to our State authorities who should outlaw it?
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It is indeed a terrible practice, one that here in the UK we have pledge £50 million to help eradicate, https://careappointments.co.uk/care-news/england/item/45612-uk-to-provide-50-million-to-tackle-female-genital-mutilation-in-africa
This is so hard for me to relate to! I could not imagine having this done to my daughter. I am trying to relate to their pint of view, but am finding it difficult.
I agree, Carly. You are being a refuge to your daughter! I am praying Christians will also step up and say something to the State legislators in order to love our little girl neighbors! Beth
Great to see this kind of effort. I truly pray that it is stopped here before we need to invest this level of aid to get rid of it. Oh, that we learn from what others are dealing with now!
Thanks for the link, Beth
I think you hit the nail on the head. The trap that many Christians get into is that they equate God’s word with a particular political view. They end up seeking the interest of the party and waterdown the gospel in the process. The honest truth is that we need to filter every event, activity, news item per the filter of the Word which is not bound by liberal or conservative ideologies. Genital mutilation—it is evil and we must be bold enough to say so, not for the benefit of our political ideology, but to love on those girls that have suffered or are suffering through it.
Thanks for hearing me, Luisa, “Genital mutilation—it is evil and we must be bold enough to say so, not for the benefit of our political ideology, but to love on those girls that have suffered or are suffering through it.” That is the nail I wanted to hammer!
This is a horrible practice! It is hard to believe that our world has come to this. The biggest problem is that there is no longer a standard of wrong and right. God has been taken out of everything. I remember the day we prayed and said the pledge to the flag…that no longer is the case. Each step away from God has caused more and more moral decay. What the world needs is the peace that comes from knowing Jesus and the freedom we have in Him. Thank you for sounding this note.
Yes Tricia! “Each step away from God has caused more and more moral decay.” I think this is why we need to speak the truth about is happening in our midst – for the glory of God. Thanks for the comment.
Beth
Beth, this is so clearly wrong, to hurt our children, that honestly I am having trouble understanding how we ever came to this place. It is difficult to grasp the whole thing, from beginning to end. It seems so clearly wrong, that it shouldn’t even become a political issue. Thank you for exposing this to the light. Praying right now for the little ones who have been hurt.
Sadly, I believe those who practice it would put it under the heading of “religious freedom.” I cannot understand either why this is not a criminal offense (I mean the people who do it call it “mutilation”!). What I think we need to be aware of is whether or not our own states are taking a stand against it. If they do not, other federal judges may rule similarly. Someone needs to speak up for these girls. Their parents and spiritual leaders are not. Thanks for your comment.
Someone said to me the other day that they couldn’t understand how someone could be a Christian and not be part of ______ political party. It made me so sad that we compare religion and politics. It’s time we stand up for what we believe in if we feel a call from a god, not because of political leaders.
I had no idea this was taking place in our own country and that there was such a law even allowing it. You’re absolutely right though, we as Christians need to be more vocal. The loudest voice in this country is 1% of the population and they are making huge changes. We need to pray that God shows us how to have that kind of a voice to stand against the wiles of the devil. Thank you for this eye-opening post.
“Are we willing to stand against evil and promote righteousness?” – this is my take-away today. It’s easy to stay in my comfort zone, to put blinders on to the evil in the world…perhaps God is calling me to greater action?
I pray it would be true for everyone of us, Jamie. Imagine if every Christian made one more stand for righteousness in our world that has run amuck!
Thanks for the comment, Beth
Wendy, There actually was (is) a federal law against it which says this is not a new issue even though it was for me and you. This judge ruled that the law was unconstitutional because it should be dealt with by each state. I will be looking into whether or not there is PA law. I agree that we need to pray for the boldness to speak the truth in every area of life in our nation. Thanks, Beth
Jessie -Mutilation is definitely a criminal act – not political, though I fear it will be made one. I agree – let’s stand up for what’s right. We need to considern what future generations are going to live under if we don’t start to speak truth now.
This is so sad and beyond my comprehension. Thank you for sharing. Jesus help us!
Dear Beth!
I think what we see in the world depends on our perspective. My take on the increased anger and conflict-based reality we meet in modern media is that we have a choice to be different.
We have the possibility to bring the nuances, the positive stories, the in-depth analyses instead of the negative headlines.
With love!
Edna Davidsen
Interesting, Edna. My perspective is that I do not think we love our neighbors if we ignore the evil being done to them. I fear that Christians have so concentrated on all the positive for so long that a great amount of evil is all around us, unchecked. Positive is good, but negative has to dealt with.
Also with love,
Beth
Amen to needing the help of Jesus! Thanks for commenting, Beth
I think that a lot of people on both ends of the political spectrum have lost sight of actual issues and instead opt to fight each other instead of against wrongdoing. It’s sad. It’s angering. We have a moral duty to stand up for those who don’t have a voice. Thank you for bringing this issue to my attention. I will be keeping this in prayer and asking for guidance as to what I can do to make a difference.
Thanks Brianna, Your comment is encouraging. I too think there is too much infighting. I pray that others will be served by your obedience to Christ’s clear answers to your prayers.
You are right about that, Beth. We’re not used to see the evil as being a natural part of life anymore – nevertheless it does not take away the choice of spreading hope 🙂
I guess that I don’t see it as an either/or situation. We must share the hope that we have in Christ and we must expose evil as we see it. Ephesians 5:11 says, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”
Thanks for making me think about this!