You know the details. On Friday, June 24, the US Supreme Court overturned the 1973 decision that instituted abortion as a “constitutional right” and returned “the authority to regulate abortion . . . to the people and their elected representatives.”
Chad Thibodeaux’s Facebook post
And on June 25 Chad Thibodeaux, a former SC pastor who, according to his web site, is now “an award-winning business coach, launch strategist, and digital marketing expert,” responded to a friend’s Facebook post which portrayed the SCOTUS decision as “a MAJOR win for God.”
Thibodeaux was incensed. He used the opportunity to criticize Christians proclaiming a victory in the SCOTUS decision.
His response went viral, garnering over 130,000 shares. And a majority of people commenting agreed with Thibodeaux and celebrated his bold counterattack.
More than a comment
But I believe Thibodeaux’s post deserves more than a comment. Instead, I want to engage Thibodeaux’s FB post for two reasons. First, he needs to be answered. He makes erroneous claims that need clarification and correction.
And second, instead of encouraging biblical unity, Thibodeaux cultivates division among Christians by being judgmental and dismissive. Or, to use his own words, he is “anything but Christlike.”
The way I see it, Thibodeaux’s FB post of June 25 is an example of exactly how you should not respond to your siblings in Christ who disagree with you. We can do better.
Answering Thibodeaux
You can read Thibodeaux’s entire post here. I’m just going to pull out key, representative points to correct his false claims and to help us improve our conversations with our siblings in Christ.
In each of his points a common theme emerges. Thibodeaux prefers an “either/or” approach to biblical truth when often the truth is “both/and.” Two things can be true at the same time.
But Thibodeaux divides what God unifies. That is to say, some things are not mutually exclusive. Here’s what I mean:
- Was it a win for God?
First, Thibodeaux claims that when he read his friend’s remark that the SCOTUS decision was “a win for God,” he “immediately thought, [is God] so feeble that he needs a panel of nine men and women to affirm him and bestow favor on him?”
Thibodeaux has a point. A sovereign God hardly needs anyone to help move history in the right direction (Ps. 46:10). But Thibodeaux assumes that if God uses the courts to bring about His will, it implies God is weak.
So, then why does the Bible frequently illustrate God acting within history to bring about His purposes? Why does God use kings and leaders and armies to carry out His will (Prov. 21:1)? And why does God want His people to pray for His will to be done in history and even to pray for national leaders (2 Chron. 7:13-14, Dan. 3:17-18, 1 Tim. 2:1-3)? Are these signs of God’s weakness?
Of course not. In a biblical worldview, God is both sovereign and sometimes chooses to use the courts and governments to carry out His will. The two are not mutually exclusive.
So, when his friend proclaims “a win for God,” it is not so much an arrogant declaration as it is a biblical affirmation.
- Is it unloving to celebrate this win?
Thibodeaux claims Christians show a lack of love by celebrating the SCOTUS decision. He preaches, “Scripture says, ‘They will know you are my disciples by your love’.”
But, no, actually the Bible doesn’t say that.
Thibodeaux is probably referring to Jesus’ teaching, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).
You’ll notice that Jesus is talking about love between His disciples. People watching will know we are Christians by our love for one another.
Does Thibodeaux miss the irony that he violates that command with his rant? Hard to say.
On the other hand, Jesus also instructs Christians to love their enemies (Luke 6:27). But is celebrating a pro-life win unloving? Hardly. In fact, the Bible portrays celebrating and protecting life as directly in line with who God is and what God wants (John 3:16, 15:13).
Again, the two are not mutually exclusive. I can show Christlike love toward pro-abortion advocates and seek to protect innocent life against abortion at the same time.
- What’s the doctrine of hell got to do with it?
Inexplicably, in the middle of his rant, Thibodeaux says, “If you are a Christian who believes in a God who will condemn people to hell for not believing in Him and you’re choosing to spew hate and vile towards people you disagree with, then you, my friend, have more blood on your hands than any person who chose to get an abortion.”
In debates, this is called a “red-herring,” an argumentative turn designed to distract from the main discussion. It has nothing to do with abortion or the SCOTUS decision, but it’s meant to shore up his argument that all pro-life Christians are hateful and vile.
And when you have nothing else to complain about, always trot out the favored postmodern scapegoat–the doctrine of hell. After all, who can defend that?
But love and the doctrine of hell are not mutually exclusive. I can believe in both. God does (John 3:16). So, in a biblical worldview, I can be both loving and kind toward people I disagree with and still believe in both sides of the afterlife, heaven and hell (Matt. 25:46).
And, by the way, just because a doctrine makes us uncomfortable doesn’t mean it isn’t true.
- Do pro-life advocates lack compassionate action?
And last, Thibodeaux thunders, “If we really cared about babies, we could do something about it. I am hoping when I attend church on Sunday there is a line around the corner for the church to volunteer to adopt and foster. That’s what you do when you really care about babies. . . Where is the love and compassion for women?”
Again, he makes a valid point. And again, he ignores the truth. I can be both against abortion and compassionate toward moms and children at the same time (Ex. 22:22-24, James 1:27). The two, again, are not mutually exclusive. In fact, when taken together, these two positions illustrate a healthy biblical worldview.
The truth is, millions of pro-life Christians are sympathetic to moms with unexpected pregnancies. We do, in fact, “really care about babies.” And we have been showing it since 1973.
I have to wonder, where has Thibodeaux been? Pro-life advocates have staffed hundreds of pregnancy care clinics, with thousands of volunteer hours, to help moms and babies, and have donated countless resources to facilitate infant care, single parents, foster parenting, and adoptions.
We know, as Thibodeaux points out, that we must both stand for life and truth and serve the unborn and their mothers at the same time.
And we’ve been doing both since 1973.