The following program discusses sensitive issues. 00:00:01.36\00:00:03.40 Parents are cautioned that some material 00:00:03.43\00:00:05.27 may be too candid for younger children. 00:00:05.30\00:00:07.77 Welcome to Pure Choices. 00:00:40.50\00:00:41.87 My name is Brittany Hill-Morales 00:00:41.90\00:00:43.41 and I'm today's host. 00:00:43.44\00:00:45.11 We have a very, very important and serious conversation 00:00:45.14\00:00:48.88 that are about to take place today, 00:00:48.91\00:00:50.75 and it is about abortion. 00:00:50.78\00:00:52.25 But before we even begin to have the discussion, 00:00:52.28\00:00:54.85 let's pray. 00:00:54.88\00:00:56.85 Dear most heavenly Father, dear, Lord, 00:00:56.89\00:00:58.72 we pray that you will be with us right now, 00:00:58.75\00:01:00.99 that you will guide our conversation here, 00:01:01.02\00:01:02.66 and you'll also be with the viewers at home. 00:01:02.69\00:01:04.69 We love you so much and we praise your name. 00:01:04.73\00:01:06.93 In Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:06.96\00:01:08.50 Amen. Amen. 00:01:08.53\00:01:09.93 I have an amazing group of people here with me. 00:01:09.96\00:01:12.70 Right here, to my left, I have Ms. Sabine Vatel. 00:01:12.73\00:01:17.57 Over on the couch, 00:01:17.61\00:01:18.94 we have Keith Hackle and Mrs. Dajanae Anderson. 00:01:18.97\00:01:22.14 Guys, thank you so much for being here 00:01:22.18\00:01:24.18 on Pure Choices with me. 00:01:24.21\00:01:25.88 Abortion... 00:01:25.91\00:01:27.25 Yeah. 00:01:27.28\00:01:28.62 ..it is a serious conversation, it is a serious topic, 00:01:28.65\00:01:32.32 it is a serious issue 00:01:32.35\00:01:34.39 that is going on not only here in the United States 00:01:34.42\00:01:38.66 but every where. 00:01:38.69\00:01:40.26 And there are a lot of young ladies, 00:01:40.30\00:01:43.87 who are hurting, 00:01:43.90\00:01:46.07 who probably have discovered that they are pregnant, 00:01:46.10\00:01:49.47 and they are looking at abortion 00:01:49.50\00:01:52.51 as if it is a good option. 00:01:52.54\00:01:54.81 And I want us to take at this moment, 00:01:54.84\00:01:56.81 these next couple of minutes 00:01:56.85\00:01:58.18 to really speak to them as if... 00:01:58.21\00:02:01.65 just to state that... We're gonna state... 00:02:01.68\00:02:03.59 We know that abortion should not happen, 00:02:03.62\00:02:06.15 but they are seriously looking at this, 00:02:06.19\00:02:08.66 so let's have this conversation. 00:02:08.69\00:02:10.63 What is abortion? Let's start with there. 00:02:10.66\00:02:14.26 That's a tough... it's tough, 00:02:14.30\00:02:16.16 but in reality, abortion is the ending of life. 00:02:16.20\00:02:20.84 So it's someone saying, 00:02:20.87\00:02:22.60 "You know, what this child 00:02:22.64\00:02:24.54 that would be brought into the world 00:02:24.57\00:02:27.38 is not going to have that option." 00:02:27.41\00:02:29.61 And I'm sure it's tough, 00:02:29.64\00:02:32.18 looking at the responsibility of being a parent, 00:02:32.21\00:02:35.38 looking at the responsibilities of balancing, 00:02:35.42\00:02:38.95 now sometimes work and life. 00:02:38.99\00:02:41.32 I understand all of the concerns 00:02:41.36\00:02:43.66 but there are other options. 00:02:43.69\00:02:46.16 There are processes like adoption. 00:02:46.19\00:02:48.90 I would counsel and talk with countless individuals 00:02:48.93\00:02:51.93 who've been trying to have children for years 00:02:51.97\00:02:56.74 and don't have that opportunity to do that. 00:02:56.77\00:02:59.14 So there are ways 00:02:59.17\00:03:01.71 in which we can do things 00:03:01.74\00:03:03.35 and stick to what God has prescribed for us 00:03:03.38\00:03:06.95 and desires for us to do. 00:03:06.98\00:03:09.25 But also dealing with the concerns with, 00:03:09.28\00:03:12.55 am I ready or able to be a parent? 00:03:12.59\00:03:15.12 Right. 00:03:15.16\00:03:16.49 And I believe that as our church has a stand 00:03:16.52\00:03:18.76 against on having an abortion 00:03:18.79\00:03:21.70 that as a church 00:03:21.73\00:03:23.47 we should do better with supporting the young lady 00:03:23.50\00:03:28.07 and the young man 00:03:28.10\00:03:30.07 to be functional parents 00:03:30.11\00:03:32.84 or to help them through the process of adoption 00:03:32.87\00:03:38.18 because many of us, you know, we say... 00:03:38.21\00:03:40.55 We can say, easier... 00:03:40.58\00:03:42.78 um, it's easier for us to say, 00:03:42.82\00:03:44.95 "Don't abort your child, 00:03:44.99\00:03:47.22 don't end the development of life." 00:03:47.26\00:03:50.79 But we're not as quick to say, 00:03:50.83\00:03:54.63 "What can I do to help you along this process?" 00:03:54.66\00:03:58.90 And I think if that was the stance of the church, 00:03:58.93\00:04:03.17 this is what we're going to do, 00:04:03.20\00:04:05.84 then it will be a lot better 00:04:05.87\00:04:07.61 'cause the reality is that the family system is declining. 00:04:07.64\00:04:11.71 And so even individuals 00:04:11.75\00:04:13.42 who are adults and getting pregnant 00:04:13.45\00:04:17.69 even in the context of marriage, 00:04:17.72\00:04:19.99 sometimes the question is, "Should I abort this baby?" 00:04:20.02\00:04:24.36 And it's a lack of not knowing 00:04:24.39\00:04:27.43 if I'm going to be an adequate parent, 00:04:27.46\00:04:30.47 because maybe I haven't seen parenting in a good light. 00:04:30.50\00:04:35.54 And so what are we doing as a church 00:04:35.57\00:04:38.31 to support those individuals that are facing this decision. 00:04:38.34\00:04:43.28 You know, I think about my experience 00:04:43.31\00:04:45.75 with a couple of young ladies who are college students, 00:04:45.78\00:04:50.99 who came to me as their chaplain 00:04:51.02\00:04:54.59 to make that decision... 00:04:54.62\00:04:55.96 First of all the decision of having an abortion, 00:04:55.99\00:04:58.29 whether or not you do it... 00:04:58.33\00:05:02.10 I don't think it's taken very lightly, 00:05:02.13\00:05:04.23 I think most people do not take it lightly. 00:05:04.27\00:05:06.57 And I was glad that when 00:05:06.60\00:05:08.87 that young person came to me to say, 00:05:08.90\00:05:11.01 "Well, should I even do it or...?" 00:05:11.04\00:05:13.04 I think, they were looking for permission, 00:05:13.07\00:05:14.41 which I couldn't give permission for them to go ahead 00:05:14.44\00:05:17.15 and have this abortion. 00:05:17.18\00:05:19.01 And I remember needing some help 00:05:19.05\00:05:21.48 and actually going to the pregnancy care center, 00:05:21.52\00:05:25.15 counseling type thing, 00:05:25.19\00:05:26.52 and I actually went with them to that center, 00:05:26.55\00:05:29.49 and I was thinking, what would their mother do? 00:05:29.52\00:05:31.19 You know, because they didn't want 00:05:31.23\00:05:32.56 to tell their parents about it, 00:05:32.59\00:05:33.93 so I was sort of the adult that they had and... 00:05:33.96\00:05:37.63 Let me tell you... 00:05:37.67\00:05:39.00 I happened to go to this center and it was so compassionate, 00:05:39.03\00:05:41.54 and I learned so much on how to approach somebody 00:05:41.57\00:05:43.97 without shaming them, 00:05:44.01\00:05:45.47 and how to explain to them 00:05:45.51\00:05:47.38 what the abortion is going to entail. 00:05:47.41\00:05:48.91 I mean, they went to great detail, 00:05:48.94\00:05:50.28 it was heartbreaking, 00:05:50.31\00:05:52.35 and then they went to giving this person option 00:05:52.38\00:05:55.95 on what this young lady could do. 00:05:55.98\00:05:58.59 And, you know, maybe this is how God feels when we go... 00:05:58.62\00:06:02.39 We do a decision that breaks His heart. 00:06:02.42\00:06:04.89 And to this day, I'll never forget when this person 00:06:04.93\00:06:08.66 because the pressure of the guy decided... 00:06:08.70\00:06:12.07 After all this, after all the evidences 00:06:12.10\00:06:15.37 decided to go ahead and do it. 00:06:15.40\00:06:17.64 They were too afraid to live, and to face their parents, 00:06:17.67\00:06:20.58 and face their church, and they had that abortion... 00:06:20.61\00:06:24.05 And I felt like a failure actually, 00:06:24.08\00:06:26.48 I remember taking it really personally and saying, 00:06:26.51\00:06:28.52 "Man, could I have done more." 00:06:28.55\00:06:30.32 But that decision 00:06:30.35\00:06:31.69 is this young person deicide to go through. 00:06:31.72\00:06:33.19 Yes. 00:06:33.22\00:06:35.19 It's difficult and heartbreaking 00:06:35.22\00:06:38.76 and I know a lot of people they agree... 00:06:38.79\00:06:43.23 Abortion should be legal, it should not happen, 00:06:43.26\00:06:46.00 it should not be an option. 00:06:46.03\00:06:47.90 But like Dajanae was saying, 00:06:47.94\00:06:49.27 "They don't provide the support." 00:06:49.30\00:06:51.61 And the issue that most women who find themselves pregnant, 00:06:51.64\00:06:56.41 that's what they need, that's what they want, 00:06:56.44\00:06:59.71 a desire to be able to make the right decision. 00:06:59.75\00:07:03.59 So just to... 00:07:03.62\00:07:04.95 I get to speak to people 00:07:04.99\00:07:06.32 who have young ladies in their church, 00:07:06.35\00:07:09.89 in their communities. 00:07:09.92\00:07:11.76 I'm asking them to do more than just say, 00:07:11.79\00:07:15.26 "Don't have an abortion." 00:07:15.30\00:07:16.80 What is the different types of support 00:07:16.83\00:07:18.73 that they can provide for these women 00:07:18.77\00:07:22.67 who are seriously considering it. 00:07:22.70\00:07:27.18 And let's go with our question first. 00:07:27.21\00:07:29.54 Let's go with it. 00:07:29.58\00:07:30.91 You know, for anybody who then has a doubt 00:07:30.95\00:07:32.28 that this is happening within the church, 00:07:32.31\00:07:33.65 you know, within our church, you know... 00:07:33.68\00:07:35.32 I was reading that, at least in 2015, 00:07:35.35\00:07:37.82 that 70% of the women who go for an abortion 00:07:37.85\00:07:42.22 are self described Christians. 00:07:42.26\00:07:43.93 Yes. 00:07:43.96\00:07:45.29 And many of them don't feel they can go to their church, 00:07:45.33\00:07:47.03 so I love your question. 00:07:47.06\00:07:48.40 Just wanna add that. 00:07:48.43\00:07:50.17 Yes. It's definitely happening. 00:07:50.20\00:07:51.73 We definitely need to do more and I would start... 00:07:51.77\00:07:56.74 My recommendation will be to start with prayer, 00:07:56.77\00:07:59.21 because even as me and my wife, 00:07:59.24\00:08:02.51 when my wife find out she was pregnant, 00:08:02.54\00:08:05.11 there was a concern, there was a fear, trepidation 00:08:05.15\00:08:08.88 as to how we were going to make this thing work. 00:08:08.92\00:08:12.62 And that's where we have to go back to trusting in God 00:08:12.65\00:08:17.76 and asking Him to how, 00:08:17.79\00:08:19.16 "God, help us through this thing, 00:08:19.19\00:08:21.00 help us to deal with this thing, 00:08:21.03\00:08:22.60 help us to put in place some mechanisms right now 00:08:22.63\00:08:26.20 so that when the baby gets here, 00:08:26.23\00:08:27.87 we're ready to go." 00:08:27.90\00:08:29.24 And the reality is 00:08:29.27\00:08:30.61 whether you are 20 years old or 50 years old, 00:08:30.64\00:08:34.01 you're never going to fully be ready to have a child, 00:08:34.04\00:08:37.45 you're going to need God's help through that thing. 00:08:37.48\00:08:40.88 Whether it's through the infancy stages 00:08:40.92\00:08:43.15 and just trying to get used to breast feeding and or nursing. 00:08:43.18\00:08:48.02 And just that whole process 00:08:48.06\00:08:49.62 or whether it's when they are a teenager 00:08:49.66\00:08:51.46 and now they are talking about, can they borrow the car. 00:08:51.49\00:08:53.83 You're going to need God's direction. 00:08:53.86\00:08:56.83 You're going to need his protection. 00:08:56.87\00:08:58.67 And so I believe starting with prayer 00:08:58.70\00:09:02.10 is a good way to walk people off of that ledge, 00:09:02.14\00:09:05.94 and lead them to a deeper understanding 00:09:05.97\00:09:08.34 and a trust in God. 00:09:08.38\00:09:09.98 I always ask the question or try to frame it this way 00:09:10.01\00:09:13.68 that the God has allowed us to live, right? 00:09:13.72\00:09:16.48 And He could have easily said, "No." 00:09:16.52\00:09:18.65 Right? 00:09:18.69\00:09:20.02 And so we've had that privilege and He is taking care of us, 00:09:20.06\00:09:25.06 so we must trust him 00:09:25.09\00:09:26.43 to also take care of this child who's developing. 00:09:26.46\00:09:29.93 Right. 00:09:29.96\00:09:31.30 I will back you and I love the idea also... 00:09:31.33\00:09:32.90 And I'm glad you said something about prayer, 00:09:32.93\00:09:35.30 but also somehow find a way to affirm the person. 00:09:35.34\00:09:38.57 Because I do have examples of young ladies 00:09:38.61\00:09:40.54 who did not go through with it, 00:09:40.58\00:09:41.91 and who did not feel they were worthy enough 00:09:41.94\00:09:44.51 to even have the baby, or didn't have what it took. 00:09:44.55\00:09:47.28 And I think that prayer is part of building up 00:09:47.32\00:09:50.79 that self-esteem like, 00:09:50.82\00:09:52.15 yes, God is gonna help you through this. 00:09:52.19\00:09:54.12 And for them to look back and say, 00:09:54.16\00:09:55.72 "Well, I almost didn't have 00:09:55.76\00:09:57.09 this precious thing that I'm holding. 00:09:57.13\00:09:58.46 Almost didn't have that baby." 00:09:58.49\00:10:00.00 And to affirm that person, not shaming them but to say, 00:10:00.03\00:10:02.10 "You know what, the Lord is gonna help you 00:10:02.13\00:10:04.17 and you're gonna have what it takes, 00:10:04.20\00:10:06.53 you're worthy of this motherhood." 00:10:06.57\00:10:09.74 And I think that as churches, local churches, 00:10:09.77\00:10:13.24 there is a way to put together ministries, 00:10:13.27\00:10:16.21 maybe not just for the youth at the church, 00:10:16.24\00:10:20.32 but also as a ministry, as an evangelistic effort 00:10:20.35\00:10:26.02 kind of a ministry that's consistent, 00:10:26.05\00:10:29.49 where there is counseling, 00:10:29.52\00:10:31.59 there are individuals from the church 00:10:31.63\00:10:33.73 that are financially supporting this ministry 00:10:33.76\00:10:38.33 to be able to guide these individuals 00:10:38.37\00:10:41.60 to get groceries when they have the child. 00:10:41.64\00:10:44.81 People who... 00:10:44.84\00:10:46.17 You know, maybe you're retired and you've had children, 00:10:46.21\00:10:49.88 and you've had grandchildren, 00:10:49.91\00:10:51.41 and there are people in the community 00:10:51.45\00:10:52.98 who don't have the parental figures 00:10:53.01\00:10:56.65 like you can be in their life. 00:10:56.69\00:10:58.45 Going with them to the grocery store and saying, 00:10:58.49\00:11:01.22 "You should get your daughter, 00:11:01.26\00:11:02.69 you know, this kind of food or your son, 00:11:02.72\00:11:05.09 this kind of food or these diapers..." 00:11:05.13\00:11:07.56 But that's, that's... 00:11:07.60\00:11:09.16 But being available to this young person 00:11:09.20\00:11:13.10 or to this adult that may be struggling. 00:11:13.13\00:11:17.17 They need to know before hand, 00:11:17.21\00:11:19.81 before either having the child or aborting the child, 00:11:19.84\00:11:23.51 "Will I have a support system? 00:11:23.55\00:11:25.81 And if I... 00:11:25.85\00:11:27.18 maybe I'm well off, 00:11:27.22\00:11:28.55 maybe I have a really, really good job, 00:11:28.58\00:11:31.09 but my husband works all the time 00:11:31.12\00:11:33.05 and I work all the time, 00:11:33.09\00:11:34.56 and I need a support system." 00:11:34.59\00:11:36.29 Because that village 00:11:36.32\00:11:37.79 that we used to have in raising children 00:11:37.83\00:11:40.66 is not in existence as much as it used to be. 00:11:40.70\00:11:45.43 It's still present, 00:11:45.47\00:11:47.20 but it's not as dominant in our society, 00:11:47.24\00:11:50.77 but we all can be a part of someone's community. 00:11:50.81\00:11:54.61 And I think that's something that we need to hear as we, 00:11:54.64\00:12:00.25 I say get pregnant 00:12:00.28\00:12:02.38 and need some help in making the decision 00:12:02.42\00:12:06.45 whether to abort, since the laws 00:12:06.49\00:12:09.19 are that I can or to keep my child, 00:12:09.22\00:12:13.19 and be able to raise my child as a God fearing person. 00:12:13.23\00:12:17.60 I think the reality... 00:12:17.63\00:12:19.20 Just wanting to make sure this is clear. 00:12:19.23\00:12:21.50 We're not telling people, young ladies, 00:12:21.54\00:12:26.44 and abortion is even relevant even in your 20s or 30s. 00:12:26.47\00:12:30.35 We're not saying it is okay 00:12:30.38\00:12:32.81 for you to have non-marital sex. 00:12:32.85\00:12:34.62 Right. 00:12:34.65\00:12:35.98 We wanna make sure that's not what we're saying. 00:12:36.02\00:12:38.09 But in the era that you did 00:12:38.12\00:12:41.82 and now you find yourself in this position, 00:12:41.86\00:12:44.83 and you're wondering what do I do? 00:12:44.86\00:12:46.90 Because we say the church, we feel like, 00:12:46.93\00:12:48.86 the person might feel as if the church will judge them, 00:12:48.90\00:12:52.23 the issue of being censored... 00:12:52.27\00:12:55.70 Having to deal with all these stuff full of shame, 00:12:55.74\00:12:58.91 you're pregnant and you're told you have to leave the church, 00:12:58.94\00:13:00.98 you can't really be here, you can't have this position, 00:13:01.01\00:13:03.35 you can't do this. 00:13:03.38\00:13:04.71 Or even if you have certain jobs 00:13:04.75\00:13:06.38 in our institutions 00:13:06.41\00:13:08.58 if you become a pregnant, 00:13:08.62\00:13:10.05 it's either you abort the child, 00:13:10.09\00:13:13.62 and you still have your job or you keep the child, 00:13:13.66\00:13:17.73 and you don't have the way to feed the child. 00:13:17.76\00:13:19.83 And for us is that we need to ensure as a church 00:13:19.86\00:13:26.27 that has a strong stance against abortion, 00:13:26.30\00:13:29.00 we have to ensure that we have 00:13:29.04\00:13:30.97 a way to help these people that, 00:13:31.01\00:13:34.78 "Yes, you made a mistake. 00:13:34.81\00:13:36.14 And, yes, we want to help you get forgiveness, 00:13:36.18\00:13:38.91 repentance and all that different stuff. 00:13:38.95\00:13:40.78 There is still another factor to it 00:13:40.82\00:13:42.98 that there is a child within you 00:13:43.02\00:13:45.22 and we don't want you to go away, 00:13:45.25\00:13:47.66 hide in a corner, and abort this child." 00:13:47.69\00:13:52.19 That's a good point. 00:13:52.23\00:13:53.56 And I just wanna feed a little bit more, 00:13:53.60\00:13:56.36 build a little bit more on that 00:13:56.40\00:13:58.20 the process that the church has. 00:13:58.23\00:14:00.44 And I'm a fan of the process when we do it right. 00:14:00.47\00:14:05.01 I think historically, and this is why we end up 00:14:05.04\00:14:07.14 with these situations. 00:14:07.18\00:14:08.51 Historically, we haven't done disciplined right, right? 00:14:08.54\00:14:12.45 It's more of let me smack you on a hand, 00:14:12.48\00:14:15.02 tell you you're wrong, and it's not redemptive. 00:14:15.05\00:14:17.82 But if we look at the way that the structure is set up 00:14:17.85\00:14:21.52 as it relates to church discipline. 00:14:21.56\00:14:22.96 It's actually designed to be redemptive, 00:14:22.99\00:14:25.33 so we wanna make this stance and say, 00:14:25.36\00:14:27.13 "Listen, this is not what we stand for." 00:14:27.16\00:14:28.83 Right. 00:14:28.86\00:14:30.20 And sometimes there has to be that example for those 00:14:30.23\00:14:32.03 who'll come behind to see, 00:14:32.07\00:14:33.80 "Oh, this is not what Christians do, 00:14:33.84\00:14:36.14 this is not what Adventists do." 00:14:36.17\00:14:38.27 So the process if we do it right, 00:14:38.31\00:14:41.38 it's a beautiful thing, 00:14:41.41\00:14:43.48 and so we need to make sure 00:14:43.51\00:14:45.61 that we're doing it the right way. 00:14:45.65\00:14:47.65 And then when individuals are making decisions, 00:14:47.68\00:14:50.09 we need to educate them, 00:14:50.12\00:14:52.02 we need to communicate with them. 00:14:52.05\00:14:53.39 And I wanna touch on something to that, 00:14:53.42\00:14:54.76 that to not let the audience misconstrue this thing. 00:14:54.79\00:14:58.29 The man is just as important in the conversation 00:14:58.33\00:15:02.13 as the woman. 00:15:02.16\00:15:03.53 And there's a lot of things associated with abortion 00:15:03.57\00:15:05.83 that after the fact. 00:15:05.87\00:15:08.37 It might be 5 years, 10 years down the line, right? 00:15:08.40\00:15:11.44 And you're still emotionally, 00:15:11.47\00:15:14.88 dealing with this thing that has happened. 00:15:14.91\00:15:17.21 So we wanna bring the man and let him know, 00:15:17.25\00:15:19.75 dude, you need to be present, right? 00:15:19.78\00:15:21.18 Yes. 00:15:21.22\00:15:22.55 It's not just be involved in the other thing 00:15:22.58\00:15:24.59 and now this is, this is the females responsibility. 00:15:24.62\00:15:27.82 No, you need to be present because there is a lot of guys 00:15:27.86\00:15:30.46 who've experienced their significant other 00:15:30.49\00:15:34.13 getting an abortion and even they're affected. 00:15:34.16\00:15:37.37 And 18 years down the line, they're thinking like, 00:15:37.40\00:15:39.93 "Wow, my son or daughter would have been 00:15:39.97\00:15:42.04 18 years older at this time." 00:15:42.07\00:15:43.57 You know, what I mean? 00:15:43.61\00:15:44.94 And so we just need to make sure 00:15:44.97\00:15:46.51 that they were having the talk, having the conversation, 00:15:46.54\00:15:49.34 before we get to even a point of having 00:15:49.38\00:15:52.38 to make a decision on whether or not 00:15:52.41\00:15:55.65 we're going to follow through with this abortion 00:15:55.68\00:15:58.22 because the world will tell us, that it's okay. 00:15:58.25\00:16:00.62 But we must understand that there is things 00:16:00.66\00:16:02.16 that the world will say, 00:16:02.19\00:16:03.53 okay, that God has explicitly said are not okay. 00:16:03.56\00:16:06.70 Right. 00:16:06.73\00:16:08.06 And I would just, you know, 00:16:08.10\00:16:09.43 this is very accurate in 1 Corinthians, 00:16:09.46\00:16:13.07 I believe 6:5, 5 and 6 talks about 00:16:13.10\00:16:18.07 how when you deal with discipline in the church, 00:16:18.11\00:16:22.21 when there is someone who is explicitly sinning, 00:16:22.24\00:16:26.45 and everybody knows 00:16:26.48\00:16:28.08 that this person has chosen sin 00:16:28.12\00:16:30.79 and consistently choose a sin... 00:16:30.82\00:16:33.99 And that you are to discipline 00:16:34.02\00:16:37.33 or that person is to be cast out. 00:16:37.36\00:16:40.50 But the Bible says that, that person is to be cast out 00:16:40.53\00:16:43.26 or handed over to the devil. 00:16:43.30\00:16:45.10 So that they may return, so that they may be restored, 00:16:45.13\00:16:48.70 so that they may return from their ways, 00:16:48.74\00:16:50.81 and know that Christ way is better. 00:16:50.84\00:16:52.77 And it's not they should figure it out themself, 00:16:52.81\00:16:56.38 but they're supposed to be a active part 00:16:56.41\00:16:59.91 that you're still supposed to play 00:16:59.95\00:17:01.82 in that person's life through that process. 00:17:01.85\00:17:04.12 You're not handing them over 00:17:04.15\00:17:06.86 just because they're gonna defile the rest of the group. 00:17:06.89\00:17:10.73 That's not a loving reaction. 00:17:10.76\00:17:14.30 And I say, sin, 00:17:14.33\00:17:16.63 and I don't think we think about... 00:17:16.67\00:17:20.54 I don't think enough of us think about abortion 00:17:20.57\00:17:23.44 like do we classify abortion as a sin. 00:17:23.47\00:17:26.84 There are different views about the, 00:17:26.88\00:17:31.08 what's happening medically with the body... 00:17:31.11\00:17:34.18 What's actually happening with the body 00:17:34.22\00:17:35.78 and because the child does not yet have the breath of life, 00:17:35.82\00:17:40.22 that the child is not yet alive. 00:17:40.26\00:17:43.79 I know that's a view that exists 00:17:43.83\00:17:46.43 and so is it murder 00:17:46.46\00:17:49.73 or is it something 00:17:49.76\00:17:51.63 that may not be considered as harsh as murder, 00:17:51.67\00:17:56.20 but something softer 00:17:56.24\00:17:58.94 but close still in that category 00:17:58.97\00:18:01.28 of ending a life 00:18:01.31\00:18:04.25 that you actually participated, 00:18:04.28\00:18:09.02 that you actually created, you actually... 00:18:09.05\00:18:11.59 You went through the process 00:18:11.62\00:18:13.15 knowingly in a way that this was a possibility. 00:18:13.19\00:18:17.73 And I think that goes into, 00:18:17.76\00:18:19.89 "What if I was raped then what? 00:18:19.93\00:18:26.70 It's very, very difficult 00:18:26.74\00:18:28.47 and there are some circumstances, 00:18:28.50\00:18:30.71 where a person's life may be in jeopardy. 00:18:30.74\00:18:33.78 And so what do you do and I've heard of, 00:18:33.81\00:18:37.38 haven't necessarily experienced these situations 00:18:37.41\00:18:39.71 where mom and baby are in a bed, right? 00:18:39.75\00:18:43.02 And the doctor is like, 00:18:43.05\00:18:44.39 "Listen, you're gonna lose one of them." 00:18:44.42\00:18:45.75 Right. You got to make that decision. 00:18:45.79\00:18:47.39 And I've heard a mother saying, 00:18:47.42\00:18:48.89 "Listen, keep the baby, loose me." Right? 00:18:48.92\00:18:51.26 And so that the husband has to make that decision. 00:18:51.29\00:18:54.30 And so there are circumstances 00:18:54.33\00:18:56.26 where you have to make a decision, but where... 00:18:56.30\00:18:59.27 I believe we're talking about in the optimal situation 00:18:59.30\00:19:04.47 where it's not life at stake, but you're just saying, 00:19:04.51\00:19:07.64 "Listen, I don't wanna go through with this." 00:19:07.68\00:19:10.61 There is a old saying, you've made your bed, 00:19:10.65\00:19:12.78 now you got to lie on it, right? 00:19:12.81\00:19:14.38 And that's the thing. 00:19:14.42\00:19:15.75 And so now we're trusting in God to say, 00:19:15.78\00:19:17.49 "Hey, help me go beyond this point." 00:19:17.52\00:19:20.09 And as a church we do, 00:19:20.12\00:19:21.89 we do need to be more active in this process, 00:19:21.92\00:19:26.63 because you don't want individuals... 00:19:26.66\00:19:28.73 This is another thing that has happened 00:19:28.76\00:19:30.57 and I've experienced this 00:19:30.60\00:19:31.93 where they will pursue getting an abortion right now, right? 00:19:31.97\00:19:37.67 But then want to continue going on 00:19:37.71\00:19:40.18 latter with the opportunity of having more children. 00:19:40.21\00:19:43.24 Okay, well, you plan to have children in the future, 00:19:43.28\00:19:45.38 but you just don't wanna do this thing right now. 00:19:45.41\00:19:48.82 And so now it's more about me, right? 00:19:48.85\00:19:51.69 It's not about me representing God, 00:19:51.72\00:19:53.42 it's about me glorifying self. 00:19:53.46\00:19:55.96 And that's when we get ourselves in trouble. 00:19:55.99\00:19:57.33 Right. 00:19:57.36\00:19:58.69 And I think, I was informed... 00:19:58.73\00:20:00.90 I was informed that on the issue of rape 00:20:00.93\00:20:05.20 and getting pregnant as the result of rape. 00:20:05.23\00:20:08.20 That's less than 1% of the reasons 00:20:08.24\00:20:12.44 why people actually get abortions. 00:20:12.47\00:20:14.91 And so the position of the church 00:20:14.94\00:20:18.11 is not that abortion should never, 00:20:18.15\00:20:21.08 ever, ever, ever, ever happen as you say, 00:20:21.12\00:20:24.12 Keith, there's some people 00:20:24.15\00:20:25.79 have to make that decision because the... 00:20:25.82\00:20:28.82 Pregnancy can actually take their life. 00:20:28.86\00:20:31.13 And so then that's like, that's a grey area of is this, 00:20:31.16\00:20:37.13 should I make, what decision should I make? 00:20:37.17\00:20:39.23 Which decision will God want me to make? 00:20:39.27\00:20:42.80 Is it selfish that I want to live 00:20:42.84\00:20:45.04 and this child doesn't even understand 00:20:45.07\00:20:46.84 the meaning of life yet? 00:20:46.88\00:20:49.28 And so that... 00:20:49.31\00:20:50.65 But those circumstances are less, like you said, 00:20:50.68\00:20:54.68 the thing that we're discussing here 00:20:54.72\00:20:57.72 is the individual who has chosen 00:20:57.75\00:21:00.89 to participate in intercourse, 00:21:00.92\00:21:03.49 whether in the context of marriage 00:21:03.53\00:21:05.66 or outside of the context of marriage and is now saying, 00:21:05.69\00:21:09.43 "I don't want the product 00:21:09.46\00:21:11.00 or the result of what I chose to participate in." 00:21:11.03\00:21:16.27 That is exactly what we are talking about, 00:21:16.30\00:21:19.11 but as you said it before, 00:21:19.14\00:21:20.71 there are those extreme cases 00:21:20.74\00:21:22.44 and Seventh-day Adventist church, 00:21:22.48\00:21:24.65 we have a stance that says, 00:21:24.68\00:21:26.15 in those extreme most severe cases 00:21:26.18\00:21:29.58 they make exceptions for abortion, 00:21:29.62\00:21:32.72 because it's not initially 00:21:32.75\00:21:35.46 what God intended to concerns of... 00:21:35.49\00:21:38.16 As you said, Keith, before 00:21:38.19\00:21:39.79 "Do I choose me or my child and the life of the child?" 00:21:39.83\00:21:44.87 But there are people who do say, 00:21:44.90\00:21:46.94 "No, I'm not going to have the abortion, 00:21:46.97\00:21:49.27 I'm going to have this child." 00:21:49.30\00:21:52.01 And it's interesting the flip that happens, 00:21:52.04\00:21:57.48 when someone has a child 00:21:57.51\00:22:00.48 that might have some sort of disability 00:22:00.52\00:22:03.89 and they say, "I'm going to have the child." 00:22:03.92\00:22:06.42 How the church responds? 00:22:06.45\00:22:08.29 If they're healthy, 00:22:08.32\00:22:09.66 and they're gonna have a healthy child. 00:22:09.69\00:22:11.19 Okay, yes, sure you must definitely have it. 00:22:11.23\00:22:13.36 But if the child is "not" we might assume 00:22:13.40\00:22:15.93 is not healthy or not perfect, 00:22:15.96\00:22:18.37 people might be like, "What you doing, 00:22:18.40\00:22:20.24 it's a no-brainer. 00:22:20.27\00:22:21.60 You should have the abortion." 00:22:21.64\00:22:23.20 They need to have support, 00:22:23.24\00:22:25.37 if there that's gonna be their decision, 00:22:25.41\00:22:27.11 because it's gonna be a hard journey for them 00:22:27.14\00:22:30.28 to try to provide the best that child can possibly have. 00:22:30.31\00:22:33.72 Right. 00:22:33.75\00:22:35.08 And even for the case where it is option between my wife 00:22:35.12\00:22:38.52 or she told me to choose the baby, 00:22:38.55\00:22:40.36 I choose the baby. 00:22:40.39\00:22:41.72 Now I'm all alone. 00:22:41.76\00:22:43.09 And that's part of 00:22:43.12\00:22:44.59 we have an excellent system in place by the church, 00:22:44.63\00:22:48.16 it's just that all the churches are not utilizing it 00:22:48.20\00:22:51.83 to strengthen that causes the family 00:22:51.87\00:22:54.17 to make sure they are... 00:22:54.20\00:22:55.54 everyone is educated not just only our young people, 00:22:55.57\00:22:59.14 young adults, middle class, 00:22:59.17\00:23:01.08 a lot of other people are confused 00:23:01.11\00:23:03.35 and don't really... 00:23:03.38\00:23:05.08 It's kind of interesting 00:23:05.11\00:23:06.75 that a lot of people don't fully understand 00:23:06.78\00:23:08.62 that sex produces children. 00:23:08.65\00:23:10.92 It's like it clicks but doesn't click. 00:23:10.95\00:23:13.19 And we have a responsibility as the church, 00:23:13.22\00:23:17.46 we have responsibility in our local communities to speak 00:23:17.49\00:23:22.23 and say something 00:23:22.26\00:23:23.60 and be that support and to help. 00:23:23.63\00:23:27.74 And I can't keep on saying support, support, support, 00:23:27.77\00:23:30.91 more than enough because, 00:23:30.94\00:23:32.37 yes, we do want to condemn the sex. 00:23:32.41\00:23:34.94 Yes, we do want to state that it was a sin 00:23:34.98\00:23:37.05 that it shouldn't have happened in that context. 00:23:37.08\00:23:39.75 But prenatal life, that's one thing 00:23:39.78\00:23:42.48 that we need to remember is 00:23:42.52\00:23:44.42 God chooses for the child 00:23:44.45\00:23:48.99 to be created. 00:23:49.02\00:23:51.43 He could have said, "No." 00:23:51.46\00:23:53.46 Even though it was happening at that time 00:23:53.50\00:23:55.93 where it shouldn't... 00:23:55.96\00:23:57.30 where nothing should have been taken place. 00:23:57.33\00:23:58.93 He still said, "Yes, prenatal life 00:23:58.97\00:24:01.07 is precious to him." 00:24:01.10\00:24:03.27 Because that child was 00:24:03.30\00:24:04.64 still being formed in the image of God. 00:24:04.67\00:24:06.78 So when we look at life in that fashion 00:24:06.81\00:24:09.64 that it is not just something that can happen 00:24:09.68\00:24:12.75 just by exhaling. 00:24:12.78\00:24:15.22 We have to help these... 00:24:15.25\00:24:20.96 Not just the women also the men. 00:24:20.99\00:24:22.32 And Keith wanted to take a minute 00:24:22.36\00:24:23.69 to talk about the men. 00:24:23.73\00:24:25.06 Yeah. 00:24:25.09\00:24:26.43 Because there is strong cases where he wants that baby, 00:24:26.46\00:24:31.03 he found out and he smiling from ear to ear, 00:24:31.07\00:24:33.57 and she is like what is wrong with you. 00:24:33.60\00:24:35.54 That's what we're talking about how we just view for the men. 00:24:35.57\00:24:38.84 If I can just share a story 00:24:38.87\00:24:40.21 and did before I talk about the men. 00:24:40.24\00:24:42.41 Just an example of support, we were at a church 00:24:42.44\00:24:46.75 and a young lady ended up pregnant, this was... 00:24:46.78\00:24:49.88 They weren't married 00:24:49.92\00:24:51.25 and so she's considering whether 00:24:51.29\00:24:53.22 she should get an abortion. 00:24:53.25\00:24:54.72 And so we know that there is this process now 00:24:54.76\00:24:57.29 the church knows that she is pregnant, 00:24:57.33\00:24:58.66 we have to do the whole church discipline 00:24:58.69\00:25:00.06 and things like that. 00:25:00.10\00:25:01.43 But I think maybe individuals may need an example 00:25:01.46\00:25:04.00 of what support looks like. 00:25:04.03\00:25:05.63 And so we're not condoning. 00:25:05.67\00:25:07.30 We didn't, as a church condone the act, right? 00:25:07.34\00:25:11.41 But as you mentioned having a baby come to full term 00:25:11.44\00:25:14.51 and be brought into this world is a blessing. 00:25:14.54\00:25:16.44 There are millions and millions of individuals 00:25:16.48\00:25:18.58 who would love to have that experience. 00:25:18.61\00:25:20.68 It's a blessing. And so what we did was... 00:25:20.72\00:25:23.28 We did the whole church discipline thing, 00:25:23.32\00:25:24.85 but I then came to the church and I said, listen, 00:25:24.89\00:25:27.22 we're now responsible for this child, 00:25:27.26\00:25:29.72 this is our child. 00:25:29.76\00:25:31.09 We didn't have the conversations before, 00:25:31.13\00:25:33.93 and so we're going to now take responsibility. 00:25:33.96\00:25:38.10 This is not just her having a baby. 00:25:38.13\00:25:40.70 This is us having a baby. 00:25:40.74\00:25:42.07 So we're gonna plan the baby shower 00:25:42.10\00:25:43.44 and this could be considered difficult or things 00:25:43.47\00:25:46.04 like that for some people. 00:25:46.07\00:25:47.41 But we're gonna plan the baby shower 00:25:47.44\00:25:48.78 and we're not promoting the act, 00:25:48.81\00:25:50.65 but we're embracing the fact that there is a baby, 00:25:50.68\00:25:52.58 an innocent baby coming into this world. 00:25:52.61\00:25:54.92 Who now we have to support 00:25:54.95\00:25:58.39 and gather around to the support, 00:25:58.42\00:26:00.29 to the point of the man he wanted the child, 00:26:00.32\00:26:03.76 but he didn't necessarily want the responsibility. 00:26:03.79\00:26:07.10 And so we had to have a deeper discussion there as well... 00:26:07.13\00:26:13.37 And it takes communication, it takes communication, 00:26:13.40\00:26:16.30 it takes support, 00:26:16.34\00:26:17.77 and it takes us doing things in a way that is redemptive, 00:26:17.81\00:26:22.44 and restores individuals back to their rightful stage, 00:26:22.48\00:26:25.78 and not tears them down. 00:26:25.81\00:26:27.15 And I think when people know that, 00:26:27.18\00:26:28.85 then they will be able to make a better decision. 00:26:28.88\00:26:30.39 You know, Keith, you mentioned about embracing the baby, 00:26:30.42\00:26:33.19 the baby shower even and, you know, 00:26:33.22\00:26:34.92 I've been a part of a community 00:26:34.96\00:26:36.29 that even has had dedication of the baby itself 00:26:36.32\00:26:40.10 who's a innocent life. 00:26:40.13\00:26:42.13 And I think this is about the church support 00:26:42.16\00:26:45.13 to simply being an extension of who Jesus is and Jesus... 00:26:45.17\00:26:48.44 Where He would go and how He would treat people. 00:26:48.47\00:26:50.97 So discipline is not, it seem like shunning 00:26:51.01\00:26:53.61 and this is an opportunity for God's grace. 00:26:53.64\00:26:56.44 That's right. 00:26:56.48\00:26:58.78 I think one thing to... 00:26:58.81\00:27:00.78 as we're summing-up 00:27:00.82\00:27:02.38 that we need to have take responsibility for our actions. 00:27:02.42\00:27:05.29 Yeah. 00:27:05.32\00:27:06.65 I understand that sex really did produced this child 00:27:06.69\00:27:09.92 and to press forward with that 00:27:09.96\00:27:13.29 and just to do what God is calling us to do. 00:27:13.33\00:27:17.40 We want you to keep on having the conversation, 00:27:17.43\00:27:19.73 it is not an easy topic, 00:27:19.77\00:27:21.10 there is a lot of different stances, 00:27:21.14\00:27:22.84 and views, and perspectives, 00:27:22.87\00:27:24.57 but what is it that God is calling you 00:27:24.61\00:27:28.34 to do in regards to their situation, 00:27:28.38\00:27:30.68 to support maybe a young lady that you see in the church 00:27:30.71\00:27:32.71 who is pregnant 00:27:32.75\00:27:34.08 and maybe she might be considering absorption. 00:27:34.12\00:27:36.32 What can you do in your churches 00:27:36.35\00:27:37.85 to support our young people, not even young people, 00:27:37.89\00:27:42.32 any age group to make the right decision. 00:27:42.36\00:27:44.69 The Bible talks about the fear of the Lord 00:27:44.73\00:27:48.36 and also that children are a gift from God. 00:27:48.40\00:27:51.83 So as you're contemplating what to do, 00:27:51.87\00:27:54.80 pray to God and make pure choices. 00:27:54.84\00:27:57.71 That's right. 00:27:57.74\00:27:59.07