Okay, this really is my last post on the issue of how we talk about abortion across cultures. One of the commenters to the original post asked what I thought about a sermon John Piper preached a year or so ago wherein he drew parallels between abortion and racism. I left a response in the comment thread but thought the sermon so worthwhile that I’d put the comments here as well.
My admiration and appreciation for John is deep. I had the humbling privilege of writing a chapter in the recent book in honor of John and Noel, a chapter entitled, “The Glory and Supremacy of Jesus Christ in Ethnic Distinctions and Over Ethnic Identities.” I think the Lord has made John one of the white evangelical preachers who works hard to “get it” and to speak the truth in love across contexts. I praise God for John, and one reason why is his and Bethlehem’s tangible commitment to addressing these issues in the power of the gospel. John has credibility with me on these issues, and more than credibility he has my love and appreciation.
If you haven’t seen the sermon, “When Is Abortion Racism?”, I’d commend these thoughtful 45 minutes to you.
Here is my assessment of the strengths of this sermon:
1. Notice that he begins with an honest statement of his goal (so he weakens suspicion by being very upfront about his aim);
2. Notice he follows that honest statement of his goal with a number of caveats and qualifications that demonstrate humility and a desire to be on the same side;
3. Notice also that he doesn’t actually make an equation with slavery, but with something at once more current and a bit more nebulous (therefore, imo, slightly less volatile): racism. That’s where he starts at least. And the very admission of racism and the evil of racism communicates empathy and communicates honesty about the way the world really is;
4. Notice how (in what way) he introduces the comparison to slavery a little bit later: He quotes African Americans. It’s an intelligent strategy because he avoids being mistaken as “the great white savior” while simultaneously bringing passion and emotion to the issue through the quotes. He’s not pretending to be a cool spectator; he is engaging the pain. He identifies with an African American audience by associating himself with African American commentators likely to be “heard,” or, if you like, commentators with street cred.
5. Notice also John’s powerful use of conspiracy theory as he moves to Planned Parenthood and eugenics. Conspiracy is a very powerful theme to African American audiences. Sometimes the entirety of African American history gets cast in terms of one long conspiracy against black life. And after building the case the way he did, John now sounds pretty much like a black man delivering the speech. (I think I’m on record for saying John is a black man anyway :-))
Now, the other thing that’s remarkable for me is that John is delivering this talk to, as he points out, a nearly all-white audience. I think that if I were delivering that talk, or (not to be too closely associated with these fellas) if Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson were delivering this talk to an all-white audience, at several points we would lose the audience. For example, if we repeatedly, as John does, pointed out that the abortion doctors are white, or handled that conspiracy theory theme poorly, we’d be done. The auditorium would be empty because to many white ears that all sounds like “the same ol’ whining about whitey” that “overly-sensitive” and “locked-in-the-past” African Americans make.
Please tell me if you think I’m wrong on this, because if I’m correct then John’s talk effectively illustrates my point: understanding the intersection between your audience’s thinking and how they perceive you can make all the difference in determining how many people actually hear you. I think that’s undeniable. And I think considering that will greatly improve communications effectiveness as we talk about life issues across cultures.
I think John basically delivers to a white audience as a white man a sermon expressed with the passion and concern many black audiences would appreciate. Because he is John Piper (white man from the south, conservative Christian, etc., pick your labels), he receives a hearing from his white audience while saying things that might get a black speaker in serious difficulty. And because he has one eye on understanding the effects of abortion on black communities, detailing that effect at some length, and communicates empathy, he can actually deliver that talk to a black audience with effect as well. By the time he’s finished, the audience would like say to itself, “He’s with us” or “He understands us” or “He feels our pain.” When you talk about this issue across cultures while appropriating another group’s experience of suffering, that’s part of the result you’re after. We want more than that; we want prayerful, gospel-driven, hopeful action. But you won’t likely get the action and teamwork until there is mutual understanding and empathy.
