Matt Stokes responds like a reasonable person. Good blogger, Matt. Good.
It’s all over Facebook. All over email forwards. All over Christian discussion sites and blogs. All over evangelicalism and elsewhere.
It’s Red Envelope Day:
Hey everyone, I just was invited to a group on Facebook that I thought would be good to give you the heads up on. It is an event where on March 31 everyone who opposes abortion and wants to let President Obama know about it will send a Red envelope addressed to:
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington , D.C. 20500
On the back you should write:
“This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion.
It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of our world.”
This would be a great way for all your pro-life people out there to let Pres. Obama know that you don’t approve of killing innocent babies.
So, Internet Monk audience….especially those of you who have been around a while…Why does “Red Envelope Day” bother me? (And why does it bother, or not bother, you….if you like.)
I have no idea why it bothers you. I can tell you why it bothers me.
It bothers me because it’s completely useless. The people who actually have the power to change the laws about Abortion won’t because of letters and envelopes, and Obama can’t because it’s not actually in his job description, and he doesn’t have that kind of power.
It also bothers me because I think too many people will do this and think “I’ve done my part.” The Christian Way of ending abortion is living the Gospel through sacrificial acts that will reduce the “need” for abortion until we can practically eliminate it. It’s not by sending envelopes that don’t do any good.
Here’s a hint: This is a perfect representation of where evangelical Christians are in about every area I can think of: theologically, missiologically, ecclesiastically, culturally, politically. It’s perfect.
I’m going to send in a blue envelope just to mix things up…
Seriously, it’s so sad that people equate mailing a freakin’ envelope with “taking a stand” or “expressing disapproval” or whatever else gibberish they can think of. It’s all just words. That’s pretty much all a lot of Evangelicalism has nowadays – meaningless words.
I agree and find it obnoxious – a serious waste of paper IMO. I am looking forward to hearing an elaboration on your last post, iMonk. Cheers!
Second hint:
Madelyn Murray O’Hare and the FCC Scare. (Do your research: What did all of that cost?)
I wonder who is turning the profits from the “Purchase Red Envelope Products” links at the bottom of the linked page.
Does it have anything to do with WWJD wrist bracelets and things like that?
It’s another one of those “symbolic gestures” that cost nothing and mean even less, which is why they ultimately fail to make their point.
Ahh, common! It’s a bargen $14.25 for a pack of 8 red envelopes. And a bumper sticker for $4.05. I’m Canadian so I don’t think Barack needs to hear from me… but I should buy some of these products just to support the good cause.
Amos 5:21-24 (The Message)
“I can’t stand your religious meetings.
I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
your pretentious slogans and goals.
I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes,
your public relations and image making.
I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
I want justice—oceans of it.
I want fairness—rivers of it.
That’s what I want. That’s all I want.
This looks like a snail mail realization of the same kind of spam chains I was urged to keep going regarding the FCC and the banning of religious broadcasting. That has never materialized in the last decade or more yet because of a federal probe into the possibility of fraud in some televangelist ministries the rumor got revived.
Sending a bunch of junk mail to the President is as useless as forwarding spam chains as though it would persuade the FCC to not ban stuff they aren’t really banning.
On the other hand, perhaps I’m too jaded here but we live in an age in which accusations of deceit and money-grubbing are common enough I anticipate at least the possibility in April of a spam talking about how the paper for the envelopes was bought from some company owned by liberals and that the liberals who will complain about the envelope drive will be more concerned about the trees cut down to make the envelopes than about the babies represented by the envelopes. It won’t matter where the paper actually come from, the spam will have accomplished its purpose.
I’ll be the lone voice of dissent here.
Yes it is probably useless, and yes many will feel that by doing this they have done their part and yes living the gospel is a much better course of action.
But…
It may raise awareness at some level.
It doesn’t bother me.
Austin
Austin,
Totally without snark here:
Do you believe there are people in the White House that don’t know what abortion is, or that it’s common, or that millions of Americans oppose it? Or that the recommended line on the envelope isn’t the same rhetoric these people have heard thousands of times?
peace
ms
So let me get this straight: The way for the church to accomplish the mission of God in the world (are you ready?) is to browbeat a single politician until he is so annoyed that he publicly relents of his position on abortion. If we can JUST DO THIS ONE THING all our problems will be over, and the Kingdom Age will arrive as families are magically strengthened, the fabric of society is mended, and God will be able to bless His Chosen Nation once again. “Oh no! If I get just one more of these red envelopes I’ll… I’ll… I’ll reform this nation into the God-fearing example to the world that it has always been! I’ll create a cabinet-level “Family Czar” who can restore our grand society! These truckloads of red envelopes that I NEVER SEE BECAUSE I HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN OPEN MAIL I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES do not annoy me at all, but rather convince me of the validity of your position.”
Sorry. I’m done now.
It bothers me because many pro-lifers may not realize or are willfully ignorant of the fact that they are in the minority. Many Christians, professing Christians who sit next to you in church, silently support abortion. Why?
1. They do not believe an embryo is a living soul.
2. They perversely believe that killing a child who goes to heaven, sinless, is better than bringing an unwanted child into the world who may reject Christ and go to hell.
3. They support what they perceive to be majority opinion. In other words, they do not believe they should “shove their beliefs down others’ throats.” So they support silently pro-life candidates, pro-choice candidates, or no candidate at all by refusing to vote.
4. They do not want the option taken away in case, God forbid, their mother, sister, daughter, wife, or girlfriend “needs” an abortion.
I have a friend who is politically active and very pro-life. I have had to repeatedly bring him down to earth about the reality of our times. He wants preachers in the pulpits denouncing abortion so the congregations will rise up and force our elected officials to ban abortions. I tell him most of the preachers, if they followed his advice, would be fired in a short time, either by the churches’ steering committees, by boards of trustees, or by direct vote of their congregations. My friend, I tell him, would still be vocally aghast at how the pulpits are silent about abortion.
Brother, that’s how the majority of Christians like it.
Imonk,
No I totally agree with your response. I was thinking of raising awareness in a more general society way. Maybe somebody will notice the media coverage and pause to think about it.
That sort of thing.
Basically, and I know you agree that abortion is horrible, the thought of what abortion is and that it actually happens and that Michael the Poet is probably right all make me physically ill if I dwell on it too much.
Regards,
Austin
hmm .. well to me it just seems silly, what I personally call “Christian cringe” stuff. It’s a knee jerk reaction that doesn’t begin to address the things that people who are pro-abortion actually see as issues.
I’m hesitant to say too much, because I don’t entirely understand the US civic system, but certainly over here, and I say this as someone who finds the thought of killing an unborn child horrific, if someone were to b4ring in a law tomorrow banning all abortions, it would be a bad law. Why do I say that? (before someone shoots me). A bad law is a law which is against the will of the people, and which no one will obey. Abortions aren’t happening in such dreadful numbers just because some legislation has permitted it, they’re happening because people want them, because there’s no longer a terrible stigma attached (except in Christian circles) and everyone knows that it is amuch “safer” procedure than it was in grandma’s day. So it’s not going to go away (anymore than, I understand, Prohibition got rid of drinking).
The energy of Christians would be much better spent in finding ways to make ordinary women not want or need abortions. To be honest, the way I’ve heard some people speak about Obama, you’d think he was personally out there on the streets, coercing pregnant women to get rid of their babies!
Now I’d better duck real fast ..
This is all just a scam to sell all the leftover red envelopes from Valentine’s Day.
Isn’t it kind of like the churches with the rows of white crosses out front for the pro life cause, yet they strongly supported a war that took over 100,000 Iraqi lives, many of whom were children? Where was the outrage there?
I can say why it bother me:
1) It will have no effect whatsoever.
2) It will make participants feel like they’ve “done something” about the abortion problem, when they’ve done nothing whatsoever.
I wonder what a crisis pregnancy center could do with all the money that will be wasted on stamps and envelopes.
The problem of abortion will not be solved by attempting to cut off the supply of the service, any more than alcohol prohibition solved the problems related to alcohol, or drug prohibition has stopped the use of drugs, or making prostitution illegal has stopped the sex trade. In all of the above cases the problem can only be solved by eliminating the DEMAND for the product or service. The only way to eliminate demand is for people’s hearts to change. The only way for people’s hearts to change is for them to hear and accept the Gospel.
Christians are NOT called to engage in a culture war. We are called to share the Good News with all people and make disciples of Christ. We can’t impose Christian behavior from the top down against people’s wills. Christian behavior can only come from the bottom up, from individual hearts and lives changed by the power of the Gospel. Time spent engaging in culture war is time lost in sharing that Gospel with people who desperately need it. These red envelopes are ineffectual arrows in a futile culture war.
Another: In fairness, many Catholic churches that opposed the war also had crosses out front.
k Bryan:
If we had a prize, you would win:
1)It does nothing
It’s typical of evangelicals now: shallow and silly in every department.
2)It makes millions feel they’ve done something
3)The combined expenses and energy could help hundreds, even thousands of people. (Dig a well. Send a Dr. somewhere. Build a clinic.)
4)Evangelicals no longer believe that it is valuable to do something that only GOD and a few affected people see. No…it has to have media coverage to be worthwhile.
5)Jesus wouldn’t do it. He’d save a child.
6) John the Baptist wouldn’t do it. He’d preach in the street.
7) Mary wouldn’t do it. She’d say I’ll raise a child.
9) It’s a rerun of that O’Hare/FCC bit that cost millions of dollars.
10) It insults the President, who is fully aware of his position.
It’s very silly. I won’t be doing it, just like I refuse to buy a “pink” anything – be it Tomato Soup, Yogurt, or a T-shirt. Just much ado about nothing, and, yes, it’s a very public and “nose in the air” look what I’ve done kind of thing. It reminds me of those obnoxious “religious” e-mails I get forwarded to me about Christian rights, prayer in schools, or whatever the sappy message of the day is. I just don’t get it. I guess I’m a cynic or something. End of rant.
C. Hays
@iMonk: “If we had a prize, you would win”
Well, I’ve often thought that you were reading _my_ mind when you wrote most of your essays. Glad to know the ESP works in the other direction.
Not just these red envelopes, but do any of you think that any kind of petitions do any good?
Myself, I think most politicians or whomever just ignore them, unless it’s a very local issue and there is a lot of local feeling whipped up about it which would mean a loss of votes come election time – then the public representatives get very sensitive to the feelings of the people.
But I’ve seen the news photos of “Representatives of Group Whomever handing in petition with so many thousands of signatures to government buildings” and it just struck me as a waste of time and effort – good intentions, but it won’t do anything.
11) when you don’t like a Supreme Court decision, evangelicals urge you to make a protest to the executive branch. Couldn’t that be compared to complaining to an Air Force cadet about Marine drill seargants?
It bothers me because it simplifies a very complex problem, and thereby marginalizes the senders. This approach only perpetuates or allows them to believe that pro-lifers are uneducated, shallow, simplistic sheep following the commands of their leaders.
“The Christian Way of ending abortion is living the Gospel through sacrificial acts that will reduce the “need†for abortion until we can practically eliminate it.”
What sacrificial acts did you have in mind?
Evangelicals remind me of a gaggle of teenage girls who flock to the restroom. Whatever they do, they have to do it in a crowd. And they need a leader to make up their collective mind and tell them when they need to go.
The person who dreamed up the red envelope probably needed to go. The rest of us don’t.
I think it’s great. After all we’re all called to follow Christ. And it recalls the scripture passage (I think it’s in Matthew) where Jesus petitioned Rome to stop crucifying people because it was cruel and unusual punishment. It would be a waste of time to try and convert people one by one so that such a thing would be unnecessary. God wants us to work fast and use force when possible.
Sounds like a good chance to get purpose and method mixed up again. “If you oppose Red Envelope Day it means you like abortion”
(How about an Envelope Day where if you are for preaching the Gospel you have to send a dollar to IM? Then we get to all browbeat anyone who doesn’t send money as not being a “real” supporter of evangelism).
Big Chief,
Just curious.. Is it scriptural that God wants us to “use force when possible”? And if so, how does the red envelope project force anything good to happen?
Dear President Obama,
Yeah…I know you’re dealing with like a major financial crises, two wars, global Islamic extremist terrorists, reforming health care, and other stuff…but c’mon, let’s get to the real issue: ABORTION. Understand? So what if a vast majority of Congress are liberal Democrats who support it? Your the president, and you should stop it regardless!
Big Chief,
Sorry.. I just reread and I think you were being sarcastic. I usually catch things like that pretty quick, but it must be an off day. If so, no explanation needed.
Exactly, and it doesn’t matter what the Supreme Court or Congress or the states have established in the last three decades.
Not too long ago, I got invited to a Facebook group protesting some movie in which Jesus is portrayed as gay. Someone commented on there that if I didn’t have time to invite others, I shouldn’t be surprised when God doesn’t have time for me. God is so needy these days, it seems. Oh, and the movie was fake. It’s amazing what a 60-second google search can tell you these days. I hate to go to hell over my failure to support a boycott of something that doesn’t exist, but I guess that’s just the way it is sometimes.
Anybody remember when Christianity was about Jesus? Yeah, me either…
After reading Dennis not Dennis’ comment, I had the thought that maybe it was some kind of alternate application of the parable of the persistent widow from Luke 18 that people are trying to accomplish.
“2)It makes millions feel they’ve done something”
“What sacrificial acts did you have in mind?”
Working in a homeless shelter with people who might not have bathed in the past week.
Scub toilets at a said shelter.
Adopt a bady or few from poor single mothers who chose not to abort but who have no idea what to do with the baby.
Writing a check or sending a red envelope is sooooo much easier than really getting involved. Not that my work in this area is anything to hold up as an example.
It’s EXACTLY this sort of thing that makes me wonder if I should ever attend another American evangelical church when I move back to the states. So much hype and so little substance! Anyone want to start a church at Waffle House on Sunday mornings? Woohoo!
“Not just these red envelopes, but do any of you think that any kind of petitions do any good?”
Petitions to legislative members from VOTERS in their district are paid attention to. But the larger the district and the longer the time to the next election makes them have less impact.
Petitions to local and state legislative members and representatives to the House from voters have impact. These folks are typically on a 2 year cycle. Those to senators and executive head have less. Our system in many ways was designed this way. Some are supposed to be very responsive to voters, others more able to reflect and consider. Not everyone likes it when they don’t get “their way”.
we enjoy our distractions.
I hadn’t heard of red envelope day till reading it here. Guess that means it doesn’t bother me. I learned long ago to ignore the abortion debate. No one is willing to sit and talk. They just want to stand outside and yell back and forth at each other.
Bill Lollar
“It’s EXACTLY this sort of thing that makes me wonder if I should ever attend another American evangelical church when I move back to the states. So much hype and so little substance! Anyone want to start a church at Waffle House on Sunday mornings?”
As a friend said as our group at a typical evangelical church was breaking up. “Where do you go if you want to worship at a church where you believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and science isn’t to be feared?
A group of about 20 of us are working through this now. AMiA seems like a great spot but the infant baptism and restricted congregational input (compared to my similar to iMonk Baptist business meeting upgring) give me some pause. A local fast growing emergent church has a great message if you can get past the aging rockers giving a concert with some sign along and calling it music worship. We’ve found a great teaching class at a non denom but it’s literally a 45 mile round trip. (I guess this is a sacrifice I may have to make.)
But our group of 20 or so has committed to meeting at least once a month in homes. I wonder what category we’d fit into in one of those surveys?
There ARE some great evangelical folks out there. And we’re all looking for a home. I just wonder where we’ll be in 10 to 20 years.
This post and the comments should be required reading for any group wondering how they can reduce or eliminate abortions. There is much wisdom here.
I had made the point on a different blog, similar to what K Bryan said above, stating that making laws against things (prohibition, prostitution)doesn’t stop the things from occurring. A fellow commenter asked me if I was saying there should then be no laws. He says, “People still steal. Should we get rid of theft laws? People still assault one another. Should we get rid of that law?” I explained I was not against laws, but I felt there were better ways to prevent abortions, namely by bringing up our children to respect their bodies and one another and to love God. And, if it comes right down to it, I must really believe that killing something that may consist of eight divided cells that would one day became a fully grown human being is not murder, because if I DID believe that, then I would think that the mother and the doctor both belong in jail and I just cannot make myself believe that. I have seen the graphic photos, though, of the tiny fetuses (sp?) all cut up and it gets to me. Even one only two months old looks all too human and it makes me feel ill. I just don’t know all the answers.
Ok- I’m a Brit- I don’t fully ‘get’ the USA (most of us this side would vote for Obama 2moro and didn’t ‘get’ Bush) so I don’t understand this.
I don’t like the idea of abortion, but I get the impression across this side of the pond that there are far too many USA Christians virulently opposed to abortion and turning a blind eye to ‘acceptable’ sins such as consumerism, militarism etc (and for me to say that, on the logs and eyes things means that maybe I am turning a blind eye to stuff as well!).
Really- are there click boxes at the bottom of that site saying ‘get your red envelopes’? Oh the irony- it is priceless!
Thanks for your thoughtful blog- I lurk and read most days. It strikes a chord. Thanks
It’s hard for me to believe how cynical most of these comments are…[Mod edit] Is this so easy that it should not be done? Is this so symbolic that it does not count? I don’t get the snarkiness and anger. And if someone thinks that sending in a red envelope is all I am doing, they have me very wrong.
Can’t read iMonk’s mind, but here’s why it makes me mad:
Jesus said make disciples and teach them, the disciples, not the un-discipled. Like so many other cultural crusades, we put the cart before the horse.
The greater impact of something like abortion is not the suffering it inflicts, instead, the greater impact is it’s ability to pull Christians away from the central, and infinitely more powerful work of sharing the simple Gospel message. If anything, this sort of thing widens the gap between us and those we need to connect with.
It sounds like some Chinese business conglomerate has figured out where they can dump all the red envelopes they didn’t sell for this year’s New Year celebration. The economy was slow so families weren’t giving away as much money.
So I will not buy a Coke that day and instead join others in making a statement. What does it hurt?
All of you that are suggesting alternate things or just dissing this, what are you doing? If you are active in what you say then I congratulate you. [Mod edit]
Spending a few hundred thousand dollars to make ourselves feel good is making a statement?
Okay. I have it. Forget Red Letter Day. Just send a note any ole time telling your political leaders that you oppose abortion. Does that make everybody feel better?