The following is a chapter taken from the Bible that addresses judging each other. This topic, Christian Childbirth, may be the most emotionally charged topic there is. Take religion and childbirth, mix in a little politics, and it is a perfect playground for Satan. There is little I could ever say to reconcile the heated passionate feelings that we all have, and the convictions that come along with them. Instead, I felt led to take a chapter from the Bible, change the words to make it more applicable to this situation, and hope that we can all see that it is not of the Lord to judge each other over our beliefs. Of course, I am not claiming that this would be actual scripture, for that would be heresy. I would venture to guess that it might be what Paul would say to us if he were to address the issue. Ultimately, let each one of us be convinced in our own minds! (Adapted from Romans 14) Accept her whose faith is different, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One woman’s faith allows her to birth at home, but another woman, whose faith is different, births elsewhere. The woman who has an epidural must not look down on the one who does not, and the woman who births naturally should not condemn the woman who does not, for God has accepted her. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To her own master she stands or falls. And she will stand, for the Lord is able to make her stand. One woman finds it acceptable to find out the baby’s gender prenatally; another woman wants to be surprised. Each one should be fully convinced in her own mind. She who finds out the gender, does so to the Lord. She who finds out, finds out as unto the Lord, for she gives thanks to God; and she who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to herself alone and none of us dies to herself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your sister? Or why do you look down on your sister? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' " So then, each of us will give an account of herself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your sister’s way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that there is no one right way to give birth. But if anyone regards something as ungodly, then for her it is ungodly. If your sister is distressed because of what you believe and preach, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by preaching destroy your sister for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of giving birth, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of childbirth. All beliefs about childbirth are unto God, but it is wrong for a woman to preach something that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to lecture, criticize, or to do anything else that will cause your sister to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the woman who does not condemn herself by what she approves. But the woman who has doubts is condemned if she judges, because her judging is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. |
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Cascade Christian Childbirth Association
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