Posted on 09/06/2008 5:28:51 PM PDT by markomalley
A friend asked me why evangelicals think it’s okay that Sarah Palin’s seventeen-year-old daughter got pregnant by her boyfriend. I think the exact wording was, “Why are we so excited about it?” Hmmmm. That’s not exactly the way I would put it.
I don’t know anyone who is “excited” about a teenage girl getting pregnant out of wedlock. This seems to be a point on which there is near-universal agreement. Getting pregnant outside of marriage is always problematic, but when you are a teenager, the difficulties are magnified. This isn’t a liberal or conservative observation—just a statement of reality.
However, I think the question is meant to go to a different point. Why are evangelicals willing to overlook the pregnancy of Sarah Palin’s daughter? Well, it is a useful question, given that everyone I have talked to (an admittedly unscientific sample) seems to love Sarah Palin. Count me in that number. I thought she did a terrific job in her speech on Wednesday night at the Republican Convention. But what about her daughter getting pregnant outside of wedlock?
Here’s a simple answer. Sarah and Todd Palin are not the first parents to have a child make this sort of mistake. And it’s not just the getting pregnant part. It’s as much the part about being sexually active in the first place. Given that most of us knew nothing about the Palins ten days ago, we aren’t in a position to say anything about how they raised their children. But Bristol Palin is hardly the first child raised in an evangelical family to get pregnant out of wedlock. We might be surprised if we knew how often this happens. That isn’t meant to excuse anything. Sin is sin, wrong is wrong, but is helps to remember that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and “there but for the grace of God."
But doesn’t it reflect poorly on the parents when children make bad choices? The answer is yes and no. Certainly it has cast a shadow over the whole nomination of Sarah Palin, and it has given the media another opening to attack her. But her daughter’s pregnancy does not disqualify her for public office. By the same token, I would argue that a similar situation would not automatically disqualify a pastor from serving in a local church. Note the word “automatically.” Sometimes churches have demanded a level of perfection in pastoral child-rearing that James Dobson couldn’t possibly meet.
It’s not what the children do that matters as much as how the parents respond. 1 Timothy 3:4 tell us that a spiritual leader must “manage his own household well.” How do you measure that? The real test of any manager is how he responds when trouble comes. Anyone can manage an organization when you have plenty of money in the bank, when your market share is growing, and when everyone is happy. Great managers rise to the top when the waters are rough, when money is tight, when the market is down, and when times are tough.
Do they cover up the truth or do they face reality?
Can they demonstrate wisdom in how they respond?
Do they keep their people united?
Do they have a plan and will others follow their plan?
Can they remain positive and calm when others are panicking?
These are the traits of good leadership—and you only see this when unexpected trouble comes. Leaders rise to the top in hard times. And that’s why I think pastors (and other spiritual leaders) ought not to be trashed or suddenly dismissed because of family issues. It’s how they respond that makes the difference.
Regarding Sarah Palin and her pregnant daughter, so far so good. Her daughter did not abort the baby, which many people would have advised her to do. And she and her boyfriend plan to be married and keep the baby. Good for them. I can’t imagine that Todd and Sarah Palin are happy about their daughter’s pregnancy, but as far as anyone can tell, they have responded with grace and courage under an enormous media spotlight. They have done well, their family seems to be rallying to the cause, and they are setting a good example of how to handle a crisis when the whole world is watching.
Evangelicals of all people believe in sin and grace. We admit our sin and we cling to the grace of God. We face the consequences, we seek forgiveness, we love each other, and we go forward together.
Panic, she is only a heartbeat away from the Presidency.
Well, That would be a John McCain Presidency.
The argument concedes the assumption that John McCain won the election.
The BHO campaign no longer has any strength from which to argue. They are reduced to beating up on the VP choice who was relatively unknown less than 10 days ago.
You know, there are more like Sarah Palin out there. Good decent well accomplished folks that would step up.
John McCain was the leader that opened the door. Folks know there are others, and where John McCain showed leadership, other will follow.
Sarah Palin is beginning to demonstrate to the others the new playing field upon which politics will be played and how it will be played.
That truly is reform.
LMAO! Have you tried emailing Barbara Streisand for her opinion?
Well put.
Non Christians don’t seem to understand that those who put their full trust in the work of Jesus Christ can simultaneously agree with His Word that sexual intercourse outside of the bond of marriage is sin and that He is gracious Saviour who forgives those who confess that sin to Him and trust in His grace.
It's more than a matter of understanding. It's blatant prejudice.
Liberals hammered Sara and her daughter because they expected conservatives to respond according to their preconceived ideas of who we are. The ideas/myths formed from Hollywood, Broadway, and Washington politico lies amplified by non familiarity.
They don’t know us at all. They only know each other and are totally confused today because we didn’t do what they expected.
I believe it’s in our best interest not to clue them in for a while. ;)
What? Seems more like you are the one trying to want an argument. I made a statement, and if you are reading something that isn't there, you have a very large problem. What happens within Sarah Palin's family is only the Palin Tamily's business.
Palin Family’s business.
They have a difficult road ahead of them. Their future has been changed, and they must follow a different and more difficult path. There is no need to browbeat them.
The libs have such a distorted view of what Christians think, some due to ignorance and others due to malice.
In 83 my biological mother got pregnant, did not abort and gave me up for adoption. My mom and dad picked me up 3 weeks later and have changed my diapers, washed my rear, fed me, sent me to school and taken the best care of me. I have no wish to meet or know my biological mother, but God Bless her too.
Start with love and the right thoughts will follow.
Gidday Grizzled Bear
> However, I refuse to draw any comparisons to Jesus or Mary in these situations.
I should clarify lest I give offense unwittingly: I’m not really drawing comparisons with Jesus and Mary’s situation, but rather the attitudes of those who may have observed that situation.
They would have been judgmental for all the “right” reasons. And yet they would have been wrong.
Recall that Joseph sought to put Mary away discreetly and he was corrected for that...
In short, as fallable human beings we are probably not the best qualified or positioned to cast judgment on Palin’s Daughter’s situation: our best council is to acknowledge and apply the Divine Ideal as best we can in our own lives, and work out our own Salvation with trembling and fear.
I believe that is consistent with Christ’s admonition about splinters and beams...
“What should we think?”
It’s not our daughter and not our baby so “we” know it’s none of our business.
I have a question for you. Because you seem like a very righteous person and I think you will be kind to someone asking a genuine question.
I heard that the two kids were engaged before she got pregnant. Understanding that they were “committed”, would they actually be married in the eyes of God.
I ask because no one ever asked whether she was on birth control that failed or they considered themselves married.
I’m Catholic, the birth control is not allowed with us. How would this work for a non-Catholic?
I think Palin’s 17 year old daughter is just fine.
I know. That just blows me away. McCain has got to be the craftiest politician in my lifetime (last 51 years).
Right. We’re not matching their caricature of Christians, so they’re all confused.
This matter is the business of the Palin family and no one elses.
The real reason it’s acceptable, is because she’s a conservative, and we like her.
Wholeheartedly agree !! What the libs don’t understand is that the Palins, evangelicals, and conservatives do not see Bristol’s childs birth as a “punishment” but as a blessed event with God’s grace, regardless of the cirumstances of it’s conception!! May God bless Bristol, her fiance, the Palins and his family, and most of all their child.
What do you do when a teenage girl in your congregation gets pregnant? Surround her with love and support. It’s simple. And we’ve just extended that common grace to Sarah’s daughter.
May I answer also?
My answer is, "No." But the act, while certainly sinful, isn't as morally objectionable as "hooking up" with a stranger, either.
FWIW, the penalty for premarital sex in the OT Law was ... you had to get married, and couldn't get divorced. :-) You can, to some extent, view it in that light. (The penalty for a girl who married falsely claiming to be a virgin was death, however. Pretty strong incentive to behave or marry the boyfriend.)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.