Proclaimer Blog
It’s all in the headline (NOT)
An interesting case coming out of the European Court of Human Rights this morning. It involves three women from Ireland who travelled abroad to have abortions because they weren't able to have them in the republic. I know that abortion in Ireland is a contentious issue, but what also interests me is the way the media report this case.
Basically, two of the women lost the case and the third won because her life was in danger and the Irish constitution (as I understand it) allows abortions in those circumstances. The court ruled that the woman's rights had been breached not because she was not given free access to abortion but because the state failed to provide access on the basis that its constitution ruled. In other words, this is not a case about abortion per se, but a case about a national state not doing what its constitution requires. Nevertheless, the BBC website headline is telling, if not misleading:
Irish abortion ban 'violated woman's rights'
Well, this is a blog about preaching, not about abortion, important a topic though that is. But preachers can give headlines that are also misleading. In fact, we can talk about Christianity this way too. After all, Jesus implores us to count the cost of following him (Luke 9.23-27) but how many evangelistic talks does that make it into? Few, I guess.
Paul's testimony is clear: "we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practise cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God" (2 Cor 4.2).
How accurate are your preaching headlines?