While there are other principles that encompass women’s rights, the two principles above are contrary to traditional Christian teaching. But sadly younger faithful participants either overlooked or embraced the march’s affirmation of abortion, gender dysphoria, and practicing homosexual behavior. Some of my peers argue that we should love the LGBTQ community because Jesus calls us to love everyone. They are absolutely right. But love does not mean affirming sin.
On Saturday, January 20th, an estimated 470,000 women and men, young and old marched down the streets in cities all over the country for the Women’s March. Among the marchers were many young Christians—including some of my Pepperdine University peers—who have fallen prey to the false notion that the Women’s March is about dignity and equality, two intrinsic concepts within Christianity. However, when one looks closer, the Women’s March is anything but a stand for Biblical principles.
The principles of the Women’s March state:
We firmly declare that LGBTQIA Rights are Human Rights and that it is our obligation to uplift, expand and protect the rights of our gay, lesbian, bi, queer, trans, two-spirit or gender non-conforming brothers, sisters and siblings. This includes access to non-judgmental, comprehensive healthcare with no exceptions or limitations; access to name and gender changes on identity documents; full anti discrimination protections; access to education, employment, housing and benefits; and an end to police and state violence.
In addition, the principles claim:
We believe in Reproductive Freedom. We do not accept any federal, state or local rollbacks, cuts or restrictions on our ability to access quality reproductive healthcare services, birth control, HIV/AIDS care and prevention, or medically accurate sexuality education. This means open access to safe, legal, affordable abortion and birth control for all people, regardless of income, location or education. We understand that we can only have reproductive justice when reproductive health care is accessible to all people regardless of income, location or education.
While there are other principles that encompass women’s rights, the two principles above are contrary to traditional Christian teaching. But sadly younger faithful participants either overlooked or embraced the march’s affirmation of abortion, gender dysphoria, and practicing homosexual behavior. Some of my peers argue that we should love the LGBTQ community because Jesus calls us to love everyone. They are absolutely right. But love does not mean affirming sin.
I reached out to some of my fellow peers from Pepperdine University, a Christian college, to understand why they participated in the Women’s March. Some knew that the Women’s March affirmed LGBTQ activity and is pro-abortion. But they still marched, choosing to personally focus instead on equal pay, sexual harassment, and discrimination. Also, to protest the Trump Administration.
I, however, did not participate in the Women’s March in Washington DC. But I did have the privilege of participating in the March for Life, which was held in Washington DC the day before the Women’s March. Disappointingly, not one of my fellow students I spoke with joined the March for Life, the largest pro-life demonstration in the world.
For this reason, it seems to me that a deeper understanding of Biblical teachings is needed among younger Christians. As a young Christian, I pray more Protestant churches strengthen their social witness and preach the truth. Churches should be fully engaged and making efforts to accurately teach the younger age group about what the Bible has to say about sexual ethics, marriage, and the sanctity of life.
