Church, this is October 1st which marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Everything's about to become really pink -- if it isn't already. We have had some women in our church who have fought breast cancer and won. Others are still in an ongoing battle with this disease. I greatly admire, cheer for, and pray over these women.
It is because I love these women that I feel it necessary to share this. As a pastor who desires to care for and look after his flock, I must actually warn you about Breast Cancer Awareness month. In 2010, the New York Times reported that BCA month is doing more to harm women who have breast cancer than help them. I doubt I need to point out that "going pink" has been turned into something sexy rather than something quite serious.
Slogans like, "Save the Ta-ta's,""Save Second Base,""Project Boobies" and the like are not cute. They're not funny. The message is that the woman is not who is important, but her breasts. This is just one more way our culture objectifies women, using the alarm surrounding a deadly and painful disease to do it.
Furthermore, by making BCA "sexy," these causes end up ignoring the women who are most susceptible to this kind of cancer. The primary risk factor is age. According to the National Cancer Institute, the odds of a woman being diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 30 are almost 1 in 300. The odds of being diagnosed by the age of 50 narrow to 1 in 40. By age 60 it's 1 in 30.
This month, all kinds of charities will be asking for your money, sporting pink ribbons and claiming to be fighting against breast cancer. But you must be wise. Even popular charities are bad news, preying upon the caring hearts of genuine and loving individuals who truly want to help those who have or had cancer.
For example, the American Cancer Society, most well-known for the Relay for Life, has a very low credibility rating. I know they're popular, but I do not recommend supporting the Relay for Life. The ACS are also contributors to Planned Parenthood, the nation's number one abortion provider. By giving money to the Relay for Life, you are inadvertently giving to Planned Parenthood.
Avoid anything labeled "Susan G. Komen for the Cure." They are also major supporters of Planned Parenthood, giving hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to the organization instead of using that money for breast cancer prevention, which is what you think it's going toward. You will find Komen for the Cure items at Wal-Mart and the local grocery store. They're a heavily funded organization and a disaster for life in general, not just women.
Pink is so prevalent in October, it is not going to be possible to avoid everything shady. Just be wise with how you willingly use your money and the charities you support. It's unfortunate that Breast Cancer Awareness month needs awareness of its own. Buying pink has a tendency to make people think they've done their part. Meanwhile, the women who truly need care are not being cared for.
The best thing that you can do for a woman you know who has breast cancer is to give her personal love and attention. Visit with her. Pray with her. Cry with her. Offer to buy her groceries or fix her dinner. Drive her to her doctor's appointments. Serve her in every way with the love of Christ.
I have seen these things happen in our church. I have seen women fighting breast cancer receive tremendous support from her sisters in Christ. Continue to do that for one another. Be "aware" of how to screen for this kind of cancer, how to prevent it, and the like. Absolutely do those things. But also be aware of the wolves who are out to prey on tender and hurting hearts.
It is because I love these women that I feel it necessary to share this. As a pastor who desires to care for and look after his flock, I must actually warn you about Breast Cancer Awareness month. In 2010, the New York Times reported that BCA month is doing more to harm women who have breast cancer than help them. I doubt I need to point out that "going pink" has been turned into something sexy rather than something quite serious.
Slogans like, "Save the Ta-ta's,""Save Second Base,""Project Boobies" and the like are not cute. They're not funny. The message is that the woman is not who is important, but her breasts. This is just one more way our culture objectifies women, using the alarm surrounding a deadly and painful disease to do it.
Furthermore, by making BCA "sexy," these causes end up ignoring the women who are most susceptible to this kind of cancer. The primary risk factor is age. According to the National Cancer Institute, the odds of a woman being diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 30 are almost 1 in 300. The odds of being diagnosed by the age of 50 narrow to 1 in 40. By age 60 it's 1 in 30.
This month, all kinds of charities will be asking for your money, sporting pink ribbons and claiming to be fighting against breast cancer. But you must be wise. Even popular charities are bad news, preying upon the caring hearts of genuine and loving individuals who truly want to help those who have or had cancer.
For example, the American Cancer Society, most well-known for the Relay for Life, has a very low credibility rating. I know they're popular, but I do not recommend supporting the Relay for Life. The ACS are also contributors to Planned Parenthood, the nation's number one abortion provider. By giving money to the Relay for Life, you are inadvertently giving to Planned Parenthood.
Avoid anything labeled "Susan G. Komen for the Cure." They are also major supporters of Planned Parenthood, giving hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to the organization instead of using that money for breast cancer prevention, which is what you think it's going toward. You will find Komen for the Cure items at Wal-Mart and the local grocery store. They're a heavily funded organization and a disaster for life in general, not just women.
Pink is so prevalent in October, it is not going to be possible to avoid everything shady. Just be wise with how you willingly use your money and the charities you support. It's unfortunate that Breast Cancer Awareness month needs awareness of its own. Buying pink has a tendency to make people think they've done their part. Meanwhile, the women who truly need care are not being cared for.
The best thing that you can do for a woman you know who has breast cancer is to give her personal love and attention. Visit with her. Pray with her. Cry with her. Offer to buy her groceries or fix her dinner. Drive her to her doctor's appointments. Serve her in every way with the love of Christ.
I have seen these things happen in our church. I have seen women fighting breast cancer receive tremendous support from her sisters in Christ. Continue to do that for one another. Be "aware" of how to screen for this kind of cancer, how to prevent it, and the like. Absolutely do those things. But also be aware of the wolves who are out to prey on tender and hurting hearts.