Former NFL star Benjamin Watson is a leading voice in the pro-life community, but he doesn’t always see eye to eye with other pro-lifers on other issues. That’s because the Bible, not political party, is his guiding force, he says.
Watson is a pro-life advocate on social media and has written a book. A new fight for lifeoffers a path forward for protecting the unborn in a post-Roe society, but on other issues, including race, his positions don’t fit neatly into either party’s political party.
It is not uncommon for Watson to challenge or criticize both Republicans and Democrats on social media in the same week.
He said political tribalism is “definitely a big problem for the church.”
“We are to be people of the Word.“ Watson “And obviously, a lot of us interpret that differently, but I think we should be able to have the conversation as believers: What does God want us to do? And if that doesn’t line up with our political party, who cares?”
Watson played 15 seasons in the NFL as a tight end alongside legendary quarterbacks such as Tom Brady and Drew Brees, winning a Super Bowl in 2005 (the 2004 season).
Now retired, he balances his time between family life, sports (he is a studio analyst for the SEC Network) and advocacy. He is vice president of strategic relationships for the pro-life organization, the Human Coalition. His social media profile reads: “Believer. Husband. Father. Defender of justice. Writer.“
He said a passage from the Old Testament drives him.
“Micah 6:8 — “O man, God has told you what is good, and all that the Lord requires of you is to do justice, love charity, and walk humbly with your God.”‘ I want to be a man who upholds justice.“ He told Crosswalk Headlines: “And it comes in different colors and different sizes. What does God say about justice? What does he say about protecting the vulnerable? [and] About compassion and kindness?
“I’m here with my kids and my wife, and we want to be kind people to others.“ Watson added, referring to the K-Love Fan Awards where Crosswalk Headlines interviewed him. “So that’s what drives me. Not necessarily what the policy platforms of both parties are, some of which are good, some of which I don’t agree with, but the Bible is what drives me.”
He said pro-lifers must protect the unborn while providing compassion and support to the mother. Shortly after Roe was overturned, he said, “there was a little bit of apathy in the pro-life movement.”“
“Many people thought the fight was over,“ He said, “But now [it’s] There are battles at the state level, there are battles within the church, what about us as believers? [and] Will churches speak about this from the pulpit? How do we serve the women in our communities?
“We need a multifaceted approach. Laws are crucial. Many states are currently loosening abortion laws. This is an issue that needs to be addressed. I work at the Human Coalition and we find that 76 percent of the women we serve say they would have liked to raise their children if their circumstances were different. So how do we advocate for better conditions to close that gap?”
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Mike Lawrie/Staff
Michael Faust He has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years, and his work has appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star and Knoxville News Sentinel.
